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

Hancock
Weekly
Join Our Mailing List
Find us on Facebook  Follow us on Twitter   View our videos on YouTube
In This Issue
Save the Dates
Notes/Reminders
This Sunday
EVENTS
SMALL GROUPS
SERVICE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Watch Sermons Online  
or Order DVD
To watch past sermons on our website, click here. You can also order a DVD of any of our services or handbells concerts by filling out a DVD REQUEST FORM (PDF). Enjoy watching! 
Hancock Children and Youth Blog


Read the latest news about our Children and Youth programs on our BLOG. 
Children's Program
Every Sunday at 10:20 a.m.

February 2nd
All Age Event in Clark Hall
An Epiphany of Love
Sharing messages of love and peace kids are invited to create valentine cards and care packages for friends and family and our church community.

Feb 9, 16, 23rd
Children will continue their storytelling of Jesus' teachings through parables. Come join the circle!

Junior Youth Organization
Every Sunday at 10:20 a.m.

February 2nd
JYO Sandwich Making for the Outdoor Church & Communion

Feb 9, 15, 23rd
Youth will continue their discussion on the gifts we bring to our community of faith and explore the practice of mindfulness. 
Hancock Youth Group
Every Sunday at 7 p.m.

Youth in grade 9 also have the option of taking
confirmation class at 5 pm on Sundays. For youth in grades 7-8, we also offer an
Our Whole Lives sexual health class which meets at 7 pm on Sundays. 

Save the dates  

Feb 14-24
HYG in Kentucky

Mar 6
First Thu. Discussion Group

Mar 30

HYG Auction in Clark Hall after morning worship

 

Apr 3

First Thu. Discussion Group 

Apr 5-11
Louisville, KY Build

May 16
Women's Retreat

Jun 19-27
Fort Wayne, IN Build
To see all weekly activities and locations, please view our online calendar.
(We recommend the "agenda" view.)

NOTES/REMINDERS  

Submit a piece for the Hancock Weekly
or Sunday Bulletin 

The Hancock Weekly Deadline is the Tuesday prior at 3pm.

The Sunday Bulletin Deadline is Wednesday afternoon.

Please include: Title, Copy text, Contact information, Image as an attachment. Please send them to Jane Park at office@hancockchurch.org.
IN WORSHIP
Morning Worship | Sundays at 10am
This week in morning worship: The choir will sing the moving gospel anthem Total Praise.

Paul Shupe preaches on Matthew 8:23-27. : "...come as you are, encounter the God who made you and who loves you still, and leave renewed, encouraged, uplifted..."  Read more.

Worship @the Well | Sundays at 6:15pm
This week's Worship @the Well:
A small group of our River Rock Band plays American roots music.

The song of the week: Watch the construction video and hear "We Are Climbing" and "Bound for the Promise Land" by the River Rock Band!

THIS SUNDAY 

Caregivers Lunch
Feb 16, 11:30am in Kathie Stuart
Are you someone currently caring for a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, or someone else you love? Join your fellow caregivers for a lunch after worship to share stories and advice. Take some time to gather in coffee hour before joining us in the Kathie Stewart room around 11:30 AM.

This fellowship time will be facilitated by our gifted Director of Children's Ministries, Pam Cochrane. While an RSVP is appreciated for a food count, it isn't required. Please send any questions or RSVPs to Alex Will. Alex@HancockChurch.org.
Hancock Choristers Still Welcoming
New Kids to Join Us!
We had three new kids give our children's choir, the Hancock Choristers, a try last week and we welcome any more to join us this week! The Choristers rehearse at 11:15 in room 212 after morning worship.

This session runs until April 6th, with a break for President's Day Weekend on Feb 16th. Fun, fast paced, and a great place to sing! Open to all kids grades 1-5. 
HYG Auction Meeting
Rm 205 after morning worship

 

The most important component needed for a successful auction is YOU! For more details and a full list of donation suggestions, please go to our website.

If you would like to help but cannot attend this meeting, please contact Susan Navia, navia@rcn.com or Lori Bliss Tambone at Ltambone@tambone if you have an item to donate or if you have questions or suggestions.

EVENTS 

HYG Heading to KY!

On Friday, HYG will take a 20-hour bus ride down to Neon, KY to work with HOMES! When they get back, they will lead morning worship on February 23rd! Wish them well on their travels! 
Bonnie Meek Memorial Service Video
We apologize for the technical difficulty last Sunday concerning the video viewing. We will try again on February 23, after morning worship in the Kathie Stuart Room at 11:30 a.m.
The Ordination of Eric Sherlock
Feb 23, 3pm

