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

Hancock

Weekly

In This Issue

Early Morning Fellowship

Interfaith Garden Celebration

EVENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

In Memorium...

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.

May 4

Children & Youth host coffee hour!

May 11 & 18th
Chapel Time & Class Activities: Women of the Resurrection

May 25th
Memorial Day Weekend
Childcare for Infants and Toddlers. Older Children and Youth stay in worship.

June 1st
Celebration of Dana's Ministry
All Ages Event in Kathie Stuart, and Children return for the close of worship

Junior Youth Organization

Every Sunday at 10:20 a.m.

May 4

Children and Youth host coffee hour!

May 18th
Youth meet in Upper Room

May 25th
No class, youth stay in worship

June 1st
JYO take part in Special Worship Service for Dana

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

May 10
A Joyful Noyse Concert
Post Office Food Drive

May 14
Divestment from Fossil Fuels

May 16
Women's Retreat

May 18
Interfaith Garden Celebration

May 31
Celebration of Dana's Ministry

June 7
Monroe Crossing Concert

June 8
Cantata Sunday

Jun 14
Pride Parade

Jun 19-27
Fort Wayne, IN Build

To see all weekly activities and locations, please view our online calendar.
(We recommend the "agenda" view.)

reminders

Lexington Food Pantry

May is Canned Corn and Vegetables

The Lexington Food Pantry could really use canned vegetables, especially canned corn. 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.

Calendar Day June 3rd

Hancock Staff will be having Calendar Day on June 3rd. We will need all committees and building users to submit their schedules and room needs to Jane Park at jane@hancockchurch.org by May 22nd. Thank you for your help and flexibility during our construction period!

community events

"The Journey of Dementia"

The Caregiver Committee at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) is offering a three part speaker series entitled "A Guide Through the Journey of Dementia." The first program was on April 11th, but there are two more. These programs are free of charge and can be attended either in person or at home on your computer! For instructions on how to access this program by webcast, email BWHCaregiverCommittee@partners.org.

Here are the next programs:

Wednesday, May 28
"The Journey: A Personal and Professional Prospective"
Jeffery Robbins, MSW, LICSW

Tuesday, June 10
"What Resources Exist, How and When to Use Them"
Peter W. Ham, MA, LMHC

Bereavement Support Group

Starts May 4th

The Hospice program at the Visiting Nurse and Community Health will be offering a Spring eight week long Bereavement Support Group starting Sunday, May 4, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM.

The group will run for eight sessions and is open to any adult who has experienced the death of someone significant. The program will close to new participants after the second session.

There is no fee for this program and will be held at 37 Broadway, Arlington.

The Hospice team also offers a Drop in Bereavement Group

that meets the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month from

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM.

Contact Beth Loomis at 781.643.6090 x1344 for more information.

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

Sunday morning worship | 10am

Rite of Baptism Paul Shupe preaches John 14:1-14

Sunday evening Worship @the Well | 6:15pm

Worship @the Well will celebrate spring, new life, creation, and the Interfaith Garden. Alex Shea Will preaches.

Worship @the Well Schedule

Sundays, 6:15pm in Clark Hall

Please note on May 25th, there will be no Worship @the Well for Memorial Day Weekend. The last Evening Well Service will be on June 1st, which will also be Dana's last sermon. Please join us in Celebrating her long-lasting ministry at Hancock Church.

May 25, No Worship @the Well
June 1, the last Worship @the Well before summer, Dana's last sermon

SPOTLIGHT

Spring Congregational Meeting

Sunday, May 18th

A reminder that the Spring Congregational Meeting is this Sunday right after the morning service on Sunday, May 18 at 11AM. The warrant has been posted on the website and in the bulletin, as was decided by SC in January. A quorum of 75 people is needed to hold the meeting and elect new committee members. There will also be updates on the construction, the capital campaign, Restructuring for Mission, messages from Paul and Dana, and Sue Rockwell's inimitable Historian's Report.

Celebration of Dana's Ministry

Save the Date: May 31-June 1st

Saturday, May 31

3:00 PM Reception (Clark Hall)

4:00 PM Program of memories and thanks (Sanctuary)

Sunday, June 1

10:00 AM Worship (Dana preaching)

11:15 AM Coffee Hour (Clark Hall)

Memory Book

Please send in your notes, cards, or photos with favorite memories and stories of Dana's ministry at Hancock for a Memory Book which will be assembled and presented on May 31st. Mail or email items to Krystal in the church office (Krystal@hancockchurch.org) or drop them off in the boxes in the office and the Narthex, by Tuesday, May 27th.

Gift for Dana and Sean

We will send Dana and Sean off with a dining room table for their new parsonage. This table will be blessed by being used for communion on June 1st. If you would like to contribute to this collective gift, please send or drop off a check made out to Hancock UCC, with "gift for Dana" in the memo line, to our financial administrator Kim Gladstone's attention in the church office.

THIS SUNDAY

Neuroscience, Spiritual Experience, & Christian Contemplative Practice
Sundays May 4, 18, 25 at 8:30am, Dining Hall

With Hancock's Dr. Stan Goldin (Cognitive Rhythms Collaborative, Harvard Medical School). Exploring questions previously owned by philosophy & theology, cutting-edge neuroscience is revealing that the human brain has unique & powerful mechanisms that enable us to experience our sense of selfhood and free will.After a brief overview of the new & surprising brain research findings we heard last week, this week will be an informal discussion: what does all this mean for the future of spiritually-grounded religious faith? Join us for some faith-reinforcing, mind-expanding good news!

Lift Training
May 18, 9am

Unfortunately we've had some trouble with the lift since it's been installed. We'd like to be proactive in minimizing user error by making sure staff, deacons, ushers, and greeters know how to use it. Please come to an open training next Sunday at 9am to learn how to troubleshoot the lift. Afterwards, everyone is invited to take part in a special pre-worship coffee hour in celebration of our baptisms and confirmands!

Early Morning Fellowship Hour
Sunday, 9:15am

In honor of our newest members and baptisms, staff will host a morning fellowship hour before worship this Sunday! Come to Clark Hall for a little CAKE, coffee, and juice at 9:15 am.

Last Sunday we welcomed eleven confirmands and baby Maxwell was baptized. This Sunday, Anne Marie and her daughter Paris will be baptized!

ALL ARE WELCOME!

You Are Warmly Invited to the
Interfaith Garden Celebration!

Sunday, May 18th at 2pm

5 Harrington Rd in Lexington

Featuring...

Garden Blessings by the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Association

Create your own blessing! Decorate 12" wooden stakes for the garden with blessings or garden motifs

Refreshments
More details on our website.

Want to give it a try? For information, visit interfaithgarden.org or contact liaisons Amy Swanson (amy.swanson@rcn.com) or Laurel Cooley (cooley.laurel1@gmail.com)

Sandwich Generation Dinner
May 18, 7pm

We will gather for our monthly caregivers dinner again Sunday, May 18, at 7:00 PM in the Pearson Room!

Whether you're currently caring for someone or have in the past, 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.

EVENTS

TONIGHT! Deciding on Divestment
from Fossil Fuels
Wednesday, May 14, 7pm

From religious congregations to universities to kitchen tables nationwide, people are debating divestment.Burning fossil fuels is the largest single contributor to human-caused climate change.If it is wrong to disrupt the planet's life systems, is it wrong to profit from such destruction? Should we get rid of our investments in the fossil fuel industry? Read more HERE.

Beloved Seminarians Graduate

Saturday, May 17, 2pm

Our beloved Seminarians: Pam Cochrane, Becca Lockwood, Alex Shea Will, and church member Courtney Jones will all graduate from Andover-Newton Theological School May 17th. Nancy Rottman will also be there as head usher! Of course, we'd love to see you there, so please go here to read about

"Parking for Commencement Service & Reception."

Lift Up Lexington Needs Volunteers!

Saturday, May 17, ~8am-1pm

Volunteers are needed for Lift Up Lexington this Saturday from morning to early afternoon. They are looking for 2-4 volunteers to assist families by going with them to the Food Pantry, then helping them at the consignment sale at Lexington High School. Lunch to follow. If you're interested in volunteering this Saturday, please contact Gwyn Griffith at (412) 445-3181 or email gmrohrer@gmail.com.

Beyond Hunger Event by Heifer
Saturday, May 17th

Come to Heifer Farm in Rutland from 1-4pm for activities, food, music, and fun! Jan Schrock, the daughter of our founder, Dan West, will share some stories. The day will culminate with birthday cake, Ben & Jerry's ice cream and live music to mark our anniversary and to say thank you for all of you who have made it possible for Heifer to help more than 20.7 million families in the last 70 years.

Hancock Game Night
May 23, 6pm in Clark Hall

Bring your favorite games, bring your family, and bring your friends, because we are having another game night at Hancock! We welcome and encourage everyone to join us. The fun starts at 6 pm in Clark Hall.

Contact Scott Griffith at isb.scooter@gmail.com or 509.710.537for more information.

Mark Your Calendars!

Bluegrass Weekend is Coming June 7 & 8th

On Sunday, June 8th the band will accompany our choir on The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass that will be woven through our morning service. This work was written for Monroe Crossing and they will be en route to play at Carnegie Hall the next night! They will play traditional music starting at 9:45 for the prelude, and accompany our hymns fro the service.

On Saturday evening, June 7th, the Monroe Crossing will play a concert of traditional bluegrass music here in the sanctuary. Opening for them will be local favorites the Merrimack Valley Bluegrass. The show starts at 7 and is great for the whole family. Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased in the church office or online at http://monroecrossing.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets at the door are $18 and all tickets for kids 18 and under are $5.

It's time to sign up for the Boston Pride Parade! Help us celebrate what's great about the GBLT Community! This year's marshalls are Ashley and Jamie Davis, and Alex Will. If you missed Ashley's Faith in Action moment, please watch it here. To sign up please fill out this form, or call the Church Office.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Office Hours

Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm

To help our administrative team handle the noise and chaos of the construction project, new office hours will be in effect, starting this week until the completion of the elevator. We hope this doesn't cause too much inconvenience to the church as the busy season winds down for the summer. We'd also like to thank the congregation for your support and patience during this time.

thank you, Jane Park

Progress and Hold-ups in Construction

Some great work has been finished in the Children's Education Wing! Please take a look at the brand new carpet and painted walls! Progress is being made in construction, but it's been a little slow. The construction crew has run into a deteriorated pier within the walls, and work in the kitchen is being held up by a mechanical subcontractor.

Hancock in SHI Newsletter

Sustainable Harvest International interviewed Charlotte Dougherty and highlighted our relationship with Piedras Negras, Honduras!

"For Hancock United Church of Christ, their relationship with the SHI community of Piedras Negras in Honduras has been eye-opening and rewarding...

To read the entire article CLICK HERE.

IN MEMORIUM

We extend our sympathy to the friends and family of those who have passed away recently.

Memorial Services at Hancock

Friday, May 30, 2:00 pm - Memorial Service for Barbara Moore

HANCOCK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | 1912 MASS AVE | LEXINGTON, MA 02421
(781) 862-4220 | hancockchurch.org