Hancock United Church of Christ, Congregational
1912 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington MA 02421 | www.hancockchurch.org

CONTENTS

In This Issue

This Sunday...

Article Headline

Submission guide for the Weekly

Dana on love and support

Sept 21: Senior Picnic

Join Chancel Choir

9/15: Bagels and Bibles Update

Volunteers Needed: Interfaith Garden

RESOURCES

The Spring Herald on-line!

WORSHIP

Morning Worship at 10 a.m.

Preaching this week: Paul Shupe

"In Us, Through Us, With Us, By Us"

Isaiah 40:28-31

You can watch past sermons on our website. WATCH You can also order a DVD of any of our services or handbells concerts by filling out a DVD Request Form.

Worship @ the Well

6:15 p.m. in Clark Hall
Like us on Facebook

CHILDREN

Stay up-to-date! Click HERE for Hancock's blog for Children and Youth Programs

Sunday, September 15th

Celebration Sunday!

All Programs for Children and Youth Being. Children in grades PreK-5th will head to the Kathie Stuart Room for Chapel Time, then to classroom activities.

Children's Choir to Begin

September 22nd!

Our children's choir, the Hancock Choristers, will begin rehearsals on Sunday, September 22nd at 11:15 in room 212. The Choristers is open to kids from 1st-6th grade. It's fast paced, fun, and a great place to learn about music, singing, and the many kinds of music of our church. The choir sings in worship about 4 times during the year. Bring your child by to give it a try! The Choristers is led by Mark Morgan.

JUNIOR YOUTH ORGANIZATION

Sunday, September 15th

Celebration Sunday!

All Programs for Children and Youth Begin. The Junior Youth Organization for middle school youth will meet in the Upper Room classroom. Follow the BLOG for program notes.

OWL Parent Orientation Sept 15th

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Parent Orientation meeting for Parents of 8th graders will be Sunday evening, September 15 at 7 p.m. in the Kathie Stuart Room.

Confirmation Orientation Sept 15th

9th graders and Parents are invited to a Confirmation Class Info Session and HYG Orientation on Sunday, September 15th at 5 pm in the Dining Room. We'll share supper and details about this year's class and upcoming events.

HANCOCK YOUTH GROUP

Sunday, September 15thCelebration Sunday!

Thursday, September 19th
Deadline for Grotonwood Permission Form

Saturday-Sunday, September 28-29

Fall Retreat at the Grotonwood Retreat Center

CALENDAR

Wednesday September 11:
11 am Memorial Garden Committee in Pearson
1 pm Paul's Starbucks Office Hours
1:15 pm Consort
6 pm 22 Muzzey St Parent Group in Pearson
7 pm Hancock Carillon
7 pm Cub Scouts Registration in Clark Hall

Thursday September 12:

6:00 pm Boy Scouts in Clark Hall, Kathie Stuart

6:30 pm Cub Scouts also in Clark Hall
6:45 pm Cub Scouts Parents Meeting in Pearson
7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal in Chapel

Friday September 13:

12 pm Friday Friends Book Group in Rm 205

Saturday September 14:

8 am AA Women's Step Study in the Chapel

10 am AA meeting in Dining Room

3 pm Wedding in Sanctuary

3 pm Brass Group in Kathie Stuart

Sunday September 15: CELEBRATION SUNDAY!

8:30 am Chancel Choir Rehearsal in Sanctuary and Chapel

8:30 am Pastor's Class in Pearson

9 am Bagels and Bibles Discussion Group

10 am Morning Worship - Celebration Sunday!

in Sanctuary

10:20 am Church School in Children's Chapel and Classrooms

10:20 am JYO in Upper Room

11 am Activity Fair in Clark Hall

11 am Bell Open House in Bell Room

5 pm Confirmation Orientation in Dining Room

5 pm River Rock Rehearsal in Clark Hall

5:30 pm HYG Parent Orientation in Dining Room

6:15 pm Worship @the Well: Blessing of the Animals! in Clark Hall

7 pm OWL Parent Orientation in Kathie Stuart

7 pm HYG in Upper Room

7:15 pm Sandwich Generation in Bell Room

Monday September 16:

9:30 am Projects with Purpose in Bell Room

1:30 pm Skyloom in Kathie Stuart

7 pm Prudential Meeting in Pearson

Tuesday September 17:
10 am Staff Meeting in Bell Room
11 am Staff Worship Planning in Bell Room
7 pm Standing Committee in Pearson
7 pm Cub Scouts in Rm 205

Wednesday September 18:
1 pm Paul's Starbucks Office Hours
1:15 pm Consort

Please click the link below to visit our calendar on-line.

Schedule is subject to change. Link HERE to our calendar on-line!

How do I submit a piece for the Weekly?

The Hancock Weekly is distributed every Wednesday morning. All submissions are due the Tuesday prior at 3 p.m.

Submissions should include:
   Title
   Copy text
   Picture
   Contact information

Please send them to Jane Park: office@hancockchurch.org.

Starbucks Office Hours with Paul and Dana will continue through the Fall!

The best way to enjoy coffee is with a friend! Paul and Dana are continuing their informal Starbucks Office Hours for the Fall. It's a great way to chat and catch up with them. Here are some upcoming dates:

Paul's Starbucks Office Hours:
Wednesday, September 11, 1-3 p.m.
Wednesday, September 18, 1-3 p.m.

Dana's Starbucks Office Hours:
Monday, September 23, 1-3 p.m.

Location: 1729 Mass Ave in Lexington Center

Ecclesiastical Council Meetings Sept 5 in Brookline and Sept 24 in Burlington

If you are interested in representing Hancock Church at the Ecclesiastical Meetings, please contact the Church Offices.

Backpack and Shirt Drive for the Russell School

The Christian Service Committee is collecting backpacks and shirts for the Russell School! More details to come, meanwhile read more about our relationship with the Russell School and City Mission Society in the most recent Hancock Herald (page 16-17).

Dates: Sept. 8 - Oct. 8

Drop off backpack and shirts at coffee hour or the bin by the church office. Dark green shirts may be found at Kohl's and Sears; none currently at Target.

Volunteer for Rosie's Place

Please join in and volunteer to cook a casserole for Rosie's Place, a shelter for homeless women in Boston. Ten Hancock congregation members cook a casserole in their home for the second Sunday in each month, and we drive them down to Rosie's Place. If you would like to cook once or twice this year, please email Linda Kilner Olivier at LAKilner@aol.com or contact Meg Weston or Marcia Gens.

Regarding Committee Meetings at Hancock Church

We hope to reduce any frustration regarding the reduced number of meeting spaces we have. Space is limited and construction can make building use inconvenient. If your committee/organization is in need of a room, please check in with the Church Offices ahead of time, or plan to meet in someone's home.

Do You Have Mail?

Please check the mail slot in the Church Office (in the Workroom) for your Committee. In addition, members may leave messages or items in the alpha mail slots (A - B; E - F; etc.) for each other. Please take a moment to stop by and be sure you've picked up your messages. The alpha mail slots will be cleared out at the beginning of October.

Hancock Weekly

SPOTLIGHT

Activities Fair this Sunday

Join us for the Activities Fair this Sunday from 11:15 to 1 p.m. Go to Clark Hall after morning worship and meet our Vibrant Congregation. Find out about Service Opportunities, Small Groups meetings, Adult Education, Programs for Children, and Worship @the Well! There will also be a small Newcomers Coffee and a Handbell Open House.

Handbell Open House September 15th

Are you looking for something different in your life this fall? The handbell community at Hancock offers you friendship and support, a way to express yourself musically and spiritually, and upper body aerobics and humor therapy, all at the same time! No matter what your situation in life, if you are looking for an activity that is both meaningful and fun for you or your child, there is a bell choir for you. No bell or musical experience necessary, though very welcome.

