Rev Paige’s Corner: 

I Sing a Song of the Saints of God

This past Sunday, we celebrated saints in our life. We use the word saint in 2 different ways in the Christian tradition. 

   The Bible uses the word saint to describe all Christians who have put their trust in Jesus. The term indicates that a person is "set apart" or made holy by God through their faith, not because of personal achievement. That is the way we use the word for “All Saints Day” – to remember all who have died.

    The other way that the word “saint” has been used both by the church and in culture is for people who have been recognized as heroes of the faith who are worthy of imitation. In the Roman Catholic Church, there is a special process of canonizing people as saints.  

   In the movie It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood about a reporter who is interviewing Mr. Rogers for a magazine article, there is a lovely interaction between the reporter and Fred Roger’s wife, Joanne. The reporter asks her: “How does it feel to be married to a living saint?”

   She responds: “You know I am not fond of that term. If you think of him as a saint, then his way of being is unattainable. You know he works at it all the time. It’s a practice. He’s not a perfect person. He has a temper. He chooses how he responds to that anger.”

   “That must take a lot of effort,” says the reporter.

   Joanne shares: “He does things every day that help to ground him. He reads scripture, swims laps, prays for people by name, and writes letters – hundreds of them.”

    I loved that reflection in the midst of a pop culture movie about an American icon. (Of course, Fred Rogers, known so much for his children’s program, was also an ordained Presbyterian minister!) But I think what the character of Joanne Rogers reflects is the way our spiritual practices can transform how we are in the world and the impact we can have on the lives of others.

Blessings!

Rev Paige Besse-Rankin

Stewardship Video:

 Last week, we included in worship a Stewardship Video. It used the “theme song” for this year’s program, “Dream God’s Dream” by Bryan Sirachio. It also included photos of our life together over the last year. If you missed it or would like to see it again, you can watch it here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n7jstgev4oyzn8ah8cj3a/Dream-Gods-Dream-vs-2-HCC.mp4?rlkey=qmiqywryhank9z82h1jcnwm0r&dl=0

A Mission Opportunity Challenge

We are well aware that the number of individuals and families facing food insecurity is increasing. This includes those accustomed to receiving SNAP benefits. In order to meet this demand, the Saint Anne Parish Charitable Outreach has extended their hours of operation for their food pantry.

Our challenge to the congregation is to meet this demand by helping restock the shelves in the pantry.

Every Sunday in November please bring a canned good or other non-perishable food item to the church. Place these items on the alter as we watch our congregation meet this significant challenge of food insecurity.

Fall Clean-up on 11/15

Operations is requesting your help to clean up the church grounds before winter. Debris including leaves and fallen branches are primary targets. In addition, there are some areas inside the building such as the kitchen and under furniture that need to be addressed. If you have a rake, blower, pruners, a tarp, etc., bring them with you. The date is Saturday, November 15, 9am-12pm. Please see the task list on the bulletin board if you cannot make it Saturday. 

Greens Workshop

To make items for the Christmas Fair

Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30pm

Get a few friends together and have a fun night of creating wreaths, swags and centerpieces with fresh evergreens, which we will then have for sale at the craft fair. Kari will guide provide guidance so even if you have never done it before, you will still have fun!

We will be looking for donations of cut evergreens. They can be left in the basement anytime up to a week before. Pine, arborvitae, holly, spruce, boxwood, mountain laurel,

all make great arrangements. Pinecones are also great!

We hope you can join us!

Please bring pruners, scissors and/or wire cutters to use.

Also, if anyone would like a ride, Linda Tilden has graciously offered to pick up and drive home anyone who isn't comfortable driving at night. Call or text her at 978-973-7681.

Need 2026 Offering Envelopes?

If you would like Offering Envelopes for 2026, 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.

A Text Exchange Between Linda Tilden & Her Nephew in the Army

Message:

Today at church our mission team had a fundraiser for Holy Joe's Cafe coffee for troops. The money is to support our Chaplin's to sit down with a soldier who's looking for support and guidance. Have you heard of this program?

Nephew's Answer:

Absolutely! They've provided us with coffee and coffee makers in the past, especially on deployments.

I just want our church members see their donations at work.

Blessings,

Linda

Coming Events at

Atkinson Congregational Church

Christmas is Coming and We Can Use Your Help!

Our annual Christmas Craft Fair is scheduled for Saturday, December 6th. This fundraiser is one of our most successful fundraising events. It is also a fun time and great community outreach. To make this event a success we need your help. Below are some of the ways you can participate, so please consider helping in any way you can.  

• Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30pm GREENS WORKSHOP

• Thursday, December 4th Time: 4pm Clear out Classrooms. Men, we need your

muscle.

• Saturday, December 6th - Day of the fair. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Sign-up sheets are available at Hadley Hall. Shifts are for only 2 hours each. You can also contact HCC at 603-329-6985, or Barbara Wallack at bsw91@comcast.net or 603-548-8326 to sign up or with questions.  

Things we need:

• Baked goods & Soup (We have containers to divide it.)

• Raffle Items like gift cards, theme baskets, kids’ items, etc. 

• Upscale yard sale items. Items can be left in the foyer at any time. Someone will move them onto the stage each week.

As always, we are so grateful for your support whatever form it takes.  

Sincerely,

The Fund-Raising Team 

The Music Corner

by Herb Tardiff

Native American Music

Native American music plays a vital role in history and education, with ceremonies and stories orally passing on ancestral customs to new generations. Native American ceremonial music is traditionally said to originate from deities or spirits, or from particularly respected individuals. Rituals are shaped by every aspect of a song, dance, and costuming, and each aspect informs about the "makers, wearers and symbols important to the nation, tribe, village, clan, family, or individual". Native Americans perform stories through song, music, and dance, and the historical facts thus propagated are an integral part of Native American beliefs. Epic legends and stories about cultural heroes are a part of tribal music traditions, and these tales are often an iconic part of local culture. They can vary slightly from year to year, with leaders recombining and introducing slight variations. The Pueblo composes a number of new songs each year in a committee that uses dreams and visions. 

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: Ensure, Coffee/Tea, Tuna Fish, Mayo, Jelly/Jam, Hamburger Helper, Protein Soups, Saltines/Ritz/Triscuits, Rice Pilaf, Spices, Salad Dressing, English Muffins, Brownie/Muffin/Cake Mixes, Nutrigrain Bars, Maple Syrup, Canned Chef Boyardee Items, Spam, Lunchbox Snacks.

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.

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.

11/4/2025 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 3pm