November 23rd Weekly Word

Thanksgiving

A Special "Thank You" from Suzanne


"Thank you so much for the wonderful celebration at Sunday's Service & Coffee Hour. My family and I so enjoyed talking with so many of you.


I am humbled by the generous gift card to Jamison's and the beautiful Willow Tree "Prayers of Peace"


It has been an honor and pleasure to work at HCC."


-- Suzanne Finocchiaro

Advent Devotional Available


Advent begins this Sunday, November 27th.


We have a wonderful daily Advent devotional booklet available to anyone who wants one. This year's devotional focuses on practicing simplicity each day of Advent and beyond.


Copies are available in the foyer of Hadley Hall, or if you would like one sent to you, please contact the church office.

Candle

Advent Discussion Group


Using the Living Compass devotional (described above), we will have a 4-week discussion group starting next Thursday, December 1st. We will meet upstairs in the Davis Room (large room at end of hall) at 10am. Sessions will run for about 90 minutes, and all are welcome. Our discussions will be based off the reflections and discussion questions provided in the booklet. If you have questions or would like to learn more, please contact Pastor Kathy.

Baptism Cover

Worship This Week


Please join us in our Sanctuary

or online at 10am for

First Sunday of Advent and Celebration of Baptism of James Thomas Carace


Coffee hour will be held in Hadley Hall after the service. 

We hope you will join us.


The service will be live streamed through Facebook Live here or on 3CX here.

artwork: Child of the Universe © Mary Southard

Wreaths

Greens Workshop

Create items for the craft fair while having fun with friends!


Next Wednesday, Nov. 30th at 6:30pm in Hadley Hall

What to Bring: Scissors, clippers/pruners for greens


We will be decorating wreaths and making swags and centerpieces out of greens. Kari will be leading, teaching and directing, so even if you have never done anything like this before, come join us. We always have so much fun! Bring a friend and make it a “night out.”


Ahead of time: If you have any pine, hemlock, spruce, holly, or any other kind of evergreen in your yard that you could cut and bring in, please bring it in ahead of time. We can store it in the basement. Collect pine cones, birch branches, winterberry and any other interesting natural finds that could be used as well.

Kari will be providing ornaments, ribbons etc. for decorating.


All the products we create will be for sale on Saturday, Dec. 3rd at the Christmas Craft Fair.

Christmas Craft Fair--

Help Needed


We need your help to make our annual Christmas Craft Fair a success. If you can help in any way it would be greatly appreciated.

Things you can do:


  • Make soup
  • Provide baked goods
  • Donate raffle items
  • Staff tables at the event
  • Help set up before the event on Thursday, Dec 1
  • Help break down after the event
  • Attend and invite others to attend


Sign-up sheets are located outside of the office, or call/email the office to sign up.


Let’s make this the best Christmas Fair ever! As always, thank you for your support.

Your Fundraising Team

Annual Christmas Collection for Families in Need


Every year our congregation collects items to give at Christmas. This year we are collecting for the Manchester Diaper Pantry.

Due to the challenging economy, what the pantry needs the most isn't gifts, but basic supplies for babies.


So--we are collecting DIAPERS, WIPES and FORMULA this year


All types of formula and diaper sizes are needed!


Please drop off in the foyer of Hadley Hall now through Christmas.


If you have any questions, please call 603-329-6985.

On behalf of the Missions Team--THANK YOU!!!

How does one change a lightbulb in the sanctuary?

Very carefully, and with a long pole!

Thanks to our Operations Team who take care of our building day in and day out!

Would You Like To Donate

a "Gift Bag" for Seniors in Need?


Saint Anne's Food Pantry is looking to hand out holiday Gift Bags to their Seniors.


They are looking for gift bags that contain items like: hot chocolate, hard candy, chocolates, coffee, hand lotion, large print crossword Puzzle Books, note cards, books of stamps, pocket tissues.


