HORIZONS
  MARCH 2015
  Hingham Congregational Church, UCC
366 Main Street, Hingham, MA 02043
781-749-1276
Church photo
IN THIS ISSUE
Pastor's message
Christian Education
Lenten Services
Holy Week
Adult Mission Trip
Board Messages
Consignment Center
Junior Choir
Meet Our New Members
Prayer Requests

Melting Snow

 

The landscapes of our communities, neighborhoods, homes, and yards were radically changed by heavy snowfall this winter. Sometimes we sailed right on past our own driveways. Everything looked different. However, with spring coming soon, the familiar shapes and colors of our surroundings are returning. We can start to see the same old roofline, the same foundation plantings starting to emerge. Will it be the same for us? Will our Lenten contemplations only have a temporary effect? Will we just go back to being our old selves? Or will our heightened awareness of God's grace and power permanently alter the landscape of our souls? As we move toward the cross, let us take full advantage of the season and rededicate ourselves to real and enduring change within our hearts and minds.

 

Peace,

 

Pete

Christian Education

"Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early Spring." (Hosea 6:3)

 

HCC Families & Friends,

         Hopefully we are entering a month where snow will be behind us, and spring will be upon us. Either way, we continue to press on with energy and excitement surrounding our programming this upcoming month. Here are some things you have to look forward to:

 

Adult Study - If you are interested in participating in our Covenant Bible Study; a 24 week study will be broken into three 8 week sessions: Creating the Covenant, Living the Covenant, Trusting the Covenant, please email Rev. Brandon.  We will begin this study mid- month.

 

Adult Book Study -- This Lenten Season we will read The Last Week by Marcus Borg, then gather together for reflection and discussion on 3/15 (chps. 1-3), 3/22 (chps. 4-6) and 3/29 (chps. 7 & 8).  If you are interested in taking part in this group, please email Rev. Brandon.

 

Vacation Bible School Registration --  This year's VBS will take place July 20-24 from 9am-12pm.  This year we are excited that we will be spending time in, "Hometown Nazareth"!!  Registration will begin this month.

 

Grace & Peace,

            Rev. Brandon

Wednesday Lenten Services  

This Lenten season, holds quiet, contemplative services on Wednesday evenings. These half-hour gatherings include prayer, hymns, reflective music, scripture, and a brief message by one of our ministers or a member of the congregation. Please join us for a refreshing, comforting, thought provoking midweek break on the following Wednesday evenings: March 11, 18, & 25.


Holy Week Worship Schedule

2015


March 29, Palm Sunday:  

Service will include beautiful music performed by guest Connecticut State Troubadour, Kristen Graves, The Senior Choir will sing - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross and  the Junior Choir- Hallelujah!

 

April 2, 7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Service of Tenebrae  

Featuring dramatic scripture readings interspersed with beautiful music performed by guest cellist Johann Soults and The Senior Choir.

 

April 3, Good Friday

The HCC sanctuary will be open from 12-3 for quiet prayer and meditation.

 

April 5, Easter Sunday: 

6 a.m. Sunrise Service - Location: TBD

7 a.m. Easter Pancake Breakfast in the Vestry  

                      (downstairs at church).

9 a.m. & 11 a.m. Services in the HCC  

                       Sanctuary  

 

Easter Sunday Services will include music performed by a very special guest trumpeter and a grand organ postlude will be presented by our own Dr. Eileen Hutchins, CAGO. Our guest trumpeter will be Junyu Ge. He is a graduate student at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge and previously studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music in Chengdu, China.

Adult/Young Adult Mission Trip to Philadelphia

This summer, a group of HCCers will be traveling to the City of Brotherly Love to serve the homeless population for one week. This experience will be full of learning, spiritual growth, and meaningful interaction. We will grow close as a group as we reach out to our neighbors with compassion. We would love for you to join us!

Please sign up in the Vestry. Dates: August 2-8. Cost to be determined (it will be very reasonable and scholarships will be available). Please speak with Rev. Pete or Tracy Allen if you have questions.

