Rev Paige’s Corner: Outdoor Ministry

Recently on the way to a cemetery, I found myself driving by Rolling Ridge Retreat Center in North Andover. I found myself getting quite emotional and after the service, I returned to sit in the parking lot for a few moments. Rolling Ridge is sacred ground for me, even though I haven’t been there in many, many years. When I was a young person, my church sent me to summer camp there. All through high school, I attended a weeklong music camp there. I met friends who would become central to my life. I found young people with whom I shared an interest in both music and faith. I found a place to be myself. I met the first women pastors I had known and began to discern a call to ordained ministry. Truly, my life was changed in that place. While I loved my home church and its choir, my faith grew in new directions at camp.  And even though I haven’t been there in many years, I remain incredibly thankful for Rolling Ridge.

   Because of those experiences, I have remained dedicated to Outdoor ministry and almost every summer I volunteer for a week serving a camp. As we have moved around, I have had the chance to experience a number of different camps – each a little different and yet all very special. These days I volunteer each summer at Horton Center as one of the deans of a Senior High Camp. I have also been designing and creating an “escape cabin” to go with the theme of the summer for campers to use. And while I might say I am “paying it forward” and trying to share the tremendous gift that was given to me in my youth, truthfully, I am blessed each year to spend time in the camp community and to be part of creating a space where we can all grow in faith.  

   This Sunday, we will be welcoming Tivvi Pare, the executive director of Horton Center. She will be sharing with us about this ministry that we are part of as members of the NH Conference UCC. And in case you are interested, registration is already up and running for Summer 2026. And camp isn’t just for kids! There are also adult programs and family programs. Check it out here: https://www.hortoncenter.org/sessions 

   We are also always looking for volunteers to help at camp – particularly counselors. (More counselors create space for more campers!)

    I hope you will celebrate our outdoor ministries with me this week!

Blessings!

Rev Paige

New Member Classes

   Are you interested in becoming a member of our church or learning more about what church membership is all about? A 3-part New Members class is being organized now. Classes will discuss our faith journeys, the United Church of Christ, and our own local church history and mission. 

Use this link to sign up for more information:

https://hampsteadcongregationalchurch.breezechms.com/form/d8583d

Black History Month Program

   St Christopher’s Episcopal Church is organizing an event to celebrate Black History Month with a speaker from the Black Heritage Trail. They are considering the last week of February and would like to know of interest from our congregations. 

Use the link below to express interest:

https://hampsteadcongregationalchurch.breezechms.com/form/40f6d0

Joint Worship on February 8 at Hampstead at 9 am

    Hampstead Congregational is having their Annual Meeting following worship on February 8. Since our pastor can’t be at 2 places at once, it has been decided that Atkinson Congregational will join HCC for worship at 9 am. 

The service will be followed by a short fellowship time for both churches and then Hampstead will have their Annual Meeting.  

Christmas Diaper Drive "Thank You"

Your incredible Christmas spirit, once again, came shining through during our Christmas Diaper Drive to benefit the Manchester Diaper Pantry (https://www.facebook.com/manchesterdiaperpantry/)!

Our congregation donated 1240 diapers (enough to keep around 45 families supplied with enough diapers for a month) and $410.

We also wanted to share a couple of important updates on the current operations of the pantry as there are exciting things happening for 2026;

For the winter months, the pantry is running out of the YWCA on Concord St. in Manchester every 3rd Saturday from 9am-11am. During the summer and fall, they were operating a drive through distribution at St. Peter's Home in Manchester, but this new location provides families and volunteers a warm place to pick up supplies. The pantry is also providing snacks and hot drinks during distribution and another non-profit, The NH Mutual Aid Relief Fund (www.nhmarf.org), is also operating a popup store for families with free winter clothing, food, and personal hygiene products which has been a great combination.

Tia Middleton, who currently runs the Manchester Diaper Pantry, went to Concord last week to speak on behalf a New Hampshire bill recently introduced which aims to have Medicaid cover a limited supply of diapers (around 100 per month) for infants in their first year, assisting low-income mothers struggling with this significant expense. In the meantime, it is generous donations like yours and important work by non-profits like the Manchester Diaper Pantry and NH Mutual Aid Relief Funds that will continue to fill the gap and allow babies and family to have access to this important necessity without sacrificing work availability, rent, or food for their families.

For those interested in donating at times other than during our twice-yearly drives, the pantry has a GoFundMe page (https://gofund.me/df4e06075) as well as an Amazon Wish List (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2UCJWNCN5AFQ?ref_=wl_share)

Thank you so much for always answering our calls to help and for continuing to support local families!

HCC Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 8th, 10am

Our 273rd Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Hadley Hall following worship. Please attend this vital gathering, as we look back at this past year’s accomplishments and look ahead to God’s call in our congregational life this year. A quorum of members is needed.

The annual report will be e-mailed/mailed to each member family once it's completed.

Please take some time to read the reports and familiarize yourself with the proposed budget for 2026.

Please share and invite those who may need a warm meal and good conversation.

#derrysharedsuppers #heavenskitchennh #hhknh

Music Corner with Herb Tardiff

Wade in the Water is a powerful African American spiritual with layered meanings rooted in history, faith, and resistance. 

Historical and Practical Meaning: During slavery, the song is believed to have served as a coded message for escaping enslaved people. The lyrics, especially "God’s gonna trouble the water," may have instructed freedom seekers to wade into rivers or streams to mask their scent from bloodhounds used by slave catchers. This strategy helped them evade capture by breaking the dogs’ tracking trail. While the direct link to Harriet Tubman is widely circulated, it is not definitively confirmed by historians like the National Park Service, though the song’s use in Underground Railroad communication remains a strong tradition. 

Spiritual and Biblical Meaning:

The song draws on multiple biblical stories The Exodus: The Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Joshua 3), where the waters parted only after the priests stepped in, symbolizing faithful action before divine intervention. The Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2–4): A healing pool where an angel stirred the water, and the first person to enter after stirring was healed. This reflects God’s active presence in times of trouble, offering healing and deliverance. The Red Sea: The miraculous parting of the waters, symbolizing divine deliverance from oppression. 

Metaphorical and Modern Meaning:

Today, "Wade in the Water" is a call to courageous faith in the face of adversity. It encourages people to step into difficult situations—personal, social, or spiritual—trusting that God is active and will bring healing, justice, and freedom. As noted in modern interpretations, "wading" means moving forward with effort through resistance, not floating or avoiding struggle. 

Cultural Legacy:

The song became an anthem during the Civil Rights Movement, sung by groups like The Staple Singers and performed by artists such as Bob Dylan and Eva Cassidy. It continues to inspire resilience, collective action, and hope in turbulent times. 

In essence, "Wade in the Water" is both a historical survival strategy and a timeless spiritual declaration: trust God, act in faith, and move forward—because divine deliverance is coming. 

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, 

Spam, Coffee, Ketchup, Mayo, Ensure, Large bottles of juice

Juice boxes, Syrup, Jelly/jams.

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.

1/20/2026 Newsletter

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

for the current newsletter.

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 Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 3pm