There will be a collection box labeled, "St. Anne's Food Pantry" that will be located at St. Anne's, downstairs. Please put a label on the Gift Bag that says AILEEN WALL.


Gift bags needed by Sunday, Dec 11th.


For more details, please contact Aileen at 603-275-2394 or [email protected]


The Food Pantry thanks you for your support!

Updated Directories Coming--

New Pictures Wanted!


We are getting ready to print our HCC Members and Friends directory (last printing was in 2018).


We would love to get a current photo of you/your family to include in our updated directory, especially if you are a new member or friend.


Please email a current photo for our directory to [email protected]

Message from the

Interfaith Choir


You may have heard that the Interfaith Choir of the Greater Derry and Londonderry Area has started up again after a 2-year hiatus. We were very excited to regroup and we have a great selection of music planned for our Free December Holiday Concert!


This year, we will be having just one public concert next week Sunday, December 4 at 4PM in the sanctuary of Hampstead Congregational Church. There will be refreshments in Hadley Hall immediately following the concert.

A Word From Peace & Justice


As we continue to reflect on our Native brothers and sisters experiences during American Indian Heritage Month here is some moving information about how Native people suffered in colonial and expanding America.


We the People - The Three Most Misunderstood Words in US History

Here is a video of the TED Talk by Mark Charles, a Native American Activist and author.



What was the Doctrine of Discovery? Here is a primary source document:


How does the United Church of Christ view the Doctrine of Discovery today? Read the results from UCC after General Synod 29 here.



Blessings,

Debra Sawyer

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.


11/22/22 Newsletter


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

Missions Opportunities:

Food Drive to Support

Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry


Holiday Needs





 Grated cheese, salad dressing, pasta sauce, quick bread/muffin mix,

hearty/meaty soups (Chunky, Progresso), boxed crackers, hot cocoa,

cereal (Cheerios & Multigrain Cheerios).




Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall

Please, no expired items.


Thank you for all your support!

Next volunteer opportunity will be Wednesday, December 28th. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email at [email protected].

Volunteer @ Soup Kitchen

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.


Blankets for Project Linus

For those of you who have been busy sewing, quilting, knitting, or crocheting, we have an new opportunity to donate those handmade items!

We located a national organization that has local chapters called Project Linus (https://www.facebook.com/projectlinussouthwestnewhampshire/). This organization's mission is "to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans". Blankets are given to children in need through NH.

*We welcome all styles of blankets made in child-friendly colors/prints.
*Crocheted, knitted, quilted (100% cotton or flannel), fleece….you don’t have to be an expert!
*Blankets must be NEW, HANDMADE and WASHABLE.
*Fabric blankets can be quilted by machine, hand or tied. If you are tying the blanket make sure the ends are trimmed to 1” and the knots are secure.
*Please do not add any embellishments to the blankets such as buttons that could be swallowed by a child.
*If you are using a no-sew fleece pattern, please be sure to trim off both selvages FIRST. Not sure what selvages are? Ask the clerk who is cutting your fleece to please show you, they’re those odd looking edges at the top and bottom of the piece you have, sort of raggy looking.
*We accept all sizes of blankets. We donate to children, infants through teen years, so any size is appropriate. Baby blankets are typically 36”X36” or 36”X42”, toddler-pre-teen are typically about 40”X60”, and teen blankets are at least 60"X72".

Blankets can be dropped off in the entry way of Hadley Hall.

Thank you for your support of this project!
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Scam Emails & Texts


Emails and Texts are often sent, saying they are from Pastor Kathy or another staff member. She (or the HCC staff) will never send out a generic email/text--she'll address it to your name. She will never ask you for money/gift cards over email nor via a text.


Also, any email from Pastor Kathy will always have her signature line on the bottom with her phone number/address.


If in doubt, please contact the church office or Pastor Kathy.

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 ([email protected]) 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 Summer Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to Noon
Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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