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Worship This Week
Please join us
in the Sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
Fourth Sunday of Lent
One Great Hour of Sharing
Coffee hour will be held
after the service.
The service will be live streamed
on Facebook Live here
or on 3CX here
Readers: Debra Sawyer
Coffee Hour Hosts: Marge & Bob O'Brien
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Today: One Great Hour of Sharing
The Council of Churches in Sierra Leone (CCSL) has made significant strides in empowering women and supporting communities through transformative programs. Serving approximately one million church members and nearly three million beneficiaries annually, CCSL is committed to breaking barriers and promoting women's leadership across various sectors. A key initiative is the Women's Desk, which focuses on training, mentorship, and enabling women's active participation in church capacity building, community development, leadership, and economic sustainability. Through this platform, CCSL equips women with the essential skills needed to take leadership roles in society. One notable program is the Council's microcredit initiative, established in 2020, which supports participants in the Village Savings and Loan Groups (VSLGs). This program includes 20 groups and empowers women to establish small businesses, provides finance education, improves access to clean water, and promotes community development. The microcredit program has proven to enhance women's leadership, business skills, and literacy.
In Kamara Town, women from the VSLG worked together to build a church and a school, which were previously unavailable in the community. Because of the lack of educational infrastructure, children had to travel long distances to attend school and often started school later than usual. With a school now in their community, children can begin their education at the appropriate age, and parents find peace knowing their children are safe and learning close to home. In Campbell Town, a widow faced significant challenges after her husband's death, particularly around land ownership. Through the microcredit program, she secured a loan to formalize her land ownership. With the necessary documents now in hand, she proudly owns the land and has built a small house. The program's impact is profound, with 70% to 90% of women contributing significantly to their households' welfare. These women not only focus on their personal growth but also dedicate themselves to supporting and mentoring other women in their communities. This shared commitment to uplifting others is a core value of the VSLGs.
Watch this inspiring video:
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Volunteer Recognition
Last month we recognized the Trustee (Operations) Team so this month we would like to recognize its offshoot, Capital Campaign. Its current members are Dave Chin, Rick Little and Brad Robie, and consulting member Chris McCune. This team has been responsible for many projects, including, but not limited to, steeple and bell repairs, the insulation of Hadley Hall and the resurfacing of its floor, painting of the church’s exterior, etc.
This team also has several projects planned for this year, including repairs to the church’s windows.
And I don’t know how we could ever thank Brad Robie enough for all of the time and effort he has put into writing grant applications in order to help finance these projects.
Many thanks to the members of Capital Campaign!
Pam McGravey
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Loaf and Ladle Thanks!
We enjoyed another wonderful Loaf and Ladle on March 16! There was quite
a variety of soups – including chicken noodle, corn chowder, lasagna, sausage orzo, chicken gnocchi and a vegan butternut – along with some delicious home baked bread (thanks to Kari Allard, Marion and Al Lake and Joann Klawitter)!
We followed up with dessert -- many yummy brownies.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE
WONDERFUL COOKS AND BAKERS!
We collected over $300 from the generous offerings – which we donated to the UCC Disaster Relief
Fund.
THANK YOU EVERYONE
The Missions Team
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Valentines for Disaster Victims: Hygiene Kits Project – THANK YOU
We can’t thank everyone enough for the overwhelming response to our Valentines for Disaster
Victims Hygiene Kits!! We sought to complete 20 kits but were able to pack up 38 – nearly double our request!
Each kit contains travel sized shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, deodorant, tooth
brush, wash cloth, nail clipper, a bar of soap and a comb. These hygiene kits will be sent off to Church World Services who, in conjunction with the UCC, will distribute to people who have survived the recent hurricane and wildfire disasters. Many, many, many thanks again for your wonderful and continued generosity.
The Missions Team
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Invitation to join us on a Mission Trip
Our Confirmation Class is planning a summer mission trip to volunteer to serve the hungry and to help the unhoused. This trip is open to anyone aged 14 and older who would like to go. Dates are being settled and plans finalized. We will likely sleep on a church floor, cook our meals together, spend our days doing volunteer work, have fun, and learn together. If you are interested in participating in such an adventure, please email or speak to the pastor.
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Rev Paige's Corner: Fruitful
The Gospel last Sunday invited us to consider in what ways our lives are fruitful for God and in what ways our church is fruitful. This looks different for each of us individually and for each congregation.
One of the Lenten Devotions we have available included a wonderful quote from Henri Nouwen that might deepen our reflections around this:
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. -- Henri Nouwen
With blessings!
Rev Paige Besse-Rankin
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A Change for Online Worship
If you are worshipping with us online, you may notice a change. Due to concerns about the safety of children, we will be trying to keep them mostly off camera for worship that is being broadcast online. During the children's message, online worshippers will be able to see our cross but still hear what is happening. We know that many of our friends and members get joy seeing the smiles of our kids, but we are also trying to keep them safe and healthy. Thanks for understanding.