Former Hancock seminarian Eric Sherlock will be ordained to ministry in the United Church of Christ on Sunday, February 23, 3:00 pm at the North Congregational Church of Middleborough, Massachusetts. All are invited to come and celebrate with Eric. Dana is preaching, and Paul is assisting with the service. We hope to see you there!
Native American Flute Player Elke Jahns
Worship @the Well on Feb 23rd, 6:15pm
 The Well will celebrate a contemplative, meditative service featuring music from the Native American tradition provided by Elke Jahns. Elke plays two different types of Native American flutes. She will introduce them to us, provide music for contemplation, and accompany our singing of songs from the Taize tradition. A beautiful service of readings, candlelight, communion, and music open to all. Invite a friend!
HEAT: Solarize Your Rooftop
Feb 24th, 7 pm
Letter from Mark Sandeen: "I know that we are all concerned about what we can do to minimize our impact on the environment. One of the things that we can do is to rely more on renewable energy such as wind and solar and less on fossil fuels that produce greenhouse gases..."
Meet the Solar Installer Night
Monday February 24, 7-9 PM
Cary Memorial Library, Large Meeting Room
1874 Mass. Ave.  
For more information contact Solar Coaches Fran Ludwig or Marcia Gens at: solarizelexington@gmail.com
10th Annual Forum on Family Homelessness
Mar 2nd, 3pm
With a record number of homeless families in motels and a state-wide housing shortage, what can we do? The Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness is sponsoring a forum at Trinitarian Congregational in Concord with Keynote Speaker Aaron Gornstein. Sixteen homelessness prevention organizations are expected to attend...Click here for more details. 
Women's Retreat: Save the Date
May 16-17
This year's Women's Retreat will be at the beautiful Adelynrood Retreat & Conference Center. If you are interested in attending, please contact Dana Allen Walsh.
Hancock Endowment Matters...
Endowment Committee will host Coffee Hour Soon
[This is a part of a continuing series of communications about Hancock's Endowment, it's uses, and the many ways which gifts can be made to the Endowment] 

DID YOU KNOW...? The Hancock Endowment Committee will be hosting a coffee hour after morning worship in the near future (date will be announced shortly). The committee will premier a new, informative pamphlet and present a slideshow highlighting many of the existing Endowment gifts. One such gift is the Alice M. Kraley Memorial Youth Music Fund...read more here.

For more information, please contact Brad Crooke at
(781) 862-4830 or bcrookie@comcast.net.

SMALL GROUPS 

First Thursday Discussion Group
next meeting Mar 6th
Do you ever wonder if prayer holds power?  Can prayer change circumstances and situations? Read more here.

We will focus on Dr. Marjorie Hewitt Suchocki's book, In God's Presence - Theological Reflections on Prayer. The group will meet February 6, March 6, and April 3 at 10 am in the Pearson Room.

SERVICE

Off to Panama! and Piedras Negras Update

 

We have a group going to Panama with Sustainable Harvest International, February 17 - 24th. We wish them well and look forward to hearing about their adventures when they return!

 

We recently received news from Piedras Negras and learned that the school's fruit orchard, which Hancock's fundraising afforded the community, is flourishing....The children are already snacking on nutritious plantains from the orchard. Oranges, mangos, avocados, and cashews... Read more about field trainer Consuela Hernandez, the organic coffee farm, and Hancock's fundraising efforts!  

Calling all carpenters and carpenter helpers!
April and June
 

There are two events for volunteers to make a big difference in the life of a family by building a home for them with either the Fuller Center for Housing or Habitat for Humanity. Hancock will be sending representatives to both events.  

 

Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome and no experience is required. Teens 16 years and older are welcome when accompanied by an adult. This is your chance to experience the joy of working with volunteers from around the country to address the issue of homelessness and substandard housing.

 

The first build is in Louisville, KY 4/5-11, 2014. (www.fullercenter.org/louisvillekentucky)  

The second is in Fort Wayne, IN 6/19-27, 2014.

Questions? Contact Cheryl Kraley at cheryl@kraley.com or 781-862-2209.
Lexington Food Pantry
February is Peanut Butter

   

The Lexington Food Pantry could really use jars of peanut butter this month. Donation containers 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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lexington Choral Festival Great Success!
Last Sunday 10 choirs from faith communities around Lexington participated in the Lexington Interfaith Choral Festival held at St Brigid's. Our own Chancel Choir sang two pieces beautifully and were praised by all. They then joined all the others choirs and sang Franck's majestic Psalm 150, conducted by our own Mark Morgan.

With nearly 200 singers, and hundreds in the audience, this was a true community event that was enjoyed by all. If you missed it, please join us next year!
Hancock Construction Video
The construction video that Beth Rutila so graciously directed and produced for Annual Meeting is up on Youtube for everyone to enjoy! Get the inside scoop and what the closed-off areas look like, and see how goofy the staff becomes when there are jackhammers and random power outages!
Restructuring for Mission

Are there more efficient ways to organize ourselves to carry out the ministries of Hancock Church? Is a committee the answer to every question? At the congregational meeting last spring, we agreed to suspend term limits for our committees while we explore modifications to our committee system. 

A "Restructuring for Mission" team has been appointed and begun its work. We're drawing lessons from other churches and culling ideas from the voluminous literature on church organization. We also need your thoughts and ideas! You'll be hearing more from us in the coming weeks as we ask for your input via survey and listening sessions.

Questions or suggestions? Please contact chair Charlie Wyman (cdwyman@verizon.net) or any member of the team: Daryl Battin, Al Bukys, Carol Counihan, Scott Griffith, Verne Henderson, Brian Keeping, Bill McClements, and Dana Allen Walsh.
Construction Update
Do you recognize this room? Click here for the latest building updates and accomplishments.
HANCOCK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | 1912 MASS AVE | LEXINGTON, MA 02421
(781) 862-4220 | hancockchurch.org