Ukrainian Prayer Vigil at
St. Christopher's Episcopal Church
this Saturday at 4PM
There will be a vigil at St. Christopher's (187 E Road, E. Hampstead) to pray for Ukraine, to pray for the Ukrainian people, and to pray for the Russian people.
A speaker from the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Manchester is coming as part of the service. There will be a collection to help with humanitarian assistance caused by the invasion of Ukraine. A list of resources and Ukrainian organizations doing good and important work will be provided at the vigil. Please join Pastor Kathy and others to pray together.
The vigil will be in person at St Christopher's (masks are required for the event) or you can attend via Zoom here. |
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Sunday School Is Resuming!
Discipleship will hold Sunday school once a month beginning next Sunday!
Sunday school will be held March 27, April 24, and May 22. We'll then take a break for the summer before resuming more fully in fall.
All children are welcome to attend! Spread the word!
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Capital Campaign Team
We are pleased to announce the formation of the Hampstead Congregational Church's Capital Campaign Team consisting of Rick Little, Brad Robie, Lester Kuhl and David Chin.
The primary goal of the team is to raise approximately $350,000 over the next three years to address the renovation and major maintenance needs of the church. The Team's mission will include managing the campaign, expressing the need, raising awareness and identifying the pool of potential donors.
A number of donations have already been received and we thank you for your generosity.
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Office Closed
Suzanne, our office admin, will be taking some vacation time, so the church office will be closed on these days:
Wednesday, March 23rd
Monday, March 28th
Wednesday, March 30th - Weekly Word will be sent out on Thursday, 3/31 this week.
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Staff Relations New Series
HCC Staff Appreciation Sunday
The Staff Relations Group is starting a new series to individually recognize the HCC Staff members. We are kicking off this new series on Sunday, March 27.
Let’s make some Joyful Noise in honor of our outstanding music director, Herb Tardiff!
Join us on Sunday, March 27 during worship to show our appreciation for Herb’s music ministry. (Also, it’s his birthday!) We will celebrate with cake and goodies at coffee hour.
If you would like to make a donation towards an appreciation gift for Herb, please make your donation by March 24 and tag the donation with "Herb-Staff Appreciation". Thank you!
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Fuel Assistance Donation
As we all know, fuel prices have skyrocketed this year. Each winter we take a special two-week offering to help offset this extra church expense, given our building is large and used so extensively.
If you are so moved, we’d be grateful for anything you could give.
There will be special envelopes available again in this week's bulletin and in the foyer of Hadley Hall. Thanks for your generosity!
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Ukraine Offering
If you would like to help refugees, the elderly and vulnerable people stuck in Ukraine, the UCC is taking a special Emergency Appeal for Ukraine. For more information, click 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.
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HMS Destination Imagination Team
Julian Malcolm
Our own Julian Malcolm is a member of Hampstead Middle School’s Destination Imagination Team. They came in 3rd place in the state this week for their problem-solving skills in the technical category of the competition called the Great Escape.
Well done Julian!
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New Look For 3CX Users
If you use 3CX to watch our Sunday Service, you are going to notice a different look to the initial screen when you click on the link starting this Sunday.
Before you tune in, you may be prompted to confirm your camera and microphone options as well as having to type in your name. If it asks you to allow camera and microphone, press, "allow".
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SINGING GROUP FOR EASTER SUNDAY
We are putting together a singing group for Easter Sunday…and we hope that YOU will join us!
The music is a combination of “This Is My Father’s World” and the classic “What a Wonderful World”, this music is a delight to sing and a favorite to hear.
Copies of the anthem are in the church office now and ready to be signed out and picked up by anyone who likes to sing.
Herb will make a piano accompaniment to send out to everyone who picks up a copy so that we can practice on our own time at home. We will then rehearse around the keyboard after church on Palm Sunday and be ready to sing on Easter Sunday.
Singing will be from the balcony on Easter morning – hallelujah!!!
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Steeple Lit
March 20 - March 26
To say, Happy Birthday Chris McCune!
Love, The Girls
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Coffee Hour Has Resumed
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!
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Worship This Week
Please join us in the sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
Third Sunday in Lent
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: Diving Deep Tight Bud © Mary Southard
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Steeple Repair & Church Painting
We have a 3rd 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.
The cost of repairing the steeple and painting the church comes to about $85,000.
If you are 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 three families that created the match challenges!
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A Word from Peace & Justice
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire located in Portsmouth is hosting a Good Friday Stations of the Cross in partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Many groups in recent years have offered Good Friday walks to highlight modern injustices and brokenness in our world. This is an opportunity to learn and experience the Stations of the Cross through the lens of descendants of slaves on a local walk through the Black Heritage Trail sites.
2022 Good Friday Tour
Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Angela Matthews
BHTNH in partnership with St. John’s Episcopal Church will host a Good Friday Walk that will stop at 14 sites on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail symbolically representing the 14 Stations of the Cross. There will be an in-person walk on Wednesday, April 13 with a virtual tour at 2:00 pm on Friday.
The in-person Walk will begin at 10:30 at our offices at 222 Court Street and end at noon at the African Burial Ground Memorial. You are also invited to join the Seacoast Community Lunch at Middle Street Baptist Church immediately following the tour.
For those who cannot attend in person, the Walk will be offered virtually on Friday, April 15 at 2:00 PM.
Register for in-person Walk here
Register for virtual Walk here
Your Peace & Justice Action Group
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Rockingham VNA & Hospice
Two Training Session Opportunities
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Easter Food Drive to Support
Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry
The New needs for the Easter Distribution are:
Assorted Spices
Muffin mix
Quick Bread mix
Rice Pilaf
Mayonnaise
Cereal
Coffee
Boxed Crackers
Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall
Thank you for all your support!
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This month we help serve on Wednesday, March 23. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email
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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.
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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!
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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!
Rev. Kathy also has a page for all who are interested to follow.
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If you are on Instagram, please follow us, and let your friends know about us by sharing our posts! Click this link
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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.
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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!
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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
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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