Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for July 5, 2026

Take of the bread, receive the cup / For God’s mercy is enough

For the many and the one / This is communion

Take it as often as you will / For Christ’s blood has power still

By Their wounds we shall be healed / This is communion

Sunday we will share Holy Communion. For those who will receive the sacraments at home, please prepare a piece of bread or a cracker, and a cup of juice or wine and join us at the table. Also, we will be receiving monetary donations or non-perishable food items, toiletries, and pet food for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry.

Rev. Hannah Mondrach will lead our worship services on July 5, 12, and 19th while Pastor TJ is on her Pilgrim Lodge sabbatical. Rev. Hannah will also be “on call” for pastoral visits.

Our Monteux student musicians for this Sunday will be Genevieve Wrobel (Oboe) and Lily McCormick (French Horn).

Gennavieve is a third-year Doctoral student in Oboe Performance at the Indiana University knJacobs School of Music, where she studies with Professor Linda Strommen. She earned her Master of Music degree from Indiana University and previously completed a Bachelor of Music in Woodwind Performance at Florida State University, along with minors in Music Entrepreneurship and Classics.Throughout her academic career, Gennavieve has performed with a variety of university ensembles, local ensembles, chamber groups, and student-led organizations. She is a recipient of the Jacobs Fellowship Scholarship and has maintained a strong record of academic excellence throughout her graduate studies. In addition to her performance and academic work, Gennavieve is actively involved in arts administration and music education. She serves as the Department Assistant for the Jacobs Oboe Studio, works in the Jacobs School of Music Scheduling Office, and is the Administrative Assistant for the Jacobs Virtual Academy, a program dedicated to expanding access to music education throughout Indiana. These roles have allowed her to develop a broad understanding of both the artistic and administrative aspects of the music profession. A passionate performer, educator, and advocate for arts accessibility, Gennavieve enjoys sharing music with a wide range of audiences and students. Her long-term goal is to combine performing and teaching at the collegiate level while remaining active as both a performer and educator.

Lily is a French Horn player based in Columbus, Georgia. She is a proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, studying under the tutelage of Patrick Hughes and is currently pursuing a Masters of Performance at Columbus State University under Dr. Anne Marie Cherry. She has recently won the 4th Horn position in the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Albany, GA. As a freelance horn player, Lily has played in various settings such as solo recitals, church venues, and professional brass quintets. These include the First Baptist Church of Austin Brass Quintet and The St. Luke Methodist Church Orchestra and the Cedar Park Winds. While in the Austin, TX area, she provided private lessons for high school and middle school students, alike. With a passion for emotional connection through performance, she prioritizes breathing life into her playing. Lily has explored many avenues of music making in her life including playing piano, guitar, and singing. All of these endeavors have lead to an enriched, well rounded musical experience. She has attended the Southeast Horn Workshop, where she performed with the Schwob Horn Choir, Midsouth Horn Workshop, where she performed with the UT Austin Horn Choir, has attended Cormont Horn Camp, and is currently attending the Monteux Music Festival.

Sunday, July 5th, will be our first Sunday back at Tidal Falls this summer. Join us at 7:00 a.m.

for a 25-30 minute contemplative service grounded in the prayer books of John Philip Newell. No experience needed. All are welcome! Thank you to Nancy Gourlie and Robin Stratton for volunteering to be our leaders this summer.

FREE POTLUCK SUPPER

Being held at the

Hancock Grammar School

33 Cemetery Road, Hancock

Sunday, July 5th at 5 PM

Angela Absher is back and the Meditation Group is meeting at the Hancock Point Chapel on Friday mornings  at 9:00 am for the summer. All are welcome! Reach out to Pastor TJ or Alison Boden with any questions. (revtjmack@gmail.com, 207-323-6743 or aboden3321@gmail.com, 609-865-3236)

During the month of July, we will be receiving the Neighbors in Need offering. NIN is a Special Mission Offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States, with one-third of the offering given to the Council for American Indian Ministries and the remaining two-thirds supporting UCC justice ministries. Envelopes are available at the back of the Sanctuary. Thank you for your support and generosity! This is one of the 5 for 5 offerings supported by the Maine Conference.

Our meetings are open to all. Please let Vicky know if you want the link to attend via ZOOM.

Upcoming July meetings:

                          Deacons will meet Friday, July 10 at 4:30 pm

Trustees will meet Wednesday, July 15 at 11 am

Outreach will meet Thursday, July 16 at 4:30 pm

                          Council will meet Friday, July 17th at 11 am

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Celebration of Life for Kenny!

(KFStratton, Jr died Feb. 2026)

Please join us on Sunday, July 19th Noon-2:00 pm

at Stratton Family Shore.

