The Hammond Streeter
The Newsletter of the
Hammond Street Congregational Church, UCC, Bangor, ME
Senior Pastor: Rev. Mark Allen Doty, Ph.D.
Pastoral Assistant: Rev. J. Gregory Bridges-Music,
An Open and Affirming Community
February 20, 2017
Website: www.hammondstreetchurch.org
Phone: 207-942-4381
PASTOR MARK TO LEAD
2017 LENTEN BOOK STUDY,
ENVY: THE SECRET SIN
The season of Lent is a season of self-reflection and introspection. Pastor Mark felt
the time would be just right to conduct a Lenten book study on Envy: The Secret Sin by
Mary Louise Bringle. The six-week study will be held during the six Sunday evenings of
Lent, beginning on March 5, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
Following a gracious invitation after church on Sunday by Emily Bean, the Lenten
Study will be held at the Bean home, 881 Ohio Street. As someone suggested, Emily's
lovely home is the perfect setting to discuss the subject of envy!
Participants are urged to buy copies through Amazon and to read the Introduction and
Chapter One on “Envy Appeal” before the first session—if possible. The author, Mary
Louise Bringle, is Professor of Philosophy and Religion Chair of the Humanities Division
at Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina. She has studied and written extensively
on the seven deadly sins tradition. Please tell Pastor Mark if you are planning to participate. Tell others about our study. We look forward to seeing you!
THIS SUNDAY AT HAMMOND STREET CHURCH
FEBRUARY 26, 2017
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY
PREACHING: Rev. Dr. Mark Doty
SERMON: “TRANSFIGURED”
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 17: 1-9
9:00 AM: Adult Study Group
10:00 AM : Sanctuary Worship
11:30 AM : Coffee Fellowship
PLEASE REMEMBER
Bill Weymouth—Sunbury Village
PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE
“CHALK TALK”
Dear Friends,
During the 1950's especially, “Chalk Talks” were popular events in churches.
Evangelists would visit churches around the country and “tell the story of Jesus”
using a blackboard and chalk. I remember seeing a pastor several times who
came to our small church in Indiana doing his “Chalk Talks.” He was an amazing
artist, and as I remember it didn't erase anything. He just kept adding to the story
of Jesus—from birth to resurrection.
I am thinking about the Chalk Talks I have sometimes had with the boys and
girls during our Children's Moments. When I have done them in the past, it always
happens on the first day of Epiphany. You will remember that I give each a piece of
chalk tied with a green ribbon (the liturgical color for Epiphany), which we bless together. The instructions each year are to take the piece of chalk home and to write
above the front door the letters CMB and the year, with 20 appearing before the
first letter and the 17 appearing after the last letter.
If you recall any of our HSCC Chalk Talks, you will remember that CMB stands
for the traditional names given to the three magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar.
The point of doing this exercise is remind the people who live there that their comings and goings are all part of a search for truth. A final instruction is that a small
cross should be placed between each of the letters:
20C+M+B17
This coming Sunday, February 26th, marks the last Sunday in Epiphany before
Lent begins. What doesn't end, however, is our individual searches for truth. Join
us on Sunday as we continue on our journeys!
Blessings,
Mark Allen Doty, Senior Pastor
The Texts This Week: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1: 16-21; Matthew 17: 1-9
HSCC Potluck Supper - "Places"
When: February 23rd, 5:30pm
Where: Megan and Josh Bridges' home, 16
Beecher Park, Bangor
Who: Hammond Street members of all ages
RSVP to Megan or Josh or via the Facebook event.
The theme of the February potluck is
"places". Please bring your favorite food
from a "place" you'd like to visit (i.e. Italian, Chinese, southern). For discussion:
Do you have a special "place" where
your spirit is soothed? Where you hear
God speaking to you?
This event is for ages 0-100+. Please
bring a friend if you would like.
Outreach Corner
Warm Appreciation
Many thanks to the 25 people who volunteered to help set-up the dining hall, prepare
food, serve, and/or clean up at the February
Free Bean Luncheon. Thankfully, we had
all hands on deck, as 90 people (an HSCC
record!) attended the luncheon, and everything donated or prepared was served and
enjoyed by all!
