March - April 2012 Newsletter

Trustees

The Trustees are still focusing on the parsonage repairs and renovations.  The old, “hole-y” (not holy!) garage doors have been replaced and the downstairs bathroom and storage room have been re-floored.  The new kitchen cabinets were ordered by our contractor, Mike Wilder, on 2/20/12 when they went on sale.  We expect delivery and installation of the cabinets to be within four to six weeks from order date.  Preparation of the kitchen for the new cabinets (and appliances) will commence shortly.   The entire interior of the parsonage will be painted in neutral tones and we are assessing the exterior for necessary repairs as well.  We expect to complete the parsonage in May or June and look forward our permanent minister in residence there!—Linda King, Chairperson

Church School News

On Sunday Jan 8th, the Christian Ed committee started a new winter session for our kids.  Jessica Alley continues to staff the nursery for children up to 5 yrs of age.  The older children, age 5 and up, stay with a parent (or one of our teachers) for the first part of our worship service.  Rev. Bowie shares a brief children's lesson each week.  Then the kids move out to the classroom for Sunday School.  Our teachers for this winter session are Mr. Frank (Dorsey) and Mr. Chris (Potter); and the classes are based on Old Testament scripture and stories.  The class is enriched with games and crafts to support the lesson.  It is our goal to include the kids in small parts of our worship service to show them what happens while they are at class and to build strong personal relationships with the adult members of our congregation.  For example; Rev. Bowie had some of the kids and parents light our Advent candles in Dec.  If you have any questions about the expanded program; or would like to help, please let us know!  Look for more info about some exciting adult discussion groups coming up soon!

Council

Council, as always, continues to watch over our church’s activities and business with the input and assistance of our committees, boards, officers, and minister.  Council has paid special attention to the parsonage renovations (see Trustees’ Report) and has asked the Finance Committee to look into long-term planning for meeting the expense of the parsonage repairs as well as the organ and sanctuary furnace repairs.  Construction of the Alley home (See Habitat for Humanity Report) continues to progress as well.  We look forward to the challenges of this new year in our church and thank all of our members and friends for their continuing support!
—Linda King Chairperson

Choir

Greetings to Everyone.   The choir will start practicing again on Thursday March 1st.  Our primary goal is to prepare for Palm Sunday and Easter but hopefully we can sing for some of the Lenten Sundays.  We practice from 6-7 on Thursday and at 9:15 on Sunday.   We encourage you to come to one or both rehearsals!—Debbie Riley

Habitat for Humanity Project—32 Stratton Lane!

Construction, despite some cold weather and because of very little snow, proceeds apace with the house closed in, interior partition wall studs up and the roof on and beginning to be shingled.  The electrical and plumbing rough-ins are next on the to-do list with insulating not far behind.  The chimney is now completed and ready for use.  We estimate completion for June 2012.

Upcoming fund raising events include a University of Maine at Machias Ukulele Club concert/ family-style dance on Saturday, May 26, 2012 at a place to be determined and a Habitat Walk on Saturday, April 28, 2012.  A number of Hancock groups have already committed to participating in the walk, including the MDI Lionesses and St. Andrews Lutheran Church.  Our own Everett Espling has already begun to walk in training for the longer version of the walk, 10 kilometers.  Several other fundraisers are in the works, so stay tuned!  Fundraising jars are available for donations at Hancock Grocery, Viking Lumber, Merchant’s Automotive and Tideway Market, all local Hancock businesses.—Linda King

Lenten Schedule

February 22nd there will be an Ash Wednesday Service and the distribution of ashes in the Vestry at 7:00 p.m.

Ellsworth Area Ministerial Association:  2012 Lenten Services Theme: A Call To Repair and Re-build Relationships.    All services begin at 7:00 p.m.

