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Hancock Weekly

The Official Newsletter of Hancock Church

Worship With Us
Sunday, March 15
Fourth Sunday of Lent

Morning Worship, 10am

Nancy Rottman preaches about Hancock as a caring community.

Evening Worship @the Well

6:15pm in Clark Hall

Andrew Harris preaches on John 3/14-21. The labyrinth will be available for walking.

IN THIS ISSUE...

Editor's Note. The last Hancock Weekly was a "special issue" for the Building Dedication (many thanks for the joyous day!), so I just wanted make note of how to navigate this new format. Worship-related announcements are grouped together in "Lenten Offerings." "Help Wanted" is for recruitment efforts. Any one time events will be grouped in the appropriate month. All news and updates will be grouped as appropriate. Happy Reading!

If you are new to Hancock, please read our welcome message and general information HERE.

The Hancock Weekly is a newsletter distributed every Wednesday afternoon. The submission deadline is that same Wednesday at 9am. Read submission guidelines HERE.

Photo courtesy of Paul Topalian.

Dedication Sunday!

Thanks to all who planned, cleaned, attended and celebrated the rededication of our building on March 8th. Here are some of the wonderful highlights:

Nearly 50 people came to clean on Saturday afternoon
The sanctuary was filled with people and joy and purpose
Our architect and builders worshiped with us
Soup and sandwiches flowed from our new kitchen
People made every stop in our new elevator, just to see where it went!
Worshipers lingered and toured and talked into the afternoon
Bay Colony Brass filled the sanctuary with powerful music
More than sixty people shared a potluck supper
Laughter flowed!
A full congregation worshiped @ the Well, and sang and clapped to great jazz music too.
Hancock Youth served ice cream in the Upper Room, and thanks to the elevator, many were able to see it for the first time.

Though work continues, the end is in sight. Come and see for yourself, and feel the renewed spirit of Hancock!

Peace,

Paul

Paul Shupe Sabbatical Leave

Paul's long-delayed sabbatical leave will begin on

April 6, and last until the end of June. Alex Shea Will and Pam Cochrane will continue to serve as our Acting Ministers during that time. You can read a letter from Paul HERE.

Lenten Offerings

Getting Real With God: Reclaiming the Christian Spiritual Practice of Lament

Saturday, March 14, 8am-2pm in Pearson

Please note, this class is offered on Saturday, March 14, only. Join Student Minister Nancy Rottman for a mini-retreat during Lent to learn more about the power of lament to deepen our relationship with God and one another. Explore the history of lament within Christian spiritual practice; imagine the power of lament in addressing injustice and oppression in the world today; and practice writing, singing, and speaking lament individually and communally. Sign up HERE.

Centering Prayer & Meditation

Tonight, 7-8pm

Meets Wednesday Evenings during Lent in the CE Commons

The first half hour will be silent centering prayer time, and the second half hour will be open to quiet meditation and reflection time. Pam Cochrane, Acting Minister of Faith Formation, will facilitate the sessions. This is an opportunity to learn and hone your personal centering prayer practice. All are welcome to one or all sessions.

Dedicate an Easter Lily!

Each year, the Sanctuary is filled with beautiful Lilies on Easter morning in memory of those loved by members of the congregation at Hancock. Dedicate an Easter Lily to a loved one in your family by returning this form by Monday, March 23rd. The suggested donation for each memorial plant is $10. ORDER ONLINE HERE.

Special Collection: One Great Hour of Sharing

One Great Hour of Sharing is a special collection that the UCC collects for Global Ministries and disaster recovery. The OGHS offering reaches those near and far, sometimes changing the life of someone in distress in your own community, while other times impacting the lives of those we may never meet. Hancock will take part in this collection from now until March 15th. Look for more information in the Sunday Bulletins.

Children also take part in OGHS with

a coin box offering.

HOLY WEEK

March 29

Palm Sunday

Morning Worship, 10am: We mark the last week of Jesus' life, from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem through his arrest and trial, to his death on the cross. Join us after worship for Palm Sunday Brunch! Evening Worship @the Well, 6:15pm: We celebrate Palm Sunday, and Pam preaches on Mark 1:1-11.

April 2

Maundy Thursday

The Maundy Thursday Service celebrates Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples. Communion, reflection, and prayer at 7pm in Clark Hall.

April 3

Good Friday

Using scripture and candlelight, we face the difficult story of Jesus' death on Good Friday. This moving service includes readings by Confirmation Class and music from the River Rock Band at 7pm in the sanctuary.

EASTER WORSHIP, April 5

6am Sunrise Service

It has become a tradition to gather atop the hill at the Old Belfry (behind Hancock Church) for a simple Easter Sunrise worship service of singing, scripture, communion, and sharing the names of loved ones who have died. Park in the Cary Library lot, and climb the pathway across Clarke St. Dress warmly for the spring sunrise.

