Hancock UCC Weekly Messenger for August 3, 2025

“Bigger barns are what we need for our money, gadgets, more!” Lord, we’re tempted to believe having wealth, we’ll be secure! Somewhere children cry for food or to have a doctor’s care. Can our bigger barns be good when poor neighbors know despair?

 CALL TO CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: The Union Congregational Church of Hancock, United Church of Christ will conduct a special congregational meeting on Sunday, August 3, following worship for the following purposes:

1.) To consider a motion for the Trustees to employ Contractors for two jobs.

a.) New Metal Roof on the Parsonage.

b.) Painting the Sanctuary Ceiling.

2.) The plan is to launch a fund drive in September to cover the cost (approx. $20,000)

3.) Any other business to come before the congregation.

Vicky J. Espling, Clerk                                                                                          July 11, 2025

During 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 begin at 7:00 a.m. at Tidal Falls (rain or shine) and last 25-30 minutes. Please join us!

Our meetings are open to all. If you would like to attend a meeting, please let Vicky know and she will provide the Zoom link, or you are welcome to attend in the Fellowship Hall.

Deacons will meet on Friday, August 8 at 4:00 p.m.

Council will meet on Friday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m.

The Outreach Committee will meet on Thursday, August 28 at 4:15 p.m.

Comfort Cases

While Lesley is not packing Comfort Cases in the shed this year, she still continues to help the many children experiencing foster care. Every child deserves to have a pair of pajamas to call their own. If you would like to help, bring a brand new pair (or pairs) of pajamas with the tags still on them to Alberta’s Hair Salon (234 Main St, Ellsworth) or Star 97.7 (409 High Street Ellsworth) in Ellsworth or to the church (and we will deliver). Of course, if you don't have time to shop, donations are more than appreciated. Email lesleyrobinson@comfortcases.org for more information. Deadline for donations is August 25, 2025! Thank you so much for your continued support of Comfort Cases and the children in foster care.

Please keep the following people in your prayers this week:

Our prayers remain with Alex & Savannah and Andrew & Tamara; and Tyler Crabtree and his family. We pray for David M,; Donald B.; Kenny V.; Brian; and Jane of Golden Acres. Prayers for  Jim Snyder and all in Hospice Care. Prayers for Cynthia W.; Judith C.; Eleanor A.; Hollis & Debbie; Ira and Ginny; Bruce’s sister Lynn; Sally’s friend, Sue Barger; Herbie Lounder; Ruth; Marie; Jonathan Holmes; Sue Davies; Sue Davenport; Kenny Stratton & Joy & David & Lori & Melissa; Debbie & Lincoln & Aaron, Ashley, & 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…

HANCOCK POINT CHAPEL

Summer 2025 – Services at 10:00 a.m.

August 3:    Rev. Susan Moran – Intergenerational Service – Unitarian Universalist Society of

                     Rockport, MA

August 10:  Rev. Kristi Zabriskie – Chaplain, The Pines Senior and Assisted Living, Richfield,

                     MI

August 17:  Rev. James Gertmenian – Minister Emeritus, Plymouth Congregational Church,

          Minneapolis, MI   (Communion will be served)

August 24:  Rev. Alice A. Hildebrand – Retired Pastor Deer Isle-Sunset Congregational Church

                     and Women’s and Children's Chaplain at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME

The History of Tidal Falls

From Geological Formation and Prehistory to Modern Day

Come learn about the fascinating history of this special place!

Friday, August 8^th  7:00 p.m.

Hancock Historical Society, 11 Captain Bill Road, Hancock

Presented by Toby Crawford—local historian, Vice-President of the Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society and graduate student of history at UMaine.

IN CONCERT

August 9, 2025

  2 p.m.

First Congregational Church UCC

2 Church Street in Ellsworth, Maine

Ben Cosgrove is a nationally known Maine pianist who has contributed music to the Ken Burns documentary The American Buffalo. He creates music that explores themes of landscapes, place, and environment.

 A $5 donation is requested.

For information about the concert, please contact Chris Wilson at 202-538-4606.

bencosgrove.com

August Birthdays and Anniversaries 

 08: Gary & Jeanne Edwards       09:  Denny Doucette               14: Amelia Ashmore            14: Jane Lennon    15: David Wildes & Cynthia Wood

19: Doug Kimmel & Ron Schwizer       23: Gerry Mehl                24: Cynthia Wood

25: Austin Crowley-Dunn         29: Nick & Mary Angela Davis

Mark Your Calendars

The Sunrise Association Annual/Fall Meeting will be:

Saturday, October 4th, 2025

and will be hosted by

 First Congregational Church of Cherryfield UCC

12 River Rd, Cherryfield, ME 04622

Agenda and Reports will be sent out prior to the meeting.

