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

Hancock
Weekly
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In This Issue
Junior Handbells
Pastor's Class
Interfaith Garden
Worship @the Well
IN MEMORIAM
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.

August 3, 10, 17, 24
Children will continue with their summer program:
Adventures in Faith
. Older youth are welcome as helpers.
Junior Youth Organization
Every Sunday at 10:20 a.m.

August 3
Sandwich making for the Outdoor Church, and all youth return to worship for communion.

August 10, 17, 24
JYO are welcome as helpers for the Chlidren's summer program:
Adventures in Faith.
Hancock Youth Group
Every Sunday at 7 p.m.

HYG is on hold for the summer. The Youth Programs listed below will start with an orientation and meet regularly in the fall.

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  

August 21
Alex Shea Will Starbucks Hours

Sept 7
Blessing of Backpacks
Blessing of the Animals

Sept 14
Celebration Sunday
Activity Fair!

Oct 4
Senior Picnic

Oct 12
Eleanor Redick Johnson memorial service
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
Sunday morning worship | 10am

Paul Shupe preaches

Special Music by organist David Owens and soprano Emily Thorner 

   


Blessing of Backpacks on Sept 7th

We will bless the backpacks before delivering them to Russell Elementary School. Have your kids bring their  backpacks to be blessed for the upcoming school year!
  

Backpack Drive Aug 10-Sept 21. Please consider donating a new backpack for a Russell School student. Drop off backpacks or donate money. Look for us at coffee hour or drop off your donation to the church office. Make checks payable to Hancock Church, memo "backpacks." All items will be distributed to the Russell School the week of September 1st and 21st. Sponsored by the Christian Service Committee. For more information, please contact Laurie Bergstrom, lbergstrom@rcn.com.  
Worship @the Well starts Sept 7th!
Blessing of the Animals
blessing animals guinea pig

Worship @the Well happens every Sunday evening from 6:15 - 7:00 pm in Clark Hall. The Well begins this year on September 7th with a "Blessing of the Animals" Service. Be sure to come with that special animal in your life for a blessing and a treat! 

Celebration Sunday Welcome Message

Alex Shea Will welcomes you to join us September 14 for Celebration Sunday at 10am. Click HERE!

To view a complete Worship Schedule of Events for September go to our website!

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN 

Junior Handbell Choir is Moving to Wednesdays!

The Junior Handbell Choir is moving their rehearsals to Wednesday s starting September 24th. The weekday rehearsal time will give us a more consistent weekly rehearsal day and also make it possible for Marilyn Becker, our Associate Music Director, to lead the group.

 

Junior Handbells is open to children entering 3rd through 5th grade. No musical experience is necessary. We will learn how to ring handbells and develop music reading skills, all in a fun, supportive environment. Marilyn has years of experience working with children and has a teaching certificate from the State of NJ. She will be assisted by two experienced handbell ringers, Joan Rutila and Lynn McClaine.

 

Our new time, 5:30-6:30PM on Wednesdays, will also allow us to open the group to children in the community at no charge. If your child has a friend who would like to learn to ring, but has another Sunday commitment, this is a great opportunity.

 

We are going to fill the spots from Hancock first before we advertise outside of our church, so if you would like to reserve a spot for your child, or if you have questions, please email Marilyn at marilyn.becker@hancockchurch.org.

EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP 

Pastor's Class This Sunday
Sunday, 9am in Pearson

 

Back by popular demand, the weekly "Pastor's Class" will return for our summer theme. Working in tandem with Alex, Craig Zaehring has stepped up to lead the group in thoughtful conversation. The class will meet on Sundays at 9:00 AM in Pearson. This group will continue throughout the summer based on interest from the congregation.

Children's Program for SEPTEMBER

Children PreK-5th Grade are invited to our "Come Join the Circle" program on Sunday Mornings in the newly renovated education wing. Children begin in worship with their families at 10am, after the "children's message" they proceed to the Education Wing for Chapel Time and activity centers. Childcare is provided from 9am-11am in the Infant Toddler Room with Eliza Duncan and teens helpers.

Hancock's Junior Youth Organization (JYO) offers discussion, fellowship, and mission projects for middleschool youth.  JYO youth also begin in worship at 10am and then head to the Upper Room for dialogue and activities 'til 11:00am


If you would like to help out or share your gifts in the classroom, please contact Pam Cochrane, pam.cochrane@hancockchurch.org.

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

New Service Opportunities for Rosie's Place

Rosie's Place is now required to serve meals that are prepared in their safe serve certified kitchen. Our casserole program of thirty years has come to a close. We are thankful for the many cooks who generously cooked for Rosie's Place.

