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HORIZONS
January 2023
Monthly Newsletter
Hingham Congregational Church
United Church of Christ
366 Main St,
Hingham MA 02043
hccucc.com
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JUBILEE NEWS
JANUARY 2023
By now you’ve heard that HCC will be celebrating our 175th anniversary all year long. Many plans are in place for the celebration. Importantly, we want to honor our church’s place in Hingham history as well as the history of our own institution. It’s important for us all to remember that we couldn’t have continued our existence without the support of the town and the community. We want to honor that by giving back. One plan for this is that we will be fundraising to donate 175 books to the Hingham Public Library. They are excited to partner with us on this.
There are so many times when our community stepped up to help us out. Remember when we were undergoing our major church renovation a few years ago and we needed a place to worship? Hingham High School, Old Ship Church, the South Shore Conservatory, the GAR Hall, and other local groups offered to lend their spaces for worship, meeting spaces and church school. How could we have managed without such generosity?
That’s a memory that I have. What are your memories? Karen von Loesecke and a team of others will be collecting your memories for future publication. Your memory can be short and funny or long and meaningful, or anything in between. You can assign your name to your memory or remain anonymous. Did you spill coffee on our pastor during coffee hour? Did your puppy have an accident on our carpet during the Blessing of the Pets? (if this is your memory, you are forgiven, but you may want to remain anonymous!!). Have you made life-long friends because of your involvement at HCC? Do you remember a time in a committee meeting when someone challenged your opinion and perhaps changed your mind? All of these are the types of remembrances that make us strong and relevant. You can even provide a hope for the future for HCC instead of a memory if you wish.
Look for Karen and her team during coffee hour this month and throughout the year. She will provide you with more details about how to share your memories from over the years, or hopes for the next 100.
With anticipation for a full and meaningful year,
Kathi Blair and Debbie Edmundson
Jubilee 175 Co-chairs
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JUBILEE 175 KICK-OFF
January 8, 2023
Join us in worship and during coffee hour on January 8th to kick off the year-long celebration of HCC’s 175th anniversary. During worship we will honor our roots with a history moment, an original song written by Steve Waynen and Pete Allen, and more. Then we will share our memories down in Hale Hall while we enjoy a winter brunch.
Here is a partial list of planned events for you to put in your calendar:
Sunday, February 5, 2023 Bingo for Books, Fundraiser for our Outreach project.
Sunday, February 12, 2023 Brunch, a time of reflection hosted by Deacons.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 Story Slam #1 during Coffee hour
Sunday April, 2, 2023 Story Slam #2 during Coffee hour
July 4th, 2023 4th of July Float in the parade.
Sunday, September 17, 2023 Community Event on our church lawn
Saturday, November 4, 2023 Fall Gala event. Music, dinner, auction, fun.
This will be such a memorable year for HCC. So much more is going on. Keep a lookout.
Kathi Blair and Debbie Edmundson, co-chairs
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Note from our Moderator
Happy New Year!
After what felt like an unseasonably warm end of 2022, we have turned the calendar to 2023. Though, in our house, we have been loath to take down the Christmas decorations and return the lights, tinsel, ornaments, and festive kitchenware to their seasonal storage. It was wonderful to behold a full congregation for the pageant, and to hear the sanctuary resonating with beloved songs and carols all during Advent.
We have a lot to look forward to in the coming year, beginning with the traditional celebration of the arts in January and the official launch of HCC’s yearlong 175th Jubilee festivities. I have a feeling this commemoration will rejuvenate our congregation while giving back to our community and sparking a time of reflection, joy, and anticipation for what is to come.
I hope the new year began auspiciously for you and your loved ones as well.
On a personal note, I’d like to thank everyone who has reached out or prayed for me and my family at the sudden and stunning loss on December 23 of my cousin, Tom, aged 50. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 gastroesophogeal junction cancer at the beginning of December and did not live to see 2023. I was fortunate to fly to Minnesota for the funeral and, in so doing, reconnect with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, albeit under somber circumstances. My unannounced arrival brought some small comfort to an otherwise-difficult moment for our family. The frightening quickness and lethality of Tom’s illness provided a stark reminder of the fragility of life and an admonition to hold loved ones extra tightly as often as possible. Please know that I have appreciated your hugs, calls, social media messages and emails. I count myself blessed to be a part of our welcoming and loving community.
