HORIZONS
  April 2015
  Hingham Congregational Church, UCC
366 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043
781-749-1276
Church photo
IN THIS ISSUE
Pastor's message
Christian Education
Holy Week
Good Friday Sharing Walk
Adult Mission Trip
Board Messages
Music News
Consignment Center
Haiti
Symposium on Race
ONA
Call To Meeting
Help needed
Prayer Requests

Looking for Easter Light and More

 

Tonight, we sit together in the shadows of desertion, confrontation, and crucifixion. Maundy Thursday  

(7:30 p.m.) is the most poignant worship experience  

of the year as it stares disloyalty, corrupt power, and devastating loss directly in the face without flinching. And yet the service is cloaked in love, the love of Jesus for his disciples and for all people.

 

And Easter is coming! This Sunday, no matter the weather, the light and hope of God will shine brightly. If you haven't been to a sunrise service before, I urge you to give it a try. I believe that my faith was shaped in part by sunrise services. There is something about starting your day with a miracle bathed in rose colored light...

 

How do we make Easter last? How do we make it more than a pleasant holiday? This world groans for new light and new life like never before. What commitments might you make to become a source of hope for the world?

 

Hoping to see you tonight and Sunday. If you are traveling, Godspeed!


Pete

Christian Education

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." -- Anonymous

 

HCC Friends and Families,

   Spring is upon us, and so is Easter!!  It is a time of celebration, and new life.  With that, it is our hope to keep the energy and life growing, flowing and striving in our CE programming as we enter April.  Some things to look forward to are:

 

High School -- Spring "Cleaning" community project 4/12

         preparation for leading Youth Sunday (held on 5/17

 

High School & Middle School -- Go Karting 4/19

 

Adult Education -- A movie night is in the works; more details to follow

 

Wonderful Wednesday -- In light of no half-days because of snow, we will have a gathering for our 3rd-5th graders on Wednesday 4/22 from 5:00-6:30pm where we will cook together and join in games as well as other activities.

 

Children's Church -- In planning with Rev. Pete, and the Christian Education Board, we have decided to hold Children's Church on a Sunday the Rev. Brandon is available.  This month we will have our service on 4/26.

 

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email.  It continues to be an exciting time at HCC, and we hope that you will join us for all that we have planned.  Thank you for your continued support of all we do.

 

Grace & Peace,

            Rev. Brandon

Holy Week Worship Schedule

2015

 

April 2, 7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday 

Service of Tenebrae

Featuring dramatic scripture readings interspersed with beautiful music performed by guest cellist Johann Soults and The Senior Choir.

 

April 3, Good Friday

Sharing , Inc. walk at 11am and 3pm 

The HCC sanctuary will be open from 12-3 for quiet prayer and meditation.

 

April 5, Easter Sunday: 

6 a.m. Sunrise Service - Location: the Ministers' home at   

7 Damon Park Road in Hull 

7 a.m. Easter Pancake Breakfast in the Vestry  

                      (downstairs at church).

9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Services in the HCC Sanctuary   

   

Easter Sunday Services will include music performed by a very special guest trumpeter and a grand organ postlude will be presented by our own Dr. Eileen Hutchins, CAGO. Our guest trumpeter will be Junyu Ge. He is a graduate student at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge and previously studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China.

Good Friday Walk for Sharing, Inc. April 3 

It is NOT TOO LATE to be part of this year's Good Friday Walk for Sharing, Inc.

 

WALK any time this week at your own pace, in your place, with or without walking buddies.

OR

WALK WITH one of the two Good Friday groups which will leave HCC and walk to Wompatuck and back (3 miles). Those groups will depart HCC at 11:00am and 1:30 pm.

 

$$ CHECKS made be made out either to SHARING, INC. 

or HCC with SHARING, INC on the memo line.

Checks may be mailed to the church office or placed in the offering plate on Easter Sunday.     

