HORIZONS
February 2021

Monthly Newsletter

Hingham Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
366 Main St,
Hingham MA 02043
hccucc.com

In This Issue:

Message from the Minister
Message from Our Ministry Intern
Financial Assistance
HCC 2021 Fellowship Soup Share
Message from The Treasurer
Green Tip
Hingham Unity Council
On Going at HCC
Sunday Coffee Hour
Broad Cove Chorale & Unicorn Singers
February Birthday
February Anniversaries

Message from the Minister
Walking and Listening

I’ve been a walker and a hiker my whole life. Those activities are a part of my identity. I used to take them for granted. 

Not anymore.

After a devastating ankle injury last May, my perspective has been permanently altered. It’s not that I didn’t know that some people couldn’t walk or had a hard time walking — or that some day I would have trouble walking. I just didn’t know it in my bones. Now I do.

And now that my bones (and ligaments and tendons and muscles) are healing and strengthening, I am getting outside for long walks every day. And I am listening to my own thoughts and feelings more closely (something most guys, including me, are not very good at). 

But I would also like to listen to you! 

Do you like to walk? If so, please reach out to me at pastor@hccucc.com or call or text my cell at 203-522-3685 so we can put something on the calendar. We are blessed to have so many wonderful walking trails and sidewalks in Hingham and I am happy to have you choose which one you’d like to explore. 

If you don’t like to walk —or if you can’t walk for significant distances — let’s get together by phone or Zoom. Please reach out if you’d like to chat. Community is built on journeying together through life and listening to one another. In this time of cooped up isolation, it would be good for us to do both.

Peace,

Pete
Please note:
If you need financial assistance,
please contact Rev. Pete for confidential help at pastor@hccucc.com.

A Note From Our Ministry Intern:
This past month has left me with more questions than answers. I have always asked many questions, but I genuinely have more questions now than ever before. I wonder about the future, be it tomorrow or in ten years; I question God for all of this - "please, bring us some justice, some peace, some mercy... Where are you?"; I doubt my own thoughts and feelings. This time of isolation has created a storm-cloud of unanswerable questions. 
Yet, I still feel some hope creeping in. 
Yet, I nonetheless seek out the One that loved us first. 
Yet, I always know that God is here - even when They seem far away. 
Because while I have no clue what's coming next, I have a God that asks me to serve and place my fears aside. So, what is God calling us to do during this time of upheaval, grief, and sorrow? I think God wants us to learn to love more, to change our minds more, to lean into the new or strange. God is asking that we continue to try and love - no matter how hard it seems.
As the nineteenth-century Lebanese-American poet and artist Kahlil Gibran writes, "And God said, "Love your enemy!" and I obeyed him and loved myself." Do the work of loving and forgiving yourself, so we may emerge this time as a society that is all the better.
Peace beloved friends,
Daryl 
Sunday Schoolers-
A new time for Kid's Hot-Cocoa Hour
10:15 am 
Join Zoom Meeting: 
Meeting ID: 819 0957 2941 Passcode: 156979
There will be a link coming after this sunday.
A Note from Our Moderator
I have to admit; I do not look forward to the HCC Annual Finance meetings. But I should. Every year we come to the
table faced with the unknowns of the future. This year more so than ever! Yet somehow, HCC members share a collective wisdom, expertise, faith, and generosity that leads us to a plan. It happens every year as if a choreographed dance. The process speaks to the faith of our congregation. It is a concrete expression of our faith in each other, faith in love, and faith in God. 

-Lynn Mayo
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Treasurer Update :

Thanks to all who attended our Annual Finance meeting on Jan 24. To keep everyone up to date, here are some developments since we last spoke
  • Some additional pledges have been made since the meeting. There are now 119 pledges for a total of $401,740. 
  • The new pledges assist us with our approved deficit bringing the shortage to $15,865. Again, this is the virtual 20/21 year so our 2020 approved surplus roll-over covers the other portion of the 2021 pledge shortfall.
  • Our application is started for forgiving the 2020 Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Loan.
  • We are not eligible for the second round of PPP money in 2021. The calculations have been completed and verified. We don't meet the loan criteria and therefore we are not a qualified applicant for the 2021 loan program.

Thank you again for your continued gifts of time, talent and money as we navigate this Pandemic.
  