Peace.
-John Wayne Pint
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From our Director of Christian Education:
What A Year It Has Been!
2022 at Hingham Congregational Church, UCC has been fantastic. I began working at HCC in February and have enjoyed every second of getting to know you all. I wanted to take this time to reflect on some of our, The Board of Christian Education’s, accomplishments and explain some of our plans for the upcoming year!
Lent was my first Holiday season with this community, and it was thrilling. We had a great turnout to our dramatic story telling on Palm Sunday and our Christian Education Board spent the spring planning for our remaining year. Some of that planning included our highlight events like children’s Sunday and Vacation Bible School. VBS was a blast for all involved. Our volunteers and teens did a fantastic job welcoming and leading kids through a fun week of bible lessons, music, crafts, and science experiments. The fun continued through the fall with our homecoming Sunday and the kickoff of our new Church School curriculum.
Since September we have been working with a Rotation style curriculum that allows all ages to explore our Bible stories through hands-on lessons based in Storytelling, art, and science. Our teachers are really enjoying working with this model and feedback from our families has been very positive.
Additionally, our high school students have been very invested in their Youth group planning and events. They have enjoyed many social events and “God Talk” meetings where we have found a great sense of camaraderie. This group also helped support our Christmas tree lot this year the proceeds from which will help support their group trip to Pipestem West Virginia to help in the community.
The Confirmation program continues to explore their own faith journeys under Rev. Pete’s direction. They are a fantastic group full of energy and fascinating questions. We look forward to Confirmation Sunday in Early May where we will celebrate this group’s accomplishments.
We have so many activities and events filling the 2023 calendar. We will continue our weekly Church School rotations and monthly youth group meetings. We will also be putting an emphasis on re-growing a middle school youth group that will begin social meetings in January on the third Sunday of each month. This group has been a challenge to get rolling but I am committed to finding space and time for this group to connect and explore their faith. We are also working on a women’s retreat scheduled for March 3 to 4th at Craigville retreat center on the Cape. We are excited to bring back some of these “pre-COVID” events for 2023.
As the year continues, our Christian Education Board is looking to fill some volunteer positions. Please consider signing up to shepherd a church school class. You can sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F48A5AC22A3FFCF8-2023 Or email me for more information.
We can not wait to see what 2023 has in store for HCC, UCC
Many Blessings for 2023,
Lisa Bundy
Director of Christian Education
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STEWARDSHIP NEWS
PLEASE MAKE YOUR FAITH PLEDGE TODAY!
We are respectfully asking that all faith pledges be made as soon as possible so the finance team can balance our budget and prepare our financial outlays for the following year. DON’T WAIT! Go to www.hccucc.com or click on this QR code to make your faith pledge today.
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MEN'S GROUP!
Men’s Retreat, January 13-14
All men of the church are invited and there is still room! Please contact Rev. Pete if you are interested in attending (pastor@hccucc.com).
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SAVE THE DATE: March 3-4
We are very excited to bring back this well loved event.
Join us for an overnight at the Craigville Retreat Center on the Cape. We will gather Friday evening for dinner and enjoy our time together through to Saturday evening.
We will spend our time connecting, socializing, and exploring our faith no matter where you are on your journey. Please let Lisa know if you are interested or see the sign-up sheet located in the Church School hallway.
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OUTREACH UPDATE:
Global Impact
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Afghan refugees: Thank you for your generosity! We are coordinating to help sponsor a family of six from Afghanistan. The family’s transportation is bicycles, and they are walking distance to a Walmart. Items and gift cards were securely mailed to the family, as well as a donation from HCC for the Afghan refugee fund sponsored through the UCC. To continue to help support the Afghan refugee effort, checks can also be earmarked Outreach, Afghan Refugees. More details will follow about sponsorship of this family in January.