Also, a big thank you to all who donated to
the Winter Warmth tree during December
and early January. These items have been
distributed to the Bangor Homeless Shelter,
Hope House and other agencies that provide assistance to those in need of winter
warmth.
Outreach Corner continued
Volunteer Opportunities
Would you be willing to give a fellow parishioner a ride to church? Although we do not
receive many requests, we hope that no
one is missing the Sunday service for lack
of a ride. Outreach is compiling a list of prospective drivers, specifically for the Sunday
service. If you are able to help out, please
contact Gail Brown (947-2829) or Cherry
Finck (930-2525), and your name will be
added to the list. If someone is seeking a
ride to church, they should call the church
office before noon on Friday.
Can you help out at the next Bean Luncheon on March 4th? Lois Baxter sends out an
email sign-up sheet each month. If you
have not been included in the email and
would like to help, please call Lois Baxter @
825-4117 and leave a message with your
contact information. There are 2 shifts:
10:30-12:00 for set-up and to make bag
lunches, or 12:00-1:30 for serving and clean
-up. Also, 10 casseroles are needed each
month as well as desserts. HSCC is fortunate to have many good cooks, bakers and
people who give so much of their time to
this ministry! SAVE THE DATE FOR THE
NEXT BEAN LUNCHEON ON MARCH 4TH!
Creamy peanut butter and strawberry jam or
preserves are needed to make bag lunches
for the people who attend the Bean Luncheon.
The Hammond Streeter
is a weekly publication of the
Hammond Street Congregational Church,
United Church of Christ
P.O. Box 1106, Bangor ME 04402-1106 Phone: 207-942-4381
Website: www.hammondstreetchurch.org
Email: [email protected]
An Open & Affirming Congregation
God is still speaking,
Hammond Street
Congregational Church
P.O. Box 1106
Bangor, ME 04402-1106
Celebrate Shrove Tuesday - Feb. 28
Tired of winter? Had enough snow?
Ready for some warmth and frivolity?
Bursting to have some fun? Then plan
to join Hammond Streeters at their celebration of Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday as it is called in New Orleans as
that city celebrates Mardi Gras. True
revelers will be wearing purple, green or
gold with long beads, but it isn't the
clothes that make it fun, it's the "joie de
vivre" of the people. Kids of all ages can
enjoy games and relay races. Everyone
will chow down on the pancakes and
sausages dinner. And, of course, there
will be a King Cake, the centerpiece of
any Shrove Tuesday celebration. All are
welcome!
Plan to celebrate in the large vestry at
Bangor's Hammond Street Congregational Church, UCC from 6 to 8 p.m. on
February 28.
2017 LENTEN STUDY
Hammond Streeters and friends will want to
know that the 2017 Lenten Study will be Envy:
Exposing a Secret Sin by Mary Louise
Bringle. Pastor Mark will lead the class which
will meet on the six Sunday nights in Lent, beginning on March 5th. The group will meet at
Emily Bean’s Home at 6:00 PM. Copies of the
book are available through Amazon.
PRAYER CIRCLE:
Just a reminder that joining the Prayer Circle is an
opportunity to take part in the spiritual life of HSCC
without having to attend meetings. The Circle is
made up by those who volunteer to pray for others. Some people are not comfortable with asking
for prayers publicly; others will ask publicly but also ask for our help too. All requests are treated
with respect and confidentiality, sharing even within the Circle only what the requester is willing to
have known. Who can be in the Prayer Circle?
YOU! All that is needed is an email address
(requests and updates are made by email) and a
willingness to honor others. To request prayer or
to join the Prayer Circle, contact the church office
or Fran Griffin. There is also an email contact
([email protected] email address is being protected from spambots. You need
JavaScript enabled to view it. ) on the Hammond
Street Congregational Church website.
Please remember if you have
events or items for the Hammond Streeter to please get them in to the office before 10AM on Mondays. Thank you