   

A Message about Welcoming

HCC Welcoming Team members are stationed in the sanctuary and at coffee hour every Sunday to say hello to visitors and to introduce them to others before and after our services. In a way, though, we are all part of a welcoming team here at HCC. Please remember to sign the pew pad (small black folder) each Sunday so that you know who is sitting near you and can say hello after the service. Please also remember to wear your name tags. It sends a friendly message to visitors and helps with meeting and greeting even those we already know. Perhaps someone who is visiting or new to HCC would appreciate an invitation to join you at coffee hour, or an introduction to someone you already know before you leave the sanctuary. And if you are new, please introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you. Maybe they are new too. 

 

 

Fellowship

Progressive Dinner March 28 

  

Please join the Board of Fellowship as we dine with our HCC family on a menu that is created around recipes that can all be made ahead of time. Our evening will begin at 5:30pm with drinks and appetizers at the home of Pam and Rowland Bates, 26 Talbot Road. At 6:45pm you will head to your host home for dinner. Everyone will get a recipe ahead of time to prepare for the dinner. Sign up downstairs at coffee hour or email Nancy Vialle at vialle@verizon.net. $20 per person. Sign-up deadline Wednesday March 18.   

 

HCC Mom's Group: Calling all moms! Take a few moments for yourself this month and join us for some fellowship at Salsa's on March 24 at 7:30pm.

 

  
Outreach

Easter Food Boxes

Easter is a time of new beginnings, the joy of a risen Lord and hope for a return of spring, especially after our unrelenting winter. For those of us fortunate to have warm homes through the cold winter and food on our tables, we may not be able to appreciate the needs of those without those blessings. But we can become a blessing to them by sharing our abundance and fill an Easter Food Box which will be provided to Wellspring for their clients. The boxes will be available downstairs for pick up on Sundays, March 15 and 22 and need to be wrapped and returned NO LATER THAN Sunday, March 29. Thank you for your help in this important outreach to our community!

  

Pine Street Inn March 16

This month's Pine Street Inn meal takes place tomorrow.  Due to the winter storms last month, we were unable to provide a meal at Pine Street Inn in February. This month, consider being a part of our Pine Street Inn mission and donate your time by contributing desserts and/or by assisting in the meal preparation. Desserts (cookies, brownies, bars, cupcakes, etc.), labeled Pine Street Inn, may be dropped off at HCC on Sunday, March 15 or on Monday, March 16 by 9:00 AM. Dessert donations are an essential part of the meal and are always appreciated. Helping prepare the meal is another great way to participate. The meal preparation begins at 8:00 AM on Monday morning, March16 in the church kitchen and takes about an hour from start to finish. There is a sign-up sheet for kitchen help and dessert donations on the bulletin board behind the table used for coffee hour. For more information, please contact Ruth Whitner by phone at 781-740-2881 or email at rgilbertwhitner@verizon.net, or Marcia Sinclair by phone at 781-740-1437 or email at marbensin@gmail.com.

     

Lenten Carbon Fast

You might be among those from HCC and from hundreds of faith communities around the country who get a daily reflection on email.

(You can still sign up at MACUCC.org). This week, the focus has been on divestment. Many universities, religious groups and individuals are finding that their investments in alternative energies and other screens are becoming more and more attractive financially. 

Is this a way that we can care for God's creation and our beautiful home?

GUILD Consignment Center

 

Throughout the snowy weeks, the Consignment Center remained a welcoming spot for customers seeking respite from the elements despite weather which necessitated closing shop occasionally. Area residents were eager for our annual winter clearance sales, and the lower level bustled with cheerful shoppers of all ages. Volunteers will be working together to distribute remaining merchandise to local charities by Saturday, March 7.

 

Our new season arrives on Tuesday, March 10 when spring inventory begins to fill the racks. We are glad to receive consignments and donations each Tuesday and Thursday, and are looking for clean, current clothing in excellent condition as well as fashion accessories, linens, small household items, toys, and books. Saturday hours remain for weekend shopping, and allow volunteers to also complete a myriad of business and housekeeping details.

