Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for July 6, 2025

Our father's God to, thee, author of liberty, to Thee we sing.

Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light;

Protect us by thy might, great God, our king!

During June, July, and August in addition to the 10:00 Worship Service in our Sanctuary, Pastor TJ and a small contingent of volunteers are offering an alternative contemplative service inspired by John Philip Newell prayer books. These outdoor Sunday services will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Tidal Falls (rain or shine) and are expected to last 25-30 minutes. Please join us!

Our Monteux student musicians for this Sunday will be  Cellists, Sean Muller and Micah Christiansen. 

An adventurous spirit defines cellist Sean Muller’s musical journey, as he constantly seeks fresh and revitalizing experiences. Prior to his university studies, he was assistant principal cellist with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra for summer tours, which included performances on three continents. At the University of Florida, where he will graduate in May 2026, he currently studies cello with Dr. Steven Thomas. He is an active member of the chamber music program and the University of Florida Symphony Orchestra, serving as the librarian under the direction of Dr. Tiffany Lu. His most recent solo recital showcased repertoire from across musical periods, including Bach’s Cello Suite No. 5, Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances, and Brahms’s Cello Sonata No. 2. Outside of cello, Sean enjoys playing piano, rock climbing, mountain biking, and SCUBA diving.

Micah Christiansen is a cellist based in Minneapolis, MN, with over 13 years of experience performing in both symphonic and chamber music settings. A recent graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, they earned a BA in Music, Psychology, and Social Work, and served as principal cellist of The Concordia Orchestra. Micah has performed with ensembles such as the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, and was a returning participant and competition winner at the Oracle Chamber Music Festival. Passionate about music education, they’ve taught privately and held leadership roles in Concordia College’s chapter of the American String Teachers Association. In addition to their musical pursuits, Micah is currently pursuing a graduate degree in social work at the University of Minnesota and has spent the past year working as a school social worker in a K-8 charter school, where they integrate music and care into community support. They are excited to continue developing their artistry this summer at Monteux!

We will be receiving Holy Communion this week and we will also be collecting

non perishable food items for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. 

Orrick Damboise – Born March 10, 1957.  Died June 25, 2025.

Orrick grew up Catholic in Caribou, Maine. He was an only child. He started his work life early. His first jobs included delivering newspapers, mowing lawns and shoveling snow.

When Orrick was a senior in high school he was working full-time at the AMP potato processing plant in Fort Fairfield as a forklift operator. He tried to schedule all his classes in the morning so he could get some sleep before his shift began at 11 p.m. but when that didn’t happen he dropped out of school.

When his employment at AMP ended Orrick took a job dishwashing at an all-girls camp where his grandfather’s brother Lucian was a cook.

Orrick and his friend Willy decided to move to the town of St. Helens, Oregon where they knew some people at Loring Air Force Base. During the year that he lived in Oregon, Orrick worked for a logging company operating a D6 bulldozer / log skidder. When the machine caught fire and burned up he took a job with Boise-Cascade as a laborer in their factory.

Orrick returned to Maine and then enlisted in the Army where he served for 2-1/2 years. His Basic Training was in Louisville, Kentucky and much of his enlistment was served on the base in Baumholder, Germany driving a 5-ton wrecker and maintaining the generators on the base.

When his military career ended Orrick spent a couple of years in Dalton, Georgia where he first gained experience as a printing press operator (letterhead, business cards, envelopes).

He later moved to Odessa, Texas where he was a newspaper press operator.

Orrick lived and worked in numerous states but Maine called him home again and again. Once again living in Caribou, Orrick became an iron-worker, erecting steel structures.

Orrick’s favorite occupations were those that involved operating heavy equipment.

Orrick has three grandchildren by his daughter Erica, who died at the young age of 42. Her children, his grandson Curtis, and granddaughters McKenna and Julianna all live in Maine.

Orrick was a social, people-pleasing person that liked companionship. Prior to moving here he had been living in the Presque Isle and Easton area and then briefly in Thomaston. He lived at Golden Acres in Hancock for 3-1/2 years.

