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Worship This Week
Please join us
in the Sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
Trinity Sunday
Coffee hour will be held
after the service
in the Sanctuary.
The service will be live streamed
through Facebook Live here
or on 3CX here
Reader: Brad Robie
Coffee hour host: Worship Team
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Rev Paige's Corner: How God Shows Up
Over the years, I have tried to teach out our theology of God in trinitarian form to adults and youth. There have been classes that have given me pushback as I have tried to explain how it is that we think of God as being both one God and known in 3 ways (or more). I remember one Bible study where they told me that they didn't buy it at all and then I had to try to explain why it matters, in fact, in Christian thinking. (Hint: it has a lot to do with how we understand who Jesus was and what incarnation is about.) The truth is that the early church actually invented language to try to explain the theology of Trinity!
Now there are a lot of learnings in the theology of trinity - including, perhaps, the reality that trying too hard to explain the nature of God will give one a headache! But one of the things I always take away from the nature of God as 3 and 1 is that God shows up in many ways. God is experienced in a variety of ways. Our experiences of the Holy are not "one size fits all." We are blessed in scripture with many different images of God - caring shepherd, voice calling our names, seeking of love and justice, one who fortives, teacher, rusing wind, mother eagle teaching her baby to fly, daddy, and many more! None of these images contain everything about God.
In my Interim training program, we were introduced to a Ted Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who is a Nigerian author. Her Ted talk is about "The Danger of a Single Story. (You can find it here and it is worth watching: Adichie Ted Talk
She talks about her own experiences and her interactions with others who have a "single story" about a group of people or a circumstance.
For example, she talked about coming to the US for college: "I was 19. My American roommate was shocked by me. She asked where I had learned to speak English so well, and was confused when I said that Nigeria happened to have English as its official language. She asked if she could listen to what she called my "tribal music," and was consequently very disappointed when I produced my tape of Mariah Carey. She assumed I wouldn't know how to use a stove.
"What struck me was this: She had felt sorry for me even before she saw me. Her default position toward me, as an African, was a kind of patronizing, well-meaning pity. My roommate had a single story of Africa: a single story of catastrophe. In this single story, there was no possibility of Africans being similar to her in any way, no possibility of feelings more complex than pity, no possibility of a connection as human equals."
She goes on to talk about the power of story telling to define reality- sometimes in ways that flatten our understanding rather than empowering and humanizing. "How they are told, who tells them, when they're told, how many stories are told, are really dependent on power."
There is much more of value in her talk, but where this connects to Trinity, it seems to me, is in our ability to honor, celebrate and value more than one story about who God is and how God shows up in our world and our lives.
As an Interim Pastor, I am also interested in the stories that churches tell about themselves and there, too, it is helpful to understand the story of a congregation is not a single story but made up of the perspectives of many people who may experience the church in different ways.
Happy Trinity Sunday!
Blessings!
Rev Paige Besse-Rankin
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Baptism of Maddox Oliver Wallack
Barbara & Andy Wallack's newest grandson Maddox was baptized this past Sunday in a beautiful ceremony.
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In Remembrance of Ted Krzesowski
Longtime HCC member, Ted Krzesowski, passed away peacefully last week. Funeral service will be on June 1st at 4pm through Brookside Chapel in Plaistow, NH. Calling hours will be held on Friday evening.
Click here for his obituary on the Brookside Chapel website for more details.
Rest in eternal peace, Ted.
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Fiber Arts This Saturday, May 25th
The Fiber Arts group (knitting, crochet, hand work, etc.) meets the 4th Saturday each month from 10am-noon in Hadley Hall.
All skill levels are welcome and no commitment is needed. Just drop in when you can and enjoy the company and crafting. We hope you'll join us!
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Volunteers Needed
Our beloved custodian is taking 3 weeks off for a family trip, so we are looking for volunteers to help with things like taking out trash, keeping bathrooms spiffy, and addressing building needs. We would also be willing to pay someone as a temp to do more extensive cleaning during the first 3 weeks of June. If you are willing to volunteer for an hour or two or you have a lead on someone who might fill in, please speak with David Chin or contact the office.
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Spring Clean-up "Thank You"
Our church clean-up on Saturday was a resounding success. The grounds look great and our gardens are ready for planning. Sand and fallen branches were picked up as well as leftover leaves from the fall. Special thanks to Linda who cleaned the kitchen top to bottom.
The Operations Team would like to recognize our church members and scouts who gave their time and effort. Church members included Fred, Julian, Trevor, Brad, Marge, Bob, Linda, Donna, Andy, Herb, Dave D, Ing, Ellen and Dave C. Scouts who came out to help included Hunter, Michael, Nolan, Bobby, Logan, Brandon and Ben.
Thanks and gratitude,
Operations Team
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WE NEED YOUR TREASURES!
At the Christmas Fair the Church had a “yard sale” table, selling upscale used items. It proved to be a success, bringing in well over $200. The Fundraising Team would like to repeat this for the Strawberry Festival.
We are looking for good quality and in working condition used (or new) items that we can sell at the Fair. We only ask that you dust them off before donating them.
A bin will be placed in the downstairs foyer of the church for drop off.
If you have any questions, contact Barbara Wallack at 603-548-8326 or email bsw91@comcast.net.
As always, we thank you for your support.
The Fundraising Committee
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Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 1st
We need your help!
Are you ready for some Strawberry Shortcake? Our annual Strawberry Festival is happening soon. If you can help in any way on Friday, 5/31 and/or Saturday, 6/1, it would be greatly appreciated.
Another way to help--donate baked goods--they can be dropped off Friday, 5/31.
Things you can do to help:
- Friday--Help with Setup starting at 4PM
- Saturday--Help with Games - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
- Saturday--Help with Bake Sale Table - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
- Saturday--Help with Grilling - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
- Saturday--Help with Serving the Shortcake - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
- Saturday--Help with Plant Table - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
- Saturday--Help with Cleanup starting at 3:00PM
Signup Sheet is in Hadley Hall or you can contact the office at 603-329-6985 and we will help get you signed up.
Let’s make this event a huge success!
As always, thank you for your support,
Your Fundraising Team
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Nursery Volunteers Needed!
The Discipleship team would like to offer Nursery care for children 3 and under during worship. We would like to set up a rotation of volunteers, so no one needs to volunteer more than once a month. There will always be two volunteers in the nursery, and they need to be screened. If you are willing to volunteer, please speak with Linda Tilden or Rev Paige. Thanks!
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Peace & Justice
We’ve all seen the historical markers that have been erected across the state and, indeed, across the country. We have our own erected at the Old Meeting House. But lately several of them have come into question or been challenged. Take for instance the one about Elizabeth Gurley Brown in Concord.
The sponsors submitted the paperwork, it was approved, and the marker erected. Then came pushback and the marker was removed. Now there are lawsuits over the marker.
But a more interesting debate is in Durham where residents have questioned the accuracy of one of its decade's old markers. It commemorates the Oyster River Massacre of 1694. It declares that a force of Indians under the command of the French attacked English settlers on the banks of the Oyster River, killing and kidnapping over 100 settlers and destroying the settlement. This one was challenged in 2021 over the facts stated on the current marker and the residents of Durham are still debating how to revise it to more accurately reflect the event. The current discussion began with the removal of the marker after a revision request by members of the state’s Commission of Native American Affairs was filed with the NH Division of Historical resources. The resulting work on revision has brought a deeper understanding of what happened, and why, in 1694. Trying to capture the nuance of the motivations, actions, and results in a few sentences for the marker has become a difficult task that may be impossible.
These debates – here in NH and across the country – certainly bring to the fore the question of who gets to write the history of an event or a period of time? How can it be framed in a way that brings understanding and lessons of how a people move forward? How can it not vilify some characters as it seeks to memorialize others?
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Music Corner by Herb Tardiff
All About the Trumpet Family
Many composers have used the trumpet to enhance their scores and here are a few examples. The piccolo trumpet was a favorite of George Frederic Handel and J.S. Bach. The Eb trumpet was a favorite of Joseph Haydn especially in his trumpet concerto in Eb. Richard Wagner featured the bass trumpet in his overture to Tannhauser.
The Trumpet Family
As with many instrument families, the trumpet family has a range of different sizes and keys of instruments.
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Bb (B-flat) Trumpet
The Bb trumpet is the most popular and universally-used trumpet in the world. The Bb trumpet is used everywhere from jazz clubs to concert halls across the world. This trumpet is referred to as the Bb trumpet because when a player sounds a C on this instrument, it sounds a concert Bb.
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C Trumpet
The C trumpet is commonly used in orchestral settings. These trumpets tend to have a larger bore size than Bb trumpets and can have a more brilliant tone.
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D / Eb (E-flat) Trumpet
D and Eb trumpets are more rarely used and are sometimes referred to as harmony trumpets. Pitched in D and / or Eb, they can be used in brass ensemble and wind band settings, as well as for performances of the famous Haydn and Hummel concerti.
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Piccolo Trumpet
The modern piccolo trumpet was made famous by Maurice André, and is commonly used for performances of Baroque trumpet solo repertoire. These trumpets are pitched in Bb and A an octave above a Bb trumpet, with either an adjustable leadpipe or interchangeable leadpipes to adjust for the change in key.
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Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is most commonly used in jazz music, though it can also be used for brass ensemble playing. These are pitched in the same key as the Bb trumpet, and so can be used for Bb trumpet music if the mellow, warm flugelhorn sound and feel is desirable.
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Cornet
The cornet is typically used in a wind or brass band setting, or as a solo instrument. Though they are pitched in the same key as Bb trumpets, their design ensures that cornets produce a warmer sound. Their smaller bore size can also make lips slurs more effortless, particularly in the upper register.
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Bugle
The bugle can be pitched in a variety of keys, commonly B-flat or G. Because these instruments have no valves, they are limited to playing notes within the harmonic series for that key. This means that these are nearly exclusively used for bugle calls.
Bass Trumpet
The bass trumpet is typically pitched in B-flat an octave below the B-flat trumpet. These are occasionally used in orchestral and trumpet ensemble repertoire, as well as sometimes in small group jazz settings.
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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.
5/22/2024 Newsletter
Each week, we will update this section of our Weekly Word with the new link
for the current newsletter.
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New AMAZON Wish List for
Saint Anne's Food Pantry
St. Anne's Pantry is seeing an increase in the number of families who shop with them. They've almost doubled the amount of families who shop weekly since this time last year. They try to keep their shelves stocked as much as they can.
They are reaching out for some help...donations are needed. They thought they would try an Amazon Wish List in addition to listing items here.
Thank you in advance for any donations.
Please no expired items and non-perishable items only please.
Drop off in the foyer of Hadley Hall.
Looking for the following: cereal(no oatmeal), coffee, tea, Ritz Crackers, Saltines, granola bars, Nutrigrain bars, cheese and crackers, peanut butter and crackers, canned Chef Boy r Dee, condiments, salad dressing, brownie/cake mix, Coffee/K-Cups, Quickbread/Muffin mixes, Easter Candy, Ensure, Scalloped/Au gratin potatoes.
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To sign up for the next volunteer opportunity click here. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email at janederosa@comcast.net. | |
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. | | |
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 Summer Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to Noon
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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