9am & 11am Morning Worship

Two full worship services are held in the sanctuary for Easter Sunday! Our Chancel Choir is joined by brass quartet and timpani for a festive morning of music, including our annual singing of the Hallelujah Chorus! Children worship with their families. Childcare provided for infants and toddlers. Coffee Hour will be held at 10am between services.

No Worship @the Well

SPECIAL EASTER CELEBRATION, April 12

Please join us the Second Sunday of Easter on April 12 for a special Gospel Night at Worship @the Well, 6:15 in Clark Hall. The New England Gospel Ensemble provides a night of rousing music to celebrate the resurrection!

Hymnal Dedication

Our new hymnal is at the printer and will be in our pews later this spring! You have the opportunity to dedicate a hymnal in honor/in memory of someone you love.This dedicatory bookplate will be placed in the inside cover of the hymnal as a reminder of your gift for all those who will use that hymnal in worship each week. In addition, your gift will help with the purchase of all of the hymnals for the sanctuary. For an additional fee, you can also purchase a personal copy of the hymnal for your use at home. Just fill out THIS FORM. Hard copy forms will be available during coffee hour. Please fill out one form per hymnal.

Help Wanted!

We just need 2 or 3 more families to sign up to host for the German Exchange Program!

Sascha Dornhardt, former seminarian, visits with 12 High Schoolers from Bochum, Germany this year! They will be here from Mar 28 - Apr 10. If you are interested in hosting a youth, please contact Andrew Harris or Pam Cochrane for more information.

It's a Great Time to Join Choristers!

Our children's choir, The Hancock Choristers, begins new music this Sunday--it's a great time to join! Choristers is open to all kids in grades 1-5 and meets on Sundays from11:15 to noon in Room 212. It is a fun, fast paced place for kids to learn about music, singing, and to share their gifts with the congregation. Any questions, call or e-mail Director of Music Mark Morgan at 781-862-4220 ext 212 or mark@hancockchurch.org

Seeking Sopranos and Altos for Easter and Cantata Sundays!

The choir is seeking sopranos and altos to sing with the choir for Easter, our Cantata Sunday (Bernstein's Chichester Psalms on May 3rd) or to sing with us regularly! Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings at 7:30 in the Chapel. Our singers range from very experienced to those who haven't sung in years--there's a place for everyone! No auditions, no pressure, and great fun! Everyone grade 9-adult is invited. If interested, contact Mark Morgan, Director of Music, at mark@hancockchurch.org or 781-862-4220 ext 212.

March Events and Activities

A special training certificate for Youth Mental Health is being offered for free! Both sessions on March 15 & 22, 1-5pm at First Parish, are required for certification. Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, teachers, youth leaders, and ministerial staff how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge, or who is in crisis. Please contact Pam Cochrane to sign up.

Join members of the Prudential Committee on Saturday, March 28 from 9-1pm for an indoor/outdoor work day. No special skills required...just the desire to roll up your sleeves and join friends of Hancock working on some maintenance, cleaning, and repair projects inside and outside the church. Join us for part of the time or for the entire morning. Check in at the Pearson Room when you arrive to see what needs to get done. For more information, contact Susan McClements, skmcclements@gmail.com.

First and Third Thursday Discussion Group will continue discussing God Is Not One on March 5 & 19 at 10am in the Pearson Room. Pastor's Class is still meeting every Sunday at 8:30am in the Kathie Stuart Room.

Year-round, Hancock Church supports the ministries and women of Rosie's Place in Boston. If you are interested in volunteering to cook and serve a meal, please contact LaurenBShifflett@gmail.com. We also collect and deliver pantry items to the Lexington Food Pantry every week. Once a month we help distribute food. For more information, please contact Scott Griffith, isb.scooter@gmail.com or (509) 710-5371.

May Events and Activities

SAVE THE DATE! Hancock's 9th Annual Woman's Retreat will be May 1-2 at Friendly Crossways in Harvard, MA. All women, all ages, are invited! Friendly Crossways offers a country setting where the apple blossoms will be in bloom and the evening will be perfect for an outdoor bonfire. Pam Cochrane will lead the retreat. To learn more contact pam.cochrane@hancockchurch.org or READ MORE HERE.

Committee Updates

An Update from the Search Committee

The Search for our Second Minister is well underway. After several months spent creating our church profile, we submitted the finished version to the UCC to post and distribute. The team has received more than two dozen candidate profiles already, and we are carefully evaluating each applicant. A mock interview arranged by the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC was held to give us an opportunity to practice asking a candidate questions and answering questions they may have for us. Interviews with actual candidates are beginning this week. If you have any questions about the process or where we are in our search please feel free to ask. We look forward to meeting with the candidates and finding our newest addition to Hancock Church.

A note from the Nominating Committee

At Hancock, the work of the church is overseen and organized by committees. Every member should consider joining a committee. It is a way to get to know the other members of our church. It is an important part of our participation in the life of the church. Today we are highlighting the Endowment Committee and the Finance Committee.

The Endowment Committee

oversees the investment and distribution of endowed funds that have been created for the church.

The Finance Committee creates the church budget working with the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and Business Manager and participates in generating the narrative budget.