February 29th at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Ellsworth.  Pastor Joanne Douglass, Community of Christ Church, preaching.  (…with the world)
March 7th at Union Congregational Church, Ellsworth Falls.  Rev. Keith Bowie, Hancock Union Congregational Church, preaching.  (…with one’s faith)
March 14th at First Congregational Church, Ellsworth, Fr. Scott Mower, St. Joseph Catholic Church preaching.  (…with the church)
March 21st at United Methodist, Ellsworth.  Rev. Sara Huisjen, Unitarian Universalist Church, preaching.  (…with the community)
March 28th at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal, Ellsworth, Pastor James Heard, Church of Life and Praise, preaching.  (…with the Lord and the Holy)

The Host church for the evening will provide refreshments.

Palm Sunday:  April 1st:  Regular Worship Service with the distribution of palms 

Maundy Thursday:  April 5th:   A Maundy Thursday service will be held in the sanctuary at 7:00 p.m.

Easter Sunday:  April 8th 
    Sunrise Service:  The sunrise service will be held at Tidal Falls again this year.  Watch the bulletin or check the web sight for the time. 
    Breakfast:  Kenny Stratton and crew are once again going to cook and host the “after sunrise service” breakfast.  Plan to go to the sunrise service then come back to the church for a hot cup of coffee and a delicious meal.  If you’re not up for the service, still plan on enjoying Kenny’s breakfast.  A donation bowl will be available, suggested donation, $5, to help with the cost of the breakfast.
      10:00 am   
Regular Easter Service: 10:00 am in the Sanctuary

From the Hancock Wayward Congregationalist:

Now that winter has recently come to the north it seems we will be graced with company from several of the Hancock group, all deciding to take a brief break from the recent cold spell.  We are very pleased that Sally and Peter Bryant, Joanne and Barry Estey and Jack and Pricilla Hirschenhofer are planning to visit us and help us enjoy our Miami weather. We all will attend our Miami home church, Plymouth Congregational.   Coincidently, the Minister of our church, Tom Niblock, is an old friend to Hancock and has a summer home in Sorrento.  Tom along with his wife Judy, served the Hancock Church in 1973 to1977.  I’m sure many of you remember Tom & Judy.  It was his first church after graduating from seminary.  We feel very fortunate to have the Niblocks here in Miami for many reasons but for us personally it creates a lovely bridge between the two Congregational Churches that we call home.  We will enjoy the visit from the Maniacs.  

It was wonderful to her from Sally Knapp and to learn that Edgar Knapp is doing well.   They are preparing to celebrate his 90th birthday with family members who are coming from various locations for the big event.  I know we all join in wishing him a very Happy Birthday!  Sally also lamented that they had to put down their family beagle of 16 years.   Oh, what a sad time it is when one loses a canine member of the family.  

We have learned that Lee Swift is settling in to her new abode in Pfafftown, NC.  We will all have the good fortune of a two week visit from Lee in July.

Meanwhile she reports that she has begun a yoga class but noted that it made her miss her old class in Hancock with our Winkie.  (I can relate to that.)    Lee’s interest and extensive knowledge of birds has led her to an association with the Audubon Society and birding has been part of her new activities near her new home.  She reports missing Hancock very much but I have a feeling the milder weather in NC might help her adjust.  We certainly miss her and wish her well.  

Jack Hirschenhofer also checked in from their un-seasonally mild winter home in Reading, PA.  Jack reports that the temperatures have been so warm that the daffodils are already rearing their heads.  Jack and Priscilla enjoy their church in Reading especially their work with the choir.  Sound familiar?  Jack says, “It has been a fun winter.  For instance, we had an interesting experience recently.  We were able to spend Christmas Eve in Vienna, Austria.  It made thoughts turn to my grandfather who spent his formative years in Vienna.  I envisioned that I was with him in a way since I know he would have spent Christmas Eve in one of the city’s churches.  But the astounding thing is that we looked right beside us in the pew and noticed, believe it or not, Tony and Cookie Thelen.  What a wonderful Christmas present that was”.

I will agree whole heartily that it was a wonderful Christmas.  However, Jack did forget to mention that the beautiful centuries old church was not heated.   Fortunately, our hearts and spirits were and it will always be a memorable Christmas for the four of us.