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HCC Today and Tomorrow!
As we continue our Interim work and begin preparations for our pastoral search, we want to take time to focus in on our visions and goals for the church in the days ahead. We are hoping to have a broad conversation involving as many stakeholders in church life as is possible.
We promise fun, fellowship and food will be part of the mix!
The Transition team is trying to settle the date for this gathering. We would ask you to use this link to let us know about your availability! HCC Today and Tomorrow Survey
Thanks!
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So Many Post-It Notes!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our March 23 Transition Talk exploring Asset Mapping. The group generated a list of 107 assets all represented on post-it notes as well as 14 ideas for activities we could do using those assets.
The assets have been written up for use by the Search Committe, church leaders and the settled pastor and the ideas will be passed along. Groups at the event were also encouraged to take an idea and run with it if so moved.
Words like "fun" and "energizing" were used for the discussion. But clearly this is a church that has been blessed!
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Save the Date! June 1
Churches in Greater Hampstead want to organize to show support for the work of Church World Service and those who are struggling for hunger. So the Community Crop Walk is being revived. Stay tuned for more information and save the day! The Walk will take place after worship and we will be looking for walkers, sponsors and volunteers to help out.
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Lenten Lunchtime Devotions Online!
During Lent, we will be offering a midweek devotion time online Wednesdays from 12 pm - 12:30. . This will include a time to share prayers, reflect on scripture, and listen to music. Log-on as you are able at Zoom using meeting ID: 850 9522 9574 and password: 716028 or use the link: Link for Lenten Devotions
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Save the Dates! Upcoming Events
March 30 - Chicken Around the World supper at 2pm
April 12 - Easter Egg Hunt at 9am
April 17 - Maundy Thursday Supper & Worship at 6:30pm
April 20 - Easter Sunrise Worship at 5:55am at Camp Tel Noar
April 20 - Easter Potluck Breakfast following Sunrise Worship around 7am
April 20 - Easter Worship in the Sanctuary at 10am
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Peace & Justice
This week there was an article from New Hampshire Public Radio about dozens of people gathered in a
park Friday night to mourn and remember the 12 known young people who died in the last four years
while sleeping in shelters and cars on the street. They ranged in age from 17 to 21. This observance was part of Waypoint’s annual SleepOut which is held to raise awareness on homeless youth.
Chapin Hall, a research center at University of Chicago that works with Waypoint, estimates that 15,000 people between 12 and 25 are homeless in New Hampshire and the population is growing. The NH Coalition to End Homelessness saw over a 40% increase in homeless children under 18 from 2022 - 2023. Among 18 to 24 year olds there was nearly a 37% increase.
Mandy Lancaster, director of Waypoint’s services to homeless youth, stressed the urgency of the services Waypoint provides. Those services include overnight shelters, street outreach, crisis intervention, and assistance finding stable housing. Some of the stories shared with workers by the youth include becoming homeless after they aged out of foster care, after graduating from high school
and loosing access to showers and meals at school and forced to leave an adult shelter because of physical and sexual abuse there, and after being kidnapped by a non-custodial parent and running away from the physical abuse that followed.
Twenty-year-old Franklin Dee Manning, Jr who shared his story for the article said, “Let’s get the record straight. I am not a statistic…. I urge you to look around, see our faces, and hear or learn our names.”
Full article
Blessings,
Debra
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Music Corner by Herb Tardiff
Passion plays unite believers across centuries
The story is almost 2,000 years old.
Yet, each year, it becomes new again as churches and other groups stage Lenten dramas depicting Jesus' final days on earth and his resurrection. They're most frequently called passion plays, a reference to the passion — the mental, spiritual and physical sufferings — that Jesus experienced between the night of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion.
Although passion plays were undoubtedly performed earlier, the earliest record of a passion play is a set of stage directions written down in England in the 9th century, according to Attilio (Buck) Favorini, theater historian and director of graduate studies in theatre arts at the University of Pittsburgh.
When most of the congregation was illiterate, passion plays were a graphic attention-getter, a way to make the stories come alive.
"That tradition continues today in towns such as Oberammergau, Germany, whose once-a-decade passion play involves thousands of residents. Last year's production drew 520,000.
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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, Coffee, Mayonnaise, Cans of Grated Cheese, Flour, Sugar, Gluten Free Items, Juice Boxes, Spices, Cereal (no oatmeal).
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.
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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.
3/25/2025 Newsletter
Each week, we will update this section of our Weekly Word with the new link
for the current newsletter.
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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!
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| Help Us Continue Our Mission at HCC | |
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!
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Our Mailing address:
61 Main Street
Hampstead, NH 03841
Church Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 2 pm
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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