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

Hancock

Weekly

In This Issue

Courtney Jones Ordination

Rception Help

First and Third

Pearson Room Sessions

Pastor's Class

VOLUNTEER/SERVICE

Cycle for Life

Lexington Food Pantry

Interfaith Garden

Neighbors in Need

Construction Sneak Peak

Letter from Nariman and Ann

TV UPDATE

Announcements Notification

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.

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.

September 14, 21, 28

Welcome Children to Chapel Time & Classroom Activities

Theme: Jesus, the Teacher

"Discovering the Beatitudes and Jesus' call that we are the salt and light of the world!"

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 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

Upcoming Themes for the Fall

The Big C's-Covenant, Communion and Community

Hancock Youth Group

Every Sunday at 7 p.m.

September 21
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 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

Heifer: Global Harvest Festival, Oct 4-5

Heifer International is hosting a Two Day Global Harvest Festival at their farm in Rutland, MA, October 4-5 from 10am-4pm. It's only $10 per vehicle, so be sure to carpool! Tour Heifer's Global Village, take a hayride through the pumpkin patch, roast coffee, make beeswax candles, and meet farm animals!

(508) 886-2221 or heifer.farm@heifer.org

Submit a piece for the Hancock Weekly
or Sunday Bulletin

The Hancock Weekly is distributed every Wednesday, around noon. The submission deadline is that same Wednesday at 9am. Please send them to Jane Park, jane@hancockchurch.org.

Submissions for the Sunday Bulletin are due the Wednesday prior, as well. Submissions to the Sunday Bulletin should be sent to Krystal Neale, krystal@hancockchurch.org.

Please include: Title, Copy text, Contact information, and Image as an attachment.

IN WORSHIP

Sunday morning worship | 10am

Alex Shea Will preaches on Matthew 21:28-32

Evening Worship @the Well | 6:15pm

Alex Shea Will preaches

Join us before worship around 6PM for light refreshments, fellowship, and music from the band!

Harvard Collegium Singing in morning worship

The Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum is Harvard's undergraduate mixed choir, one of the three Holden Choruses (along with the Harvard Glee Club and the Radcliffe Choral Society). The Collegium was founded by F. John Adams in 1971 during the coeducational merger of Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, and the group rose to prominence during Jameson Marvin's thirty-two-year tenure as Director of Choral Activities.

Ordination of Courtney Jones

Sunday, September 28th at 3:00 PM

On Sunday, September 28th at 3:00 PM, we'll ordain our own Courtney Jones to christian ministry in the UCC. As many of you know, she has been called as the Associate Minister to Hope Central Church in Jamaica Plain, MA. As part of the ordination, it is traditional for the sponsoring congregation (that's us!) to present the newly ordained with a few gifts. (e.g. study texts, communion-ware, stoles, etc.)

If anyone would like to contribute to the purchasing of a gift, please make your check out to Hancock UCC and write "Courtney's Ordination" in the memo line. Whether you contribute or not, please join us on the 28th at 3PM as we support Courtney in this important and holy day.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Acting Minister Alex Will, Alex@HancockChurch.org.

Help Needed for Reception

This Sunday at 3pm is Courtney Jones' Ordination! We could use a few hands to help with the reception. If you can help with set-up, baked goods, or clean-up, please contact Carol Puschak, cpuschak@msn.com or (781) 863-8635. Thank you for your support!

EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP

First and Third Thursday Discussion Group

This year the First Thursday Discussion Group will meet twice a month. So the group will be renamed to the First and Third Thursday Discussion Group. Our first meeting will be October 2, 2014 at 10 am in the Pearson room. The book we will be discussing is "God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run The World" by Stephen Prothero.

READ MORE HERE. Come to as many as you can, even if you have not read the assignment, for a lively discussion. Contact: Lois Smith Martin, smithmartin224@verizon.net or (781) 270-0304.

New Pearson Room Sessions

2nd, 3rd, 4th Sundays at 11:15am

Listen. Learn. Pray. These three words will shape our congregational life in the year to come. We urge each person to engage in all three, and your ministers will offer opportunities for doing so. Join one of us at 11:30 Sunday morning in the Pearson Room:

Second Sunday of each month - We'll listen to the hopes and concerns of all who join us
Third Sunday of the month - We'll offer a chance to learn more about the work of Hancock and of the United Church of Christ
Fourth Sunday of the month - We'll share together the hopes and concerns of our lives and join in prayer together

We invite one and all to join us as we Listen, Learn and Pray.