HCC and the UCC are set up to help with the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. From the UCC, “Our Ukrainian neighbors need us now. Millions have been displaced, seeking shelter and necessities. Please take a moment to help our partners in the region meet these needs with a gift to the UCC Ukraine Relief Fund” or by check to HCC earmarked Outreach, Ukrainian Crisis.
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Our Impact Closer to Home | |
The Giving Trees
Two Giving Trees were set up in the sanctuary with gift request-decorations for folks to take for children in need as well as requests for gift cards, which help families in so many ways including challenges with food security. In addition to gifts and gift cards distributed to Pine Street Inn, Interfaith Social Service, Wellspring, Father Bills, DOVE, Dianne DeVanna, and the Afghan refugee family, over $1000 was distributed to Pine Street Inn, Interfaith Services, Wellspring, and Father Bill's. Thank you for your generosity in making Christmas happen for folks in need in Boston and on the South Shore.
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The Pine Street With precautions in place, the Pine Street Inn in Boston is looking for volunteers once a month (third Monday) to serve the guests on the women’s side along with dessert donations. Please contact Ruth Whitner for details (phone/text: 339-613-7247 or email rgilbertwhitner@verizon.net. | |
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJV) | |
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Looking towards the New Year!
In the New Year, we will work with Interfaith Social Services with a children’s book drive, coordinate monthly sponsorship for the Afghan refugee family, work with the Senior High School Youth Group for the Hingham Food Pantry needs, and coordinate lunches for the Anderson House Ministry, with serves local veterans. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season, a very merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!
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NEW FRIENDS AT HCC -
If you are new to our church and would like to be recognized on our “New Friends” bulletin board in the narthex, please see Rev. Pete, Anne Fanton, or any other member of the Welcoming Team. You can identify us by the yellow lanyards worn with our name tag. We would love to take your picture! Anne Fanton, abfanton@comcast.net
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CALL TO MEETING
To the Members of the Hingham Congregational Church:
In accordance with Article VI, section 2 of the Bylaws, the members of the Hingham Congregational Church are hereby notified that the Congregational Annual Finance Meeting of the Church will take place on Sunday, January 22, 2023, in the sanctuary of the church, or via zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6351214941?pwd=elljc3RaK3NGNGxiY3kyN28xQ2lodz09 (meeting ID 635 121 4941, Passcode 108731) immediately following the 10:00 a.m. worship service for the following purposes:
1. To review pledges received to date;
2. To approve the minutes of the May 2022 Annual Meeting;
3. To receive reports of the Endowment & Memorial Fund Committee and all Boards and Committees having financial accountabilities;
4. To review the proposed budget for 2023; and
5. To transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
This is an important meeting and attendance by all members of the Congregation is requested. Child care will be provided.
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TUESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY at 7:00 pm
in the Library and on Zoom
Terri Fortin
terrifortin@comcast.net
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WEDNESDAY EVENING PRAYER –
At 7:00pm with Rev. Dr. Peter Allen
Zoom link will be sent out Wednesdays.
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GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER (G.I.F.T.)
Bible Study
Thursday Mornings at 9 am in the Library and on Zoom. Please contact Rev. Dr. Peter Allen to connect pastor@hccucc.com
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MEDITATION GROUP
Will be meeting every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
at 6:00 pm on the third floor
of the church.
Christopher Larsen <surgical411@aol.com>
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CHOIR NOTES:
Senior Choir Rehearsals are
Thursdays, 7:30 – 9:15 PM.
All are welcome!
Senior Choir Sings, Sundays -
9AM Rehearsal, 10AM Service.
David Geissow, Choir Director
david@figgypuddin.com
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JUNIOR CHOIR
After church from about
11:10 - 11:40. on the 3rd floor for some singing. Mrs. England and Mr. B will continue to
lead this group.
