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Cover artwork “Do Not Be Afraid” by He Qi
www.heqiart.com Used with permission.
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Worship This Week
Please join us
in the Sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
Easter Sunday
Coffee hour will be held
after the service.
The service will be live streamed
on Facebook Live here
or on 3CX here
Readers: Judy Dobson
Coffee Hour Hosts: Kari Allard
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Rev Paige's Corner: Letting Easter Break In
During Holy Week, we replay the old stories about Jesus' final days with his disciples, the last supper, his arrest and trials and abuse, and the crucifixian. I find myself looking for the connections between then and now. I find myself wondering if I would have been able to stay awake as Jesus prayed or if I would have let myself doze off into oblivion. I find myself wondering if I would have denied knowing Jesus in order to avoid arrest and persection. I find myself wondering if I would have hidden or if I would have dared stand on the street as Jesus walked by dragging the cross. Would I have stood at the foot of the cross keeping watch of that horrible suffering? While I know what I would hope I would have done, in times when fear and grief and despair arise I watch how I respond and I wonder.
And truthfully, we don't have to spend too much time immersed in the news to find the forces that led to the crucifixian of an innocent man are still around. I think about the disciples huddled in the upper room after the crucifixian and I wonder how they felt and if they had any words at all.
But then Easter broke in. The women came with stories of an empty tomb and angel appearances. Jesus came through the locked door and revealed himself to them. Easter broke in and showed them that God's power of love and life and so much stronger than the forces of death. God's power is so much stronger than the forces of the crucifixion. God's love is so much stronger than their mistakes and their brokenness. Easter broke in and while the world around them continued much as it had been, everything was different for them. Their whole way of being in the world changed. They found their voices They found courage. They had a story to tell and missions to live out and a movement to build.
May it be that Easter will break in for us this year!
With blessings!
Rev Paige Besse-Rankin
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Continue Celebrating Easter with us Next Sunday with Bells!
In the church, Easter is a season and not a day. So we will continue to celebrate on April 27. Bring a bell of any kind to worship to ring as part of the service.
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The CROP Hunger Walk is back on Sunday June 1st! We are happy to announce that, after a hiatus, the Hampstead/Atkinson/Plaistow CROP Hunger Walk is coming back. HCC was a longtime supporter of this event and we are looking forward to being involved again.
We have started a team if you would like to walk and/or fundraise. You can also get involved by making a donation to our team to support this wonderful cause.
To make a donation or find out more about the walk please visit https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/event/hampsteadnh
In the coming weeks we will be talking more about this wonderful event that helps raise funds to provide meals for people in our local communities as well as around the world. Stay tuned for more details about the walk and how you can help.
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A very special thank you to the Residents of Emerson Village (R.E.V.A.) for their recent donation of gorgeous crocheted and quilted blankets. Each and every blanket is wonderfully crafted. Made with love from a very special group of people.
All blankets will be donated to Project Linus, which provides handmade blankets to children 0-18 in the United States who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.
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HCC Today and Tomorrow! May 31 at the Meetinghouse
Everyone is invited to join us on Saturday, May 31 from 9 am - 1 pm at the old Meetinghouse! We will offer refreshments, a tour of our original chuch space, and time for conversation about where the church is going in the days ahead. Stay tuned for more information.
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Looking for Volunteers!
Spring Clean-Up
Saturday, May 10th, 9am-12pm
The Operation Team requests your help to do some Spring cleaning, both inside and outside the church. Bring work gloves and tools, and your favorite cleaning supplies. Share some fellowship with fellow members and other volunteers.
A list of specific tasks in addition to general clean-up is being prepared. All are welcome to assist. Many hands make short work. Thank you!
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Save the Dates! Upcoming Events
April 19 – Easter Egg Hunt at 9am - NEW RAIN DATE!
April 17 - Maundy Thursday Supper & Worship
at 6:30pm
April 20 – Easter Sunrise Service at Camp Tel Noar at 5:55 am
April 20 - Easter Potluck Breakfast following Sunrise Worship around 7am
April 20 - Easter Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary at 10am
April 26th – Hampstead Eats Food Truck Festival at 11am
May 10th – Spring Clean Up at 9am
June 1 – Crop Walk at 12pm
June 7 – Strawberry Festival at 9am
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Peace & Justice
The Environmental Impact of “Fast Fashion.”
What is “Fast Fashion?” The term refers to cheaply produced garments made to copy the latest trends and rushed to stores in mass quantities at inexpensive prices. The fast fashion model is so-called because it involves the rapid design, production, distribution, and marketing of clothing. This means that retailers can pull large quantities of greater product variety and allow consumers to get more fashion and product differentiation at a low price. Sounds good right? Maybe not.
According to an analysis by Business Insider, fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions, as much as the emissions generated by the European Union. The industry dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year. There are also societal problems caused by an industry heavily dependent on cheap, often dangerous labor. What can be done to combat this?
Governments can lead the way, partnering as France has done, by partnering with 150 brands to make brands more sustainable. Companies such as Adidas and Ralph Lauren are focusing in-house to reduce their environmental impact. Individuals can be more aware of the purchases they make, choosing to buy better quality, longer lasting clothes, frequenting thrift stores, or buying from companies like “Darn Good Yarn” that reuse saris to make beautiful skirts. Businesses like ThreadUp Inc and Poshmark are online second hand fashion retailers.
Another way we can individually make a small difference is to think about the laundry detergent we use. Rather than buying hard plastic bottles of liquid detergent, maybe investigate using laundry sheets, or as I’ve done lately, go back to powdered detergent in a cardboard box. Keep in mind also that appliance repair technicians recommend only using about half the amount of detergent the package recommends. It cleans better, rinses better and costs less.
For more information on the environmental effects of Fast Fashion, visit:
https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/
Blessings,
Kari
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Music Corner by Herb Tardiff
Handel’s ‘Messiah’: Why is an Easter masterpiece performed for Christmas?
· By Jim Lowe Staff Writer
· Nov 30, 2019
“Messiah,” George Frederic Handel’s great oratorio, has become a ubiquitous part of Christmas celebrations worldwide — and yet it was written for Easter.
Only the first third of “Messiah” is about the birth of Jesus. Part II covers the death of Christ and the third is focused on the Resurrection. Originally conceived as a work for Easter, it premiered during the Lent season of 1742.
If it weren’t for Johann Sebastian Bach, Handel (1685-1759) would be considered the greatest composer of the Baroque period. (He and Bach were actually born in the same year.) Yet, with “Messiah” Handel created, if not the greatest, the most successful work of the Baroque era. Even Mozart was humbled in the face of Handel’s genius.“Handel knows better than any of us what will make an effect,” Mozart said. “When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt. ”Beethoven said, “Handel, to him I bow the knee.”
Handel completed the composition of “Messiah” — when performed in its entirety, a three-hour-plus oratorio — in an unbelievable 24 days. Of writing the “Hallelujah” chorus, Handel wrote, “I was in my body or out of my body as I wrote it I know not. God knows.”At the end of the score, Handel wrote “SDG” — “Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone the glory).”“I think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God himself,” Handel said of composing the work.
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Saint Anne's Food Pantry
Thank you all who continue to donate food for St. Anne’s Food Pantry! They have updated their needs list: Salad dressings, Coffee, Mayonnaise, Cans of Grated Cheese, Flour, Sugar, Gluten Free Items, Juice Boxes, Spices, Cereal (no oatmeal).
St. Anne’s Food Pantry has also updated their 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.
4/15/2025 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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