Worship This Week

Please join us

in the Sanctuary

or online at 10am for the

Nineteenth Sunday

after Pentecost

Coffee hour will be held

after the service

in Hadley Hall

The service will be live streamed

on Facebook Live here

or on 3CX here

Reader: Linda Tilden

Coffee Hour Host: Nancy & Bill Cheyne

Rev Paige's Corner: Promises

I had a chance to attend the installation of a friend as pastor of a church. Installations are worship celebrations that mark a new ministry. A pastor is installed to serve a church by the Association at the request of a local church. And in the midst of the liturgy, there are covenant promises - made by the new pastor, the congregation and the association. I have attended and participated in many of these services through the years, but in this one, I noticed that the promise made by the members of the local church to their pastor had been changed from what is typically offered and the words were striking to me. (My friend is male, to the pastor pronouns are male here.)

"We, the members of (the church) receive (pastor's name) as our pastor and teacher, promising to labor with him in the ministry of the gospel and to give him due honor and support.

"We promise to love our pastor, speaking the truth in love. We pledge to be co-visionaries accepting the challenge to grow spiritually. We will be rigorous partners in the growth of our community in spirit and numbers, articularting our faith outside these walls, and learning how to invite friends an strangers into this fellowship. We will take responsibilitiy for our own spiritual well-being and destiny, and not expect our pastor to fix us or save us. When and if we disagree with our pastor, we will do so respectfully, lovingly, and directly, knowing we can disagree and still love each other. And when it is time for our pastor to accept a new call from God, we will release him."

I thought these were really interesting promises. I loved the language of being "co-visionaries" - which captures the partnership I think is part of the UCC understanding of this relationship between pastor and congregation. I thought it was insightful to honor the reality that a pastor doesn't grow a church by themself but that it takes everyone being active in making invitations. And I thought that the commitment to deal with disagreements in a healthy and open way lays the foundations for a long and healthy relationship between pastor and congregation.

During this interim time as you prepare for a new pastor, it might be worth giving some time to consider what promises might be made to nurture and long and healthy relationship.

With blessings!

Rev Paige Besse-Rankin

Join us for Fun, Fellowship & Food!

The Transition Team is hosting 4 parties: Thursday, Sept 26 at 6 pm; Saturday, Sept 28 at 1 pm; Sunday Sept 29 at 4pm online and Tuesday, Oct 15 at 5 pm.

Please RSVP to the office which party you would prefer and get your "surprise" - the theme and location of your party!

Neighbors In Need Offering - Oct 6

The Neighbors in Need offering, which we will receive on October 6, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Love of Church Unit to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. Through the national Love of Church Unit, https://tinyurl.com/2bfytatb, you can find resources, news updates, and action alerts on a broad spectrum of justice issues. Working with members of the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (a network of thousands of UCC justice and peace advocates), the Love of Church Unit continues its strong policy advocacy work on issues such as the federal budget, voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties, and environmental justice. Neighbors in Need also supports our American Indian neighbors in the UCC. One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Historically, forebears of the UCC established churches and worked with Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arickara, and Hocak in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and northern Nebraska. Today there are 20 UCC congrega­tions on reservations and one urban, multi-tribal UCC congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These churches and their pastors are supported by CAIM. CAIM is also an invaluable resource for more than 1,000 individuals from dozens of other tribes and nations who are members of other UCC congregations in the U.S.

With your assistance, we together can help our Neighbors in Need. Please give generously.

Save the Date for a Transition Talk: Sunday, October 13 following Worship

Join us for lunch and discussion as we look at the scope of our pastoral position moving forward. Do we have the resources to continue with a full-time position? What are the options for part-time pastorates? These are questions that need to be resolved before a Search Committee can begin working. We want to share some information and get your input.

Would you like to learn about church membership?

We are organizing a New Members Class for October. This is a chance to learn about what membership means, what Hampstead Congregational Church is all about, a bit about the United Church of Christ, and more. If you ae interested, please speak with the pastor, sign up in Hadley Hall, or use this link to express interest:

Click to sign up for New Member's Class!

Isaiah 58 Fundraising Gala

Isaiah 58 NH:

*Provides the opportunity for individuals and families to experience formative change. By

addressing basic needs for food, clothing and shelter, including affordable housing, life skills

training, educational and personalized case management support, Isaiah 58 NH helps its

participants reach their potential.

*Mentors and supports individuals through not only the services we can provide but connections

with outside agencies that can provide additional assistance programs to help them find stability

and housing.

*Provides food, clothing, furniture, case management and budgeting assistance to families and individuals in need.

*Advocates for clients to receive the assistance needed to succeed.

Isaiah 58 NH is holding their Tenth Annual Charity Benefit on Thursday, October 3 at the Atkinson Country Club from 5 pm – 10 pm. This year Isaiah 58 NH’s Founder, Rev. David Yasenka will be the recipient of The Sheriff Michael Downing Humanitarian Award for Community Service. The late High Sherriff Michael Downing was a founding board member of Isaiah 58 NH. This annual humanitarian service award was established in Sheriff Downing’s name. Sponsor/ticket information is below.

$10,000 Premier Sponsor

Special 10th Anniversary Mission Sponsorship In honor of Isaiah 58 New Hampshire’s 10th year and our founder and Downing Award Recipient, Reverend David Yasenka. The Board of Directors would be grateful to accept a 10th Anniversary Mission Sponsorship of $10,000 To include publicity in local news outlets, prominent signage as well as premier table seating and 10 tickets.

$5000 Premier Sponsor

Limited to 4 sponsorships. Premier table seating and 10 tickets.

$2500 Platinum Sponsor - Reserved table seating and 8 tickets.

$1000 Gold Sponsor - 6 tickets.

$500 Silver Sponsor - 4 tickets.

$300 Bronze Sponsor - 2 tickets.

Please contact Isaiah 58 NH directly (603 952-8000) if you are interested in sponsorship.

Individual tickets are $90.00 and includes dinner and dessert. We will also have a silent auction with amazing items to bid on! Most importantly, you will be helping to support our mission to end homelessness in Western Rockingham County. Tickets can be purchased with cash/check

/Venmo @ Isaiah58maggie/PayPal Link.