Our Maine Conference, United Church of Christ will hold our

Annual Meeting

October 17 and 18, 2025

at Pilgrim Lodge

103 Pilgrim Lodge Lane

West Gardiner, ME 04345

News from our Maine Conference

              A Letter from Lydia Hoffman

     Assistant Camp Director of Pilgrim Lodge

It is late July, and here at Pilgrim Lodge our Summer season is winding down. Our final week-long sessions are coming to a close, August is nearly ready to greet us, and soon our summer staff will begin to head back to the world beyond the camp road. Our team is almost at the end of a season-long journey that is so precious, so powerful, and is so incredibly meaningful. The Summer 2025 staff have, for almost 9 weeks, been world-changers, magic-makers, bathroom-cleaners, chapel-leaders, children-protectors, dish-washers, laundry-keepers, ice cream-scoopers, life-guarders, food-stewards, and love-bearers. I hold them in my heart each and every day and offer great thanks - as without them we could not make camp happen. Even long after they have all traveled up the camp road for the last time this season, their hard work, their love, and their mark on so very many will remain at Pilgrim Lodge always.

I lift each of them up with immense gratitude. Thank you to: Liz, Louise, John, Matt, Ben, Karen, Marty, Natalie, Gil, Heidi, Caryl, Jare, Adi, Nate, Sophie, Mallory, Lee, Campbell, Payton, Ollie, Henry, Sarah, Catherine, Kyle, Benjamin, and Nathaniel.

As I reflect on the end of summer, I hold these words close:

For Summer's Ending From "Ash & Starlight" by Arianne Braithwaite Lehn

Near One,

Thank you for all the ways you've companioned me this summer.

You've traveled with me

as I made road trips to visit scattered, special family, waited at airport gates thick with frustrating delays, buckled kids in the car for an adventure at the zoo, driven across town

to eat crisp cold salads with a dear friend, folded clothes and packed the suitcase

another time.

You've traveled with me, Jesus, as I've sat in medical waiting rooms,

as I've kissed loved ones goodbye while holding back tears, as I've lingered by the

window with a cup of coffee, overcome with too many thoughts to name...

You've made your presence known through tracked-in sand on the kitchen floor

and the smell of fresh strawberries dumped on the counter.

I've heard your voice in the joyful shrieks of children in sprinklers and the creak of the

porch swing as dusk settled.

You've held me through weeks that were stressful and weeks that evaporated in

elation... weeks when I was complacent and selfish and weeks I was sacrificial and servant-hearted... weeks when I was honest and integrated and weeks I didn't even

recognize the person in the mirror....

You never failed to remind me how you loved me and still had good for me to do.

Sometimes I caught your message...

How I thank you, traveling and strengthening One,

for going with me through these summer months... for offering reassurance as I enter

the fall and all its change.

I hold out my gratitude for what was and my quiet hopes for what's to come.

Amen.

Reflections on General Synod From our Delegates

For the next four weeks you will read the reflections, thoughts, and musings from our

Synod Delegates.

This week we hear from Marraine Kettell, delegate from Living Water Association.

I grew up in Maine and in the United Church of Christ. My immediate family has called the First Congregational Church of Durham our spiritual home since we started attending when I was five. That church, the conference, and the wider United Church of Christ were foundational to the person I have become.

I have now been to General Synod seven times, these last two synods as a delegate from the Living Water Association of the Maine Conference. Prior to that I had gone as a visitor. As we were preparing for synod, one of the fellow delegates with whom I served on the State Youth Council in high school a few decades ago asked me about scheduling things during synod. I agreed that we should schedule a few things, but also issued a warning. In many settings, I can be reserved and even a wall flower at points. That is not necessarily true at church or at Pilgrim Lodge. At General Synod I come close to being a social butterfly.

Including the Maine Conference, I have lived or served in six UCC conferences. One of my strengths throughout my life has been networking in the wider church.

As a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ, I am thankful for the ways we can be church beyond the walls of our buildings. I celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ. We are blessed by abundant resources from the local to national levels to individual members whose gifts we discover and are able to match with the needs of the church. What we do as the local church does not need to happen in a vacuum. The apostle Paul speaks to us about the individual members of the whole body of Christ. We are called to discern our gifts and share our talents when others may have strength in different areas.

Coming together as the wider church is greater than the sum of its individual parts. We are faithful. We are blessed. We are called into service. To me, General Synod is a celebration of many of those pieces even as we do the nitty gritty work of the church in resolutions.

Any time I attend gatherings such as synod, I can't help reflecting on the ways the UCC helped nurture me. It is incredibly important that we continue to do this work to prepare others as well.

May the local and wider church continue to be the hands and feet of Christ and bless our sacred work in the world.