That’s it from the Wayward Congregationalist for now.  Time is clicking along and in a flash we will all be back to beautiful Maine to share our experiences in person.  Seems the Wayward Group has continued in their penchant for moving around.—Cookie Thelen

Thoughts from the President

Sitting in the Council meeting this past Sunday I was amazed at all we accomplish as a “small” congregation.  How many hats we all wear to carry out the mission of the church!  As a need is identified somehow, someway we make it happen.  Someone steps up and volunteers for one more committee to make sure that a need is met.  One of our needs is the revision of the by-laws.  This subject of by-law revision has also come up in the search committee meetings as we gather information for our church profile.   

The example I am thinking of is a Master Plan for the parsonage and facilities of the church.  As the council talked about the funding of the parsonage renovation, it became clear that we need to think long term in how we will fund the ongoing needs of the church.  The organ repair and the replacement of the furnace are specific examples.  There is no article in the current version of the by-laws to address long term planning for the church.  We don’t have to revise the by-laws today, but we do need to be thinking about such a revision in the near future as we continue our search process for our settled minister. -Roslynne Lowry

Saturday August 4th—The Church Fair—We Need Your Help!

Saturday August 4th is the date of our annual Church Fair and Yard Sale.  It is our biggest fund raising event of the year.  We need to raise $7,000 that day to keep our church budget balanced.   

This is not just a project for the church "old-timers".  We need everyone's help.  No prior experience is necessary.  There's a lot to do to get ready for the big day and a job is available for everyone who can help out.

Assisting with the Fair and Yard Sale is a fun way to make new friends while making a significant contribution to the well-being our our church and the work we accomplish in our neighboring communities.    

So, stay tuned for further details.  We'll have a planning meeting later this spring.  In the meantime, think about what you can contribute toward the success of the day.   We need your time, and we need lots of stuff to sell.  Let me know of any questions or suggestions you may have.  Your participation will be greatly appreciated.—David Wildes, 422-3739 or   
dwildes001@roadrunner.com 

From the Minister

In my treasure-chest of saved sermons, I have a jewel from 45 years ago during my Duke Divinity School days.  It’s entitled Laughter for Lent and was presented by Professor Waldo Beach of the faculty.  I’ll spare you all the details, but he makes a strong case for the practice of laughter as a Christian discipline during the Lenten season.  Maybe everyone needed just to exhale and have a big belly laugh at the time.  Remember the Vietnam War was still going on, student unrest was still high, and this was the era of Watergate.  The 40 days of Lent are often viewed as a time of somberness, introspection, and reflection.  All this is true, but we still don’t have to check our giggles and laughter at the door before we come inside the church on a Sunday morning during the next 40 days.  Even Jesus warned against “looking dismal” (in relation to fasting).  Check out Matthew, chapter six.
So…anyone heard a good joke lately.—Keith Bowie

The Boards and Committees have met for the first time this year.  Officers are:
    Trustees:   Linda King, Chair; Lois Johnson, Vice-Chair; Steve Cooper, Secretary; and Linda King, Council Representative.
    Deacons:  Mary Beth Dorsey, Senior Deacon; Edie Lounder, Vice-Chair; Jeanne Edwards, Secretary; and Vicky Espling, Council Representative.
    Outreach:  Laura Cooper, chair; Bill Reeve, Vice-Chair; Johanna Bazzolo, Secretary and Council Representative.
    Council:  Linda King, Chair; Edie lounder, Vice-Chair, Vicky Espling, Secretary
    Christian Ed:  Judi Crowley, chair; Frank Dorsey, Secretary and Council Representative

Don’t forget that Daylight Savings time begins Sunday, March 11th.  Make sure to set your clocks ahead one hour.

March Birthdays
    13:  Zachary Spaulding
April Birthdays
    10:  Gertrude Wildes
    19:  Linda King

Anniversaries
April14, 1979:  Dennis & Linda King
April 20, 1956:  Ronald & Sandra Libby
April 26, 1985:  John & Chris Wells
April 26, 2003:  Chris LaMotte & Rebecca Cross