Bring a chair and beverage. Light fare.

RSVP to Joy at jcstratton7@gmail.com

by Sunday, July 12th.

July Birthdays:

05: Sarina Brooks         08: Joey Espling        14: Brookelin Harriman         

19: Patrice Alexander   24: Bob Courchesne           25: Phoebe Devenish        

27: Joy Stratton            28: Robin Long

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Prayers for all God’s creation, that peace may prevail here and around the world. Our prayers go out to the family and friends of Bob Dorr who passed away June 28th. Our prayers remain with Aaron & Ashley, Lincoln & Debbie, Alex & Savannah, Andrew & Tamara, Tyler Crabtree and all of their families. We pray for all those who live and work at Golden Acres. Prayers for Bobby, recovering from a stroke. We pray for Clifford Manchester; Betty Johnston; Sonny & Gerry; Scott; Dean; David; Don; Dexter B.; Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Hollis & Debbie; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Kirk; Ruth & Peter; Patrice’s step-sister Patricia; Herbie Lounder; Sandy Phippen; David Mack; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport. Prayers for all in Hospice Care and for all caregivers. Prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion. Prayers for individuals and families affected by mental illness and addictions. Prayers for those who are experiencing family conflict; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Lighten Up Loosen Up (LULU) at Pilgrim Lodge 2026

Not even rain on Thursday could keep Pastor TJ off the paddleboard                                

Nick & Mary Angela took                        advantage of a swim

while David went Kayaking on Friday.                

A beautiful day for a paddleboard ride!

A great time was had by all!

Sheila, David., Nick, Mary Angela, Vicky, & TJ

A Letter from our Conference Minister

 Rev. Dr. Marisa Laviola PhD. 

Celebrate, Celebrate! Dance to the music!

For those of us who are “senior” enough to recall that song by Three Dog Night, I hope you share my very fond memories. As a teen I was fortunate to see Three Dog Night in person when they toured in Philadelphia. I still remember folks responding with wide hand claps, a little movement or a lot of movement, and singing along! It was electrifying!

So why do I raise this message of electrifying celebration in my letter to you on July 1?

Could it be because we are remembering 250 years ago when a dedicated people said “NO” to kingship and hierarchical rule and began an experiment that has lasted these many years (with all of its warts and imperfections)?

Better yet, am I lifting up all we can celebrate in our conference at this moment in our history?

➢ 100 years of Outdoor Ministry (beginning 1926 at the YMCA camp)

➢ 70 years of Pilgrim Lodge

➢ 15 years of Maine School of Ministry

➢ 15 years of being an Open and Affirming Conference

➢ 20 years of being a Just Peace Conference

➢ And…the very first year of all of our Conference Ministries coming together      

    under one roof at the renovated Farmhouse at Pilgrim Lodge

And with the upcoming 70th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ in 2007, we can celebrate when we joined the UCC.

And before that? We can celebrate that in 1854 our precursor Conference, The Congregational-Christian Conference of Maine was formed.

We can certainly celebrate now and the rest of this year.

AND LET’S COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE!

Let’s come together for a dedicated, joyous, covenantal CELEBRATION at our

Annual Meeting On October 2 and 3.

➢ We will celebrate with hosting the Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, our 

    General Minister and President of the UCC, and hearing her words of

    celebration and encouragement

➢ We will have many workshops that reflect the needs for ministry now and into

    our future—as we celebrate that God holds our future

➢ We will gather in a Celebratory Luncheon on Friday

➢ We will dedicate and bless our new Conference offices

➢ We will gather for a question-and-answer time with Karen Georgia at dinner on   

    Friday

➢ We will have singing and worship and prayer throughout

➢ We will celebrate with friends we may not see more than once a year; with 

    new friends we may have never met

➢ We will send ourselves forth with a celebratory communion worship on 

    Saturday

You may be so excited right now reading all this that you’re asking, “when does registration start?”

Look for the registration button on the Midweek news beginning on July 29.

A Sneak preview of when you register:

➢ For the first time in a long time we will meet for 2 full days

➢ Registration will include signing up for workshops

➢ The 2-day schedule will be posted

➢ We will choose lodging at Pilgrim Lodge or the Senator’s Inn in Augusta

➢ For those who cannot attend in person, zoom will be available for certain       

    events

I am so looking forward to celebrating with all of you. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me mlaviola@maineucc.org or Kimberly Poisson, our office manager kdonovan-poisson@maineucc.org 

And Beloved, let’s embrace our annual meeting theme and pray daily with our annual meeting scripture:

Courageous Love: Nurturing Connections for a Just World

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.             Colossians 2:6-7

I can hardly wait to see all of you and share in love, partnership, and CELEBRATION!!         

Marisa