How can Hancock continue to help Rosie's Place?

Hancock volunteers can now bring items to Hancock to help Rosie's stock its pantry with non-perishable foods, drive those items to Rosie's, donate money to sponsor meals, and/or cook and serve at Rosie's.

On Sunday, September 13, we will be accepting pantry items such as brown rice, dried beans, dried fruit, plus breakfast foods (oatmeal, cheerios, rice krispies, raisin bran, and granola bars). Boxes will be available in the narthex and at the back entrance of Hancock. Look for announcements throughout the church year in order to mark your calendar for Rosie's pantry Sundays.

At the Activities Fair on that same Sunday, Hancock members can sign up to be drivers, cooks and servers, and donors.

Please contact Meg Weston jrw46@aol.com or Lauren Shifflett laurenbshifflett @gmail.com to sign up to volunteer if you cannot attend the Activities Fair.
Volunteer for the Interfaith Garden!

It's high season at the Interfaith Garden!  On a recent Saturday 236 pounds of fresh produce in 3 garden carts were wheeled over to the Lexington Food Pantry.  Hancock volunteers helped harvest red and white potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, kale, beans, carrots, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, artichokes, garlic, basil, dill, tarragon and parsley.  Come join us working with other faith communities at the garden.  No experience needed.  Hancock is scheduled to next work:

 

Sat, 8/23, 8-9:30am  

        Tues, 9/2, 4:30-6pm

Sat, 9/27, 8-9:30am

Sat, 10/4, 8-9:30am

Sat, 10/18, 8:30-10am

Sat, 10/24, 8:30-10am

 

To sign up or get more info, contact Amy Swanson, swanamy5@gmail.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Happy Birthday Merion!

Let's wish Merion Ritter a very happy birthday! Last Sunday we celebrated her 100th birthday! If you would like to send her a note, please mail it to: Merion Ritter, 13 Pine Knoll Rd, Lexington, MA 02420.
 
Construction Update
from the Building Committee

The church has been humming with construction activity all summer long. Several issues causing delays have been identified and corrected, and progress is being made on all fronts. We appreciate that everyone, and especially the staff, is suffering from construction fatigue. We ask for everyone's patience over the next several months. When we cross the finish line it will be a joyful event!

Here is where the various elements of the construction project stand:

* Narthex: new doors and windows completed. New carpeting to be installed.

* First floor (Nursery school) bathrooms: will be completed with temporary partitions by September 2nd.

* Second floor bathrooms: awaiting partitions, and will be completed in early October.

* Kitchen: floor and hood vent complications have caused delays; anticipated date for completion early October.

* Clark Hall lift: to be installed mid-late September.

* Central stairs: steel structures are being installed.

* Elevator installation: awaiting completion of stairs. Elevator company will inspect site and announce installation schedule in early September (estimated to last 6 weeks from start date).

* Site work on driveway: repaving, new handicap parking spaces, and other improvements to be done in September/October.
National Alliance on Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering their Family to Family education program in Lexington for those who love someone with Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Panic Disorder, Major Depression or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  The 12 week course begins September 18.  For more information, email Janet Hodges at jhodges@edinburgcenter.org.  Confidentiality is assured. 
Two Bowls from Hancock Grills
 
Two bowls were left behind at the last Hancock Grills- a blue one and a wooden one, and George Packards' icecream scoop. I do not remember who owned the bowls but I think the blue one had a delicious potato salad in it.

If one of them is yours, please call the church office. Michele Cooke plans to bring them to church on Sunday.
Come Join the Well Leadership Team!
 

As part of his responsibilities leading The Well this coming year, Alex is looking to put together a leadership team from the congregation. This group will be assisting Alex in planning, evaluating, and promoting The Well.  

 

To accomplish this, The Well Leadership Team will be using Trello - a collaborate, online platform. This will allow for team members to log in whenever they have some time to contribute. Alex is hoping this medium will allow for a wide demographic of people to contribute to the worship life of the church for the life-giving service. All that's needed is a willing spirit and a love of worship! Alex will be providing tutorials for all team members! If you'd like to serve on this team or have any questions, please let Alex know.

IN MEMORIAM 

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

Eleanor Redick Johnson passed away July 18, 2014 in Nashua, NH. A memorial service will be held at Hancock Church on October 12, 2014 at 2pm. 
HANCOCK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | 1912 MASS AVE | LEXINGTON, MA 02421
(781) 862-4220 | hancockchurch.org