 

Thanks to those of you who plan to WALK and/or to SPONSOR. Please, everyone, keep the Walkers and the people of rural Mississippi whose lives are touched by our efforts this week in your prayers   

Adult/Young Adult Mission Trip to Philadelphia

This summer, a group of HCCers will be traveling to the City of Brotherly Love to serve the homeless population for one week. This experience will be full of learning, spiritual growth, and meaningful interaction. We will grow close as a group as we reach out to our neighbors with compassion. We would love for you to join us!

Please sign up in the Vestry. Dates: August 2-8. Cost to be determined (it will be very reasonable and scholarships will be available). Please speak with Rev. Pete or Tracy Allen if you have questions.

   

A Message about Welcoming

HCC Welcoming Team members are stationed in the sanctuary and at coffee hour every Sunday to say hello to visitors and to introduce them to others before and after our services. In a way, though, we are all part of a welcoming team here at HCC. Please remember to sign the pew pad (small black folder) each Sunday so that you know who is sitting near you and can say hello after the service. Please also remember to wear your name tags. It sends a friendly message to visitors and helps with meeting and greeting even those we already know. Perhaps someone who is visiting or new to HCC would appreciate an invitation to join you at coffee hour, or an introduction to someone you already know before you leave the sanctuary. And if you are new, please introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. Maybe they are new too. 

 

   

 

Women's Book Group will meet on April 13!

 

The Women's Book Group will be gathering at the home of Sarah England, 30 Elm Street, on Monday, April 13 from 7-9 pm. This month, in lieu of a book title, we will reflect on the concepts of Grace that were presented during HCC's midweek Lenten services. Suzy Burba will bring "What Is Grace and Where Can I Find It?" and lead a discussion of our shared understandings, expressions and personal experiences.

 

Women of all ages are invited and will be warmly welcomed. Now that the snowbanks are receding, there is even space to park (tho' you may enjoy the convenience of riding with a friend)! Come and enjoy this time together, and bring a suggestion for next month's consideration: Book to read, film to review, or topic to delve into.

 

If you have any questions or need directions, contact Sarah England (e[email protected]) or Candy Heath ([email protected]).



  
Outreach

Pine Street Inn April 20 

This month, consider being a part of our Pine Street Inn mission and donate your time by contributing desserts and/or by assisting in the meal preparation. Desserts (cookies, brownies, bars, cupcakes, etc.), labeled Pine Street Inn, may be dropped off at HCC on Sunday, April 19 or on Monday,April 20 by 9:00 AM. Dessert donations are an essential part of the meal and are always appreciated. Helping prepare the meal is another great way to participate. The meal preparation begins at 8:00 AM on Monday morning, March16 in the church kitchen and takes about an hour from start to finish. There is a sign-up sheet for kitchen help and dessert donations on the bulletin board behind the table used for coffee hour. For more information, please contact Ruth Whitner by phone at 781-740-2881 or email at [email protected], or Marcia Sinclair by phone at 781-740-1437 or email at [email protected].

     

Lenten Carbon Fast

You might be among those from HCC and from hundreds of faith communities around the country who get a daily reflection on email.

(You can still sign up at MACUCC.org). This week, the focus has been on divestment. Many universities, religious groups and individuals are finding that their investments in alternative energies and other screens are becoming more and more attractive financially. 

Is this a way that we can care for God's creation and our beautiful home?

Music News
Save the date:
Sunday, April 26
Special music service and piano dedication featuring our three choirs.
Dr. Eileen Hutchins and special guests will also be  performing.

JUNIOR CHOIR in APRIL

 

We made it through the long winter, and we are still singing! Plans for rehearsing and singing in church are not set yet at publication date, so be alert for our bulletin and e-mail announcements. It is never too late in the year to join the HCC Jr. Choir. If your child is pre-school through 5th grade and loves singing, check us out on the church website, come to a Sunday morning rehearsal after church, or contact Mr. B, Mrs. England, or Mrs. Ketchum with interest or questions. Come join us for the first time, come back if you've been away for a while or - just keep on a'coming!


