Join us this Saturday from 9am to 3pm for our annual Christmas Craft Fair!!

When the weather outside is frightful….

This week, we officially entered snow season. While each storm is unique, here are some general guidelines.

   During the week: If schools have closed, call before you come! Depending on the situation, staff may be working at home due to unsafe roads. We are happy to connect by phone, email or zoom and likely will be working our usual schedule – but perhaps not in the building.

   Sunday Worship: The Pastor will consult with the Moderator and the Deacon co-chairs if conditions have the potential of being hazardous on Sunday morning. She will also be coordinating with leaders at Atkinson CC. If the decision is made to move worship online only, we will do our best to get something posted on the church Facebook page, to send notification by email, and to post an announcement on WMUR that worship will be online only. We will share the worship links for both churches, and you will have the option of attending online at 9 or 10:30 am.  

   Because Rev Paige lives an hour from the churches, road conditions going north will be of concern. Also, the condition of the church parking lot is important for safety of all. And no matter what the decision, please also make good decisions for yourself! When in doubt, join us online!

Rev Paige’s Corner: “Be Born in Us”

   I have a playlist of Advent music that is a little less of the usual Christmas faire (Jingle Bells, Santa Clause is Coming to Town) and a little more of the spiritual preparation for Christmas.

   One of those Advent songs that connects with the yearnings of the season is one by David Haas titled “Be Born in Us”.  It reflects something of a prayer I have at this time of year not to get so caught up in racing around to get everything done that I miss the way that God is breaking into our world and our lives now. In some ways, the celebration of Christmas is about an historical event that happened over 2000 years ago when a baby was born to Mary and Joseph. But in other ways, I think it is about what God is about in our midst here and now. We celebrate Emmanuel – “God with us” – coming into our midst. I believe that is not a once and for all event that is over and past. I believe that God still comes into our midst today.  

  And even though we celebrate Christmas year after year, I think it can happen anew.  Part of what Advent is about is making space in our lives and our hearts for Emmanuel. I would invite you to find ways to make space for this spiritual part of a season that can get swamped with commercialism and traditions.

Advent Blessings!

Dreaming God’s Dream ……

No Gift Too Small, No Dream Too Big

Stewardship Sunday was November 9. Many members and friends gathered that day to make their financial pledge for 2026. A personal blessing from Rev Paige was offered to everyone as we placed our pledge cards on the altar. Over $90,000 has been pledged to date for next year and over half of those pledges increased over what was pledged last year. Your Stewardship Team is grateful for your generosity.

If you have not returned your pledge card with your intentions for next year, please consider that every gift counts toward fulfilling God’s Dream. Additional pledge cards are available if needed at locations within the church or by request. With your financial support, dreams become reality for our underserved and less fortunate.

Coming Events at

Atkinson Congregational Church

The Music Corner

by Herb Tardiff

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

As far as holiday traditions go, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is about as essential to the cozy November holiday as turkey and stuffing.

While it’s had some interruptions and mishaps along the way, the show has still managed to go on almost every year for nearly a century.

Let’s look back at five historical facts about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

The original store was about 20 blocks south on Sixth Avenue near 14th Street. Macy’s has been at its current flagship location, at Broadway and 34th Street, since 1902. Continuing expansion made the location what Macy’s called the “world’s largest store,” an entire city block with more than 1 million square feet of retail space.

In celebration, employees organized a Christmas parade in 1924 featuring “floats, bands, animals from the zoo and 10,000 onlookers,” according to a Macy’s history page. It also started way up at 145th Street. The parade concluded with Santa Claus and the unveiling of the store’s Christmas windows. Three years later, the Christmas Parade was renamed the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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: Ensure, Coffee/Tea, Tuna Fish, Mayo, Jelly/Jam, Hamburger Helper, Protein Soups, Saltines/Ritz/Triscuits, Rice Pilaf, Spices, Salad Dressing, English Muffins, Brownie/Muffin/Cake Mixes, Nutrigrain Bars, Maple Syrup, Canned Chef Boyardee Items, Spam, Lunchbox Snacks.

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.

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.

12/2/2025 Newsletter

Each week, we will update this section of our Weekly Word with the new link

for the current newsletter.

Our Mailing address:

61 Main Street

Hampstead, NH 03841

Church Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 3pm