Hancock Weekly 
The Official Newsletter of Hancock Church
Worship With Us
Sunday, May 3

Morning Worship, 10am
Cantata Sunday!
Communion
Alex Shea Will preaches.  

Evening Worship @the Well
6:15pm in Clark Hall
Pam Cochrane preaches.
IN THIS ISSUE...
What's New? Be sure to mark your calendars with one of the great events this weekend! Click on May to see what's going on this weekend: a conversation on Race, the Jameson Singers Concert, Volunteer for the Food Pantry, Cantata Sunday, and Walk for Hunger! Also this Friday will be our first ever Friday Cooking for Fellowship. And don't forget, there are many openings in our Church Committees! If you're interested in sharing your gifts with us, give the Nominating Committee a call. They can walk you through the expectations and responsibilities to match your availability, and we'll be a stronger church with your gifts!

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.
Nepal Emergency Relief

Dear Hancock,

This past week an earthquake ripped through Nepal. Over 4,800 people have lost there lives and many thousands more have been injured. As this crisis continues to unfold and we learn of more and more causalities, it is clear that help is needed.  Our hearts go out to everyone effected by the quake and the landslide just a few days later. Though most of us cannot give support on ground, we can send much needed financial assistance.

Christian Service will be allocating emergency relief funds towards this effort. If you would like to donate as well please visit the Hancock website and click the DONATE button or click HERE. As we continue our week please keep the people of Nepal in your hearts and prayers.

-Christian Service Committee
Sunday Worship!

Music of Leonard Bernstein for Cantata Sunday This Week!  
The Chancel Choir, accompanied by organ, harp, and percussion, will enrich our morning worship with Leonard Bernstein's joyous and moving Chichester Psalms this Sunday. Woven through the service, these pieces are alternately jazzy, lush, rhythmic, and sweet--they even incorporate music he cut from West Side Story! This is the 50th anniversary of this popular work and we invite you to come enjoy it as part of worship and to invite a friend!
Spring Meeting Warrant
Spring Meeting is May 17
All members of the congregation are asked to attend the Spring Annual Meeting to be held at 11am in the sanctuary immediately following morning worship, to consider and act upon the following: READ MORE HERE.
Hancock Concerts!
All concerts are held in the sanctuary at Hancock Church.
May 2, The Jameson Singers
On May 2 at 8pm, the Jameson Singers will sing an American Choral Concert: New and Old Gems conducted by Jameson Marvin. Music will include a glimpse of new and old masterworks from the Bay Psalm Book of 1640 to Ronald Perera's North Country of 2012, featuring Samuel Barber's Reincarnations. Jim Marvin has been a member of Hancock Church since the fall of 1993, and is Emeritus Director of Choral Activities at Harvard University. His Collegium Musicum has sung annually in the Sunday Services at Hancock Church for the past 15 years.

May 3, Cantata Sunday!

The Hancock Chancel Choir and Ensemble will present works by Leonard Bernstein during morning worship on Sunday, May 3 at 10am. Chichester Psalms is a joyous and moving work that will be accompanied by harp, organ, and percussion. The service is free and open to all, regardless of denomination or faith. The church is fully handicap accessible and free parking is available.


May 9, A Joyful Noyse Concert
Music at the Court of Ferrara

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.   

Committee Updates
Search Committee Update

Hello Hancock!

 

The search for our Second Minster continues to pick up speed. The past few weeks we have had several in person interview and Skype conversations. We are confident that we have many qualified candidates, any of which would make great additions to Hancock. Though we are narrowing our pool of candidates to the top choices we are still receiving applications and are taking these very seriously. Every application is reviewed and discussed by the committee, and we will continue to do so as our process advances. The hard part now is deciding not what makes these candidates great, but who will be able to push us to become a stronger, more compassionate and welcoming community. We ask for your prayers for discernment and wisdom as we advance into a new stage of our search.  

 

Thank you,

The Search Committee

 

Many openings available in our Church Committees!
Please sign-up before Spring Meeting on May 17!

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.

 

Hymnal Committee

Check your dedication online! 

 You can now check your hymnal dedication wording on our website! Check the pdf and email our Administrative Assistant Sarah Burns with any corrections, office.assistant@hancockchurch.org. Click here to check your Hymnal Dedications on our website.
Pam Cochrane Approved for
Ecclesiastical Council
Our Acting Minister of Faith Formation, Pam Cochrane, was unanimously approved for her Ecclesiastical Council by the Committee on Ministry. The "EC" is the final step before Pam can seek an ordainable call within the United Church of Church. 

Pam's "EC" will be held at the Congregational Church of Harvard at 7:00 PM on June 3, 2015. The address 5 Still River Road Harvard, MA. Everyone is invited to attend to support Pam as she shares her theology paper with other local churches in the United Church of Christ. When you see Pam, be sure to give her your congratulations!
May
TOMORROW, APRIL 30, Conversation on Race
As part of a national conversation on race and justice, the Lexington Interfaith Clergy Assocation (LICA) will facilitate a town-wide Public Conversation on Race. Come and be a part of this open dialogue, which includes town representatives, clergy, and YOU. Thurdsay, April 30, 7-9pm at the Depot in Lexington Depot Square. Prior registration is not required, but helpful at: www.myvillage.us/my/LICA. Confirmed Town Representatives: Police Chief, Mark Corr, School Superintendent Dr. Paul Ash, Chair School Committee Jessie Steigerwald, Town Manager Carl Valente, Selectman Norman P. Cohen, and Selectman Suzanne E. Barry.

