Hancock Weekly 
The Official Newsletter of Hancock Church
Worship With Us
Sunday, November 1, 2015

Morning Worship, 10am
 
Evening Worship @the Well
6:15pm in Clark Hall

Please come a little early at 5:30pm to join us for a light soup supper in the Dining Room before the Well.
IN THIS ISSUE...
What's New? Morning Worship: Remembrances, Evening Worship: All Soul's Day, new Work Day, Sing for Christmas, Holiday Fair Save the Date, Monday Book Group.
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.
Morning Worship
Hancock Church Remembrances
 
Paul Shupe preaches on 2 Samuel 7:12-17. Communion Sunday

On Sunday, November 1st, 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. Paul will lead a short prayer service in the Memorial Garden immediately following the regular Sunday service.
  
Award winning pianist Han Nah Son will be joining Marilyn Becker and the choir for a rousing anthem for voices and piano, 4 hands. Ms Son will also play our prelude--be sure to come early! Our children's choirs will offer a special Amen from South Africa, and our service will conclude with the majestic hymn For All the Saints, accompanied by Robert John on the trumpet.
Worship @the Well
All Soul's Day! 
Sharing stories of our loved ones who have passed on is a great way to keep their spirits and legacies alive. We take time this week to share with each other a little of these lives and the gifts they have left behind. You are invited this Sunday, Nov 1st, to bring any pictures and/or symbols of loved ones who you would like to remember during our worship time at The Well.

There will be several altars set up around the worship space where you can place your pictures/items, and light a candle in memory of your loved one. We will have time for singing, praying, laughing and likely a tear or two. Hopefully we will also have a lot of joy in sharing our special people with each other, as we thank God for the lives of those who have crossed our paths.  

The River Rock Band will accompany worship with music by the Wailin' Jennys, rousing spirituals, contemplative guitar music, and send us out dancing with When the Saints Go Marching In.
Stewardship 2016: Live the Promise
Many Hancock members and friends have asked for a straightforward explanation of what it takes to run Hancock Church every year. Your Stewardship team developed this graphic to illustrate Hancock's financial realities.

Bottom line: It costs about $20,000 each week to be the church we are today.

What happens when we give? You've heard stories over several Sundays about how God acts through Hancock Church to change lives. Your gifts help interfaith gardens grow across the state and across the world, bring new church leaders together across a continent, and put young people on a lifelong path of service. Your gift can transform you.
Check out your pledge packet that will arrive in the mail by early next week for more information about giving.

CLICK HERE to view the graphic on our website. 

Come Sing for Christmas!
 
Choristers and JYO choir begin Christmas Music rehearsals this week--new kids welcome!

Our Choristers (grades2-5) and JYO choir (grades6-8) encourage new ids to come check us out as we start t rehearse for Christmas this Sunday, rehearsals take place on Sunday mornings at 11:15 a.m. in room 212. Come hear the choirs as we sing for worship beforehand!  
 
Chancel Choir Begins Rehearsals for Christmas Concert 
Our Chancel Choir will begin rehearsal for our Christmas Concert this Thursday night. We will be singing a beautiful set of traditional French carols accompanied by woodwind quintet. All singers in grade 9 through adult are welcome to join for this! We will rehearse each Thursday night (except Thanksgiving) from 7:30-8:30 in the choir room. The concert will take place on Sunday, Dec 13th at 3:00 p.m. in partnership with our bell choirs.
Fall Worship!
 
November 8, Reception of New Members

November 15, City Mission's Public Voice Group 
Join us in the DIning Room after morning worship for City Mission's Public Voice Group: Story X Change. This is your opportunity to learn about homelessness from those who have lived it. Several formerly homeless individuals will tell their stories of their experience. The Story X Change is a  series of service learning workshops pairing Public Voice speakers with members of organizations, institutions, congregations or communities that want a deeper understanding of social issues, particularly related to homelessness.
   
November 22, Committment Sunday 
 
November 22, Installation of Barbara Callaghan 
Please save the date for the Installation of Barbara Callaghan on November 22, 2015 at 3:00 PM. Here at Hancock, of course! More details to come! 
Fall Events
October 31, Interfaith Garden 
Come help us finish off the season. The next times that Hancock is sending members to work at the Garden are:

Sat     10/31     8:30-10am

To sign up or receive more information, contact Laurel Cooley at cooley.laurel1@gmail.com.

November 2, Monday Morning Discussion Group 
We will meet at 10 A.M. on Monday, November 2 in the Pearson Room. This will be the last session on Learning to Walk in the Dark. Come--even if you haven't read the book! At the conclusion of this session, we plan to choose a new book for our next meeting on November 16th. Atul Gawande's Being Mortal is under consideration. Other possibilities may be suggested.
  
November 14, Hancock's First Men's Retreat
 
Meeting. Eating. Mentoring, Working. All men are invited to the 2015 Hancock Men's Retreat, to be held at Hancock, Saturday, November 14, from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm.  We'll make and eat breakfast together, spend time reflecting on the mentors, teachers and guides of our lives, and engage in an after-lunch service project on our church building.  The cost is $15.00 to cover food.

Sign up outside of Paul's office or at Coffee Hour on Sundays. If you have any questions, please ask Nate Martin, rocknate@gmail.com; Craig Zaehring, craig@craigzaehring.com; Paul Shupe, paul@hancockchurch.org.

November 14, Bay Colony Brass Concert
The Hancock Concert Series presents Bay Colony Brass on Saturday, November 14 at 7:30pm. CLICK HERE for more information.

November 21, Work Day
Join members of the Prudential Committee on Saturday, November 21st from 9am to 1pm for a work day.  We have a variety of projects for the day, some requiring specific skills and others just a willingness to roll up your sleeves and join friends of Hancock to keep our building shining for the upcoming Christmas season.  Check in at the Conference Room when you arrive to  see what needs to be done.   
 
Join us for part of the time or for the entire morning.  Special skills you'd like to share on work day or a project you'd like to see done? Contact Susan McClements at skmcclements@gmail.com. 

November 21, Theia Trio Concert
The Hancock Concert Series presents the Theia Trio on Saturday, November 21 at 7:30 pm. CLICK HERE for more information.  
 
November 26-27, Offices Closed for Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! 
Save the Date: Holiday Fair, 12/06
Please mark your calendars for the Holiday Fair and Manger Sunday! The Holiday Fair will take place right after morning worship.
Year-Round Classes
Pastor's Class
Pastor's Class meets at 8:30am every Sunday morning in the Pearson Room. The Class is open to all. No preparation required. Come once or come every Sunday
--whatever fits best into your schedule.

Monday Morning Discussion Group 
This group meets every 1st and 3rd Monday at 10am in the Pearson Room. 


HANCOCK UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
1912 MASS AVE
LEXINGTON, MA  02421
(781) 862-4220 | hancockchurch.org