FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOSTSeptember 6, 2020, 10:00 a.m. Hancock United Church of Christ, Congregational •1912 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington, MA
Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash
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WELCOME TO HANCOCKWe are delighted that you chose to worship with us today and are strengthened by your participation in our service! While we are sad that we cannot see you face-to-face this week, we are blessed to still be able to worship in a meaningful way. In these next few weeks, we will be having our worship televised and livestreamed via youtube.com/hancockchurch.
In these times, community is more important than ever. Because of this, we invite you all to share your ideas of how best to feel spiritually fulfilled in these times of limited interaction. You can send any thoughts to Hancock Church at 781-862-4220, or email Paul ([email protected]) or Barbara ([email protected]).
www.hancockchurch.org
OUR VISION: Inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, we are changing the world through love, compassion, and courage.
OUR MISSION: In the revolutionary spirit of our Christian faith, we invite you to join us as we
• worship God with all our hearts and minds
• walk our spiritual paths together
• cherish one another
• build community in a diverse world
• protect the earth
• work for the common good
OUR VALUES:
Vision, Mission, and Values
faithfulness inclusion compassion gratitude integrity generosity humility vulnerability courage
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MOMENT FOR REFLECTIONToday’s scripture reading is from a collection of parables that Jesus uses to illustrate the kingdom of heaven. The diversity of the imagery he chooses is almost dizzying—fine pearls, fish, wheat, yeast, and buried treasure all feature in this chapter. But in the midst of all this strange diversity is a common thread: a reminder that the infinite is buried within the everyday. In these stories, we find an invitation to give ourselves over to the work of loving the bigness of the world—of seeking the kingdom of God in the small, the hidden, and the ordinary. You can almost hear Jesus asking us, in one voice with the great poet Mary Oliver,
“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
PRELUDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Allegro Spiritoso . . . . . . . . . . . . by Greg UnderwoodHancock Carillon, pre-recorded
WORDS OF WELCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Shupe
OPENING HYMN . . . . . . . . . . . . Holy, Holy, Holy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .#10, pre-recorded
1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!Early in the morning
our song shall rise to thee;Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty;God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,Though the sinful human eye
thy glory may not see; Only thou art holy;
there is none beside thee,Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty;
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Genna BeattyMatthew 13:1-3a, 44-53
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.
Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.
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And he told them many things in parables...
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field,
which someone found and hid;
then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;
on finding one pearl of great value,
he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;
when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down,
and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.
So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire,
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.”
And he said to them,
“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household
who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE All Sing:
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GATHERING SONG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walk With Me
Walk with me, I will walk with youAnd build the land that God has planned
Where love shines through
CHILDREN’S TIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Bundy, pre-recorded
THE MORNING OFFERING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carol Bukys, pre-recordedThis week our offering will be donated to City Mission. To learn more, visit www.citymissionboston.org. For information on how to give, see page 8.
OFFERTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dank (Gratitude) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. Greig
PRAYER OF DEDICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Shupe
*DOXOLOGY . . . . . . . From North and South and East and West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S-29
CALL TO PRAYER
PASTORAL PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Shupe
A TIME OF SILENT PRAYER
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THE LORD’S PRAYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul ShupeOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
THE SERMON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Genna Beatty
GATHERING WORDS (responsively)One: We gather now at the table of Christ, seeking mercy, forgiveness, joy and peace. We remember that this is his table, and so we say, Come from the north and come from the south, come from the east and come from the west. Come regardless of age or race or sex or creed or orientation or identity. Come not because you must, but because you may.
Many: Come because it is our Lord’s table, and he bids us come.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION (responsively)One: We remember that on the night He was betrayed, Jesus sat at table with His disciples, and when they had eaten, He took the bread, and He blessed it and broke it, and He gave it to them saying,
Many: “Take and eat. This is my body, broken for you. Eat of this bread as often as you will, and remember me.”
One: After they had shared the bread, he took a cup, and he blessed it, and he gave thanks to God, and he poured it out for them and said,
Many: “This is the cup of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Whenever you drink of it, remember me.”
One: These are the gifts of God...
Many: ...for the people of God. Come, let us share the feast!
