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Worship This Week
Please join us
in the Sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
with Communion
Coffee hour will be held
after the service
in Hadley Hall
The service will be live streamed
on Facebook Live here
or on 3CX here
Readers: Rick Little
Coffee Hour Hosts: Joann Klawitter
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HCC Annual Report
If you would like an electronic copy of the Annual Report, please click here.
Paper copies will be available to pick up on Sunday - 1 per household. Those not picked up will be mailed on Monday.
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Slate of Officers for Election at Annual Meeting
Auditor - Maura Mulhall
Clerk - Seneca Moyer
Collector - Barbara Wallack
Co-Moderators - Fred Malcolm & TJ Arndt (Siwacki)
Treasurer - Dave Chin
Thanks!
Fred Malcolm, Moderator
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Valentines for Disaster Victems: Hygiene Kits Project
In an effort to do what we can do for those recently affected by the California fires and hurricanes of 2024, we are putting together Hygiene Kits – a UCC/Church World Service mission.
For the month of February, we will have hearts on a tree in Hadley Hall with items needed for the Hygiene Kits. We are hoping to put together twenty kits and will assemble them in March at our next Loaf and Ladle (date TBD). If you would like to assist, please take a heart and supply the goods on the tag. Each tag requests 4 of the same item, also there is a $2 processing fee per kit so some hearts will ask for $8, check made payable to HCC, with a note Hygiene Kit in the memo section. We will have a collection box in the Sanctuary on Sundays and in the foyer of Hadley Hall during the week.
A Hygiene Kit includes:
• Washcloth
• Toenail clipper
• Toothbrush (individually wrapped)
• Bath size bar of soap (in original packaging)
• Travel size deodorant (3.4 oz or less, non aerosol)
• Travel size lotion (3.4 oz or less, fragrance free, new only)
• Travel size shampoo (3.4 oz or less, new only)
• Travel size toothpaste (3.4 oz or less, expiration date of 1 year)
• Sturdy wide-tough 6” comb
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A huge thank you to all members who recently donated blankets for Project Linus. 13 beautiful blanket creations from our church were delivered this month (see attached Facebook post from them). Our congregation and the larger community are so blessed by your talents!
According to the January 2025 newsletter from Project Linus, they were able to deliver a record 6314 blankets in 2024 to organizations across Southern New Hampshire such as;
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua
Elliot Pediatrics (Manchester)
Elliot River's Edge 1-Day Surgery (Manchester)
Friends of Forgotten Children (Concord)
Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter
Souther NH Services Head Start and Early Head Start (Manchester)
Swanzey Head Start
The Pass Along Project
Waypoint Concord
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Thank you again for sharing your gifts and helping us to support such a wonderful organization that makes a grassroots impact across our communities.
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Rev Paige's Corner: Congregational Decision Making
As we are preparing for Annual Meeting next week, I find myself thinking about the way that churchs govern themselves. Our style of governance is "congregational" meaning that it is the congregation that makes the important decisions for the local church. (In other forms of church governance there might be a board of Elders or a Bishop that have authority over a local church.) But what is important to remember, I think, is that the Congregation is not the ultimate authority in the life of the church. In our understanding, it is God who has authority as revealed to us in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is up to the congregation to figure out to the best of our understanding what we think God wants for us. So Congregationalism is not so much democratic as it is about communal discernment about God's calling. We figure out what God wants in discussion with one another, thinking about what scriptures have taught us, valuing the perspectives of our partners in ministry, and learning from those who have come before.
In other words, when we are voting, hopefully the question is not "what do I want?" but "what do I think God wants based on this conversation with fellow members?" (This is one reason why absentee ballots are not part of our tradition. The discussion is important and often in the course of the conversation, we come to new understandings.)
I am looking forward to Annual Meeting and the chance to celebrate what God has done in our midst over the past year and how many folks have been part of God's work!
Blessings and Peace!
Rev Paige Besse-Rankin
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St. Anne’s Food Pantry 2024 Thanksgiving
and Christmas Drive
Thanks again for such a generous outpouring of food items for St. Anne’s Food Pantry over the Holiday Season!
For the Thanksgiving and Christmas Drive, Hampstead Congregational Church donated over 100 items – including over a 21 boxes of stuffing, 25 cans of cranberry sauce and 21 jars of gravy for their Holiday Baskets. Also donated were: over 25 cans of vegetables, pasta & meat, beans, soup, milk, chili and canned meats and fish, beef jerky, condiments, coffee, tea and 25 individually wrapped tooth brushes! St. Anne’s Food Pantry is very appreciative of our ongoing support.
Current pantry needs include: Au Gratin Potatoes, coffee/tea, Tuna, Mayo, Hamburger Helper, Crackers (Saltines, Ritz, Triscuits), Pancake Mix, Maple Syrup, Rice Pilaf, Chef Boyardee items, Salad Dressing and Jam.
Again, THANK YOU for your caring and generosity.
