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

Hancock

Weekly

In This Issue

Lexington Food Pantry

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.

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.

Junior Youth Organization

Every Sunday at 10:20 a.m.

September 7
Sandwich making for the Outdoor Church, and all youth return to worship for communion.

September 14, 21, 28

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

Hancock Youth Group

Every Sunday at 7 p.m.

September 14
Our Whole Lives

Parents of 7th and 8th graders are invited to a parent orientation for Our Whole Lives: Spirituality and Ourselves (OWL) in the Kathie Stuart Room to review materials and register youth.

September 21

Confirmation Class Supper and Orientation

Ninth graders and their parents (siblings welcome!) are invited to gather for supper and orientation on this year's Confirmation Class. Following supper, Student Minister Andrew Harris will offer an HYG Orientation for parents. Contact Pamela Cochrane, Acting Minister of Faith Formation, pam@hancockchurch.org.

Confirmation Class

is offered to Youth in 9th grade, 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

Sept 4
Chancel Choir

Sept 7
Blessing of Backpacks
Blessing of the Animals

Sept 12
Hancock Game Night

Sept 13
Lexington Food Pantry

Sept 14
Celebration Sunday
Activity Fair!
OWL orientation

Sept 21
Marting to Glory Plus Ringers
Hancock Choristers
Bells Open House
Confirmation and HYG orientation

Sept 24
Junior Handbells

Sept 27
Interfaith Garden

Oct 4
Senior Picnic
Interfaith Garden

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

Adult Chrisitian Education Meeting Sept 7th

Adult Christian Ed is meeting in the Potter Library on Tuesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. All meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month.

Peace and Justice Forum

Trinitarian Congregational Church of Concord invites you to attend the 13th Annual Al Filipov Peace and Justice Form on Wednesday, September 10, 7:00 p.m. at 54 Walden Street, Concord.

Dr. Jim O'Connell, founder of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, will speak as an advocate for those experiencing homelessness.

We hope you and your friends and colleagues will join us for this special evening.

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.

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

Pam Cochrane preaches

Baptisms, Communion, and Blessing of Backpacks

Sept 7th: Blessing of Backpacks

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

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!

We'd love to include all of your pets in this service! Please send pictures of pets to alex@hancockchurch.org to include in the service! Also, if your pet can't come or has passed, we encourage you to bring a picture to be blessed (or you can email one to Alex). Children are invited to bring stuffed animals!

September 14: Celebration Sunday!

Morning Worship at 10am

Activities Fair at 11am

Come to our Welcome Back Worship Service at 10am! This is a celebration of open-heartedness and intergenerational faith. Rousing music with choir and special guests Bay State Brass Quintet. 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.

After morning worship , meet our vibrant congregation! Come to Clark hall to find out about Service Opportunities and Mission Trips, Adult Education, Programs for Children and Youth, Music and Arts, Environmental Stewardship, Holidays, Parish Life, and more!

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!

EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP

Hancock Game Night on Sept 12

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 for more information.

Pastor's Class This Sunday
Sunday, 8:30am in Pearson

Pastor's Class continues on Sundays at 8:30am in the Pearson Room. Paul Shupe has returned to leading the class. Special thanks to Craig Zaehring and Adult Ed for leading the sessions over the summer!

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Lexington Food Pantry

Hancock will be helping distribute food for the Lexington Food Pantry on the 13th of September. While we appreciate all of the support we get, we could always use more help on the Saturdays we serve. If you have any questions please contact Scott Griffith at isb.scooter@gmail.com or 509-710-5371.

In addition to monthly work at the pantry, we are in great need of people to deliver food from the church on a roughly weekly basis. We are looking for people who are available Fridays in the early afternoon. If we get enough people, the commitment would only be once a month or every other month.

Food Of the Month for September is Canned Fruit.

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, 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.

MUSIC

Chancel Choir Rehearsals

Start This Week

The Chancel Choir would like to invite YOU to come join us this season! We are especially in need of sopranos and tenors, but all are welcome. This 30 voice choir sings music from the medieval to modern, from Bach to bluegrass, and everything in between! No audition is needed, nor is extensive choral background--we welcome new members of all levels. We rehearse each Thursday night from 7:30-9:15 and sing most Sunday morning services. In addition, we sing two major works each year with chamber orchestra or other instrumental accompaniment. While regular participation is ideal, members can also choose to sing for portions of the year.

There will be an informal gathering with cider and desserts this Thursday, September 4th at 7:00 p.m. in the narthex prior to rehearsal at 7:30 in the chapel. Come on by and meet everyone!

Questions? Call Mark Morgan at 781-862-4220 ext 212 or e-mail him at mark@hancockchurch.org.

Hancock Choristers to Begin

Sunday, Sept 21st

Our Children's Choir, the Hancock Choristers, is set to start our year on Sunday the 21st at 11:15 in Room 212. This high energy, fast paced group is open to kids in grades 1-5. We rehearse most Sundays 11:15 to noon, and sing in church about 4 times a year. This is a great place to learn the basics of singing and music, how to work with a group, learn some of the music of our church tradition, and to have fun! Led by Mark Morgan and accompanied by Marilyn Becker.

Questions? Call Mark Morgan at 781-862-4220 ext 212 or e-mail him at mark@hancockchurch.org

Marting to Glory Plus Ringers

First Rehearsal is September 21, 9-9:50am

An intergenerational handbell choir for middle school to adult ringers of all abilities, playing intermediate-level music. Contact handbells@hancockchurch.org. READ MORE HERE.

Handbell Open House

September 21, 11:15am

No bell or musical experience necessary, though very welcome! Come to the Open House in the Bell Room Sunday, September 21 at 11am to talk to ringers of all ages and see why bell rehearsal is their favorite time of the week! Contact Cheryl Kraley, handbells@hancockchurch.org or Marilyn Becker, marilyn@hancockchurch.org.

Junior Handbell Choir is Moving to Wednesdays!

The Junior Handbell Choir is moving their rehearsals to Wednesdays starting September 24th, 5:30-6:30 PM.

Junior Handbells, led by Associate Music Director Marilyn Becker, is open to children entering 3rd through 5th grade. No musical experience is necessary.

READ MORE HERE.

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.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

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.

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.

IN MEMORIAM

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