Worship Service This Week
Please join us in the sanctuary or online at 10am for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
The service will also be live-streamed through Facebook Live here or on 3CX here. We hope you will join us in person or online.
|
|
Keeping Each Other Safe
We are concerned about the rapid rise of the new Delta Variant of Covid that is being experienced right in our own Rockingham County.
The positivity rate is increasing much faster than we could have anticipated!
Given the updated CDC guidance, we encourage everyone to wear a mask when in worship and other gatherings at the church.
|
|
Would you like some fresh produce? Is your garden producing crops you can share?
If you’d like some fresh produce, feel free to stop by the foyer of Hadley Hall! Right now there are several zucchini available. If you'd like to make a donation, all proceeds go to RIP Medical Debt. Donations can be placed in the basket (on Sunday mornings) or in the lockbox in the foyer.
If you have extra crops from your garden you would like to share with other church members and help an amazing cause, please bring them to Hadley Hall when you come for Sunday Service, or drop them off in the foyer. Thanks!
|
|
Coffee Hour Continues
Please consider joining us after this Sunday's service.
If you want to take charge of the food items for one Sunday or more, please contact the Church Office or sign up after service.
|
|
HCC Operations Team On the Move . . .
Our operations team has been busy with some building updates.
A new keypad has been installed at the following locations:
Entrance To Hadley Hall
Timberlane Street Entrance
Playground Side Entrance
Your passcode is still the same 5 digit numeric code to access the building. Instead of pressing * after your 5 digit code, you will now press #.
Example:
Old Code 01234*
New Code 01234#
If you've been using 4 numeric digits to enter the building, enter a ZERO (0) before your 4 numeric digits and #.
|
|
Hospice Volunteer Training Sessions Coming This Fall
|
|
Thank You from Amy Williams - 6/29 Fire Victim
|
|
The General Synod of United Church of Christ completed their work a short while ago. One of the reports of interest to the Peace and Justice group is shared below.
Dear Pollinators,
The UCC prides itself on its historic firsts, and our recent General Synod gathering continued that tradition as the UCC became the first mainline Protestant denomination to affirm and declare that nature has rights. For those who are unfamiliar with the rights of nature movement, the focus of the resolution may at first blush sound like the off-the-beaten-path concern of a few environmentalists, but it is not. The global movement for the rights of nature has become a significant force over the last 15 years. Ecuador has embedded the rights of nature in its constitution, while other nations such Bolivia and New Zealand have made significant strides to acknowledge the rights of nature. In the United States, there have been locally enacted laws recognizing the rights of nature, and notably, the Ho Chunk Nation enshrined the rights of nature in its constitution.
Indigenous environmental leaders have frequently been at the forefront of the movement with Winona LaDuke of Honor the Earth and Tom Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental Network being key proponents in the United States. For Christians, affirming the rights of nature is especially significant because it is a central part of decolonizing our faith. Too often, misguided conceptions of "dominion" over nature have gone hand-in-hand with a conquer and plunder ethos that treats nature as something to own and exploit. At its heart, the rights of nature movement replaces such worldviews with both an affirmation of our interconnectedness with nature and a recognition that the rest of nature inherently deserves to flourish and thrive. Truly caring for God's creation requires this fundamental outlook. With gratitude to the Rev. Robert Shore-Goss for authoring the resolution and the New Hampshire Conference for spearheading it, let's celebrate this critical advancement in our faith tradition.
With gratitude for your ministry,
Brooks Berndt
|
|
Notes from the Music Director . . .
Sharing some interesting stories and facts with you about hymns
|
|
The Story Behind Blessed Assurance
Francis Jane Crosby was born into a family of strong Puritan ancestry in New York on March 24, 1820. As a baby, she had an eye infection which a quack doctor treated by placing hot poultices on her red and inflamed eyelids. The infection did clear up, but scars formed on the eyes, and the baby girl became blind for life. A few months later, Fanny's dad became ill and died. Mercy Crosby, widowed at 21, hired herself out as a maid while Grandmother Eunice Crosby took care of little Fanny.
Grandmother took the education of her little granddaughter on herself and became the girl's eyes, vividly describing the physical world. Grandmother's careful teaching helped develop Fanny's descriptive abilities. But Grandmother also nurtured Fanny's spirit. She read and carefully explained the Bible to her, and she always emphasized the importance of prayer. When Fanny became depressed because she couldn't learn as other children did, Grandmother taught her to pray to God for knowledge.
In 1834 Fanny learned of the New York Institute for the Blind and knew this was the answer to her prayers for an education. She entered the school when she was twelve and went on to teach there for twenty-three years. She became somewhat of a celebrity at the school and was called upon to write poems for almost every conceivable occasion.
On March 5, 1858, Fanny married Alexander van Alstine, a former pupil at the Institute. He was a musician who was considered one of the finest organists in the New York area.
One evening, Fanny's friend and composer Phoebe Palmer Knapp was visiting and played a tune on the piano, asking Fanny what it sounded like. Fanny responded "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!" Phoebe and Fanny then continued to sing the melody and write the lyrics together.
|
|
Rides Needed To Sunday Services
Erin McCune has offered to provide some of the rides for some HCC members that wish to come to Church services but are no longer driving. We could use others to help too. Erin cannot provide rides on 8/1.
Consider putting on your 'Taxi Cap' and driving a member or two. Be it for one Sunday or more! It will be greatly appreciated.
These members will be so happy to be able to come to a service. Thank you.
|
|
Message from the Operations Team
Just a reminder: If you are using the kitchen, please wash your dishes and put them away.
Dirty dishes left in the kitchen during the summer attract ants.
Thank you!
|
|
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 pastorkathyucc@gmail.com.
|
|
|
Office Hours for the Summer
|
Now thru August 27th, the Church Office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-12 Noon.
|
|
|
Pastor Kathy August Plans
|
Pastor Kathy is back!
Pastor Kathy will be traveling to Wisconsin in late August for her mother's memorial service. Rev. Linda Lea Snyder will be providing pastoral coverage from August 16 - August 29 (ph. 203-927-5387).
|
|
|
Upper Room Devotional
We have a couple of copies of the July/August Upper Room devotional available in the foyer to Hadley Hall. If you need a copy mailed to you, please contact the main office.
|
|
Bible Study Is Meeting Weekly
All Are Invited!
Right now we are studying the parables of Jesus. This study will take readers back in time to understand how the original Jewish audience heard the stories.
We meet every Thursday at 10 am at Jeanne Stalker 's home.
For more information, or to get the address to attend, contact Linda Tilden at latdet50@comcast.net or call 978-973-7681.
|
|
Current Food Pantry Needs:
- boxed crackers
- individually wrapped crackers
- cereal
- pancake mix and syrup
- salad dressings
- boxed pasta salad mixes
- granola bars
- barbecue sauce
|
|
Food Drive to Support
Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry
|
Thank you ALL for your generous donations to our continuous drives!!
For July and August, we are going to focus on the needs of St. Anne’s Food Pantry.
Thank you again for all your support!
Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall
|
|
|
Next month we help serve on Wednesday, August 25th. Stay tuned for the sign up link.
|
|
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!
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
If you are on Instagram, please follow us, and let your friends know about us by sharing our posts! Click this link
|
|
|
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
See what's happening on our social sites
|
|
Hampstead Congregational Church Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|