This Week at HCC UCC December 2, 2021

This Week at HCC

Hingham Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

Weekly Newsletter

December 2, 2021

Christian Education update:

One of our most beloved Advent traditions happens this Sunday: Giving Twice. The children will have a chance to shop in the Guild Consignment Center downstairs for Christmas gifts. Proceeds go to the International Institute of New England, helping Afghan refugee families. We will explore a little bit about what refugees are and we are extra lucky to have Mary Jenkins come talk to our kids about the IINE, and her efforts with the coat drive she does for them every year. Should be a fun, enriching experience! Please send kids with a reasonable amount of money, and a short shopping list (most gifts are $1-$2 and kids usually have time to pick out a couple of things).

Pick up will be in Hale Hall after church.

The Christmas Pageant is fast approaching and we could still use angels and animals, and a couple of wise guys! Contact me (Jen) if interested!

Next middle school youth group will meet after church December 12 for some holiday fun. Pizza will be served.

Blessings, miss Jen

JR. CHOIR THIS WEEK

Our final rehearsal before singing on DEC. 12 in church will be this Sunday, Dec. 5, following church school dismissal. We will meet in the sanctuary with masks. Please finish any snacks before arriving in sanctuary. We will work on our two songs for next Sunday's Lessons and Carols service. If you have not yet sung with us this fall, this would be a great Sunday to get started. Invite any special adult to come along if you would like. Please be in touch with Mr. B. with any questions or concerns. <jeeko@comcast.net>

Cookie Swap This Sunday!

A little sugar, a lot of cheer...

Let's swap some cookies at HCC this year!

Join us for our 9th annual cookie exchange hosted by The Board of Fellowship, immediately following the service during coffee hour.

Please bring a batch of your favorite cookies on a platter to share with fellow HCC Bakers. The idea is that you go home with a tasty variety of the same number of cookies that your brought to swap. Don't forget a container to hold all of your cookies. If you have any extras, please bring them in a labeled container for Pine Street Inn.

AND FOR THE YOUNGER ONES: We will have an area set up for the kids to decorate and create their own delicious cookie!

If you have any questions, please contact Mary Jenkins.

TREE LOT NEEDS LOTS OF HELP FOR THIS WEEKEND!

- Staffing needed

Friday evenings, Saturdays & Sundays through December 18th (go online for slots) . https://hccucc.com/christmas-tree-sales/ Please see pictures of the Tree Uploading and the fun everyone had below.

If you need to change or cancel your shift, please email the office: churchoffice@hccucc.com

Money raised helps defray the cost of our annual work camp trips. This summer we will try once again to go to The Corrymeela Community in Ireland. To learn more and what they do, please go to corrymeela.org or speak with Pastor Pete.

Advent Services on Wednesdays, December 8, and 15

HCC will be having quiet, reflective services

in the sanctuary from 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

If you need to take a break from the hustle and bustle, please come to one or all three services.

There will not be Prayer Time with Pastor on these evenings.

All are welcome.

Outreach News!

The Giving Trees are up and decorated!

The giving trees are up in the Sanctuary and outside on the Office Porch. There are Christmas gift requests for children as well as requests for gifts cards, because gift cards can help families in so many ways. Please drop off gifts (unwrapped) by Dec. 10 in the black box on the Office Porch. Thank you!

https://hccucc.com/who-we-are/giving/

Special donations: Giving Tree

Christmas Food Boxes –

This year, donations must be monetary. Due date for donations is 12/10/21. These donations are for Wellspring and they will be converted into gift certificates for Stop & Shop and Village Market in Hull, so people may purchase their own dinners.

Donations may be made by check payable to HCC, with Food Boxes on the memo line and mailed to HCC 366 Main St, Hingham MA 02043 or they may be made on line at https://hccucc.com/online-giving/ Special Donations - Christmas Food Boxes

Gift cards are more flexible for Wellspring because they either give them directly to their guests or purchase food for the food bank. Even though the way we give changes, the care and concern we have for our neighbors in need remains the same and that’s the heart of our tradition. Thank you.

The Christmas Pageant will be held this year on December 24th at 4:00 pm

We are in need of angels, animals, wise men, Mary & Joseph. Commitment is one rehearsal the Sunday before Christmas Eve, and dress rehearsal day of.

Costumes provided.

No lines to memorize.

This is a fun tradition, all welcome! Contact Jen DiMarzio if interested jendimarzio@gmail.com

Blessings, Miss Jen

Sunday Readers Needed!