The Missions Committee
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Wildfire Relief: Call to Prayer and Action
The United Church of Christ (UCC) is actively responding to the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles County since January 7, 2025. With nearly 30,000 acres consumed and 180,000 people displaced, these fires represent the largest disaster in the county's history.
In this time of crisis, the UCC's Global HOPE team is collaborating with local conferences and ecumenical partners to provide immediate relief and plan for long-term recovery. Tragically, the Altadena Community Church, United Church of Christ, has been destroyed, underscoring the profound impact on our faith communities.
We invite you to join us in prayer and support. As Rev. Shari Prestemon offers in "A Prayer for Those in the Path of Fire":
"Steadfast God, we watch in horror as fires rage in Southern California, and we pause to raise these humble petitions to you. For all those forced to evacuate, who leave so much that is precious behind and know not what the future holds, surround them with your gentle presence in these hours of tortured worry and waiting."
To read the full prayer and learn how you can contribute to the relief efforts, please visit the UCC's California Wildfires 2025 Appeal page. (https://support.ucc.org/california-wildfires-2025) Your support and prayers are vital in bringing hope and healing to those affected by this disaster.
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Grow Your Faith at Horton Center and Prepared to Serve!
There are two amazing opportunities offered through the NH Conference UCC to grow and learn!
Coming on February 22 is “Prepared to Serve” – an event with all sorts of workshops, worship, displays, and fellowship. You can see all the workshops and get more information here: https://www.nhcucc.org/events/pts-2025 (Let Rev Paige know if you are going and we will see if we can set up a carpool! It is a great day with something for everyone!) https://www.nhcucc.org/events/pts-2025
Horton Center Summer registration is open now! (Yes it is hard to think about warm days on the mountain with snow on the ground, but it is worth the effort!) Ready, Set, Summer Camp! Sign yourself and your loved ones up for an amazing camp experience at Horton Center this summer. With expanded offerings for all ages and stages, everyone is sure to find something to thrill or chill - whatever you're searching for! Check out the summer schedule here: www.hortoncenter.org/sessions Summer staff and volunteers are also being recruited if you or someone you know is interested.
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Peace & Justice
When my kids were younger we spent many December evenings wrapping gifts
for kids in foster care. The mission committee organized with DCYF to get wishes out to participants, gifts were dropped off at church, the youth of the church
wrapped them, and off they went with the DCYF people. Little kids asked for toys,
older kids for video games, but the most heart wrenching requests in my opinion,
were the requests from 16 and 17 year olds for pots and pans, sheet sets, dishes,
basic household necessities. These kids knew they were going to be out on their own in just one or two years. What about college? Where would they live? How would they afford to support themselves?
In 2020 DCYF introduced a program “Housing and Opportunities to Personally
Excel” or the HOPE program. Through this program, young adults may choose to stay in foster care from the ages of 18-21 provided they meet the criteria. HOPE
provides support and guidance as they transition to adulthood. For more information
on this important program, there are links below.
Kari Allard
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/child-protection-juvenile-justice/adolescent-
program/services-and-supports-after
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents2/dcyfform1976.pdf
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Music Corner by Herb Tardiff
The Recorder
During the fifteenth century instrument makers began producing choirs (or consorts) of recorders and other instruments in various sizes. As the sixteenth century progressed, consort recorders were constructed with conical bores tapering gently towards the foot. These recorders have a bold, rich timbre which is even in quality and dynamic level throughout their range. They are ideally suited to the performance of the polyphonic vocal and instrumental music of the late fifteenth to early seventeenth centuries, blending readily and in balance with each other in whole consorts or contrasting on equal terms with other renaissance instruments or voices.
During the late seventeenth century, the recorder was completely redesigned for use as a solo instrument. Where previously it had been made in one or two pieces it was now made in three allowing for more accurate boring. It was given a more pronounced taper than ever before and had a fully chromatic range of two octaves and ultimately two octaves and a fifth. It was voiced to produce an intense, reedy and penetrating tone of considerable carrying power and expressiveness.
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Saint Anne's Food Pantry
It's a new year and the food pantry has new needs: Au Gratin potatoes, coffee/tea, tuna fish, mayo, cereal (no oatmeal), Hamburger Helper, crackers (Saltines, Ritz, Triscuits), maple syrup, rice pilaf, strawberry jam, pancake mix, Chef Boyardee items, spices, salad dressings and English muffins.
Thank you to everyone who helped out during the holiday season and thank you in advance for any donations.
They are reaching out for some help...donations are needed. They thought they would try an Amazon Wish List in addition to listing items here.
Please no expired items. Non-perishable items only.
Drop off is in the foyer of Hadley Hall.
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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.
1/21/2025 Newsletter
Each week, we will update this section of our Weekly Word with the new link
for the current newsletter.
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Are you on Facebook? Do you follow Hampstead Congregational Church? Please like our page to know about all the great events in the church. Liking also supports our church when people check us out. If you are already connected, share our good news!
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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!
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Our Mailing address:
61 Main Street
Hampstead, NH 03841
Church Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 2 pm
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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