Orrick wore two pendants around his neck, close to his heart. One was a shield and cross with an inscription of Ephesians 6:16-17. “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” The other was a medallion of St. Christopher, the Patron Saint of Travelers, that he received after joining our church. The back of the medallion is inscribed, “St. Christopher – Protect me and lead me safely to my destiny. Amen.”

Rest in peace, dear Orrick. You are now safely home.

—

On the eve of gathering to commemorate our country’s independence from England,  as we celebrate all that is good and fair and right in our democracy, let us keep awake to what needs our time and attention so that freedom may ring true for everyone.

New lyrics for a patriotic song by Rev. Maren Tirabassi – July 2025

1 My country isn’t free / nor land of liberty, / and yet I sing.  Greedy the settling here, / and slavery's violence clear,  yet still a hope was dear – / that freedom ring!

2 "Welcome the immigrant / come work, find land to plant / your fam'ly raise."  And still the call for skills / would desperate needs fulfill  but now the promise ... kills / in our new days.

3 A rainbow 'cross the land, / wide-gendered understand, / seemed to have grown.  But threats these freedoms shake / and children's dreams forsake.  Unless some kindness wakes, / they'll stand alone.

4 This yearly holiday / with fireworks and parade / for justice claim.  Support the speakers true, / Lift signs for hope made new,  Demand that light break through – / in freedom's name!

Let us not rest until the original lyrics of Samuel Francis Smith that we know and love are as true for all as they are true for one. “Let’s express our love of country by working tirelessly to uphold our nation’s professed ideals by fighting the injustices of its present reality. Let’s express patriotism in ways that help us disagree better, expand who ‘we the people’ fully includes, and ensure that ‘liberty and justice for all’ truly becomes real for all.   ~ Adam Russell Taylor

1. My country,' tis of thee, / sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; /land where my fathers died,  / land of the pilgrims' pride, / from every mountainside let freedom ring!

2. My native country, thee, / land of the noble free, thy name I love; / I love thy rocks and rills,  / thy woods and templed hills; / my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

  3. Let music swell the breeze, / and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song; / let mortal tongues awake; / let all that breathe partake; / let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

4. Our fathers' God, to thee, / author of liberty, to thee we sing; / long may our land be bright /  with freedom's holy light; / protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

Click this link to hear Calvin Arsenia’s powerful song, “Scars and Stripes.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfJIQXufVPg

July Birthdays and Anniversaries

08: Joey Espling          14: Brookelin Harriman            18: Zachary & Aimee Spaulding           

Princess is a six year old female cat, spayed, up to date on her shots and is chipped. Princess is looking for a new home. If you know of anyone who is looking to adopt a cat, please let us know.

   HANCOCK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

 SATURDAY MOVIE MATINEE

 JULY 5^th 1-3PM

 FEATURE PRESENTATION:

HANCOCK/HANCOCK POINT 

1920-1930s SILENT FILMS

NEARLY 2 HOURS OF OLD HOME MOVIES FROM THE 1920s AND 1930s TAKEN BY HANCOCK POINT FAMILES HAVE BEEN DIGITIZED COURTESY OF MAINE PUBLIC RADIO/TV. THESE INCLUDE CLIPS OF FAMILIES AT PLAY, NORUMBEGA STEAMER, CRABTREE LEDGE LIGHT, TRAINS, PARADES, HONEYBEE PLAY, ETC ETC

We will run the show in our conference room on the big screen continuously from 1-3PM. Come for part or come for all. Free event -donations appreciated.

(Limited supply of DVDs at “special show day” price of $25 cash or check)

The Acadia Community Women's Club is holding its first of three summer fundraisers on July 5th at Winter Harbor Provisions. All of the proceeds go toward the yearly scholarships that are awarded by the club. Pies, cakes and hopefully my pita bread will be available.                       

~Diane Raymond

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Our prayers remain with Alex & Savannah and Andrew & Tamara; and Tyler Crabtree. We pray for David M,; Donald B.; Kenny V.; Brian; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Eleanor A.; Ira and Ginny; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Herbie Lounder; Ruth; Marie; Jim Snyder; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Kenny Stratton & Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & son-in-law Aaron, daughter Ashley, and granddaughter Brielle; and Sandy Phippen. Prayers for all that are unsafe, unhoused, hungry & in need of care & compassion. Prayers for individuals and families affected by addictions. Prayers for all caregivers; those who are grieving loss or change; and prayers for all that is in your heart…

Save the date!

