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

CONTENTS

In This Issue

This Sunday...

Starbucks Office Hours this week

Join Chancel Choir

Fossil Fuel Divestment

New Class: Learning in the Living Room

Theology on Tap starting up!

Bagels and Bibles New Location

First Thursdays

Backpack and Shirt Drive

RESOURCES

The Spring Herald on-line!

WORSHIP

Morning Worship at 10 a.m.

Preaching this week: Dana Allen Walsh

Expectation: Hopefulness

Habbakuk 2:1-4

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
Preaching this week: Becca Lockwood
Like us on Facebook

CHILDREN

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

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

The Junior Youth Organization for middle school youth will meet in the Upper Room classroom. Follow the

BLOG for program notes.

HANCOCK YOUTH GROUP

Thursday, September 19th
Deadline for Grotonwood Permission Form

Sunday, September 22nd
Apple Picking at 1 pm
No meeting tonight

Saturday-Sunday, September 28-29

Fall Retreat at the Grotonwood Retreat Center

Thanks HYG for a great first meeting

CALENDAR

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

Thursday September 19:

7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal in Chapel
7:30 pm HEAT in Pearson

Friday September 20:

9:30 am Morning Glory Ringers in Bell Room

Saturday September 21:

8 am AA Women's Step Study in the Chapel

10 am AA meeting in Dining Room

11:30 am Senior Picnic at the Historical Society Depot Building in Depot Sq

3 pm Wedding in Sanctuary

3 pm Brass Group in Kathie Stuart

Sunday September 22:

8:30 am Dana Russian Brass Group in Dining Room

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 in Library

9 am Junior Handbell Choir in Kathie Stuart

9 am Marting to Glory in Bell Room

10 am Morning Worship in Sanctuary

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

10:20 am JYO in Upper Room

11 am Fellowship Hour in Clark Hall

11:15 am Hancock Choristers in Rm 212

1 pm HYG Apple Picking

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 in Kathie Stuart

7 pm No HYG Meeting Today

Monday September 23:

9:30 am Projects with Purpose in Bell Room

1:30 pm Skyloom in Kathie Stuart

7:30 pm Membership Growth Committee

7:30 pm Lexington Girl Scouts in Kathie Stuart

Tuesday September 24:
10 am Staff Meeting in Bell Room
11 am Staff Worship Planning in Bell Room
7 pm Ecclesiastical Council in Burlington
7:30 pm Theology on Tap at Orlean's in Davis Sq

Wednesday September 25:
1:15 pm Consort
7 pm Learning in the Living Room (with Paul Shupe)
7 pm Hancock Carillon in Bell Room

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

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

Ecclesiastical Council Meeting Sept 24 in Burlington

The Committee on Ministry of the Metropolitan Boston Association (MBA) calls an Ecclesiastical Council (EC) meeting whenever a candidate for ordination in the United Church of Christ (UCC) has completed all of its requirements as a student 'in care'.

The purpose of the EC meeting is to discern if the person 'in care' is called to ordained ministry within and on behalf of the UCC. The UCC entrusts to clergy and lay delegates of an Association the authority to approve or deny a candidate for ordination.

There are currently about 70 churches in the MBA. Lay delegates from Hancock Church are Connie Ahara, Stan Goldin, Barbara Martin, and Lois Martin.

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.

Lexington Food Pantry

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.

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.

Hancock Weekly

SPOTLIGHT

The Senior Picnic is this Saturday!

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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EVENTS

Balcony max occupancy is 49 people

For the duration of construction in accordance with the fire marshall, the balcony can only seat 49 people. If the ushers restrict you from sitting there, please know we have reached maximum occupancy.

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.

Submit a piece for the Hancock 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
   Contact information

Image as an attachment

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 18, 1-3 p.m.

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

Location: 1729 Mass Ave in Lexington Center

Lift Up Your Voice and Sing with Us!

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.

Help Decorate the Sanctuary on
2nd Sundays of the month

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.

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

Hancock has already fully divested from 3 fossil fuel funds

Persuaded that reducing fossil fuel holdings and favoring sustainable energy alternatives was the prudent plan of action, the Permanent Endowment committee voted to limit Hancock's fossil fuel investments to the extent feasible while continuing to uphold its fiduciary responsibilities.

We have already acted by fully divesting from those three funds (about 9% of our portfolio) with the highest concentrations of fossil fuels and related industries. These were replaced with one broader basket commodity fund and two greener, natural resource and alternative energy related investments.

