March 2nd Weekly Word
Ash Wednesday
Ashes to Go Today, 3/2
4:00 - 5:00 PM

Here are some pictures from this morning's distribution of Ashes in front of the Church.

You have another opportunity to receive your ashes from 4:00-5:00PM today.
We offer the following prayer for Ash Wednesday as we begin this season of Lent.

The Fast Life
Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness;
Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute;
Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent;
Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger;
Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism;
Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives;
Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness;
Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern;
Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion;
Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip;
Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm;
Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety;
Feast on faith.

-Author Unknown
Singing and Coffee Hour Resume THIS Sunday!

We are so grateful that the positivity rate continues to decline rapidly. Because of this, we are going to resume singing during the service, and we will have coffee hour starting Sunday!

We're so excited to have coffee hour back, but we do need people willing to run it (set up, take down, etc.). Would you be willing? Please contact the office and let them know what dates you are available.

Please consider joining us for worship in person.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!
Lenten Reflection Booklets Available For All!

Lent begins today.

We have a wonderful daily Lenten devotional booklet available to anyone who wants one. Those who used this resource in the past have really enjoyed it.

This Living Compass devotional focuses on practicing letting go of all that gets in our way of God.
Please consider using the booklet this Lent. Copies are available in the foyer of Hadley Hall, at worship services, or contact the church office and we can send one to you.
If you would like to help refugees and the elderly and vulnerable people stuck in Ukraine, the UCC is taking a special Emergency Appeal for Ukraine. For more information, see here. You can contribute via a link on that page, or you can write a check to HCC with "Ukraine" on the subject line and we will forward your contributions to the national campaign.
And please join in prayer:
“Prayer for Ukraine under invasion”

God of plowshares, pruning hooks,
and peace-making,
translate such old archaic words
into hope today in Ukraine

that your promise to shatter
bows and swords, spears and shields,
may mean now
an end of missile strikes
and long-range artillery,
the silencing of Kyiv’s air-raid sirens.

We pray for those who flee the capital
and those who shelter in place
and in fear in Kharkiv to the east.
We pray for troops already exhausted
from their long watching.

We pray for NATO land and air forces,
knowing that means people,
and we pray for Germany and Poland
as they open borders to fleeing refugees.

God, we have studied war for so long,
let it be no more, no more.

Teach us a new peacemaking,
guiding the leaders of nations,
and holding gently in your heart
the many who live and die
because of their decisions,

for we pray in the name of Jesus
who wept for our great needing
of the things that make for peace.

amen

Prayer written by Maren Tirabassi
Lenten Discussion Groups


All are invited to join our Lenten discussion groups. We will be meeting for six weeks on Monday evenings at 6:30pm (online only) or Tuesday mornings at 10:30am (online and in person) beginning next week on March 7/8.

The booklet "Living Well Through Lent 2022" will guide our discussions on how to let go and let God. No prior experience in groups is needed. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Pastor Kathy.
Harry Santacrose
Celebrates Turning 90!


Last month, Harry celebrated his 90th birthday. Given some health challenges, Harry could use our support and encouragement these days. Consider sending him (and Bernice) a card:


Cards can be sent to
Harry Santacrose
193 Main Street
Kingston, NH 03848
A Congregant in Need


One of our congregants has a dog (rescued from an neglectful situation) in need of an extensive emergency surgery. They do not have the funds to cover this sizable expense. If you would like to help contribute, donations are welcome. You can mail them or drop them by the office, or contact Pastor Kathy.


The dog, Tucker, is pictured here
Looking for Tech Volunteers

Do you like to work with technology?
Then we need you!

We are looking for a few more people to volunteer on Sunday mornings to livestream our services.

Currently, we have two volunteers switching livestreaming every other week. We are looking for at least two more volunteers allowing each volunteer to livestream one Sunday a month.

After 2-3 days of training, the volunteer position would be a 3-hour commitment one Sunday morning a month.
If you are interested, please contact the church office @ 603-329-6985.
Worship This Week

Please join us in the sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
First Sunday of Lent
and Communion Sunday

As we pledge in our covenant, we encourage all who attend in-person worship on Sunday mornings to social distance and wear a mask.

Then please join us for coffee hour!

The service will be live-streamed through Facebook Live here or on 3CX here.

artwork: Bear The Beams Of Love © Mary Southard

Steeple Repair & Church Painting

We have a new family that will match donations designated for the building repairs up to a total of $1,000!
Please donate and watch your donation double in value.

As anyone who has looks at the steeple can see, it is disappearing. Every time we have a storm or a strong gust of wind, parts of the steeple blow off. You might also notice the paint falling off of the church. We need to paint the church to keep it from rotting away.
The cost of repairing the steeple and painting the church comes to about $85,000.