COMMUNION
COMMUNION MUSIC . . . . . .Call to Remembrance . . . . . . . . . . . .by Richard FarrantChancel Choir, pre-recorded
Call to remembrance, O Lord,Thy tender mercies
and Thy loving kindness,which hath been ever of old,
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O remember not the sins and offences of my youth:but according to Thy mercythink Thou on me, O Lord,
for Thy goodness.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paul Shupe
CLOSING HYMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thuma Mina (Send Me, Lord), pre-recorded
Thuma mina, thuma minaThuma mina, somandla
(Send me, Lord)
BENEDICTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Genna Beatty
BENEDICTION RESPONSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . God Be With You Till We Meet AgainChancel Choir, pre-recorded
God be with you ‘til we meet again,Loving counsels guide, uphold you,With a shepherd’s care enfold you:God be with you ‘til we meet again.
PASSING THE PEACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Genna Beatty
POSTLUDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shall We Gather at the River . . . . . . . . . . .arr. C. Callahan
Join Us for Virtual Coffee Hour Following Morning Worship!Join us immediately following Morning Worship for virtual coffee hour via Zoom! Here's how to participate! To join by video:
• Download the Zoom app on your phone, tablet, or computer that you will use for the conference. A non-handheld device is best.
• Click "Join a meeting." Then enter the Meeting ID Number: 835-957-432, followed by your name.
• Select "Join with Computer Audio." A picture will appear if your camera is enabled. Use your device settings to enable the camera if there is no picture.
To join by phone:
• Dial 646-558-8656.
• When prompted, enter the Meeting ID Number, 835-957-432, followed by #.
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Walk Our Spiritual Paths TogetherMorning offering
During this time of “virtual church,” please note our updated instructions for participating in the offering.Each week at Hancock we accept an offering of gifts for two purposes:Mission Partner of the Week. Each Sunday we accept gifts for one of our mission partners, a select organization doing God’s work in the world. Many are local or regional organizations whom we’ve worked with for years; all are effective organizations making a difference in people’s lives. These donations are passed directly to the organization and are in addition to the donations included in Hancock’s budget.Sustaining Hancock’s Vision. Gifts are also welcome in the Sunday offering plate for Hancock Church that supports our staff, our building, community outreach and all of the worship and programs at Hancock. You may make a gift for either in one of three ways:• Through our website. Go to www.hancockchurch.org, click on the Give button in the upper right, and follow the instructions to make a gift by credit or debit card or ACH bank transfer. Be sure to indicate in the dropdown menu whether the gift is for “Mission Partner” or “Hancock Church.”• Send a check. Make it payable to Hancock UCC, and note on the memo line either “Mission Partner” or “Hancock.” Our address is 1912 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington MA 02421.• Text to give. From your smart phone or tablet, text the dollar amount along with "Mission" or “Hancock” to 781-386-0866 and tap the link to enter your credit card information. Upcoming Offerings: September 13: One Church Fund September 20: Restaurant Workers Mutual Aid
On August 23, we raised $625 for Concord Prison Outreach. Thank you!
Help Us Maintain oUr secUrity on ZooM!In order to maintain our security during Zoom gatherings such as meetings and coffee hours, please be sure that your Zoom account name is reflective of your actual name, first and last. You can change your Zoom name by going to zoom.com and editing your account. Doing so helps us know who and who not to admit to meetings and gatherings. Thank you!
Our Mission is To...
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Walk Our Spiritual Paths TogetherBiBle stUdy witH tHe preacHers on wednesdays Via ZooM
Bible study with the preacher is offered every Wednesday at noon via Zoom. Here's how to participate! To join by video:
Download the Zoom app on your phone, tablet, or computer that you will use for the conference. A non-handheld device is best.
Click "Join a meeting." Then enter the Meeting ID Number, 751-145-448, followed by your name.
Select "Join with Computer Audio." A picture will appear if your camera is enabled. Use your device settings to enable the camera if there is no picture.
To join by phone: Dial 646-558-8656. When prompted, enter the Meeting ID Number, 751-145-448, followed by #.
weekly sHaring and prayer eVery tHUrsday
Please note that Thursday morning Weekly Prayers will now be held at 9:00 a.m. for the foreseeable future. We invite you to join us each week via Zoom to share in a time of prayer of led by Hancock's ministers. To receive the Zoom login information, please contact [email protected] to sign up for the Hancock Daily.
Book discUssion groUp septeMBer 9Join us for Book Discussion Group on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom (Meeting ID Number: 810 5764 5924; Passcode: 386266). Rev. Barbara Callaghan will lead us in a conversation about Jon Gordon's The Garden: A Spiritual Fable About Ways to Overcome Fear, Anxiety, and Stress.