                        Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars and spread the word! For this Annual Meeting and the months leading up to it, we will be focusing on developing a new vision and mission statement. As the Board of Directors has begun to brainstorm and pray for God’s guidance for our vision and mission, we will continue that process with your vital input, your discernment, your sacred discovery of our vision and mission. We want to do all we can to include God’s voice and vision in our path forward—through you—beloved people of our Conference.

In addition to having several opportunities for brainstorming, discussion and prayer at the Annual Meeting, you are also invited to participate this summer in a vision witness opportunity entitled:

Seeking divine guidance for the vision of the Maine Conference…

Do you have a friend or acquaintance you’re comfortable praying with?

Could you spare a prayerful hour or two, some time over the summer, in a simple process of inquiring:

“God, what are you calling the Maine Conference to do and to be?”… and listening for a response?

We’ve designed a 4-step prayer process that welcomes God’s guidance in our planning. If you are interested, or if your church would like to participate, please contact Bill Bliss bliss.bill@gmail.com (Chair of the Annual Meeting Planning Committee) for more information and support.  At our Annual Meeting, we will invite those who participate this summer to share their “vision witness.” We’re hoping for 6-8 voices to share, although more than that would be great!

Here is the scripture you can pray with this summer, as we will have this as one of our focus scriptures at the Annual Meeting. We hope praying with this scripture will help discern God’s revelation to you.

        I will stand at my watchpost and station myself on the rampart.

       I will keep watch to see what God will say to me, and what God will answer

         concerning my complaint.

      Then God answered me and said:

      “Write the vision. Make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.

       For there is still a vision for the appointed time. It speaks of the end and

        does not lie.

       If it seems to tarry, wait for it. It will surely come. It will not delay.”

       –Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NRSV)

From Our Maine Conference

Good news in the midst of troubled times…

I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

I love this scripture because it reminds us that no matter how difficult our lives are, no matter how troubled our country or our world is, no matter how many folks are being shunned and ignored (or worse), God is always at work to do “a new thing” so that we can find our way in the wilderness and drink from the rivers in the desert.

We can have hope in our God who holds all of us in nurturing arms and calls us beloved; our God who calls us to show that love to everyone, whoever they are; that same God who points us to Jesus for how we live for peace and justice; who has named us a resurrection people to continue with hope and resolve in this troubled world—our God is alive and working and speaking still. Our God is calling us to bring light into every corner of darkness.

My friends, that is truly good news!

Isaiah 43:19 is part of our focus scripture for our Annual Meeting October 17 and 18. We will meditate on and discuss this scripture in loving and hope-filled conversation. We will bring this scripture into our 21st century experience as we wonder together how the Maine Conference—churches, faith settings, laity, and clergy—can envision a mission of good news that fills us with good things; but even more empowers us with all the love and resolve we need to bring good things to those all around us. Can we make a difference and bring light into darkness?

Can we make a difference as we embrace God’s unconditional love and re-commit ourselves to the Gospel message of peace and justice for everyone? Can we join God so that we offer a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert?

I say a resounding “yes!” But I am just one person—your servant; your partner for the work of the good news of Jesus Christ in our conference, throughout Maine, and beyond.

Come to our Annual Meeting this October. Gather with your siblings in Christ, seekers and doubters, all who thirst for the living God. Come and wonder together: “what is the vision of the Maine Conference? What is our mission?” We have not engaged in this process for a long time. I pray that now is God’s time for us to engage.

Begin to ask that vision question this summer by gathering with one or two folks for about an hour in a public place: praying, contemplating, looking around, asking God: what is our vision? And then bring with you what you have heard. We will together at the Annual Meeting begin to form our vision and mission for the next 5 years and beyond.

Beloved, let us gather; let us seek; let us discover the good news that God has for us in Maine; what God would have us do together for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus whom we follow—in the midst of our country and our world that is so in need of good news.

I am your servant, your partner in Christ,

Marisa