Announcements

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2010 -- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time*


Sunday Schedule:

 

10:00 am - Worship -- Paul Shupe preaching

10:15am - Church School Program

11:00 am - Fellowship Hour -- Front lawn
Note from Paul Shupe:
Dear Members and Friends of Hancock Church,
By now most of you have heard that my father, David Shupe, died early last Sunday morning in Colorado. He was 78 years old and had lived with significant heart disease for the past twenty-five years. He had a fall and a final heart attack during the last day of his life, and was moved almost immediately into hospice care where he passed quietly and pain-free after just a few hours. My family is very thankful for his peaceful passing, and of course, for his lifetime of love, support and care. I have been humbled by the many expressions of caring and sympathy which I have received: from cards and notes, to face-to-face expressions, to many prayers, to the anonymous gift of vegetables left on our front steps. I am feeling held and supported, and I am deeply thankful to all of you. A memorial service will be held in Colorado on Saturday, September 25. I will participate in the service, as you might expect. I will be traveling there a few days in advance, and returning to work the following week. As always, Dana Allen Walsh will be here to provide pastoral leadership and care, and the rest of the staff has been a source of hope and comfort to me.

My mother, Margie, my sisters, Elizabeth and Alyson, my wife, MaryAnn, and my sons, Nate and Sam, appreciate your prayers and concern. Thank you for your understanding. Please feel free to talk with me if you have questions or concerns.

General Announcements:

Coming Soon --

Homecoming Sunday -- September 12th: Come and See!
What is Homecoming Sunday all about? It's a chance to reconnect with one another and, together, approach the start of a new church year with renewed enthusiasm for the wonderful ministries and dynamic community that is Hancock UCC. In our music, preaching, worship, works of service, educational programs, outreach efforts, renovated and rejuvenated facilities....in short, in everything we do, there is energy and possibility practically bursting at the seams! And Homecoming Sunday is an invitation to you, to someone you know, to all of us, to come and see (for the first time or, simply, anew) all the good that is happening at Hancock. Come and see, because there is a place for you: to help, to learn, to sing, to grow, to laugh, to talk, to pray and to plan. Come and see!

Hancock Activities Fair -- Sun., 9/12, after Homecoming Sunday Worship
Have you ever wondered what is happening at Hancock beyond the Sunday service? Do you want to explore what makes Hancock special? Are you interested in meeting more of the Hancock community outside of coffee hour? Do you have talents and interests that are underused? Come learn more about the many activities that Hancock members are involved in at the Activity Fair on September 12th, after that morning's Homecoming Sunday worship service.
A wide variety of activities will be represented that day, including adult ed study groups, evening worship, pastor's classes, cooking for Rosie's Place, distributing food at the Lexington Food Pantry, the Hancock Care Team, HEAT (environmental action), the Monday morning project group, children CE, many bell and choir groups for both children and adults, work days, mission trips....the list goes on! There is something for everyone to get involved in year-'round. Do you know of or are you part of a Hancock group that needs to be represented at the Activities Fair? Contact Nancy Schlecht at 781-863-5768 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Exciting New Line-Up of Adult CE Offerings
Looking for ways to reinvigorate your faith? Think Christian Education (CE) is just for kids? Think again! September will kick-off a whole new line-up of adult CE offerings. No prerequisites or advance registration required. All welcome, including friends and family. Below is a list of first meeting dates and times. Why not give one a try? (A full listing of all Adult CE offerings will be available at the Activities Fair on Sun., 9/12, in the September issue of The Hancock Herald, and in the Adult CE section of the Hancock website.)
  • 9/9 — 1st Thursday Discussion Group, 9:30-10:30am, Wilson Room (reading: Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith)
  • 9/15 — Wednesday Morning Parents’ Group, 9-10am, Pearson Room (exploring “mindful parenting”)
  • 9/19 — Pastor's class, 8:30-9:30am, Pearson Room (examining issues debated through church history)
  • 9/20 — Theology “On-Tap”, 8pm. Monthly conversations offsite on theological issues for young adults (ages 21-35)
  • 9/27 — “Pub Theology”, 7:30pm, Nourish Restaurant (1727 Mass. Ave, Lexington Center). Monthly conversations on theological issues. All adult ages welcome!

Neighbors In Need Special Offering Sunday -- 10/3
The Neighbors in Need (NIN) offering, which we will receive on Sun., 10/3, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. Neighbors in Need (NIN) helps make another world possible. It needs your support. Please give generously using the envelope enclosed in the September issue of The Herald or the one in the NIN Offering Sunday bulletin on 10/3. For more information, visit www.ucc.org/nin.