 

During the months of March, April, and May, we will offer a short-term pilot, Second Sundays. The Consignment Center will be open for half an hour before and after the morning service (9:30-10:00 and 11:00-11:30) on the second Sunday of each month (March 8, April 12, and May 10) for the convenience of HCC families. HCC consignors can check on the status of each monthly payout, and also deliver new items to consign. Anyone interested in using this service should bring a completed consignment sheet along with his/her selected items. We would like to use the spring months as a trial period for Second Sundays, and will consider the feedback of parishoners and staff .

 

If you would like to become involved at the Consignment Center, contact Marcia Sinclair (marbensin@gmail.com), Gail Shields (gpsshields@yahoo.com), or Sarah England (england-sarah@comcast.net) who can describe ways in which your skills and interests can make a difference to the community.

 

The 2015 Jr. Choir Calendar is Marching On!  

 

            The Jr. Choir shared its "Put On Love" song with the congregation - complete with decorated hearts on sticks - on Feb. 22 - a week AFTER Valentine's Day weekend, due to the blizzard on Feb. 15. (Check the church website for a recording of that song.)

 

            In March we plan to sing on Palm Sunday, March 29. Rehearsals will be held on March 8 and 22 for sure - possibly on March 15. Be on the lookout for an e-mail about that!

 

            This would be a great time to join Jr. Choir - even if it's only for Palm Sunday. Let Mr. B. or Mrs. England, or Mrs. Ketchum know of your interest in singing. 


Meet Our New Members

    

 

     Amanda and Dana Cease

Amanda has lived in Hingham 2 � years. She works in public relations and owns a baby gift company. She had her husband Dana have two children, Callahan and Connor.

 

 




       Karin and Mark Sloan  

Mark is a hematologist/oncologist at Boston University Medical Center. He works primarily with underserved cancer patients but also teaches and does research at the medical school. He grew up in Colorado and enjoys spending time with his family.

Karin grew up in Easton, MA.  

 

Amandamet Mark during their medical training at Yale. She is a Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Physician at Boston Medical Center. The family moved to Hingham in 2013. They have two children: Meghan and James.

  

 

 

Gary, Barbara (BJ) 

Nicholas and Alexander Gorczyca

 

Gary is happy to be joining Hingham's vibrant Congregational church!

Currently employed as a performer, teacher and repairman in music, some of his hobbies include cars, sports, reading and the

Outdoors.

Barbara (BJ) grew up in Hingham and never thought she would come back to live, but here she is! We currently live in the house I grew up in with my mother and father with us still. My father had a stroke two years ago so we are very involved in his care. Last March I began my job as the grade 5 and 6 orchestra teacher here in Hingham Public Schools. I play the violin and viola and love Celtic music.

 

 

 

Keith and Breanne Garland

Keith is an Assistant District Attorney and Breanne is a Dental Hygienist. Both were raised in Hingham and have a one year old son Christopher with a daughter due in April. They were confirmed in Hingham Congregational Church and married in 2006 at HCC. They both enjoy boating and fishing and are looking forward to the upcoming boating season.

 (Picture is coming.) 

Lew Scotton would like to rent a garage to store his 1931 Ford.
Please call him at 781-749-7753 if you can help.

Please consider sending a card or note as you pray for those whose names we whisper in our hearts: 

  • Norm Lamonde, whose mother died
  • Hillary Gibson
  • Paul von Loesecke, David's father
  • Betty Cole
  • Hermelinda, friend of the Mullers from Guatemala
  • Tim Carpenter, Al & Linda's son
  • Dot Wagstaff
  • Sharon Hawkins
  • Susan Johnson
  • Mary Ela
  • Lew Scotton 
  • Rev. Don Fitzsimmons
  • Barbara Watts
  • Bill Ketchum, student at Andover Newton
  • Ray & Virginia DeYoung, Dee Wylie's parents