October 11th Weekly Word

This Sunday we hope you'll bring your fur babies for this wonderful event!


Stewardship Month Continues


Have you seen the first of our Stewardship videos? If you missed it, or would like to see it again, click here or on the picture below.


Also, be sure to join us in Hadley Hall this Sunday and 22nd to see more videos! The team has been working hard and is excited to share the fruits of their labor with you.

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH VIDEO

Why This Church is Important to Me


There are seasons when I am required to work on Sundays. This results in being disconnected from the church community for weeks at a time while being immersed in commercial culture and the hard realities and opinions of today’s society. Usually, I get to feeling down and depressed about the state of the world and my life by the end of these stretches of time.


Which is why today’s sermon was perfect for me. When I can, I come weekly, because I need to be reminded that there are people who are kind, caring and thoughtful. I need reminding that there are people who have love as their default setting, rather than mistrust and anger. I come weekly to be reminded to keep loving, no matter what the outside world has to say about it.  


Today’s sermon discussed Paul’s letter to the Philippians, in which he reminded them that everything the material world holds dear is nothing compared to love. This may also remind you of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians read often at weddings: “The greatest of these is love.” No matter where you are in your faith journey, or in your belief system, no matter where you believe wisdom and salvation reside, no matter your age, income, influence or status, if your life is based on love, you are blessed. 


I come to church for the people, the community, the music, the great sermons, but most of all, I come to be reminded of the grace that comes from building my life on the foundation of love, acceptance and kindness, and that I am not alone in doing so.  


Kari Allard

Worship This Week


Please join us

in the Hadley Hall

or online at

10am this Sunday for

Twentieth Sunday

After Pentecost



Coffee hour will be held after the service in

Hadley Hall.


We hope you will join us

in person or online.

The service will be live streamed through

Facebook Live here

or on 3CX here


Reader: Dave Chin

Coffee hour host: Jane DeRosa



artwork: "Autumn Moon" © Mary Southard

www.ministryofthehearts.org. Used with permission.

New Book Discussion Begins October 19th


Join us for our upcoming book discussion on Anne Lamott's "Help, Thanks, Wow - The Three Essential Prayers".


This 3-week discussion will be held from October 19th to November 2nd from 10am-11:30am in the Davis Room upstairs from our social hall.


Books are available in the foyer of Hadley Hall. Feel free to take one even if you cannot participate in the discussions.


If you'd like more information or would like to be added to the email list about the book group, please contact Pastor Kathy

Pot Luck Breakfast on

Stewardship Sunday


We will be having a potluck breakfast in Hadley Hall on Stewardship Sunday, October 29th beginning at 9am. Bring your favorite breakfast dish to share and come for good food and conversation before the worship service!

St. Anne's Food Pantry In Need

of Thanksgiving Donations


The food pantry is currently collecting for their

Thanksgiving distribution. Donations are appreciated



 Current needs:


Stuffing

Cranberry sauce

Turkey gravy

Canned chicken

Salad Dressings

Quickbread mix

Jelly

Brownie/Cake mixes

Rice pilaf

Coffee



Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall

Please, no expired items.

Thank you for all your support!

A Word from Peace & Justice


The Climate Coach series in the Washington Post brings tips for how to reduce our individual environmental impact and this article is about using soap and shampoo products that don’t have “water” as the first ingredient. The question Michael J. Coren, the journalist, asked himself was: “Why was I spending so much money on plastic containers filled with water I could get for far less?”


He started with the history of how plastic replaced glass, metal, wood, and ceramic containers. Do any of you remember when lotions, conditioners and creams were sold as powders, tablets, and concentrates? Because of convenience that plastic containers bring the global production of plastic, including bubble wrap, exceeds 122 pounds for every person on the planet every year.


Several states, including Maine, are passing extended producer responsibility programs that require manufacturers to recycle and manage their packaging. And a customers become aware of the ill effects of plastic the demands to reduce single-use plastics are increasing to the point that even Walmart and Target are selling those older formulations for personal care products that eliminate the water and can be sold in minimal paper packaging. This reduces the need for large plastic bottles like those for liquid laundry detergents.