May 1, FIRST FRIDAY COOKING FELLOWSHIP!
What better way to welcome our new kitchen than by gathering to cook a meal? We'll gather at 6:00 PM in the kitchen not only to cook a meal for ourselves, but to freeze a portion for members of our congregation who are in need of a meal. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Alex Will - all you need to bring is yourself! Hopefully, we'll gather on the first Friday of every month. If you can't join us in May, be sure to look out for an announcement for June.

May 2 & 3, Lexington Food Pantry Relocating!
Volunteers Needed!

The Lexington Food Pantry will be temporarily relocating to St. Brigid's Church this summer while Redeemer's Great Hall is being renovated. Help us move the food pantry to its temporary home on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, May 2 & 3rd.  Also needed are pickup trucks, vans, SUVs. 

 

Can you help?  Please contact Carolyn Wortman at carolynwortman@verizon.net for more information or to volunteer.

 

May 2 & May 12, Interfaith Garden 

Help the Interfaith Garden Grow

Hancock volunteers are scheduled to help on Saturday, May 2, 9-10:30am and Tuesday, May 12, 4:30-6pm. Located near Lexington Green, Interfaith Garden welcomes beginning gardeners of all ages. Learn organic gardening and garden care in a relaxed, friendly setting. Children can explore, plant, tend, and harvest at their own pace. To volunteer in May, or to add your name to the Interfaith Garden volunteer list, email Laurel Cooley, cooley.laurel1@gmail.com. Also visit interfaithgarden.org for more information. 

  

 

May 3, Right after morning worship 

Welcoming Committee Lunch, 11:00am

Want to get a chance to meet some people and learn more about Hancock Church?  The Welcoming Committee is hosting a lunch after the service on Sunday May 3 in Kathie Stuart to give you a chance to meet some members and clergy and ask any questions that you have.  If you are interested, please contact the church office at office@hancockchurch.org, or (781) 862-4220, contact Rev. Pam Cochrane in the church office, or Welcoming Committee chair Al Bukys at (781) 674-0339.

  

Affordable Housing Discussion, 11:30am 

What does affordable housing have to do with you?

 

On Sunday, May 3rd, at 11:30am in the Pearson Room, Metro West Collaborative Development will host a coffee hour to help you answer this question and learn more about what's happening with affordable housing in Lexington.Join us for a discussion on how continuing affordable housing development in Lexington can help the vibrancy of our community and what you can do about it. Light refreshments will be provided.  

 

May 3, Cheer on Walkers with Rosie's Place

Help Rosie's Place cheer on walkers at The Walk for Hunger on May 3rd. Volunteers are needed to cheer walkers and provide them with refreshments along the Charles River in Cambridge at mile 16.5 of the walk. This check point is critical to the walkers' morale as it is close to the finish line and many of the walkers are feeling the effects of having walked so far.  

 

Individuals 12 and older are welcome to help. Great for small groups. Lunch will be provided. The checkpoint is T accessible.

 

Shift times are: 10-2pm, 11-3pm, 2-5pm.

 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Meg Weston, jrw46@aol.com and Lauren Shifflett, LaurenBShifflett@gmail.com.

 

May 15 (deadline)

Hancock Church Remembrances

We invite you to add the name of a family member or special friend who shared a deep connection to our Hancock community, so that all can celebrate their faith journeys, their many contributions to Hancock Church and our affection for one another. Please contact Bill Erickson (berickson@bfearc.com), co-chair of the Memorial Garden Committee, before May 15 if you wish to include someone special in the May 31 remembrances.

 

On Sunday, May 31, we will give thanks and celebrate the lives of Hancock members who have recently passed and are being commemorated with plaques in our Remembrance Hall. During the service, we will remember their generous and meaningful contributions to building our foundations of faith and service. Clergy will lead a short prayer service in the newly planted Memorial Garden immediately following the regular Sunday service.

Remembrances    

We extend our sympathy to the friends and family  

of those who have passed away recently.

 

Patricia Ross passed away on Monday, April 13 with her family by her side. A memorial service will be held at Hancock Church on Sunday, May 3, 2015 at 3:30 pm.    

 

Former Hancock Church member Henry Chin Park died peacefully on April 27th. A memorial service will be held at Hancock Church Monday, May 4 at 11:30am. 
Year-Round Offerings
Thursday Discussion Group
Thursday Discussion Group meets twice per month at 10am in the Pearson Room. Please join us 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
Pastor's Class meets every Sunday at 8:30am in Pearson. No homework required!

Rosie's Place
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. See above May 3, Cheer on Walkers with Rosie's Place for more volunteer opportunities!

Lexington Food Pantry
Food shopping? Pick up one or more of these items for the Lexington Food Pantry: Cereals, Soups, "Meals in a can" (ie, stew, chili), Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruits, Baked Beans, Canned Tuna Fish, Macaroni and Cheese, Spaghetti Sauce. There are baskets in the narthex entrance, and the back entrance to receive your donations, which are delivered weekly to the pantry.

For Saturday volunteers and food deliverers: In May, the Food Pantry will move to Saint Brigid's.
HANCOCK YOUTH GROUP
Meets in the Upper Room every Sunday at 7pm

JUNIOR YOUTH ORGANIZATION
MAY
May 3
Sandwich Making for the Outdoor Church in Clark Hall

 

May 10
All in worship for Confirmation Sunday

May 17
Classroom discussion in the Upper Room.

May 24
Pentecost
All in Worship!

May 31
Class discussion & project: Into the World With Jesus

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

 CHILDREN'S PROGRAM
MAY
May 3
All Age Event in Clark Hall
New Life Abounds: Caring for the Created World

May 10 & 17
Chapel Time & Classroom Activities: Into the World With Jesus 

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

May 24
Pentecost
All in worship!

May 31
Chapel Time & Classroom Activities: Into the World With Jesus 

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