All are welcome!
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Walk Our Spiritual Paths TogetherconfirMation Mentors needed!
This year is a confirmation year! Our 7th-9th graders will be invited to participate in a year of faith exploration, community, and fellowship, ending with the opportunity to affirm their baptismal vows and join the Hancock community as official members next spring! This year’s program
will include a mentoring component, where confirmands will meet one-on-one (via Zoom) with an adult in the church twice a month to swap thoughts and experiences.
Getting to know members of Hancock in greater depth helps youth to feel more connected to the wider Hancock community. The primary job of a mentor is to listen and learn alongside a confirmand, growing together in friendship and discipleship—no theological expertise required! Mentors will be supported and trained by Genna and David, and provided with some questions and topics to discuss with their confirmands at each meeting. If mentoring interests you, please reach out to Genna at [email protected] or David at [email protected] by September 7.
recoMMit, renew, and transforM togetHer
During this Sunday’s service a video introduced our Fall Giving campaign Recommit, Renew, and Transform Together. (It is also available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M8M2p_D4Jw&feature=youtu.be). It introduces the exciting topics that will be shared in upcoming Sundays
culminating in Celebration Sunday.
You are invited to join us over the next few weeks – during worship, on Facebook, in emails - to celebrate who we are and who we are becoming as we explore the following critical parts of our shared Hancock mission:
Week 1 – A Year in Transition (This week)
Week 2 – Worshiping and Walking Spiritual Paths Together
Week 3 – Cherishing One Another and Building Community
Week 4 – Seeking the Common Good and Protecting the Earth
Week 5 – Celebration Sunday!
The packet you received from the Giving Committee contains detailed information about Hancock’s mission and it encourages you to consider what Hancock means to you. And you’ll be asked to help achieve a tangible outcome for this campaign. Please send in your commitment card from the packet or complete it online so we can plan our future together. On October 4th we will celebrate your gifts and the health of Hancock Church. Please respond early so we can share as full a picture as possible. Thank you!
Our Mission is To...
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Cherish one AnotherconVersation witH tHe Moderators
Dear Hancock Friends,
It’s been a strange year at Hancock, and your moderators are missing you. Normally we would be talking to you during coffee hour or at choir and handbell rehearsals. We would have conversations before and after meetings or in the hallways of our building. Now we see some of you
in Zoom meetings, both social and business, but it’s hard to have those private one on one conversations. It’s hard to know how you are feeling, what you are needing from your church leaders, what you are missing most, and what questions you might have about Hancock.
As COVID continues to prevent us from meeting together in person, we invite you to schedule a Zoom coffee, give either of us a phone call, or send us an email ([email protected]) with your questions and concerns or simply for conversation. We’ll also be available for office hours via Zoom (Meeting ID Number: 812 8522 7814; Passcode: 523163) on Thursday, September 10 from 3-4:30pm. More office hours will be coming soon.
Carol Bukys and Joan Rutila
781-674-0339 781-862-6627
register now for cHUrcH scHool and Jyo!Hancock parents! It's time to register your Church School, Middle School, and 9th grade child(ren) for the 2020/21 program year! This year we will be primarily virtual with sporadic and small, outdoor gatherings as weather allows. We'll continue Children's Chapel, have 30-45 minute grade-specific
church school classes, and JYO & Confirmation! More details on all of this coming soon! To register for Church School & JYO, please go to https://hancockchurch.breezechms.com/form/a6d4fe.
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Build Community in a Diverse WorldlUncHes for oUtdoor cHUrcH of caMBridge: yoU can Help!
What is the Outdoor Church? Visit this website! https://theoutdoorchurch.org/mission/
How can you help?
• Volunteer to make 20 sandwiches or bring 40 granola, 40 waters or fruit, or 40 snack bags or cookies
• Upcoming signup dates: 9/20, 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 12/6, 12/20
- Sign up and coordination done ahead of time ([email protected])
• Monetary donations for disposable face masks, snacks, waters, $5 Dunkin Donut gift cards, and other needs as identified by The Outdoor Church
- Donations for The Outdoor Church can be made to Hancock Church by check or online - please specify “Outdoor Church” on a check or in the comment field for online donations
What is “Sandwich Sunday”?
Hancock provides essential 40 lunch bags twice monthly for the homeless men and women of the the Outdoor Church in Cambridge. With the lunch bags we send granola bars, fruit (clementines or bananas or grapes), waters, and often cookies and/or snacks.
