What's New? The Interfaith Garden has already made preparations for a bountiful season of growing! Get involved in Climate Action or a Homebuild in CO! We also have a full and exciting Concert Series from April to May.

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.

Gospel Night @the Well! This Sunday!

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

Interfaith Garden: The season has begun!

Setting a woodchuck trap at the Interfaith Garden. (Photo by Amy Swanson.)

Yesterday, the Interfaith Garden had its first meeting of the season! Several volunteers, cleaned the barn, composted old plants, turned the soil, and set a woodchuck trap with cabbage leaves and peanut butter. If you'd like to join the Interfaith Garden, please contact Laurel Cooley, cooley.laurel1@gmail.com.

You can also ask any questions this Sunday at a special coffee hour hosted by members of the Interfaith Garden!

Hancock Concerts!

All concerts are held in the sanctuary at Hancock Church.

April 12: Lexington Interfaith Choral Festival
Lexington's 10th Annual Choral Festival will be hosted by Hancock Church, 1912 Massachusetts Avenue, on Sunday, April 12 at 3:00 p.m. The Festival is an afternoon of choral music, sung by ten Lexington choirs.

Each choir will sing two numbers of their own choosing then, as the Festival Finale, the combined choirs will sing the "Sanctus" from Gabriel Faure's Requiem Mass.

Admission is free and all are invited to the Festival music and a reception afterwards. Hancock Church is fully handicap accessible. Further information at www.hancockchurch.org or 781-862-4220.

April 20: Patriot's Day Concert

The Handbell Program at Hancock Church presents their 12th Annual Patriot's Day Handbell Concert of Patriotic and American Music in the sanctuary on Monday April 20, 2015 at 11:15- 12noon. The music is rung on 5 octaves of English handbells by ringers of all ages in a program that is light-hearted and family-friendly. You'll find yourself swaying to upbeat music of America, including patriotic favorites, spirituals, marches, movie tunes, and music of George Gershwin. Suggested donation is $3 per person to benefit the Handbell Scholarship Fund.

Come sit down and enjoy this fun concert carefully timed to follow the morning Road Race and before Paul Revere arrives at the Minuteman statue. The sanctuary is handicapped accessible. Questions- 781-862-4220 orhandbells@hancockchurch.org.

AND SAVE THE DATE for Music at the Court of Ferrarra
A Joyful Noyse Concert on May 9th!
On Saturday, May 9 at 7:30pm, A Joyful Noyse will perform a survey of music heard at the court of Ferrara, Italy from Dufay and Josquin to the emergence of the extraordinary trio of women musicians known as the Concerto delle Donne. With background and commentary by musicologist Dr. Teresa Neff. $10 Suggested donation to support the Hancock Cantata Fund.

April

VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHORAL FESTIVAL ON APRIL 12TH

The Lexington Choral Festival was cancelled in February due to one of the storms, but is back on for Sunday, April 12th! This will be the biggest community event we do this year, and is a great time to show off our new building! We need volunteers to help as greeters/guides for the choirs, ushers for the concert, and to help serve and clean up for the reception. Please contact Mark Morgan at 781-862-4220 ext 212 or mark@hancockchurch.org if you are able to help.

CLIMATE ACTION EVENT ON APRIL 19TH

Join this family-friendly climate action event on Sunday, April 19, 2015! Hancock will be a water stop for the walkers at 9:30 am in front of the church. You are welcome to join the walkers or help cheer them on. Bike riders will be leaving from First Parish Church at noon. Would you like to walk, ride, or help with the water table? Please call or email Lisa Sandeen at (781) 863-8785 or sandeen.lisa@gmail.com.

Join us at any or all of these events:

8:30am, Walkers start from Follen Church in Lexington
10am, Bike riders start in Charlestown

12:30pm, Public gathers at First Parish in Concord

(BYO Picnic, Climate Information & Family Activities)

1:30pm, Procession to Minute Man National Historic Park

ADULT MISSION TRIP TO GYPSUM, CO - deadline is April 24th
Blitz Home Builders, a volunteer organization associated with Habitat for Humanity, is sponsoring a Build in Gypsum, Co to build 2 floor duplex homes for low-income families Wed July 22- Sat Aug 1, 2015. Details are available at their website blitzhomebuilders.org. Carpentry skills helpful, but not necessary; all training needed will be taught. Housing is at a local hotel for $50/night/person which includes breakfast. $70 non-refundable registration fee includes lunches and snacks. Participants must provide cost of air transportation, shared rental car, and dinners for the 10 days. Four people from Hancock are planning to attend. If you are interested in joining us or have questions, please e-mail Cheryl Kraley at cheryl@kraley.com by April 24th.