* Seasons of The Church Year
Ever wonder what the seasons of the church year are? What is Ordinary Time? When does each season start? The UCC National website offers this resource page as a guide to the seasons of the church year, from Advent to Pentecost and Ordinary Time.

Facilities Updates --

Memorial Garden progress: Submit Your Hancock Saint Name and Remembrance by September 30th.
The Remembrance Hall and Memorial Garden Committee are making great progress on the Garden and will be celebrating the completion of the whole project with the dedication of the new Remembrance Hall and Memorial Garden on All Saints Sunday, October 31. On that special day, we will also read the names of Hancock Saints whose families have requested that they be honored with a plaque in the Remembrance Hall.

To submit the name(s) of your Hancock Saint(s) and a remembrance about his/her connection to Hancock (to be included in the Book of Remembrance to be placed in Remembrance Hall), you can email any of the committee members: Kay Barney ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ); Charlotte Dougherty (charlottedougherty@verizon.net); Bill Erickson ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ); Verne Henderson ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ); Rosemarie Sauermann (away 9/10-10/8) (rosemarie@sauermann.com); Linda Williams ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it t). Submission deadline: September 30th.

Renovations & Repairs to Lower Hall to Be Complete for Homecoming Sunday
Facilities Manager, Dan dos Santos, Prudential Committee, and a bevy of contractors have been hard at work through August putting the final touches on the repairs and renovations to the lower hall (damaged after the late March flooding). Staff are in the process of returning to their offices....just in time for Homecoming! If you haven't taken a peek, check it out: the space is bright, welcoming, light-filled, painted, and ready to start the new church year off on the right foot! Thanks, again, to all who contributed to the Emergency Fund, and to Dan and Pru Comm for all their efforts.
Save-the-Dates --
Mark your calendar with these important Hancock dates.

The end of summer and early fall are shaping-up to be exciting here at HUCC. Please make plans to be with us....and bring a friend!

    • Sept 11 -- Senior picnic (RSVP to Norma Blake in the church office 781.862.4220)
    • Sept 12 -- Homecoming Sunday; Church School dedication and Open House; Hancock Activities Fair; Bell Open House (Music and CE/Youth programs begin; check Hancock calendar on-line or in the bulletin for complete schedule details)
    • Sept 19 -- Pastor's Class and Church School classes begin; evening worship services begin
    • Sept 26 -- Seminarian dedication (*note new date*); Feeding 5000 Year 3 Kick-Off Luncheon
    • Oct 3 -- World Communion Sunday; Neighbors in Need Offering Sunday
Hancock Ministries --

Handbell Open House: New Members Welcome!
Have you ever wanted to try ringing handbells? Ever wondered what those long tuning fork-like instruments are? Now is your chance to find out! You are welcome to come to the bell room on the second floor of the Christian Education wing after church on Sunday, September 12.Talk to the ringers and try swinging a bell or a chime. If you know your right from your left, can count to 4, and like to laugh, you can ring handbells. Discover how much fun it is to make beautiful music and make new friends at the same time! Hancock Church has six handbell choirs for ringers of all ages -- from third-graders to adults, complete beginners to experienced ringers -- there's something for everyone! So why not give it a try? New ringers are encouraged to join a group in September or January. Questions? Contact Cheryl Kraley at 781.862.2209 or cheryl.kraley@hancockchurch.org or Marilyn Beckermarilyn.becker@hancockchurch.org or come to the Open House.
Calling All Stitchers!
The Projects with Purpose group is in the process of making a quilted banner for the sanctuary. Our quilt is going to be a Cathedral Window Quilt, which is a quilt which folds and stitches fabric so that in the end it is reminiscent of a cathedral window The background squares (all 609 of them!) have been made, and now we need help hand-sewing the squares together and sewing inserts between the squares. If you are comfortable hand-sewing and would like to help us out, please contact Joan Rutila, MaryAnn Shupe or Cheryl Kraley. We’ll get you set up with some squares and sewing instructions. We are looking forward to seeing our lovely wall hanging in the sanctuary, and we’d love to have your help! Joan Rutila, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 781-862-6627; MaryAnn Shupe, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 781-538-6655; Cheryl Kraley, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 781-862-2209

