Welcome Home

for Advent

Hancock Church Advent Brochure 2014

2

For centuries, children of all ages have delighted in Advent calendars, counting down the days of waiting for Christmas by daily opening a door to reveal a hidden surprise. In 2014, Advent at Hancock will be celebrated as a series of openings, revealing to us the great Good News of the birth of Christ. We shall see that Advent opens doors to welcome strangers, opens hearts to be moved to compassion, opens our eyes to see new possibilities, and opens our minds to the ultimate mystery of the Incarnation, God becoming one of us in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

Our construction work is nearly finished; and we invite you to come, open the doors to Hancock Church, and come home for Advent, opening your life to new possibility!

The staff at Hancock are proud to announce that we’ll be blogging again during the Advent season! These short, daily devotionals will invite you to draw deeper into the heart of God during the season of Advent. Whether you join us over a cup of coffee in the morning, or before going to bed, be sure to log onto

hancockchurch.org/category/adventblog/

every day of Advent for an uplifting message from your staff.

Grace and peace from all of us,

Paul Shupe, Pam Cochrane, Alex Shea Will, Mark Morgan, Marilyn Becker, Nancy Rottman, Andrew Harris, Jane Park, Krystal Neale, Kim Gladstone, & Dan dos Santos

Advent at Hancock

4

Advent series dates

Sunday, November 30 Opening Doors - First Sunday of Advent

Advent Wreath Making, 11:15amHanging of the greens, 11:30am

Sunday, December 7 Opening Hearts - Second Sunday of Advent

Manger Sunday, 10amHoliday Fair, 11:15am

Sunday, December 14 Opening Eyes - Third Sunday of Advent

Advent Cantata, 9:45amCaroling, 3:30pm

Monday, December 15Blue Christmas, 7:30pm

Friday, December 19Morning Glories Bells Concert, 10am

Sunday, December 21 Opening Minds - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Bells Concert, 2pm

Wednesday, December 24Christmas Eve Services, 5pm, 8pm, 11pm

5November 30, 2014

First Sunday of Advent

Opening Doors

In Advent we watch and wait, and prepare to welcome the Christ child into the world. We are called to watch faithfully for signs of God’s light breaking into the world, signs of God’s action in the world. Let us open the doors of our hearts and homes so that we might live into the hope of Christ’s love.

Pam Cochrane preaches on Mark 13:24-37

The choir sings and soprano soloist Emily Thorner sings a beautiful aria by Telemann.

Special EventsAdvent Wreath Making

The smell of fresh greens and berries is sure to draw everyone to the Advent Wreath Making Workshop in Clark Hall after worship. The Advent wreath is a living symbol of our journey to Christmas Eve. The four candles lit each Sunday of Advent mark our pilgrimage of hope, peace, joy, and love. The white candle in the center is the Christ candle to light on Christmas Eve and Day. The circle of evergreens reminds us of God’s everlasting love for us. Create a special place at home for your Advent Wreath and share in lighting the candles each Sunday.

6December 7, 2014

Second Sunday of Advent

Opening Hearts

The great gift of Jesus Christ to all humanity moves all Christian hearts to open in compassionate kindness and generous sharing. Having received the gift of new life in Christ, we now give to others from our open and merciful hearts. On this day, the 145th Annual Manger Sunday, our gifts will brighten the hearts of others through the work of City Mission Society. Bring gifts! Come and share! Open your hearts and find that in opening, you are transformed.

Paul Shupe preaches on Mark 1:1-8

Manger Processional accompanied by choir, brass, timpani and organ.

Manger SundayBring Gifts to place in the Manger

Come lift your spirits and embrace the Advent season by participating in a beloved Hancock tradition: Manger Sunday. During morning worship on December 7, we will process to the manger with gifts for those in need. Hancock, along with 40 other churches and groups in the greater-Boston area, delivers the gifts to City Mission Society’s Christmas Shop distribution center in Winchester. For a full list of what families need, contact the Church Offices (781) 862-4220.

7

Hancock Holiday Fair

Plan on shopping at our 14th Annual Holiday Fair on Sunday, Dec. 7, 11:15am - 1pm for unique and beautiful hand-crafted items benefitting many charitable organizations including Heifer International, Rosie’s, Sharing, Basic Needs, Aruna Designs, Thread of Hope and many others. Bring your friends to one of Hancock’s most joyous events! For information, email sj.shaw@verizon.net.

Add your own

candles to the

Advent wreath!

8

November 30 First Sunday of AdventNancy Rottman preaches

Music for Advent from across the centuries accompanied by the River Rock Band.

December 7 Celtic ChristmasSecond Sunday of AdventAndrew Harris preaches

The sound of Irish flute, pennywhistle, guitar, bouzouki, and great voices will fill the night as Hancock Church celebrates a Celtic Christmas.

Sundays, 6:15pm in Clark Hall Join us for Advent @the Well where we’ll take the journey towards Christmas, growing slowly more inward and contemplative. Worship @the Well offers a complementary worship experience to our morning services. Dress is informal, those gathered sit in a semi-circle, our music is lead by a band, and we share communion and our personal prayer concerns every week.

Advent @the Well

9

Advent @the Well

Internationally recognized Celtic musicians Matt and Shannon Heaton will join the Well’s resident ensemble, the River Rock Band, for an evening of traditional carols in true Celtic style. Music will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Boston-based Matt and Shannon Heaton have an inventive approach to traditional tunes and ballads. The Boston Herald lauds them on their “majestic excellence,” and they are winners of Live Ireland’s “Trad Fusion Album of the Year.”

December 14 Third Sunday of AdventPaul Shupe preaches

Music for Advent from across the centuries accompanied by the River Rock Band

December 21 Fourth Sunday of AdventAdvent Taizé

The monastic community of Taizé, France developed a worship practice that is now used throughout the world. Taizé services feature lots of easy singing, a bit of silence, candle lighting, and an invitation to draw deeper into the heart of God. Join us for this powerful service just a few days before Christmas.

December 28No Worship @the Well Service

January 4th Epiphany SundayAndrew Harris preaches

Jazz takes on the music of the season as we conclude our Christmas celebrations.

Shannon and Matt Heaton will help lead Celtic Christmas @the Well on December 7th.

Advent at Home...

Bring Advent alive in your homes with these

simple, mindful, every day activities.

DECE

MBER 2014 Ad

vent Calendar

Use stickers to countdown the days until Christmas!

12

December 14, 2014

Third Sunday of Advent

Opening EyesCould you imagine yourself as Jesus’ mother Mary? Just a teenager, Mary has a powerful encounter with God in which she is asked to do something that seems unbelievable. Surprisingly, she responds not with sadness or anger, but by singing a song that is known throughout the world as The Magnifcat. In that song, Mary teaches us what happens when we allow God to open our eyes to new possibilities. How might God be calling each and every one of us, and Hancock Church, to open our eyes to the new things God is doing in the world?

Alex Shea Will preaches on Luke 1:46-55

Cantata Sunday

The Chancel Choir, period chamber orchestra, and soloists share bright and joyful music from the Baroque by Telemann and the Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka.

Special EventsCaroling Party

3:30 pm, gather in the Dining Room

Come sing with our annual Christmas caroling party. All ages are invited. We meet at the church and then divide up into groups to sing for shut in members in the area. We then return to the church for a pizza party prior to The Well.

December 15, 2014

Blue Christmas

7:30pm in Kathie StuartWhat if we cannot bear to open our hearts because they are bruised and broken already, our hopes and joys hanging by a thread, as illness, or grief, or confusion, or sorrow weighs us down? What if, while the world around us sings out in joy and expectation, we find ourselves in the gloom of doubt or despair? Then we gather for worship on this night, bringing our blues to sing and to share, hearing the Good News spoken in ways that honor our distress without the pretense of false joy. Come, let us share our pain together, trusting God to hear, to hold, and to heal. Worship includes time for lament, for anointing for healing, and communion for renewal.

14

December 21, 2014

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Opening Minds

To receive the full joy of Christmas, one must first open the mind to a wondrous and mysterious possibility: that in the birth of the baby Jesus the Word of God has become flesh. The possibility boggles the mind, for if this is true, then nothing can be impossible. If this is true, then hope will triumph, peace will prevail, joy will burst forth, and love will conquer all the powers of hate. Come and worship, hear again the story of the angel’s promise to Mary, and prepare to open your mind to more than you can know, more than you can measure. Let love reign in your heart, and in your mind, opened now to entertain the wide and wonderful mystery of the Incarnation of God.

Paul Shupe preaches on Luke 1:26-38

The Hancock Choristers and Hancock Bell Choirs will share joyous music of the seasons.

Special EventsChristmas Handbell Concert (see page 17)

Still waiting for Christmas...

16

December 24, 2014Christmas Eve Services

Join us in the Sanctuary for Christmas Eve Services with traditional candlelighting, music, and storytelling.

5pm Family ServiceLessons and carols with a family Christmas tableau. Carols accompanied by brass and organ.

8pm Lessons and Carols Accompanied by the Chancel Choir, professional soloists, and strings.

11pm Candlelight CommunionA contemporary take on carols old and new by Ensemble Noel.

17

Advent Concerts Calendar

Advent CantataSunday, December 14 at 9:45 am

The Chancel Choir, soloists, and chamber orchestra will lead morning worship with a festive cantata for the Advent season. Interspersed throughout our service, our cantatas uplift and inspire the preaching of the Word, frame our prayers, and provide a special worship experience.

Morning Glory RingersHandbell Christmas Concert

Friday, December 19 at 10:00 am

Hancock Church’s Morning Glory Bell Ringers and friends will perform a free concert of 3 octaves of handbells and hand chimes, vocal, and instrumental music. Music will include fun seasonal favorites from around the world, both sacred and secular, classical and popular, with something for everyone, including sing-alongs and audience participation. Specially timed for seniors, preschoolers, and home school groups.

15th Annual ChristmasHandbell Concert

Sunday, December 21 at 2:00 pm

The Annual Handbell Christmas Concert will feature the four handbell choirs of Hancock Church with ringers of all ages performing on 5 octaves of handbells. Music will include fun classical and popular, sacred and secular music of the holiday season with something for every listener. Family-friendly and free, this concert is sure to lift your spirits and welcome in the holiday season with the sparkle of the bells and their magical sound.

18

December 28, 2014First Sunday after Christmas

Nancy Rottman preaches Luke 2:22-40

January 4, 2015Epiphany Sunday

Alex Shea Will preaches on Matthew 2:1-12

Color your own

Advent wreath!

ho

pe.

pea

ce.

joy.

lo

ve.

HA

NC

OC

K, U

NIT

ED

CH

UR

CH

OF

CH

RIS

T, C

ON

GR

EG

AT

ION

AL

1912

Mas

sach

use

tts

Ave

., L

exin

gto

n M

A 0

2421

| (

781)

862

-422

0

NO

N-P

RO

FIT

OR

GA

NIZ

AT

ION

U.S

.PO

ST

AG

EP

AID

BO

ST

ON

, MA

PE

RM

IT N

O. 5

2230