Come to the Open House in the Bell Room Sunday, September 15 at 11am to talk to ringers of all ages and see why bell rehearsal is their favorite time of the week! Can't get to the Open House, call Cheryl Kraley at 781-862-2209 or e-mail at handbells@hancock.org. or Marilyn Becker at marilyn.becker@hancockchurch.org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Senior Picnic Sept 21st

The 30th Annual Senior Picnic will be Saturday, September 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Historical Society Depot Building in Lexington.

The Depot is fully accessible, and the Deacons and others will be on-site to help with anyone who needs assistance. Please let us know if you need a ride or can offer a ride to others. Paid parking is available at meters and in the town lot.

RSVP with the Church Offices, or call with any questions! (781) 862-4220 or email office@hancockchurch.org

Senior Picnic Rides

One of Hancock's most beloved events, the annual Senior Picnic, is almost here! Unfortunately, it will be difficult for some of our seniors to attend who do not have access to a vehicle.

Congregational Care and the Deacons are looking for a few people who would be willing to help drive some of our seniors to this important event. If you feel called to this special ministry opportunity (or to assist in another way), please contact Congregational Care Coordinator, Alex Shea Will, at Alex@hancockchurch.org or call the church office.

The picnic will be held at the Lexington Historical Society Depot Building (13 Depot Square) on Saturday September 21, from 11:30 AM - 1:30 pm.

Lift Up Your Voice and Sing!

The Choir is now recruiting new members for our new season. We are seeking persons in all voice parts, especially sopranos and altos.

Haven't sung in a long time? No problem! All we require is the desire to make music, the ability to carry a tune, and the availability to come to rehearsal most Thursdays and sing most Sundays.

This year's major works will be a beautiful collection of carols and carol settings by contemprary composer Stephen Paulus for choir, harp, oboe, and flute, and a gorgeous and moving work called The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass by Carol Barnett that we will sing in early June. This piece combines beautiful, contemporary choral writing with the traditional sounds of bluegrass. Accompanying us will be the bluegrass band Monroe Crossing, for whom the work was written, and who will be playing it at Carnegie Hall the next night!

Throughout the year we will be singing music from the renaissance to the present day, spirituals, gospel, folk songs, and all manner of great choral music! No auditions, just come on Thursday night at 7:30 to the chapel for rehearsal.

Questions? Email or call Mark Morgan, Director of Music at mark.morgan@hancockchurch.org or (781) 862-4220 x212.

We want to borrow your house plants!

This fall, we are inviting people to add to the richness of our worship experience by sharing things from home with which we will decorate the Sanctuary. First up: your house plants. We'd like to make the Sanctuary green and lively for Sundays, September 8 and 15. If you have a vibrant house plant that you would loan us, please bring it to the Sanctuary by 9:30 am this Sunday, September 8.

Especially welcome are those in pots no larger than 6 inches in diameter. We'll have a team there to display them. If you can leave them for a week, we'd love for there to be signs of life all over the Sanctuary on Celebration Sunday on September 15. We'll water them! Then you can take them home with you after worship that day.

On the second Sunday of each month, we'll be asking people to bring items from home to share, in keeping with the theme of the month:

September/Expectation: Live plants and greens

October/Community: Comforting Quilts and Prayer Shawls

November/Gratitude: Food for the Lexington Food Pantry

December/Advent - Manger Sunday: Gifts for City Mission Society

Take part! Share generously!

Thanks,

Your Worship Staff

Thank you for coming to Blessing of the Animals!

The first Worship @the Well was a lot of fun. We saw lots of new faces and precious furry friends. If you'd like to keep up with the well, visit facebook.com/thewellhancock. For more photos of the Blessing of the Animals Service, visit our website or facebook!

