SPOTLIGHT

UPCOMING EVENTS 

This Sunday (November 17), we would like everyone to bring canned goods for the Lexington Food Pantry.  

We'll decorate the Sanctuary with non-perishable food goods of all different colors to remind us of this month's theme: Gratitude.   

Look for baskets in the sanctuary, or place your cans and boxed foods along the side walls (see photo below). The food of the month for November is 15 oz canned fruit, along with 20-22oz pineapple.  

We accept donations to the food pantry all-year long. 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.

Stewardship is:

Recently, a fellow Hancock member suggested rather than providing guidelines on how much to give to Hancock, that we invite our congregation to consider this question: "How much do you keep?"  

If Stewardship is what you do with all that you have after you say, "I believe", how do you answer the question of how much to keep? As you prayerfully consider your individual needs and the needs in the greater world, what will you do with all that you have?  

The dollars given to Hancock Church for use in 2014 allow our congregation to do the work God is calling us to do: helping those less fortunate, caring for each other, and learning and growing in relationship with God. Unlike some other denominations, Hancock does not receive support from a central office or institution. By completing a pledge card and stating the amount you will give in 2014, you provide lay leadership with more certainty and the ability to plan for next year. Since we are part of the congregational tradition, we carry both the authority and the responsibility for our building and our finances.

To learn more about stewardship in the congregational tradition, please go the Hancock Church website.

Your 2014 Stewardship Team: Bess Deck, Robin DiGiammarino, Skip Irving, Manuel Navia

Come lift your spirits and embrace the Advent season by participating in a beloved Hancock tradition: Manger Sunday.

During morning worship on December 8, we will process to the manger with gifts for those less fortunate. Hancock, along with 40 other churches and groups in the greater-Boston area, delivers the gifts to City Mission Society's Christmas Shop distribution center in Winchester. CMS requests the following new, unwrapped items for families in need:

• Winter coats, sweaters and sweatshirts (large sizes especially)
• Hats, mittens, gloves and scarves
• Socks and underwear
• Blankets and backpacks
• Toys, games, and books for all ages
• Gift cards from Target, Marshalls, Walgreens, CVS, Kohls, Walmart, Stop and Shop, Shaw's and other merchants

Volunteers are needed to help deliver the gifts to Winchester after the service on Sunday, December 8 from 12:30pm-1:30pm, and to help sort items at the Christmas Shop at future dates. Please contact April Julich Perez (aprilpomme@yahoo.com) for information or if you would like to help.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HancockHymnal 

 EDUCATION & SMALL GROUPS 

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 - we'll be discussing ch. 5-8 

   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."