Building on foundations that are more than two centuries old, Hancock United Church of Christ is today a vibrant community gathered to worship God, who we believe still speaks, and who calls us engage in:

• Life-long Learning about our faith, our world, cultures and traditions different from our own, learning based in mutual respect, reason, and curiosity.

As a congregation of the United Church of Christ, we honor the freedom and responsibility of the individual and the congregation to search and to believe in harmony with conscience, as well as the obligation to remain in respectful relationship with other individuals within our congregation and our partner congregations within the United Church of Christ and the wider ecumenical community. We welcome seekers and searchers of all ages, backgrounds and traditions, inviting all to join us along the path of faithfulness to God.

Hancock Covenant of Welcome

We welcome all who seek to know God. We believe that, although we are many members, we are one body in Christ. We have been called as well as challenged by God to respect and reconcile our differences. We recognize and love each individual as a child of God. We welcome, respect, support, and lovingly encourage people of every race, ethnicity, creed, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, and physical and mental ability to join us on our journey of faith. This faith journey indeed calls Hancock Members not to be silent in the face of prejudice, injustice, and exclusion, but to express our faith, in word and deed, for justice and inclusiveness for all humanity. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “In Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one…”

United Church of Christ Statement of Faith

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to your deeds we testify:
You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image,and set before each one the ways of life and death.
You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.
You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.
In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.
You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil,to share in Christ's baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.
You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

The Sacraments

Two sacraments -- sacred events established by Christ -- are celebrated: baptism and communion.

Baptism: Baptism marks our welcome into the household of faith, and signifies our belonging. Baptism is appropriate for any age, though baptism of infants and young children is most common. One must be baptized before joining the church as an adult. The United Church of Christ honors baptisms from any other Christian tradition and therefore we do not rebaptize.

Communion: Communion (The Lord's Supper) is the central meal of fellowship and remembrance for the Church. Communion is received in individual cups in the pews, served by Deacons. This is an open sacrament, meaning that anyone who seeks new life in Christ is welcomed.