Consignment Center

 

Second Sunday arrives at the Consignment Center again on April 12.  For the convenience of HCC families will be on hand for a half an hour before and after 
the morning service (9:30-10:00 and 11:00-11:30) to receive items prepared for consignment and to provide a monthly update of consignors' accounts

Haiti

The Haiti Team led by Joanne Carpenter will be leaving for Port au Prince, Haiti  and the orphanages there on April 16.  In addition to the work being done while there we have been asked to bring in some much needed supplies.  The critical need is clothing and shoes. If you would like to donate new or gently used SUMMER clothing or shoes in sizes toddler thru size 14, it would be much appreciated.  We have provided a box in the vestry marked "Haiti" for collection.  Please drop off all items by Sunday, April 12.  We can also use donations towards the cost of our excess baggage.  Please make checks payable to HCC and put Haiti in the memo line. Thanks so much for your generosity and support, The Haiti Team

______________________________________________________________ 

Symposium on Race April 12 2-3:30pm

HCC will host a community symposium on race. Two Andover Newton professors, several area clergy, and others, will discuss the state of race relations today and what people of faith might do to help make strides. MT Davila, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics, will be our keynote speaker, a panel will respond, and there will be time for questions and comments from the congregation. A reception will follow.
______________________________________________________________________

Be Proud of HCC...Open and Affirming

 

Save the Date!!! 

Sunday, April 19 from 11:30 - 12:30 'ish, right after church, in the sanctuary. 

 

We can be proud of our commitment to being an extravagantly welcoming and inclusive, justice-centered church and aspire to do and be even better. This is an opportunity to hear our recommendations for how to improve upon an already wonderful story.

 

Since the recent sharing of the Open and Affirming Task Force report to the Executive Council and Boards at HCC, many have said: "We are new to HCC so learning more about the history and the 'why' of Open and Affirming would be great;" or "You've learned a great deal during the task force process, and we'd love to hear more."

 

We now invite EVERYONE in the HCC family to an OPEN discussion on April 19. We'll share the full report from the ONA Task Force ~ what we did, what we learned, what's been accomplished at HHC over the past 20 years, what we are recommending, and why.  This will include the 2 items to be voted on at the May 17, 2015 Annual Meeting.

 

We all hope you can join us for this important discussion!

 

April 19 at 11:30 in the Sanctuary.

 

Suzy Burba, Anne Fanton, Clay Harbert, Gerald Jones, Linda Jones, Greg Stupin

 
              
HINGHAM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, U.C.C.

366 MAIN STREET, HINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS 02043

       Telephone: 781-749-1276                     Email: [email protected]

 Fax: 781-741-5374                                 Website: www.hccucc.com

 

Rev. Dr. Peter Allen, Senior Pastor

Brandon Harrington, Youth Pastor

David Giessow, Director of Music

 

March 16, 2015

 

CALL TO MEETING

 

To the Members of the Hingham Congregational Church:

 

In accordance with Article VI, section 2 of the Bylaws, the members of the Hingham Congregational Church are hereby notified that the Congregational Annual Finance Meeting of the Church will take place on Sunday, April 26, 2015, in the sanctuary of the church immediately following the 10:00 a.m. worship service for the following purposes:

 

To review pledges received to date;

 

To receive reports of the Endowment & Memorial Fund Committee and all Boards and Committees having financial accountabilities;

 

To review the proposed budget for 2015; and

 

To transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

 

This is an important meeting and attendance by all members of the Congregation is requested. Child care will be provided during the meeting.

 

 

Linda Ricciardelli

Clerk

Lew Scotton would like to rent a garage to store his 1931 Ford. 
Please call him at 781-749-7753 if you can help

 

Please consider sending a card or note as you pray for those whose names we whisper in our hearts:

  • BJ Gorczyca
  • Hillary Gibson
  • Betty Cole
  • Hermelinda, friend of the Mullers from Guatemala
  • Tim Carpenter, Al & Linda's son
  • Dot Wagstaff
  • Susan Johnson
  • Mary Ela
  • Lew Scotton
  • Rev. Don Fitzsimmons
  • Barbara Watts
  • Bill Ketchum, student at Andover Newton
  • Ray & Virginia DeYoung, Dee Wylie's parents