May

Hancock's 9th Annual Woman's Retreat

It's time to sign up for 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.

You can still dedicate a hymnal!

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.

Committee Updates

Adult Christian Education Reminder

The Adult Christian Education Committee will be meeting Tuesday, April 14, 7:00pm in the Potter Library.

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. To following will help you familiarize yourself with our committee work. Please contact Linda Williams, lbwilliams@comcast.net. or or Andy McClain awmcclaine@rcn.com for questions or to sign up.

To read full descriptions of all the committees READ MORE HERE.

Year-Round Offerings

Year-Round Classes
Thursday Discussion Group meets twice per month at 10am in the Pearson Room. In April this group will meet on April 9 and 23rd. Please join us tomorrow with a new book: Common Word: Muslims and Christians on Loving God and Neighbor. Offered by the Adult Christian Education Committee, led by Acting Minister Pam Cochrane. Pastor's Class meets every Sunday at 8:30am in Pearson. We will resume our regular meetings on Sunday, April 12th.

Year-Round Service Opportunities

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.

HANCOCK YOUTH GROUP

APRIL
Apr 12
7pm, HYG Parent Meeting about the MIssion Trip in the Upper Room

Apr 17-25
Neon, KY HOMES Mission Trip

Apr 26
Youth Sunday

JUNIOR YOUTH ORGANIZATION

APRIL

Apr 12

Youth meet in Upper Room for class activities.

Easter 2: Rebirth Sunday - An Easter Story. Sharing stories about rebirth and discovery of personal faith in God's extravagant love to overcome adversity.

Apr 19

No JYO Class

Youth are invited to stay in worship or help with the Children's Program in the CE Commons.

Apr 26

Youth Sunday!

Youth are invited to stay in worship for this special service led by the HancockYouth Group returning from Neon, KY.

Our JYO Leaders are Bess Deck and Wendy Tanahashi-Works.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

APRIL

Apr 12
Chapel Time in the CE Commons and activity centers. Our theme is Easter Discoveries: Seeking New Life All Around!

Apr 19
All Age Event in CE Commons
Children are invited to Chapel time and activities rooms to explore the Easter story.

Two Parent Volunteers are needed! Email Pam Cochrane if you'd like to help.

Apr 26
Youth Sunday!
Hancock Youth Group leads worship and share their experiences in Neon, KY.
All Children and Youth are invited to stay in worship.

Each week we invite adults to join in the children's activities as project leaders and helpers. Look for the sign-up sheets in the CE Commons area or contact CE Co-chairs Sarah Kuli and Sara Felton.

INFANTS AND TODDLERS

Childcare is provided for children ages 3 and younger in the Infant/Toddler Room with Eliza Duncan and teen helpers each Sunday beginning a t9am. Parents may pick up children after worship in the Infant/Toddler Room.

CONTACT US!

Church Offices

(781) 862-4220

office@hancockchurch.org

Acting Minister of

Faith Formation

Pam Cochrane

pam@hancockchurch.org

Acting Minister of Congregational Care

Alex Shea Will

alex@hancockchurch.org

Director of Music

Mark Morgan

mark@hancockchurch.org

Assistant Director of Music

Marilyn Becker

marilyn@hancockchurch.org

Student Ministers

Andrew Harris

andrew@hancockchurch.org

Nancy Rottman

nancy@hancockchurch.org

Children's Education

Co-chairs

Sarah Felton

sarah@manasas.com

Sarah Kuli

sarahkuli@comcast.net

Nominating Committee

Linda Williams

lbwilliams@comcast.net

Daryl Battin

darylbattin@gmail.com

Linda Nason

linason21@gmail.com

Andy McClaine

awmcclaine@rcn.com

If our offices are closed, and you are in need of immediate pastoral assistance, please dial our pastoral care number

(929) 500-1912.

HANCOCK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

1912 MASS AVE

LEXINGTON, MA 02421

(781) 862-4220 | hancockchurch.org