If you’d like to be a liturgist (a person who reads the Bible for us on Sunday morning), please click on this link and choose a Sunday! This is a great and easy way to get involved in your church. https://hccucc.com/liturgist-signup/

The Race Talk Thursday December 9th at 7:00 pm via Zoom

What is it like to be an Asian American Pacific Islander in Hingham? Join a live “Race Talk” on Zoom as we hear personal stories from four individuals about living in our community, followed by a Q&A period. All are welcome to listen, learn, and ask questions for the purpose of understanding and growth. Advanced registration is required. Please check it out. https://hinghamunity.org/event/race-talk-2/

NEW WOMEN’S GROUP BEGINNING IN JANUARY!

For HCC women who are interested in journaling as a way to learn more about their spiritual journeys, will be held Wednesday, January 5, 2022, 6:30-8:30 pm.

Read the book HOLY MOLY, GOD by The Rev. Marcia M. Cham. It’s available on Amazon.

Contact Eleanor Hughes, who will facilitate this group and promises it will be fun!

Email: hughesandco@comcast.net Mobile: 781-264-2555

More details in Horizon

Hello HCC,

I am helping the church office spread the word thru social media (FB & Insta) about how active and special HCC is! Please email me your photos when you grab a good one (or even an ok one) so we can share the great activities with local folks! #hcc #hinghamcongregationalchurch

Email: sgeorgmini@yahoo.com.

Thanks, Stephanie

Guild Consignment Center!

Following our December traditions, we will again be hosting Giving Twice, Sunday December 5; this year, proceeds from the HCC children’s shopping will be used by IINE

to provide for needs of Afghan refugee families.

The Consignment Center will remain open during fellowship hour to allow members of

the congregation to shop for gifts and support the effort of our children’s mission.

Tuesday 10-7 , Wednesday 10-1 , Thursday 10-6

Saturday 10-1 Sales Only.

https://guildconsignment.org/

Ongoing at HCC

7:30 pm

For information anyone can contact either Terri Fortin at terrifortin@comcast.net

or 781 817-6650 Or Todd Anderson at toddkanderson78@gmail.com

Prayer Time with Pastor -

Please join us for the Special Advent Services on Dec 8,15

GIFT

Growing in Faith Together

Bible Study -

Thursdays at 9:00 am

To sign up please email

Rev. Pete at

pastor@hccucc.com

Choir Notes

Senior Choir Rehearsals

Thursdays,from 7:30 – 9:15 PM in Hale Hall. Please join us!

For encouragement or more info, call David Giessow at 617-686-2581 or email David@figgypuddin.com

From the Office:

If anyone needs to change their schedule to sell trees, please email the office and I will clear your slot.

I would love some help in the office. Maybe just two hours a week? If anyone is interested please email churchoffice@hccucc.com.

Thank you, Susanne

Green Tip for the Week

THINK BIG, SHOP SMALL THIS CHRISTMAS

greenamerica.org is a wonderful organization to check into for ideas about being kinder to our planet in your everyday life and supporting the “Green Economy,” at any time but especially during the Christmas season.

Buy LOCAL = Focus on your community.
Buy ORGANIC = Focus on healthy, safe food
Buy CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE = help fight poverty
Buy from a WOMAN or people of COLOR-OWNED business = focus on building a more inclusive community
DON’T buy something = telling the world you don’t need more stuff to have a happy holiday.

For lots of great ideas:

https://www.greenamerica.org/blog/5-reasons-shop-small-season?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=75f2e3fe-4f9e-4200-a4e9-b28ecffa2274

And always remember to -

“USE WISELY...” HELP US CARE FOR OUR FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING WASTE.

REDUCE - REFUSE - REUSE - - REPAIR - RECYCLE - ROT (COMPOST)

IN OUR COMMUNITY

The Unicorn Singers and Broad Cove Chorale invite you to their Christmas concert, Entitled

"O Magnum Mysterium": O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger”. Saturday, December 11 at 7:30 pm at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Hingham, Sunday December 12 at 4:00 pm at First Parish on Cohasset Common. Tickets are $30. All donations and net proceeds will go to Wellspring’s Diane Edson Fund.

All tickets must be purchased or reserved in advance and are available at www.bcc-us.org or from Kathy Reardon 781-749-0162 or at kreardon111@comcast.net. Mask requirement and proof of vaccination or a negative covid test within 3 days, are required to attend the concerts.

Looking for a fun Holiday event? Why not participate is our first Gingerbread Build Competition. Gather your family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and create your team. No one is too old or too young to participate. We will provide the Gingerbread House kits, you provide the decorations and creativity. Space is limited to 20 teams of four. Pre-registration is required. Sponsorships are also available.

WHEN: Saturday, December 11, 2021 TIME: 10 am to 1 pm

WHERE: Hingham Congregational Church, 378 Main Street, Hingham

To register please go to: https://e.givesmart.com/events/oqG/