Our Vision
Inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus, we are changing the world through love, compassion, and courage.
Our Mission
In the revolutionary spirit of our Christian faith, we invite you to join us as we:
- Worship God with all our hearts and mindsAt Hancock we worship God, together in communal worship as well as in our individual faith practices. Trusting in God’s grace, we believe our worth is God-given, not earned or achieved. From this place we seek to worship in ways that are intellectually honest and relevant to the world in which we live, listening to the still speaking God and to one another with both head and heart.
- Walk our spiritual paths togetherWe walk our spiritual paths together, without judgment, honoring where each of us is in our journey, and supporting and encouraging each other along the way. Questions and doubts are welcome. Through lifelong learning we seek to feed the spiritual hunger in each of us with all that Christianity has to offer. We equip our children and youth with a foundation of faith and love that can adapt and sustain them as they grow.
- Cherish one anotherWe cherish one another, and we ask for help when we need it. Authentic and vulnerable, we come together in community, accepting each other as we are, heart and soul, gifts and needs, laughing and crying together, throughout all of life. You are welcome here. You are safe here. We take care of one another at all stages of life, honoring each other’s gifts, abilities, points of view, and graces.
- Build community in a diverse worldWe believe wholeheartedly that God loves everyone, and we work to live our covenant of welcome every day. We respect other faith traditions, recognizing that the ties that bind us are much stronger than our differences. We actively collaborate with diverse faith communities to advance the common good
- Protect the earthWe are inspired by the beauty of the earth, and often experience God personally in nature. We recognize in humility that we are part of the intricate, evolved web of life on earth and not lords over it. We seek to be good stewards of the earth, and commit ourselves to work for sustainability and climate justice to protect the earth and those who are most vulnerable to its degradation.
- Work for the common goodWe confront the systems and sources of injustice in the world today, including racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, poverty, and selfishness of all kinds. We seek to protect the most vulnerable. We inspire people to embrace love, dispel fear, and be a light in the world.
At Hancock Church, we amplify the voice of progressive faith as we speak to contemporary issues. We read scripture seriously but not literally. Through God’s love, we are transformed. Thus encouraged, we train leaders to carry this work into the world.
Our Values
Our commitments to
- love God and one another
- work for social justice
- serve others
are rooted in our core values of
- faithfulness
- inclusion
- compassion
- gratitude
- generosity
- humility
- vulnerability
- courage
- integrity
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: