Epiphany Party

Sunday's Epiphany Party held at Atkinson Congregational was filled with friendship, fellowship, and the joy of the Epiphany.

Rev Paige’s Corner: Health Choices

   With the coming of the new year, many people make resolutions of one sort or another to become healthier. While I admire the effort, I also know the average length of time people manage those resolutions is 2 weeks. (I am sure health clubs love all those new memberships with rapidly disappearing clients to care for!) What does it take to hold strong to a resolution? More on that below.

   In the coming months, you may wonder “who is that masked pastor?” One outcome of the medical issues that landed me in the hospital in October seems to be a weakened immune system. I have had 4 colds since November much to my deep frustration!  So, I am going to be backing up my immune system by wearing a mask in group settings and not shaking hands – at least until flu season goes by. I am thankful to have those options – much as they are not my preference! I would encourage everyone to mask if they are not feeling well or even to stay home.

   So back to keeping healthy resolutions…. This Sunday we mark the baptism of Jesus in worship and will have the opportunity to reaffirm our own baptisms. When I think about the movement that Jesus was participating with great groups of people coming to John the Baptist, who was calling them to change their lives and to turn towards God. Their commitment to those changes was embodied by their baptisms – a public, ritual action that welcomed God into their decision. It was also a communal act. It strikes me that having the support of the community in a healthy change is one thing that greatly increases the chances of success – whether that change is a diet, a recovery program, or a faith journey.  We need each other.

May we all have a happy and healthy new year!

Rev Paige Besse-Rankin

HCC Annual Meeting

Sunday, February 8th, 11am

Our 273rd Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Hadley Hall following worship. Please attend this vital gathering, as we look back at this past year’s accomplishments and look ahead to God’s call in our congregational life this year. A quorum of members is needed.

The annual report will be e-mailed/mailed to each member family once it's completed.

Please take some time to read the reports and familiarize yourself with the proposed budget for 2026.

Music Corner with Herb Tardiff

The St. Thomas Church (German: Thomaskirche) is a Lutheran church in Leipzig, Germany, located at the western part of the inner-city ring road in Leipzig's central district. Martin Luther preached in the church in 1539. It is associated with several well-known composers, especially Johann Sebastian Bach, who was its Thomaskantor (music director) from 1723 until his death in 1750. Bach is buried in the church. 

My love for church music was cemented in my memory when almost 60 years ago, I attended a performance of Bach’s B minor mass for choir and orchestra. The actual performance was not here, but in a church in Belgium. Each section of the mass was very moving and done to perfection. 

   Aside from the more than two-hour duration, I was so impressed with the boy's choir who sang their music from memory. Speaking of memory, I recently watched a performance of this piece on YouTube from St. Thomas Church and the conductor Sir John Elliot Gardner conducted the entire work from memory including all of the instrumental and choir cues. He had also mouthed the words for the choir in German. Wow! 

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.

1/6/2026 Newsletter

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

for the current newsletter.

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

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