Rev Joy Fallon Installation at King's Chapel

Former seminarian the Rev. Joy Fallon will be installed as the 16th minister of King's Chapel on Sunday, September 22nd at 3 p.m. at King's Chapel, located at the corner of School and Tremont Streets in Boston. The Minister Emeritus of King's Chapel, Carl Scovel, will preach. There will be a reception following the service, at the Parsonage, 63 Beacon Street. Hancock members are warmly invited to join this celebration.

Building Progress Report:
Due to construction, the balcony seating limit is 45 according to firecode. Seating will be first come, first serve.

Entrances: Please use the Sanctuary Doors for morning worship. During the week, we ask that you please use the rear entrance. The lower front entrance is completely blocked off.

We will do our best to keep you updated through the Hancock Weekly and on our website: www.hancockchurch.org. Please look out for signs, as building access could change on a daily basis. If you have any concerns about building access during the week, please call the Church Offices at (781) 862-4220.

Reflection on possible US intervention in Syria from Andover Newton Theological School

This article contains two resources of possible use as President Barack Obama considers a military strike on Syria. The first, written by Andover Newton Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics M.T. Davila, will be shared in some area churches this weekend, and may be of use to you in preparing a sermon or congregational activity surrounding current events. The second is a petition to the White House organized by Boston-area religious leaders, which has been signed by President Nick Carter, several faculty members and alumni/ae, and will have other signatures from across the country.

EDUCATION & SMALL GROUPS

Pastor's Class will start Sept 15th

This coming Sunday (Sept.15) Paul will start the new session of his "Pastor's Class". As in the past we will meet every Sunday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Pearson Room.

At this meeting Paul will present his plans for the general theme to be covered in his class.

The Sandwich Generation is back for the Fall!

We'll gather again Sunday, September 15 at 7:00 PM in the Martin Bell Room!

The "Sandwich Generation" refers to anyone who is currently or has in the past cared for aging parents and children at the same time. This group gathers to share collective wisdom over a meal - provided by the Congregational Care Committee. A "good will" offering and an RSVP are appreciated, but not required.

If you'd like to RSVP or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Congregational Care Coordinator, Alex Shea Will.

New Series on the Sacraments

Bagels and Bibles Discussion Group
Sundays at 9 am in Rm 205

The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The seven sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant, and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God's saving presence. But where do these traditions come from? If you learn more about the sacraments, you can celebrate them more fully. Please join us as we investigate the scriptural basis of the seven sacraments. Feel free to join for the entire eight week series or stop in for one lesson.

Please follow us on our blog:
BagelsAndBibles.wordpress.com or contact Kerra Fletcher at bagelsandbibles@outlook.com if you have any questions.

Climate Activist Rev. Dr. Jim Antal to speak at Wellesley Hills Congregational

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Serve at the Food Bank September 14

Hancock will be serving at the Food Bank on Saturday, September 14 from 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Donation containers for the Lexington Food Pantry are located all around the church. Hancock has a long history of supporting the Pantry with food donations, monetary assistance and the most important: volunteers.

If you would like to distribute food at the pantry, please contact Scott Griffith at isb.scooter@gmail.com or 509-710-5371.

Volunteers Needed for Interfaith Garden

Lexington's Interfaith Garden, a ministry of 14 area faith communities, is now looking for individuals, families and friends to join the remaining 2013 season.

Hancock volunteers are needed to help maintain the garden and harvest produce in September and October. Scheduled dates include:

Saturday, Sept. 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 28 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Last year, garden volunteers raised more than 1,550 pounds of fresh produce, all contributed to Lexington's food panty. As of August 3rd, the garden remained ahead of the 2012 yield.

If you would like to get involved or if you need more information, please contact Laurel Cooley at cooley.laurel1@gmail.com. Information will also be available at Hancock's Activities Fair, September 15, 2013.

Hancock United Church of Christ | 1912 Massachusetts Ave. | Lexington, MA 02421
781.862.4220 | hancockchurch.org