-Paul, Alex, Pam, Nancy and Andrew

Pam leads "Praying Sunday" at 11:15 this Sunday in the Pearson Room. Feel free to grab a snack from coffee hour and stop in!

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

Steve Cooper - Cycle for Life

Steve Cooper is riding the Cycle for Life, which supports funding for Cystic Fibrosis. He'll ride a 65 mile loop that starts and ends in Holliston, MA. If you would like to donate to Steve's campaign, click HERE!

Lexington Food Pantry

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.

Volunteer at the Interfaith Garden!

The Interfaith Garden is still producing lots of vegetables for the benefit of the Lexington Food Pantry. Working along with other faith communities, we are now tending and harvesting our fall crops of lettuce, squashes, kale, Swiss chard, pumpkins, herbs, and more.

Hancock will be working next Saturday, 9/27 scheduled along with folks from First Parish and Follen. Many thanks to Candy, Shirley, Amy O., Laurel and Mark who have said they were available next Sat. Next days for Hancock volunteers are:

Sat 9/27/14 8:30 to 10am

Sat 10/4/14 8:30 to 10am

Sat 10/18/14 8:30 to 10am

Sat 10/25/14 8:30 to 10am

For more information contact Laurel Cooley at cooley.laurel1@gmail.com

Neighbors in Need

Neighbors in Need is a special mission offering of the UCC that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the US. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministries. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries to support a variety of justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects.

Look for more information on how you can help in this Sunday's Bulletin.

MUSIC

Join Hancock Choristers!

Our Children's Choir, the Hancock Choristers began on Sunday the 21st 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

Junior Handbell Choir TODAY!

Junior Handbells will begin rehearsing today at 4:30PM in the bell room. Children in 3rd grade and above are welcome to join. This group is open to the community at no charge, so feel free to invite a friend.

No musical experience is necessary. READ MORE HERE.

If you would like to reserve a spot for your child, or if you have questions, please email Marilyn at marilyn.becker@hancockchurch.org.

Seeking Sopranos and Altos!

The Chancel Choir is in need of 3-4 sopranos and 2 or 3 altos to fill out our group! Why sing in choir?

Great health benefits (we're not kidding! It is well documented that singing in choir is great mind/body exercise)
There's nothing like making great music with other people (just ask a choir member)
An excellent way to "take a break" in your week and do something for yourself that is also completely communal
A great way to participate in the life of the church

You do NOT need to:

audition
be an experienced choral singer
have a great voice
know a lot about music
have to commit to singing each and every week all year. We can accommodate a variety of life/work schedules

So come join us! We meet on Thursday evening from 7:30-9:15 in the Chapel, and sing most Sundays starting at 8:45. Questions? Contact Mark Morgan at mark@hancockchurch.org or at 781-862-4220.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Construction Sneak Peak

Curious about what is behind those construction doors? Want to look at the new stairs? This week, immediately after the 10 AM service, you can get your chance! Meet members of the Building Committee at either the construction door next to the staff offices on the first floor, or the construction door at the end of the CE Wing on the second floor.

Hope to see you there!

Letter from Nariman and Ann

Dear Hancock Family,

We do not know where to begin to express our gratitude to all of you for your ongoing support and love over these last two unbelievably painful months. You have nurtured us with warm embraces, good food, beautiful flowers, and loving phone calls, cards and emails. You have prayed for us. You have let us know that you care even when we have been unable to respond. You have given more than generously to the children's fund.

And then twenty-five of you, plus our own Peter, Ashlee and Alison, gave up the better part of a beautiful Friday and Saturday to build dressers and clean up and paint our basement for the "kid room." The kids say "thank you so much" and "thank you thank you thank you!"

From the moment we walked into Hancock Church twenty-two years ago we knew that it was a good place. We always took for granted the fact that we help each other out in any kind of crisis. But we never truly saw the depth of the love and nurturing at Hancock until this time when we have needed it so desperately.

Thank you all, ever so much, our true extended family.
With love,

Peter, Ashlee, Justin, the children, Ann and Nariman

TV Studio UPDATE

The television ministry is pleased to learn from LexMedia that the audio issues they have had with the cable feed from the church have been addressed. The problem has been occurring for about a month and we very much appreciate our viewers alerting us to the issue, which is not discernible within the church. Thank you to LexMedia for pursuing it with their provider and thank all of you for your patience and for your viewership.

Sue Rockwell

Announcements Notification

For the coming week please send all announcements to Krystal Neale at office.assistant@hancockchurch.org.

Thank you

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