Chancel Choir Starts September 9th
Our chancel Choir launches it fall season on Thursday September 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the choir room. With a fall filled with music from the renaissance to the present, from spirituals to choral masterworks, we have a place for you to indulge your love of music and help enrich our worship. Singers of all levels are welcome, no audition required! Haven’t sung since high school? No problem! Can’t make it every week? We’re flexible! Our goal is to recruit 10 new choir members this year—come help us get started! For more information please call Mark Morgan, Director of Music at 781-862-4220 ext 212 or e-mail mark.morgan@hancockchurch.org
New Ensemble: Instrumentalists and vocalists needed for "Pilgrim’s Way"
Our Sunday night worship service will now have its own resident music ensemble leading worship. We need experienced instrumentalists of all types and singers capable of singing in duets-quartets for Pilgrim’s Way. The Way will play a wide range of music, sort of a gospel/bluegrass/contemporary/Celtic/world thing! We will have a regular core group, plus musicians playing/singing from time to time as the music needs of the service dictate. Rehearsal times TBA, service is 45 minutes, 2-3 times per month on Sunday evenings at 6:15 in the chapel. For more information, please contact Mark Morgan, Director of Music at 781-862-4220 ext 212 or e-mail mark.morgan@hancockchurch.org.

Hancock Service Opportunities --

Be Part of the Hancock Team at Lexington Food Pantry for September
Hancock sends a team of five volunteers each month to distribute food at the Lexington Food Pantry. The time commitment is 8:45-11:30am on the second Saturday of each month. Two more volunteers are needed for our September slot on Sat., 9/11. To sign up, call or email Caroline Nijenberg, 781-862-4465 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lexington Food Pantry — September is “Cereal Month”
If you donate food in September, please consider giving cereal (no family size). Donation baskets are in the narthex, as well as outside the office and dining room.

Interfaith Garden: Volunteers needed
Hancock volunteers are needed to work in the Lexington Interfaith Garden (http://interfaithgarden.org)
on Tue., 9/14 from 5-6pm andSat., 9/18 from 7:30-9am.
If interested, contact Amy Swanson (781-863-9443; amy.swanson@rcn.com) for more information.

Lexington Food Pantry—Have extra veggies in your home garden? Why not donate them to the Lexington Food Pantry! Here's How:
Just drop off washed, cleaned produce at the Pantry on Saturday mornings between 8:30 and 9am, and it can be distributed later that day to clients. The Pantry operates out of the Church of our Redeemer at 6 Meriam St. Enter the 3rd doorway (closest to the back parking lot) on the driveway side of the church and follow the hallway down on the right to the lower meeting room. Due to limited storage space, the Pantry can only accept fresh produce donations during this limited morning window on Saturdays (before they open at 9:30am). A big "thank you!" from the Pantry for your donation.
Reminders & Notices --

 

Pakistan Flooding Relief Offering

We will continue to accept contributions to a special collection for Pakistan relief throughout September. Envelopes are available in the pew racks in the sanctuary or you can mail/drop-off a check directly to the church office made payable to Hancock Church with “Pakistan relief offering” in the note line. The flooding in Pakistan has displaced millions of people and created immense suffering. We offer our financial resources as well as our prayers to the people of Pakistan.

 

Our Whole Lives (OWL) for Adults Offered at First Parish, Lexington

 

 

First Parish in Lexington will be offering the UUA/UCC OWL program of sexuality education specifically for adults, consisting of a series of workshops, discussions, and activities designed to present information, deepen understanding and encourage communication about sexuality. No assumptions will be made about any participant’s sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual history or practices. Please visit the “OWL for Adults” section of the First Parish website for more info: http://fpc.lexington.ma.us. Q&A Session, Sun., 9/12 at 12:30pm

 

 

 

 

Al Filipov Peace & Justice Forum
Trinitarian Congregational Church (UCC) invites all Hancock members and friends to attend the Ninth Annual Al Filipov Peace & Justice Forum on Sat., 9/25 at 7:30pm at the church (54 Walden St in Concord). Established in memory of Al Filipov, an active member of Trinitarian UCC who was killed in the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the Forum is designed to address issues of peace and justice from a faith perspective and to highlight the critical importance of individual initiative in creating positive change. This year’s speaker is Rye Barcott, co-founder of Carolina for Kibera. While still an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina, Barcott went to Kibera, one of Africa’s largest slums, working side-by-side with local people to help them devise real solutions to their very real issues. The model for Carolina for Kibera as a unique and successful NGO has garnered widespread acclaim. Please join us! The event is free and open to all.

The Hancock website: Are you making use of it?
Did you know that all the announcements in the weekly email, online videos of most sermons, plus a staff directory, links to the Hancock calendar, and copies of The Herald are all available on the Hancock website at www.hancockchurch.org? Check-it out! And watch for more updates to come...just in time for Homecoming Sunday!