Before COVID-19, our Hancock middle school youth (JYO) made sandwiches and assembled lunch bags monthly for The Outdoor Church. Until we can be together again at Hancock, a team of Hancock adults and families have been assembling The Outdoor Church lunch bags and other food and beverage items every other week since April. This important endeavor will continue the 1st and 3rd Sundays through December; with COVID-19 the need is even greater!
Sandwiches, prepared in our homes with carefully defined food safety protocol, and the other items to complete the lunch bags are brought to the Hancock parking lot at 7:20 a.m. on the designated Sunday morning. Lunch bags are then assembled with face masks, gloves, and social distancing. Lunch bags are picked up along with other lunch supplies and taken to The Outdoor Church in Cambridge.
If you are interested in helping with The Outdoor Church lunch bag project, please contact Daryl Battin (781-789-3763 / [email protected]) to be added to the schedule. Also contact her if you have shelf stable lunch items to contribute which need to be picked up.
Thank you so VERY much for your help - these lunches are an essential part of the day for The Outdoor Church participants.
Our Mission is To...
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Work for the Common Goodlexington food pantry donations
Clean, regular-sized paper bags (all the same size) are once again needed!
The Lexington Food Pantry has been serving approximately 87 families weekly during the pandemic. Hancock is no longer accepting food donations. However, you can help by dropping off your food donations directly to the Church of Our Redeemer, 6 Meriam St., Lexington. There is
a donation cabinet, donated by the Lions Club, located next to the back second (lower) entrance along the driveway of the Church of Our Redeemer. Items the Pantry is in need of on a regular basis are:
• Baked beans
• Canned fruit/vegetables
• Macaroni and cheese
• Pasta and pasta sauce
• Canned tuna
• Peanut butter
• Rice
• Toiletries
Clean, regular-sized paper bags (all the same size) are once again needed! Food donations can also be dropped off at Stop & Shop, 36 Bedford Street, Lexington, between registers 1 & 2.
Copyright"Allegro Spiritoso" Music: Greg Underwood ©2011 AGEHR Publishing, Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. #A-729105. All rights reserved.
“Alleluia, God Is Still Speaking” Music and Lyrics by Mark Morgan ©2018 by Mark Morgan All rights reserved
"Call to Remembrance" Words and Music: Richard Farrant, ed. Greening ©1978 Oxford University Press Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE. #A-729105. All rights reserved.
"Shall We Gather at the River" Music: Charles Callahan ©2002 Concordia Publishing House. Reprinted with Permission from ONELICENSE #A-729105
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Work for the Common Good
gBio racial JUstice caMpaign Update
What do 65, GBIO, and Hancock have in common?
65 members of Hancock have been involved over the past five months in the GBIO 2020 Racial Justice Campaign.
Our Hancock members have:
• Attended and led Healthcare In-district meetings
• Participated in the Listening Campaign
• Clergy Action – both Paul and Barbara signed a letter to the Governor to request his support on healthcare reform, housing and decarceration.
• Attended the Racial Justice Campaign on June 9
• Attended Virtual training for community organizing
• Made phone calls, Tweets and emails on June 10 to Speaker of the House DeLeo on police reform.
• Made phone calls, Tweets, emails and letters to move forward our police reform and healthcare reform priorities in the state legislature. Hancock members persistently responded to calls to action to push House/Senate leadership,
• Attended and led Virtual Racial Justice In-district meetings during June/July asking for the prioritizing of police reform, decarceration, and healthcare reform bills with house representatives.
Our Mission is To...
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.
The 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 in Galatians, “In Christ there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one...”
Hancock Covenant of Welcome
Paul Shupe Senior Minister [email protected]
Barbara Callaghan Minister [email protected]
David C Clark Minister of Children and Families [email protected]
Genna BeattyMinister of Youth and Young [email protected]
Mark Morgan Director of Music
Marilyn Becker Associate Director of Music
Kathryn Dominguez Church Administrator
www.hancockchurch.org
Church Office Phone: (781) 862-4220Hancock Community Prayer: (781) 862-6845
For Emergency Pastoral Support: Paul: (781) 698-8953 | Barbara: (336) 558-1242
For bulletin announcements, corrections, or suggestions, email [email protected] conserve trees and your pledge dollars, consider sharing your bulletin. Please recycle.
