The Newells: A Hancock Family
Written, researched, and submitted by Hancock Assistant Historian, Bruce Stone The story of the Newell family, which covers the later decades of the 19th century and most of the 20th, began with Arthur Newell and Mary Greeley. Arthur Webster Newell was born on January 30, 1854 and grew up in Chelsea MA. Because his parents...
Hancock’s Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort recognized as Outstanding by the Fuller Center!
In May of 2013, Hancock sent 11 hard-working adults to regions of New Jersey most devastated by Hurricane Sandy the previous fall. For a full week they hung sheet rock, painted, and installed flooring. They found that through this work, their friendships with one another were strengthened, their commitment to social justice was renewed, and...
Lexington’s Hancock Church appeals to new generations through music | Lexington Minuteman December 13th, 2012
Lexington — The Rev. Paul Shupe knows there has been a sharp decline in Americans who identify themselves as religious. But he believes members of Lexington’s Hancock United Church of Christ, Congregational can turn that sentiment around through music. Founded in 1868, Hancock is a mainline Protestant church and part of the United Church of...
Lexington Interfaith Garden grows food for families in need | Lexington Minuteman October 30th, 2012
With the harvest nearly over, Lexington can celebrate a successful third season for its Interfaith Garden. More than 1,550 pounds of fresh produce was grown this year for the Lexington Food Pantryon a small plot of land near the Lexington Green, including 217 pounds of cucumbers, 177 pounds of tomatoes and 117 pounds of zucchini....
Musical guests join alternative worship at Hancock Church | Lexington Minuteman, October 18th 2012
Lexington — Bluegrass? Jazz? Celtic? It’s all part of the sound at Worship @ The Well, the alternative worship service on Sunday evenings at 6:15 p.m. at Hancock Church in Lexington. “People constantly ask me to describe the music for this service,” Music Director Mark Morgan said with a chuckle. “It defies categories. It’s an...
Lexington’s Battin remembered as a pioneer | Lexington Minuteman August 15, 2012, Colonial Times Magazine
From her contributions to revolutionizing the structure of local government to her tenure as the town’s first female moderator, Margery Battin will be remembered as a trailblazer. Known to many in town as Marge, Battin passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her family last Thursday evening, after being diagnosed with colon cancer in...
Cary Hall auditorium to be renamed in honor of Marge Battin | Lexington Minuteman August 2, 2012
On Monday, July 30, the Lexington Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to rename the Cary Hall auditorium in honor of longtime Lexington public servant Marge Battin. Selectmen also approved a motion to plant a Canadian birch tree in front of the Town Offices Building in Battin’s honor. Battin’s civic contributions include service as a Town...
Lexington church group works with farmers in Panama | Lexington Minuteman July 19,2012
In keeping with Hancock Church’s mission to combat global hunger, nine members of the Lexington church recently traveled to Panama to help local farmers cultivate their land and develop sustainable farming techniques to feed their community. Members of the church, ranging in age from 21 to 76, partnered with Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), based out...
Lexington family among passengers of the Titanic 100 years ago | Lexington Minuteman April 12, 2012
When the RMS Titanic crashed into an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 14, 1912, three members of the Newell family of Lexington were among the thousands on board. Arthur Webster-Newell and his daughters, Marjorie, 23, and Madeleine, 31, boarded the grandiose ship as first-class passengers in Cherbourg, France on April 10, 1912, after...
A higher calling can mean 60-hour work weeks | Boston Globe, July 18 2010
The Rev. Dana Allen Walsh admits it sounds somewhat odd: a preacher who is afraid of public speaking? But Walsh, an associate minister at Hancock United Church of Christ in Lexington, can identify with the paralyzing feeling of stage fright. Read the full article at the Boston Globe.
Lexington faith communities grow food, fellowship | Lexington Minuteman April 30, 2010
The garden has already made a small donation of scallions and asparagus to the Lexington Food Pantry, an interdenominational group that feeds 40 families each week. That effort is expected to expand in the weeks to come as the garden produces broccoli, corn, beets, lettuce, potatoes, and more. This year’s effort is an expanded version...
Shupe to be installed as senior minister at Hancock Church | Lexington Minuteman April 22, 2010
Shupe accepted the congregation’s call to be the 11th senior minister at Hancock Church in August 2009, replacing the preceding senior minister of 28 years’ tenure. He has served as a beloved minister for congregations in Madison, Wisc., and Falmouth, Maine. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Graceland University, his Master of Divinity degree at...
Go Green Dance Party to benefit Sustainable Harvest International | Lexington Minuteman March 17, 2010
After we clear expenses, all proceeds from the dance go to benefit Sustainable Harvest International. In Central America, many farmers practice slash and burn farming. After cutting down rain forest, the fertile soil is only a few inches deep. Sustainable Harvest trains farmers in creating organic gardens, fish ponds and chicken coops. They even plant...
Hancock bell choirs to ring in the holidays | Lexington Minuteman, November 26,2009
The Hancock musicians use five full octaves of handbells, two smaller sets of bells, and two sets of chimes, allowing them to play with a deeper, richer sound than is achievable with the traditional handbell teams. They also play some traditional arrangements of 12-bell music, especially when they travel to nursing homes and other venues...
Unique – and helpful – gifts offered at Hancock gift sale | Lexington Minuteman November 14, 2009
For the ninth year, Hancock Church is offering a different way to share the holiday spirit of giving by honoring special people with gifts that benefit local, national and international charities. Read the full article at the Lexington Minuteman.
Buddhist monk to hold nonviolence workshop in Lexington | Lexington Minuteman October 3rd 2009
A decorated combat veteran, he began the study of Buddhism after a period of addiction and homelessness, and in 1995 was ordained in the Japanese Soto Zen tradition. Today he teaches and speaks throughout the United States, Europe, and South America as a promoter of peace and nonviolence in the effort to address the repetitive...
Hancock Church to Host Harvest Moon Dance | Lexington Minuteman September 22, 2009
Harvest Moon is an event to celebrate the bountiful fall harvest and to highlight the need to help others achieve sustainable food sources. This event is to raise funds for Sustainable Harvest International (SHI), Hancock Church’s global partner for Feeding 5,000. Read the full article at the Lexington Minuteman.
Hancock Church under new leadership; invites all to homecoming service | Lexington Minuteman September 4th, 2009
…With an eye toward returning to its past prominence in the Lexington community, Hancock has this year made bold leadership changes — the engaging preacher Paul Shupe became the new Senior Minister in August and the accomplished music director Mark Morgan became the Director of Music Ministries this past summer… Read the full article...