Who We Are
At Hancock United Church of Christ, belonging is as important as believing. What holds us together is not that we all agree on what we believe, but rather our covenant of membership: we all belong to one community together.
Jesus once asked his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Our believing and our belonging is our answer to this question.
As we do these works, the truths described in our UCC Statement of Faith become increasingly powerful in our lives. We do not have to believe every part of the statement. It is not a creed that establishes the last word on what must be believed; rather, it is a witness, the first word in our on-going conversation with one another about our common life together.
Worship
“Worship, and the music therein, are central to our life together as a faith community.”
Wondering what life at Hancock is like? Our Morning Worship service is perfect introductions. Our worship leaders open scripture in ways that are authentically Christian, but also radically inclusive, progressive, and relatable to your life. Our music directors choose songs that are new and life-giving, and those that are familiar and laden with good memories. But maybe most importantly, when you worship with us, you’ll meet the people with whom you’ll serve and grow spiritually, the people who will deliver you meals when tragedy strikes and pray for you when you’re ill, and the people whose children will learn and grow with yours, from Church School all the way through our thriving High School Youth Group. We look forward to greeting you on Sunday someday soon.
Mission & Justice
Service to others and working to bring about a more just world are central to the Christian faith, and central to our life together at Hancock Church.
Hancock members engage in a wide variety of service and justice activities. We volunteer at the local food pantry and provide fresh food for it from the Interfaith Garden; provide lunches and financial support to the Outdoor Church of Cambridge; send relief supplies and rebuilding help to communities in Puerto Rico devastated by Hurricane Maria; help build houses for those without decent shelter; and advocate and bear witness in support of just laws here in Lexington, at the Massachusetts State House, and in Washington. Every week we give our offering to a mission partner working to make the world a better place.
Congregation members interested in service and social justice will find support and encouragement on the Serve page.
Our Community
All are welcome in our community of faith. We affirm the full inclusion of all God’s people in the life and ministry of the church. Our congregation also strongly supports the civil right of all free and consenting adults to marry. We celebrate the use of human reason, and regard science and faith as equally essential and highly compatible. Each of us is responsible for growing in our understanding of faith and belief.
Plan Your Visit
General
Every Sunday, our 10:00 a.m. Morning Worship is live-streamed through LexMedia (RCN 3/HD613, Comcast 8, Verizon 35). Each service is repeated at 7:00 p.m. Sunday and 10:00 p.m. Tuesday. You can also view a recording of Morning Worship anytime at www.youtube.com/hancockchurch.
Directions
Hancock UCC is the stone church on The Battle Green, at 1912 Massachusetts Ave in Lexington Massachusetts.
Families with Children
At Hancock we welcome and support with love and rejoicing all children!
Morning Worship
Children and youth are an important part of the Hancock community and are welcome to participate in worship. Upon arriving at Hancock, families will find bulletins, names tags, and pew packs for kids in the narthex near the historic entrance to the Sanctuary. “Greeters” are on hand to offer any assistance needed.
Each Sunday morning, children begin in worship with their families. Following the Gathering of Children in the Sanctuary, children are invited to process to the Education Wing where they gather for Children’s Chapel to share joys and concerns, collect their weekly offering to Heifer International, sing, and offer prayers of thanksgiving.
Nursery care and toddler care is also available in the Christian Education wing with trained childcare and student helpers. Our goal is to meet the individual needs of families while offering a safe, nurturing, and caring environment for infants and young children. Livestreaming of Morning Worship is available in the Nursery Room.
Evening Worship
At Hancock, we believe that families should have the opportunity to worship together so children of all ages are invited to join in Evening Worship. Before worship, children and youth are invited to help prepare the space for worship. Lighting candles, setting the Communion table, and helping as greeters are all ways children and youth can be part of the preparation for worship. Pew packs, children’s books and Bibles, and carpet squares are also available at the welcome table.
Recognizing children as important members of the congregation, children take part in worship services on a regular basis, sharing their gifts with the congregation through music, art, and storytelling. Hancock aims for children to become life-long learners of faith while making deep faith connections through active learning!
Morning Worship
We worship together every Sunday morning at 10:00 AM via LexMedia (RCN 3/HD613, Comcast 8, Verizon 35) and YouTube. We invite you to join us!
WONDER: Our Sunday morning service inspires wonder: about God, about ourselves, about the meaning and purpose of our lives.
LISTEN: The music of the organ and other instruments will call to you. Vocal choirs of adults and children will inspire. Hand bell choirs for all ages will amaze and delight. But this is not mere performance. Our music carries us beyond ourselves, into sweet realms of harmony and transcendence, where God makes us welcome.
PONDER: Bible stories, taken seriously, but not literally, suggest new ways of living. The preaching is thoughtful and engaging; not the last word on any subject, but a contribution to conversation. And prayer is offered: words to guide you, and silence for your own use.
Intimacy and awe, solitude and companionship, searching and finding. Come and see for yourself.
Evening Worship
Worship at the Well is our Evening Worship every Sunday at 5:00pm from September to May. Evening Worship is a space in which truly all are welcome to come and discover how their spirit might be refreshed in community with others on the journey. Every week we gather, take communion, make time to share our joys and concerns, light candles of prayer, and hear rich, varied music by the River Rock Band. Please see the “Get Involved” section on the homepage for information about our next Evening Worship service.
After Worship
There’s more to do after the morning service at Hancock! Join us at 11:00 AM on Sundays immediately following Morning Worship for virtual coffee hour via Zoom. This is a time when we greet one another and strengthen our personal ties. Grab yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and click on the Zoom meeting link to participate. In order to maintain our security on Zoom, please ensure that that your Zoom account indicates your first and last name. We look forward to seeing you!
