This Saturday evening at 7pm in our sanctuary.

Looking for READERS for our Christmas Eve Service

Rev. Paige has put together a beautiful Christmas Eve Service that includes 5 Scripture Readings and 5 Poems.

We are still looking for people to do a reading or two; therefore, if you are willing, please contact Judy D (rjdobwood@comcast.net). The service will be held in the sanctuary at 4:00 p.m. on December 24th. 

Thank you!

Our annual Christmas Craft Fair was an amazing success!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the Christmas craft fair a success!



Whether you helped to set up or breakdown the classrooms, baked some goodies, donated raffle items, made greens and/or donated your time at the tables you were part of the success! Without you, it would never happen. Thank you all so much.

"Thank You" from the Missions Team

We enjoyed an eventful Loaf and Ladle on November 10! There was quite a variety of soups – including

chicken noodle, corn chowder, lasagna, cheddar broccoli and vegan butternut squash – all arranged on

the serving table when all of a sudden (and thankfully before we began to serve) the table legs broke and 5 soups literally went sliding and crashing to the ground – leaving broken glass, bent crockpots and a HUGE mess. Our selection went from eight soups to three along with some delicious home baked bread and plenty of brownies for dessert. The guests who attended though were undeterred and we raised over $300 for St. Anne’s Charitable Outreach.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE WONDERFUL COOKS, BAKERS AND CLEANERS (especially Chris McCune who manned the broom)!

THANK YOU EVERYONE

The Missions Team

Hampstead Congregational Church Receives LCHIP Award!

On Monday, Governor Sununu joined the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) in announcing $3.3 million in matching grants to support twenty-six land conservation and historic preservation projects across the state. The grants will support efforts to rehabilitate 14 historic buildings and permanently conserve more than 3314 acres of farm, timber, and ecologically significant land in all corners of the state.

Hampstead Congregational Church received a $20,000 matching grant to help fund the restoration of the 18 original sanctuary windows. This work will resolve problems including damaged or missing glazing, rot, weakened joints, cracked panes, and the inability to close properly.  

Governor Sununu applauded the program, noting that “the (LCHIP) grants are a catalyst for so many groups. Whether LCHIP closes the funding gap, or helps get a project started, these grants help local people do important work here in New Hampshire.”

Attending the event were David Chin, Rick Little, Fred Malcom, Chris McCune and Brad Robie.

LCHIP is an independent state authority providing matching grants to New Hampshire’s municipalities and non-profits, helping to preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural, and historic resources and ensure their contribution to the economy, environment, and quality of life in New Hampshire. LCHIP grants are funded by a $25 fee assessed when deeds, mortgages, and plans are recorded at the state’s ten registries of deeds.  

Since 2001, LCHIP has awarded 615 grants, totaling over $65 million. As of July 2024, the program's investment has helped to rehabilitate 184 historic structures and conserve 246,000 acres of land across 204 New Hampshire communities.

Gov. Sununu speaking at the event, which was held in the State House.

Brad receiving the award from LCHIP’s board chair Richard Lewis, Gov. Chris Sununu, and LCHIP’s executive director Paula Bellemore. Photo credit: Joe Klementovich.

Left to right: LCHIP’s board chair Richard Lewis, NH State Representative Lilli M. Walsh, Fred Malcom, Rick Little, David Chin, Brad Robie, Chris McCune, Gov. Sununu, and LCHIP’s executive director Paula Bellemore. Photo credit: Joe Klementovich.

A pre-event was held at the NH Preservation Alliance, which helps preserve historic buildings, landscapes, and communities.

Need 2025 Offering Envelopes?

If you would like Offering Envelopes for 2025, please let Maria know in the office by either calling 603-329-6985 or email at HCC1752@gmail.com.

Please specify if you would like weekly or monthly envelopes, or something else. We can print to order.

How to Reduce Federal Taxes with a

Charitable Donation Before December 31

The IRS made it more difficult to make charitable donations tax deductible. More taxpayers use the increased standard deduction instead of itemizing so that charitable contributions as a deduction to taxable income is no longer available to most taxpayers. However, the IRS does allow one to reduce their taxable income when making a withdrawal form their IRA in the form of QCD, qualified charitable distribution. Note (Roth IRA withdrawals are not taxable so no action is necessary).

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a distribution from your individual retirement account (IRA) to a qualified charity. You must be age 70½ or older to make a QCD. A qualified charitable distribution is not taxed, nor is it included in your taxable income. Any IRA owner who wishes to make a QCD for 2024 should contact their IRA trustee soon so the trustee will have time to complete the transaction before the end of the year.

Normally, distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable when received. With a QCD, however, these distributions become tax-free as long as they're paid directly from the IRA to an eligible charitable organization. QCDs must be made directly by the trustee of the IRA to the charity. An IRA distribution, such as an electronic payment made directly to the IRA owner, does not count as a QCD.

Great event this Saturday at Atkinson Congregational!

Bring your kids or grandkids.

Music Corner by Herb Tardiff

"O, Holy Night"

The hauntingly beautiful “O, Holy Night” was an instant hit, but was banned by the French church soon thereafter. In 1847, a French parish priest asked a local poet to write a Christmas carol, even though the poet’s church practice was a bit shaky.

The poet wrote the beautiful lyrics and asked a composer friend to create the music. The magnificent carol quickly spread throughout France, however, the local Church soon discovered that the author was a socialist and the composer, Jewish and banned the song for a time. But the people continued to sing it, and in 1870, on Christmas Eve during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier ran out of his trench unarmed and began to sing this carol. Silence fell across the battlefield, and when he was finished, a German soldier came out and sang a favorite German carol. A Christmas ceasefire followed. 

Steeple Lighting

Steeple lit in loving memory of

Ellen C. Little

By her family

Steeple Lighting

Steeple lit in loving memory of

Bob, Lois & Gary Chase

Love, Lauren & Scott

New AMAZON Wish List for

Saint Anne's Food Pantry

St. Anne's Food Pantry will be preparing over 110 food baskets to be distributed to their Food Pantry recipients Christmas this year.

They are in need of certain foods for these baskets, and we are collecting stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce through December 16 to assist in filling these baskets.

Thank you in advance for any donations. 

Please no expired items and non-perishable items only please.

Drop off in the foyer of Hadley Hall.

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.

12/10/2024 Newsletter

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

for the current newsletter.

Our Mailing address:

61 Main Street

Hampstead, NH 03841

Church Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 2 pm