Our Community
All are welcome in our community of faith. We affirm the full inclusion of all God’s people in the life and ministry of the church. Our congregation also strongly supports the civil right of all free and consenting adults to marry. We celebrate the use of human reason, and regard science and faith as equally essential and highly compatible. Each of us is responsible for growing in our understanding of faith and belief.
At Hancock, we try to provide the spiritual nutrients that will satisfy our hunger. You don’t need to know what you believe, or what you need, or even what you want. You just need to come and join in this community of folks. The nutrients of worship, community, service and prayer will surround you. In people who are more like you than they are different from you, you’ll find a commonality of experience, and support and challenge for your growth.
We believe that faith is a journey, not a destination…
This is a place where you can ask questions, learn, discover, and grow. Whether you are a novice to the church world, or a seasoned Bible expert, there are many opportunities to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith.
What does it mean to grow spiritually?
With what can it be compared?
Jesus once told a story, a parable, comparing our life with God to seed growing secretly (Mark 4:26-29). Just as a seed gets planted, buried out of sight, so it often is with our spiritual hunger. We can’t see it. We often aren’t aware that it’s even present. But the seed is not sitting passively underground. New life is asserting itself as the seed germinates, seeks nutrients around it, and ultimately, desires to break up through the soil into the bright light of the new day.
So it is with the human desire for spiritual growth. Long before we’re aware of it, before we can even name it, the human passion for God is asserting itself, seeking nourishment, looking to break out into new ways of thinking, feeling and acting.
Spiritual Practices
At Hancock we think there are four essential spiritual practices…
- Worship
- To celebrate the power, the presence, and the love of God for the world. Worship can take many forms:
- Prayer, both private and communal
- Music, both listening and making music praises God
- Silence, in a world of constant din, making time for silence opens doorways for God
- Proclamation, both preaching and testimony are important, saying what you perceive God is doing in your life, and listening to the witness of others
- To celebrate the power, the presence, and the love of God for the world. Worship can take many forms:
- Service
- To give one’s time and resources to those in need is an essential facet of Christian living. It too takes many forms:
- Contributing financially to the life of the church and to people in need creates generous hearts
- Mission trips to distant places help us understand new cultures, and challenge the way we live, even as our efforts improve the lives of others
- Projects close to home give us the opportunity to be merciful, and thus be changed
- Advocating for the changes needed to improve equality, make peace, and establish justice
- To give one’s time and resources to those in need is an essential facet of Christian living. It too takes many forms:
- Learning
- Enriches our understanding, and widens our perspective; God speaks in many ways to many people. Again, many forms:
- Formal classes
- Daily reading of the Bible and/or reflections on faith
- Conversation with others about what you’re learning
- Enriches our understanding, and widens our perspective; God speaks in many ways to many people. Again, many forms:
- Fellowship
- Simply being with others, sharing the life of faith in a variety of ways:
- Visiting and otherwise caring for church members in need
- Going to fellowship events, talking and sharing
- Sharing your faith with others, in your own way, inviting them to join you at Hancock events
- Simply being with others, sharing the life of faith in a variety of ways:
Special Services
At Hancock, we try to provide the spiritual nutrients that will satisfy our hunger. You don’t need to know what you believe, or what you need, or even what you want. You just need to come and join in this community of folks. The nutrients of worship, community, service and prayer will surround you. In people who are more like you than they are different from you, you’ll find a commonality of experience, and support and challenge for your growth.
Inspired by the life of Jesus Christ we believe we are all on a spiritual path leading us to growth in Christian values and faithfulness to God. Hancock Church has a variety of programs that support individuals and families on this journey in all phases of their lives.
Read more about Baptism, Communion, Wedding, Memorial Service & Funeral.