Mark Ludley
Treasurer
‌

The Show will go on!
The Broad Cove Chorale & Unicorn Singers
Bring You a Virtual Broadway Favorites for Charity Concert

For the past 12 years, members of BCC-US have come together to produce a varied program of Broadway music to provide cheer in the depths of winter and, most importantly, to benefit Horizons for Homeless Children. For 30 years, Horizons for Homeless
Children has supported homeless children and families by providing high quality early education, opportunities for play and comprehensive family services. Recognizing that this year the need is greater than ever, members of BCC-US have produced a virtual version of our traditional Broadway Favorites concert. We hope you will welcome this show into your home and by doing so you will bring comfort and hope to Horizon’s children and families. Please go to our websitse http://bcc-us.org to register for the concert. Viewing will be available from Saturday, February 12 at 8:00 pm through Sunday, February 21, 2021. 
Hingham Unity Council sponsoring two upcoming events
What’s it like to be a person of color in Hingham?
The Hingham Unity Council is sponsoring a Race Talk panel discussion on Thursday, February 25 at 7 pm on zoom. Registration is required. Use the link below to sign up. 


Waking Up White Book Discussion
All are welcome to join the Hingham Unity Council for a community read and virtual discussion of Waking Up White by Debbie Irving. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, February 9 at 7pm via Zoom. An eye-opener for many, this book chronicles the author’s sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions with prompts on how readers can explore their own racialized ideas.
More information and registration here: https://hinghamunity.org/event/community-book-read-series-1/

HCC Anti-Racism Group  
Please contact Debbie Edmundson at dedmundson@comcast.net
if you are interested in examining HCC’s place in the world as an
anti-racism organization. We’ll talk about our history, personal and institutional, and figure out where we go from here. 
Weekly HCC Virtual Coffee Hour
  Sundays at 11:00 am Via Zoom!
Welcome to the . . .
HCC 2021 Fellowship Soup Share! 
For January, February & March lets have a little soup-fun!

We welcome all HCC members and friends to submit their favorite soup or stew recipes for all of us to try. We’ll be able to make
them at home, and see what we think. Then we can vote on our favorites. At the end of the 3 months the chef that submitted the soup/stew with the most votes gets a new apron!


If you or someone you know is not part of FB, they can email Stephanie Minister (sgeorgmini@yahoo.com) and she can add the recipe.

Try a recipe and write a review!

Happy New Year!
Stephanie Minister
Links and more information will come later.
Please reach out to Meredith Anderson if you have any questions.
New Dates for HCC Zoom Café
The new dates/times are the

First Tuesday of each month
at 9:30am.

March 2 - April 6

May 4 - June 1

The Fellowship Committee
Tuesday Night Bible Study at 7 pm
Tuesday night bible study is continuing via zoom at 7:00 pm. 

To get more information, please speak with Paul Jeffery (pauljeffrey888@gmail.com), Terri Fortin (terrifortin@comcast.net) , Todd Anderson (toddkanderson78@gmail.com)
Green Tip of the Month
NATIONAL FOCUS ON CLIMATE
There is a lot going on here at the outset of the new administration in its focus on the environment and the challenges ahead.
These include - protecting public lands - the impact of pollution on minority communities - climate justice - clean energy future - solutions based on science - climate leadership. 
The long link below is from a group called Earth Justice. An eye opener!!
 

“USE WISELY...” HELP US CARE FOR OUR FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING WASTE.
REDUCE - REFUSE - REUSE - REPAIR - RECYCLE- ROT (COMPOST
ONGOING AT HCC

Evening Prayer Time
with Pastors
Wednesday Evenings at 7:00 pm, except on Ash Wednesday
and Lenten Evening Services

Links will be sent out on Wednesdays
Growing in Faith Together
Bible Study 
(G.I.F.T.)
starting up on January 7
Thursday Mornings at 9 am 
in a virtual format.
Please contact
Rev. Dr. Peter Allen to connect (pastor@hccucc.com).
Call for Winter Music Volunteers! 

We are in need of volunteer musicians. Senior choir will continue to gather on ZOOM, Now Thursdays 7:15 -8:45
We will create virtual choir anthems. David Giessow
From the Office; New Directory Initiative
I have used this pandemic time to study HCC's church windows program. Church windows and the directory need a lot of updating! Soon, I will be sending emails and cards out to verify family and individual information. Thank you for your help, support and patience. - Susanne

Please keep in 

       your prayers...