Read the full article on our website: www.hancockchurch.org

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.

EDUCATION & SMALL GROUPS

New Class: Learning in the Living Room!

This fall the Adult Education Committee is offering six Wednesday evening house gatherings as an opportunity for learning and fellowship. A different member of our staff will lead each gathering. Each one will cover a different topic, begin with a brief overview and then continue with a discussion. You are welcome to come to one gathering, a few, or all six! No homework and no grades,

just an opportunity to learn and connect.

Next Wednesday, Sept 25th, will be our first meeting in Karen Petersen and Dennis Busa's Living Room at 6 Westminster Ave in Lexington!

Here is a schedule of Discussion Leaders:
   Sept 25 Paul Shupe
   Oct 2 Becca Lockwood
   Oct 9 Alex Shea Will
   Oct 16 Dana Allen Walsh
   Oct 23 Pam Cochrane
   Oct 30 Nancy Rottman

Theology on Tap (ToT) will meet Sept 24th

Theology on Tap is a group for 20 to 30-somethings who desire to engage in open and honest dialogue around faith, beliefs, and our culture. The group gathers for a monthly discussion in Davis Square with a focus on a particular theme each time. Friends, frenemies, neighbors, everyone is welcome! Some people who attend ToT grew up at Hancock, others have never stepped foot in the church, some people are sure about their beliefs, some people have no clue what they believe. Besides our monthly discussion, ToT also engages in service projects, summer BBQs, film-screenings, and the Boston Pride Parade.

This fall we'll meet: Sept. 24th, Oct. 29th, Nov. 17th, and Dec. 17th. All of our meetings are at Orleans in Davis Sq at 7:30 p.m.

Join our facebook group and follow our twitter: @bostontot
Contact Sarah Keeping at sarah.keeping@gmail.com or Dana Allen Walsh at dana@hancockchurch.org for more information.

New Series on the Sacraments
NEW LOCATION!

Bagels and Bibles Discussion Group
Sundays at 9 am in the Potter Library

The Latin word sacramentum means "a sign of the sacred." The two 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.

First Thursday Discussion Group

The First Thursday Discussion Group will continue this fall. Rev. Dana Allen Walsh will be leading the group. The group meets:

October 3

November 7

December 5

at 10 am in the Pearson room.

We will be discussing Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. All are welcome to join the group for a lively conversation of thinking outside of the box. Contact: Lois Smith Martin smithmartin224@verizon.net, (781) 270-0304.

There is a lot of buzz about this new book.

Like or dislike; agree or disagree, come and join the conversation! Here are some quotes from the book we'll be discussing:

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

"Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence."

"We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change."

It is a book that both men and women can share in a conversation of how to better communicate in the workplace. Even if you are out of the workplace at the present moment, your experiences can add to the discussion. We hope you will join us in discussing this much talked about book.

The first four chapters will be discussed October 3rd.

Wanted: Open-minded believers and skeptics (including open-minded atheists) to explore the frontiers of human knowledge on the relationships between theology and science and between different, sometimes conflicting, religions. The text to be used is One God for Everyone.

This first edition is copyrighted but not intended for publication. Valid criticisms and suggestions will be incorporated into a revised second edition intended for publication.

Introductory, exploratory sessions will be held in the Pearson Room on Sunday, September 29 from 11:30 a.m. - 12noon, and for those who prefer the evening from 7 - 7:30 p.m. Observers are also welcome.

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

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Help a child at Russell School, Dorchester!

Donate a Backpack or Shirt today!

null Yes, school is underway and there is still a need for backpacks and uniform shirts at the Russell School in Dorchester for students K-5. Hancock is hoping to provide them with 30 shirts and 30 backpacks by the week of Oct. 6th. Will you help us out?

Let us do the shopping for you!

A dark green uniform polo shirt is only $10.

Backpacks are $20 -$25.

Shirts are out of season at the local stores but Christian Service Committee (CSC) will be ordering them online. Look for the CSC table at coffee hour or drop off cash, check, or backpack at the Church Office. Please make checks payable to Hancock UCC and note "shirt" or "backpack" in the memo.

With your help, Hancock will make a difference in a life of a child in Dorchester. All items will be distributed to the Russell Elementary School in Dorchester the week of Oct. 6th. This event is sponsored by the Christian Service Committee.

Please contact Gwyn, gmrohrer@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer service.

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