If interested in creating another matching challenge, please contact Chris McCune or the church office.
Thank you to everyone who has already donated and to the two families that created the match challenges!

Thank you,
Chris, Chair Operations Team
We Welcome Maisie Caitlin Randell


Maisie is the great-granddaughter of Bea Randall and she was born on January 31. Maisie has 2 older brothers.

Bea shared that Maisie is the first girl born into the Randell family in 19 years!

Congratulations to all the Randell Family!
Taxes
Public Service Announcement
Hampstead Property Tax Relief Options

There are people in our town living on fixed income. When we discuss improvements to our town and what we are willing to pay for as a community, we need to keep them in mind on how to reduce the tax impact to them.

Thank you to Hampstead Hearts for pulling all this important information together.

Different types of tax relief: Elderly Exemption, Veterans Credit, Blind Exemption and Disabled Exemption.

What can you do? Share this information with anyone who may be able to receive property tax relief. Not everyone is on FB so any sharing that you can do would help our community & neighbors.

1) Check out this Hampstead town website or call (603) 329-4100 Ext. 105 to ask for ways to receive relief on property taxes

2) You can also go to the state website to get more information. This is not the easiest site to understand or navigate so calling Hampstead's town hall may be the best first step.

Terri Malcolm
Save the Date!
Upper Room Devotional


We have a few copies of the March/April Upper Room devotional available in the foyer to Hadley Hall.

If you need a copy mailed to you, please contact the main office.

Steeple Lit through March 5



In loving memory of Bob & Lois Chase and their son Gary Chase.

Lighting by family members Lauren Chase Stuck & Scott Chase
March Birthdays

Happy Birthday to:

Stan Lapham 3/8
Tom Manning 3/13
Chloe Stone 3/19
Chris McCune 3/23
Thomas Shallow 3/25
Al Lake 3/26
Herb Tardiff 3/27
Missions Opportunities:
Food Drive to Support
Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry

St. Anne’s Food Pantry is thinking ahead to their Easter
Distribution. 

The needs for the Easter Distribution are:
Quick Bread mix
Muffin mix
Rice Pilaf
Grated Cheese
Sugar
Cereal
Coffee
Boxed Crackers


Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall

Thank you for all your support!
This month we help serve on Wednesday, March 23. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email
Volunteer @ Soup Kitchen
The Sonshine Soup Kitchen needs volunteers to prepare and package the food for "To Go Meals." We partner with Atkinson Congregational Church once a month on the 4th
Wednesday of the month to help out from 3-6pm.

Blankets for Project Linus

For those of you who have been busy sewing, quilting, knitting, or crocheting, we have an new opportunity to donate those handmade items!

We located a national organization that has local chapters called Project Linus (https://www.facebook.com/projectlinussouthwestnewhampshire/). This organization's mission is "to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans". Blankets are given to children in need through NH.

*We welcome all styles of blankets made in child-friendly colors/prints.
*Crocheted, knitted, quilted (100% cotton or flannel), fleece….you don’t have to be an expert!
*Blankets must be NEW, HANDMADE and WASHABLE.
*Fabric blankets can be quilted by machine, hand or tied. If you are tying the blanket make sure the ends are trimmed to 1” and the knots are secure.
*Please do not add any embellishments to the blankets such as buttons that could be swallowed by a child.
*If you are using a no-sew fleece pattern, please be sure to trim off both selvages FIRST. Not sure what selvages are? Ask the clerk who is cutting your fleece to please show you, they’re those odd looking edges at the top and bottom of the piece you have, sort of raggy looking.
*We accept all sizes of blankets. We donate to children, infants through teen years, so any size is appropriate. Baby blankets are typically 36”X36” or 36”X42”, toddler-pre-teen are typically about 40”X60”, and teen blankets are at least 60"X72".

Blankets can be dropped off in the entry way of Hadley Hall.

Thank you for your support of this project!
Connect on Facebook
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!

Rev. Kathy also has a page for all who are interested to follow.

We are now on Instagram!
If you are on Instagram, please follow us, and let your friends know about us by sharing our posts! Click this link
Scam Emails

Emails are often sent, saying they are from Pastor Kathy or another staff member. She (or the HCC staff) will never send out a generic email--she'll address it to your name. She will never ask you for money/gift cards over email.

Also, any email from Pastor Kathy will always have her signature line on the bottom with her phone number/address.

If in doubt, please call the church or send an email to [email protected].
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 ([email protected]) 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 3:00pm

See what's happening on our social sites ‌  ‌
Hampstead Congregational Church Website