  • Kris Shorey, following surgery 
  • Family and Friends of Mary Lou Fitzsimmons, who passed away recently.
  • Family and friends of Jane Thorell, who passed away recently
  • Peter Edson’s sister, Dale, with health concerns
  • Candy Heath with health concerns
  • Mike Collins, Jeff's brother, struggling now hospitalized with serious complications from progressive MS
  • Ann Holmes, Priscilla Anderson’s mother
  • Al Carpenter 
  • Ryan Lamonde, prayers for peace and courage 
  • People in abusive households
  • All brave essential employees
  • Allan Bacon, Carolyn Antoine's brother
  • Peter Edson
  • Children and youth with atypical routines at this time, especially those with food insecurity 
  • Daryl Denelle, seeking ordination 
  • All those affected by the coronavirus in the world.

Wishing a Happy February Birthday
to our HCC family.
1 Stoddard Rowley
Brian Krumm

2 Caroline Milton

3 Sophie Kerr

4 Anna Mayo
Jerad Mayo

5 Eli Smock

7 Andrew Spaziani
Avery Spaziani

8 Lynn Muller Waynen

9 Abby Fortin

10 Beverly Randall
Lucy Burr

11 Jason Scott
12 Nick Seibel
August Muller
Nathan Juenumann

14 Jeff Pinarchick
Reddie Warwick

15 Tanner Burns 

16 Benjamin Shank 
Jean Muller 

18 Laurie Barnaby
Sarah Milton

19 Phil Edmundson
David Giessow 

20 Casey Juenumann
Lydia Boer
Kit Schlosky
21 Emerson Sibley

23 Matt McGuirk
Gardner Duncan
Christian Claydon

25 Colby Burns

26 Cassidy Warwick

27 Jen DiMarzio
Owen Gray

28 Leif Thureson

29 Christine Connolly

30 Lindsay Warwick

31 Heather Collins

Wishing a Happy February Anniversary to:  

Feb 14   John & Penelope Pint                      Feb 15   Frank & Molly Burr
What's happening in February at HCC?
Feb 2 - 7:15 pm - Board of Christian Education
7:00 pm - Tuesday Night Bible Study

Feb 3 - 11:00 am - Memorial Service for Mary Lou Fitzsimmons via Zoom:
7:00 pm - Prayer Time with Pastors
7:30 pm - Board of Deacons

Feb 4 - 9:00 am - Growing in Faith Together (G.I.F.T.) Bible Study

Feb 7 - 10 am - Sunday Worship
10:15 am - Kid’s Hot-Cocoa Hour - new time
11:15 am - Kid’s Hot-Cocoa Hour

Feb 8 - 6:30 pm - Men's Group

Feb 9 - 7:00 pm - Tuesday Night Bible Study

Feb 10 -7:00 pm - Prayer Time with Pastors
7:30 pm ~ Board of Outreach

Feb 11 - 9:00 am - Growing in Faith Together (G.I.F.T.) Bible Study

Feb 14 - Valentines Day
10:00 am ~ Sunday Worship
10:15 am - Kid’s Hot-Cocoa Hour
11:00 am - Fellowship Hour

Feb 15 - Presidents Day

Feb 17 - 7:30 pm - Ash Wednesday Service
8:00 pm - Executive Council Meeting

Feb 18 - 9:00 am - Growing in Faith Together (G.I.F.T.) Bible Study

Feb 21 - 10:00 am - Sunday Worship
10:15 am - Kid’s Hot-Cocoa Hour
11:00 am - Fellowship Hour

Feb 23 - Articles for Horizons are due

Feb 24 - 7:00 pm - Prayer Time with Pastors
7:30 pm - Board of Trustees

Feb 25 - 9:00 am - Growing in Faith Together (G.I.F.T.) Bible Study

Feb 28 - 110:00 am - Sunday Worship
10:15 am - Kid’s Hot-Cocoa Hour
11:00 am - Fellowship Hour
Save the dates!

March 3, 10, 17 at 7:30 pm Wednesday Evening Lenten Services
via Zoom - no evening Prayer with Pastors - on those nights

March 28 at 10 am Palm Sunday

April 4 at 10 am Easter Sunday