Ed B., jeeko@comcast.net
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ALTAR FLOWER SIGN UP for Sunday Services | |
Please consider choosing a Sunday to provide flowers from your garden or a florist, in celebration or in memory of a loved one at:
https://hccucc.com/altar-flower-sign-up/
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Help beautify our sanctuary!
The deacons are asking for some vase donations so that we can have flowers on the altar every Sunday. If you have a dusty vase hanging around, please bring it in for use in the sanctuary.
Know someone who could use some flowers?
Please see a deacon at the end of worship on Sunday morning if you would like to take home the floral arrangement.
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LITURGIST SIGNUP
Would you like to read scripture for your church community during Sunday morning worship from time to time? Please choose a Sunday and sign up here. https://hccucc.com/liturgist-signup/
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THE CONSIGNMENT CENTER IS FEASTING!
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Consignment Center: Fore and Aft
As we reached the close of 2022, the Consignment Center noted its most prosperous year on record due to the consistent efforts of volunteers, generosity of consignors and donors, and continuity of customers. December sales provided bargains for shoppers seeking Christmas gifts as well as essential winter clothing for many local families. We are grateful for a steady supply of quality merchandise that meets these needs.
Giving Twice returned, and HCC children contributed $260. to the Foundation for Children of Haiti. This event provided an opportunity to teach ways of using our abundance to make a difference in the lives of people in other cultures who face hardships daily. Thanks to the Boards of Christian Education and Outreach, along with HCC teachers and shepherds who made this possible.
Business resumes in 2023 on Tuesday, January 3, quickly bringing another Wacky Wednesday on January 4. Stop in and look for a 50% discount in a
designated area, chat, and catch up with friends.
We will still be seeking winter clothing, and will accept up to 10 items a week from each consignor; bring us your best selections as these items are most popular and best sellers. Remember, too, that we follow the Hingham Public School snow day policy: Our shop will remain closed on any day that school is closed for winter weather.
We look forward to continuing our mission, and welcome you to utilize our
resources and join in this community initiative.
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GREEN TIP FOR THE MONTH:
THINKING GREEN THIS CHRISTMAS
REUSE GIFT BAGS
If you have received gifts in gift bags this Christmas, and cannot reuse them all again, the HCC Guild Consignment Center would welcome them for use next December for their “Giving Twice” event. Look for the bin in Hale Hall on Sundays in January. Thanks.
And always remember to -
“USE WISELY...” HELP US CARE FOR OUR FRAGILE ENVIRONMENT BY REDUCING WASTE.
REDUCE - REFUSE - REUSE - REPAIR - RECYCLE- ROT (COMPOST)
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BENEFIT CONCERT AT HCC JANUARY 21 FEATURING “MUSIC OF UKRAINE”
The Hingham Singers and the Wompatuck Senior Orchestra will pair up once again for a Concert in the Sanctuary of Hingham Congregational Church on SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21, 7:30 PM. The concert will open with orchestral favorites performed by the Wompatuck Senior Orchestra. The Hingham Singers will then perform “Music of Ukraine,” with all selections drawn from the rich heritage of Ukraine to honor the courage of that nation. Tickets are $20.00. All donations and a major portion of ticket revenue will go directly to Ukraine via the American organization, Ukraine Forward.
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Please keep in
your prayers...
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- Friends and family of Peter Hall, who passed away recently, especially Cora Hall, their children Margaret and Whit, and their grandchildren Emily, Julia, and Elliot.
- David Giessow's brother Don, in hospice
- John Pint, whose cousin, Tom, passed away recently
- Todd Anderson, whose father, Gerald Anderson, passed away recently
- Andy Parmelee
- The People of Ukraine
- Candy Heath
- Barbara McGovern’s nephew Brendan, and his wife, Oksana, photo journalists living in Kyiv.
- Terri Fortin’s friend, Diane
- Nancy Hansberry's sister, Sue
- Susan Sardina’s Afghan friends who are now in the US
- Nancie Mooney
- Friends and family of Nick Nasson, who passed away recently
- Al and Linda Carpenter
- Ryan Lamonde, prayers for peace and courage\
- Ginger Carpenter Haberle, friend of Kate Kallis
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Dear Friends,
You have been spiritual friends to me and, most recently, my prayerful caregivers.
You have prayed consistently for my son, John, as he faces Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He is stable now and is leading a pretty normal life, though still carrying the disease. He is aware, as I am, that he is encircled with the wings of angels through your prayers. His wife, Karen, has also healed from surgery for melanoma and need no longer be on the list. Ginger Haberal, my daughter-in-law’s sister, has Primary Progressive Aphasia and, so far, there is no cure. She is 56.
More recently, you have prayed for me as I’ve been immobilized by, among more minor quirks, stenosis and two herniated discs, A more recently injection has helped tremendously and I’ve no longer needed to call on you to do my grocery shopping or bring meals. Now that my strength is returning, I hope to pitch in more fully.
I hope that this memo will encourage you who are on the prayer list to keep our congregation posted. When I see names, I wonder what needs are, and, if private, if there is a time to remove the person’s name. I’d like my name removed now, but am so glad that I can offer a big THANK YOU!
Kate Kallis
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Wishing a Happy January Birthday to our HCC family | |
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1 Lenore Rasmussen, Karen von Loesecke
2 Mary Griffin
3 Shane Burns
5 Hannah Nash
6 Lisa Bundy, Candy Heath, Andrew Ricciardelli, Julia Scipione
8 Sage DiMarzio
9 Linda Lucas
10 Ellie Burr
11 Calvin Smock, Gail Chafee
12 Kyle Warwick
13 Jeff Pinarchick, Reddie Warwick
14 Emily Dolphin
15 Madison Warwick, Lynne Powell-Pinto, Zach Havens
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16 Victoria Miles
19 Ellen Minister
20 Karen Hale
21 Evelyn Hollander
22 Charles Good, Mark Pryor
23 Kerrin Rowley
24 Griffin Burns
25 Jeff Johnson, Ryan Kelly
26 John Pint
27 Teddy Ricketts
29 Christine Connolly
30 Lindsay Warwick
31 Heather Collins, Libby King
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What's happening in January at HCC? | |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Wednesday Evening Prayer
7:30pm Deacons, Fellowship | 5
Growing in Faith Together
No Choir
rehearsal | 6 | 7 | | 8
Sunday Worship - Communion
Jazz Sunday
Jubilee Brunch
Confirmation class | 9
Men's Group | 10
Tuesday evening bible study | 11
Wednesday Evening Prayer
7:30pm Outreach | 12
Growing
in Faith Together
Meditation
Choir Rehearsal | 13
Men's Retreat | 14
Men's Retreat | | 15
Sunday Worship | 16 | 17
Tuesday evening bible study | 18
Wednesday Evening Prayer
7:30pm
Executive Coucil
Christian Ed | 19
Growing in Faith Together
Choir Rehearsal | 20 | 21
Hingham Singers concert | | 22
Sunday
Worship
Annual Finance Meeting
Confirmation Class | 23
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Tuesday evening bible study | 25
Wednesday evening prayer
7:30pm
Trustees | 26
Growing
in Faith Together
Meditation
Choir Rehearsal | 27
| 28 | | 29
Sunday
Worship
| 30 | 31
Tuesday evening bible study |
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SAVE THE DATES:
February 5 BINGO for Books
February 12 Brunch, hosted by deacons
March 3-4 Women's Retreat
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UCC NEW ENGLAND WOMEN’S CELEBRATION XI
March 17, 18, &19, 2023 DoubleTree
by Hilton, Manchester NH
This event is held every four years, women from congregations across New England come to gather to learn, share, worship, and connect. The weekend will include workshops, speakers, worship, music and much more! There is a $25 discount on registration if you sign up before January 1st. There are a block of rooms reserved for this event. Flyers are available on the Deacon’s table. This is a wonderfully inspiring event. For more information: https://sites.google.com/view/uccwc/schedule-events/worshops?authuser=0#h.stkp5ekkhbod
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Our Lady of Hope Parish, St. Mary's Church, North Grafton MA | | | | |