The article includes how you can get started with switching out some of these products, including reviews and sourcing information.

The Music Corner by Herb Tardiff


Music notation has been around for at least two thousand years starting with the Greeks followed by the Romans. Today, music notation is consistent and easy to understand and we usually use treble and bass clefs. During the Renaissance, music notation consisted of at least 7 different clefs. (this makes open score reading a particular challenge).



You will notice that the Greeks used symbols for different note names and values. Some of these symbols are used today in mathematics or science. As music notation evolved, lines of the staff identified the note names and the actual shape of the notes determined the duration.

Early 16th-century manuscript in mensural notation, containing a

Kyrie by J. Barbireau.   

You will notice the beautiful artwork associated with this kind of notation. It must have taken some time to complete each page of manuscript.

Steeple Lighting


Steeple lit

from October 9th – 15th 


In memory of

Bob, Lois & Gary Chase


and


In loving memory of

J.J. Waldron



New Hampshire Conference UCC Weekly News



We thought you might enjoy reading the NH Conference UCC weekly newsletter. You can read it with this link.


10/10/2023 Newsletter



Each week, we will update this section of our Weekly Word with the new link

for the current newsletter.

Missions Opportunities:

To sign up for the next volunteer opportunity click here. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email at janederosa@comcast.net.

Volunteer @ Soup Kitchen

The Sonshine Soup Kitchen needs volunteers to prepare and package the food for "To Go Meals." We partner with Atkinson Congregational Church once a month on the 4th Wednesday of the month to help out from 3-6pm.


Blankets for Project Linus

For those of you who have been busy sewing, quilting, knitting, or crocheting, we have an new opportunity to donate those handmade items!

We located a national organization that has local chapters called Project Linus (https://www.facebook.com/projectlinussouthwestnewhampshire/). This organization's mission is "to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans". Blankets are given to children in need through NH.

*We welcome all styles of blankets made in child-friendly colors/prints.
*Crocheted, knitted, quilted (100% cotton or flannel), fleece….you don’t have to be an expert!
*Blankets must be NEW, HANDMADE and WASHABLE.
*Fabric blankets can be quilted by machine, hand or tied. If you are tying the blanket make sure the ends are trimmed to 1” and the knots are secure.
*Please do not add any embellishments to the blankets such as buttons that could be swallowed by a child.
*If you are using a no-sew fleece pattern, please be sure to trim off both selvages FIRST. Not sure what selvages are? Ask the clerk who is cutting your fleece to please show you, they’re those odd looking edges at the top and bottom of the piece you have, sort of raggy looking.
*We accept all sizes of blankets. We donate to children, infants through teen years, so any size is appropriate. Baby blankets are typically 36”X36” or 36”X42”, toddler-pre-teen are typically about 40”X60”, and teen blankets are at least 60"X72".

Blankets can be dropped off in the entry way of Hadley Hall.

Thank you for your support of this project!

Scam Texts & Emails


This summer, a number of congregants received a scam text "from Rev. Kathy." This was sent from an unknown phone number, not Pastor Kathy's cell phone. The text said it was an urgent request. Those who called/texted back were asked to send gift cards.


Please know that Pastor Kathy will never ask you for money/gift cards over email nor via a text. And if there is something urgent, Pastor Kathy will reach out via phone. Scammers are often successful due to the "urgent" nature of their communication.


Also, any email from Pastor Kathy will always have her signature line on the bottom with her phone number/address.


If in doubt, please contact the church office or Pastor Kathy.

These scams are increasingly common, and many church communities are affected.

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Help Us Continue Our Mission at HCC

Want to get the word out about what’s happening at HCC? If you want to publicize your event or remind the congregation about something, please email the office (hcc1752@gmail.com) by Wednesday at noon so that your information can be included in that week’s Weekly Word. Feel free to send in information up to three weeks in advance of an upcoming event. We want all of the congregation (not just the Team leaders) to be empowered to get the word out about all the activities that are happening at Hampstead Congregational Church!
Our Mailing Address:
61 Main Street
Hampstead, NH 03841
Church Summer Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to Noon
Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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