Adam Hearlson preaches 

The story of "the Canaanite woman" is a parallel to a story in Mark's gospel known as "the Syrophoenician woman." As Mark's gospel is widely considered a source for both Matthew and Luke's gospels, it is highly likely that Matthew's story is a rendition of Mark's. An interesting difference between the two is that Matthew chose to change the ethnicity of the woman, from Syrophoenician to Canaanite. Why might he do this? 

The Hebrew Scriptures often...Read more on our website.

Our contractor is still in the process of aligning the doors to the narthex with the aisles in the sanctuary. There will be limited access to the sanctuary through the narthex on Sunday. Please consider using one of the two other entrances. One can be found through the backdoor in the parking lot, and the other just past the stone arch portico on the left side of the church. This work will likely take 2 weeks.  

As always, there will be ushers at every entrance providing helpful directions and answering questions. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the church office.

SPOTLIGHT 

After her successful Ecclesiastical Council, Becca has been called to serve as Youth Minister at First Parish in Gorham, Maine. She will begin her service in September. Before then, she'll be here at Hancock over the summer. Hear her preach her last sermon on July 13th. Please send her a note of congratulations at: becca@hancockchurch.org. 

Just two short months after her Ecclesiastical Council, our own Courtney Jones has been called as the first Associate Pastor at Hope Central Church in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts! Won't you reach out to Courtney and congratulate her? Her email is: crjones.boston@gmail.com. We will have a service of ordination for Courtney here at Hancock sometime in September.

If you'd like to offer Courtney a gift in honor of her celebration, one way you can do so is by helping sponsor her trip to the Holy Land! "Participants will explore sites of historical and religious significance, ...and meet with people representing a wide spectrum of political and social thought." If you'd like to support Courtney in this way, you can read more about her trip and donate securely online here: http://www.gofundme.com/9gfy4w?preview=1 

EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP 

Due to the July 4th holiday, there will be no Pastor's Class on July 6th. We'll gather again at 9AM in the Pearson Room on July 13th. Becca Lockwood will join us as we consider the story of Jonathan.

 

The first Hancock Grills will be at Nancy Schlecht's home:  

197 Grant St in Lexington

RSVP at nschlecht810@aol.com or call the church offices.

To view the entire Hancock Grills Schedule, click HERE! We're still looking for hosts for July 23, July 30, and August 20th. 

The Hancock Grills will be held every Wednesday, from July 9-August 20, from 6:30-8:30pm. You can sign up to host by contacting the Church Offices, or call Lisa Sandeen (781) 424-7937. Host families will provide a grill, a backyard or deck, paper goods and condiments, as well as beverages (ie, lemonade, water).

Attending families bring their own meat, fish, or veggies to grill, and a dessert or side dish to share! Lawn chairs or blankets are also recommended. Everyone is encouraged to RSVP the host family when possible.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Amy and Lisle Swanson, and Scott Martin are back from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where they built homes with Blitz Home Builders and Habitat for Humanity. Despite rain delays and wet mud, it looks like they were able to get the roofs on all of the houses! Read their blog and see the pictures of the homes they built in 10 days! 

http://hucc-ft-wayne.blogspot.com/  

If you sing or play an instrument, consider sharing your talents with the congregation in helping lead worship this summer! We are looking for solos, duets, trios, etc. in a variety of genres for preludes, postludes, offertories, etc. for July and August. We would especially encourage middle, high school, and returning college students!  

If interested, please contact Mark Morgan, Director of Music, at mark@hancockchurch.org or (781) 862-4220 ext 212. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

In case of a Pastoral Emergency, please call Nancy Rottman through the new pastoral care number.

Do you remember circling words on a prayer flag in October, processing to the front of the sanctuary on Commitment Sunday in November, or enjoying a juicy pear at the coffee hour celebration that day? Do you remember opening a pledge packet with information about Hancock's financial priorities or filling out your pledge card? Then you remember the Delight in Giving stewardship campaign through which our church family came together to further God's work in the world!