As HCC adjusts to our new building, we are working out ways to share our facility with the community. During the visioning, design and construction phases of the project, we committed ourselves to making our new facility available to others for use. As such, the Executive Council formed a task force to put together a new "Facilities Use Policy".

 

This task force worked throughout the winter to determine what would be the best practices for our church. We researched other comparable facilities in the area, (churches, community centers, etc.). We also discussed and discerned what we felt would be a good working set of policies for HCC's needs and desires to share, but protect, our updated church.

 

The new documents outlining the proposed policies have been recommended by the task force, (Todd Anderson, Kathi Blair, Lynn Mayo, John Pint, Barbara McGovern, Kurt Nilsen, Rev. Pete Allen, Sara Holland, and Wil Exantus). The policy has also been approved by the Board of Trustees and is currently in the review process with Executive Council.

 

Of note, we'd like to bring your attention to a new alcohol policy that we are recommending. In preparation for the Annual Meeting on May 20th, we'd like to make sure the congregation is aware of what we are proposing.

 

In the past, our previous Facility Use Policy prohibited the use of alcohol on the church property. This was not a church by-law, only a policy written many years ago. However, we acknowledge the significance of this change, and believe it important for all church members to have an opportunity to review and vote on the change. The Hale Fellowship Hall is now a room that can accommodate many different types of functions, unlike our old fellowship hall. In order to present this option for fundraisers, small wedding receptions, or even HCC social events, we determined it advisable to allow alcohol to be served. All events would have to go through the process of being approved by the Board of Trustees, which is committed to the safety and well-being of the church, our facilities and most of all our church members.

 

In the course of our discernment we settled on the following policy:

 

 

To view the rest of the Facilities Use Policies and forms, click here:

https://hccucc.com/facilities-use/ 

We are very fortunate to welcome a special guest preacher during our worship service on Sunday, May 6th. Rev. Dr. Ned Allyn Parker is the Alumni/ae and Development Officer for Andover Newton Seminary at Yale, previously known as Andover Newton Theological School. He will be traveling up from New Haven, CT to be with us and to share in our Mission Sunday Celebration.

 

            Ned received his BA from Hampshire College, his MDiv from Andover Newton ('10), and his DMin from Seattle University. The title of his doctoral project was Preaching to Belong: The Practice of Narrative Preaching as an Indicator of Authenticity in the Postmodern Church. He arrived in New Haven after serving in ministry in Seattle, Washington, where he was one of the pastors at Seattle First Baptist Church in the downtown neighborhood of First Hill. During his time at SFBC, he worked to develop and foster a welcoming intergenerational community. Much of his focus in the congregation involved social justice and interfaith work. Ned has been committed to nurturing the intersection of faith and higher education for many years. He was a residence director and multi-faith chaplain at Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts. He also worked in student life at Andover Newton and was serving as the Associate Director of Recruiting, Student Services, and Retention at the time of his departure for Seattle in 2010. In this role, he performed outreach with churches and prospective students, while simultaneously developing space for community interaction around various issues.

 

            Please join us for this special Sunday event (Mission Sunday), as we welcome Rev. Ned and other organizations that HCC supports.

Please join us at our next Men's Group meeting on Monday, May 14th at 6:30PM. Location is Hale Fellowship Hall at church.

 

This month's theme is Taste of Hingham. We'll have steak tips from the Snug and an update from a couple of the agencies that benefit from the proceeds of TOH. Susan Kiernan from the Hingham Food Pantry and a representative from Wellspring have agreed to join us to give us an update on what is happening with their organizations.

 

Look forward to seeing you.
Social time at 6:30,
dinner around 7:00,
Susan and Wellspring around 8:00.

Suggested donation to offset food and cost is $20.

Please RSVP to: Neil Connolly - 201.294.8705   [email protected] 

Taste of Hingham was started in 2004 in response to a vision of celebrating and building awareness of all that Hingham has to offer, and simultaneously using the proceeds to benefit over 15 South Shore non-profit organizations. The Hingham Congregational Church, the Hingham Downtown Association and Eat Well, Inc sponsor Taste of Hingham.

Taste of Hingham has been enormously successful with both goals. In addition, thanks to the many who showcase during the "street fair," Taste of Hingham attracts approximately 3,000 visitors who celebrate Hingham, and enjoy music, art projects for kids, horse-drawn hayrides and many more ways to have a fun afternoon with family and friends.

The Taste of Hingham has raised more than $200,000.00 for local South Shore non-profit organizations.

Over 30 of Hingham's finest restaurants and food purveyors offered samples of their very best offerings last year. The crowds love this opportunity to taste a little bit of every thing from across Town, and to then cast votes for:

'Hingham's Favorite Chowder or Soup'

'Entrée of the Year'

'Hingham's Appetizer'

'Sandwich / Burgers/ Pizza'

'Vegetarian Delight' 

 'Baked Sweet Treats'

'Hingham's Favorite  Desserts'

100% of the proceeds from the event are distributed to non-profit organizations by the Board of Outreach of the Hingham Congregational Church.

Taste of Hingham Lawn Signs Available! 

 

We will be holding a new member Sunday in the near future so please let Kate in the office know if you are interested in receiving more information about this or just basic HCC programs.

Do you enjoy helping thos in need? You can help seniors in your won community and feel great doing it. At South Shore Elder Services, we want to make sure no one goes without a meal. We need your help to make this happen. Give us a call and find out what volunteering
                      for Meals on Wheels is all about.

What does being a Meals on Wheels volunteer mean? 

For more information call Jody at 781-848-3910 ext. 430