Check out what's

happening at First Church this week!

Click on the button to read this month's North Star

Reminder: We will no longer be live-streaming our worship services on Facebook. Go to YouTube.com/ConcordsFirstChurch to watch the services live.


 Next Circle Gathering



Our next gathering will be on Sunday

before worship from 9:30-10:15am


Dial by your location

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)


Meeting ID: 841 2750 0661

Passcode: 367084

Worship

Sunday, October 26th,

at 10:30 AM

 “The Joy of Shapes

That Dance”


Leroy Person, untitled, ca. 1981


Person was a woodcarver and sculptor from a remote area in northeastern North Carolina. He was semi-literate and developed his own alphabetic and numerical system that few could decipher. His work is admired for its sense of color and mark making.


Dial by your location


• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)


Meeting ID: 898 5728 4935

Passcode: 120786

All Saints Sunday is November 2, 2025

If you have names of loved ones that died in the past year that you would like to be read on All Saints Sunday, please send them to Kathy by 9AM, October 30th.   Thank You

Volunteers Needed for the Musicians’ Flea Market


Our annual Musicians’ Flea Market has become a favorite event in the community and it will be our largest in-person outreach event this year. To make it all happen, we’re looking for a few volunteers to lend a hand.


A small crew is needed on Friday morning, October 31, to set up tables in Hanna Hall. On Saturday, we’ll need helpers for 2-hour shifts to welcome guests, collect admission, and serve coffee and donuts. After the event ends at 1:00 p.m., we’ll need a few people to help with cleanup and putting everything back in order.


This year, New Hampshire Chronicle will be on site to film some footage and conduct a few interviews during the event — something to keep in mind when deciding what to wear!


If you can spare a little time, your help will be greatly appreciated — and it’s a wonderful way to share in the spirit of hospitality and fellowship.


Please click the button below to sign up.

Next Circle Gathering

Our next gathering will be on Sunday, October 26th before worship from 9:30-10:15am.

In preparation for our next Circle Gathering, the Council and Pastor Emilia invite you to watch/listen to the following video as it helps to describe what Pastor Emilia is learning about herself and her physical limitations:


"I Need to Stop Violating Myself; Accepting Limitations as an Autistic Adult" by Ashra (23min)

_____________________________

If you missed one of the circle gatherings, you can watch it, below.

Prayers for the Nation

Join Rev. Reneé Rouse as she guides participants through group prayers for our nation and the world. These sessions take place on Zoom every Wednesday from 1:00-2:00 PM.


Join on Zoom


Dial in by phone:

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)


Meeting ID: 811 7129 7350

Passcode: 475344

2025 Annual Meeting

If you missed our annual meeting on June 1, you can watch it here.

Racial Justice Steering Team


This coming program year (Sept-May), the Racial Justice steering team is reading Black Portsmouth: Three Centuries of African-American Heritage by Mark Sammons and Valerie Cummingham, a comprehensive history of the Black community in Portsmouth from 1648 until the early 21st century. We’ll be reading and discussing this book, in addition to taking action to learn more about those of African descent in New Hampshire, and we invite you to join us! You can purchase the book at Gibson’s Bookstore (look in the “Local Authors” section), order through blackheritagetrailnh.org, or through Amazon.com.


The next meeting will take place on November 19th on Zoom

from 2:30-4:00 PM.

Dial by your location

• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington

• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)


Meeting ID: 853 7898 6356

Passcode: 596356

OUTREACH

Ministry of Outreach


Kid Kits and Clean Up Buckets

School Kits are now called Kid Kits and the list is slightly different. Copies of the new list are posted on the bulletin board and can be found online at 

https://cwskits.org



CWS Buckets and Kits are small packages of supplies assembled by volunteers and shipped to families and communities in need around the world.


Thank you for all the donations we have received. What we need now are bags.  Directions for making the bags are on the bulletin board and also can be found at the web site. Please continue to take sticky notes from the bulletin board and buy materials needed for the cleanup buckets.

 

Zimbabwe

Thank you for your donations for the Daisy Dube orphanage. A final total will be placed in the next North Star.

 

Strengthen the Church

Thank you for your donations to Strengthen the Church. A final total will be placed in the next North Star.

 

Neighbors in Need

This UCC offering is collected on World Communion Sunday. A "five for five" offering which 1/3 goes to Council of Indian Ministries and 2/3 goes to ministries of justice and compassion. Please give generously.

 

Crop Walk

Crop Walk is Oct. 11 at 10:00am. The 2.5-mile walk starts at the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Church on Clinton Street. Please consider walking or supporting a walker. Crop Walk has been going for 55 years. The funds raised go towards ending hunger and poverty in the US and around the world.

 

Thank you 

A thank you note from Victoria Rosenberg (Sara Nichols' daughter) is posted on the bulletin board. Recently the council voted to send a check of $50 to help set up a classroom. The students of St. Matthew's Parish School are relocated to a warehouse since the fire in Pacific Palisades. The money received helped brighten up the classroom and hopefully make it more conducive to learning. Ask Sara Nichols to show you a before and after video of the classroom.

 

Did you miss worship last week?

Worship Assistant Schedule

Would you like to be a worship assistant? Please email Pastor Emilia.


Annie Papinsick (Sunday, October 26th)


Jim Wildman (Sunday, November 2nd)


Eleanor Kimball (Sunday, November 9th)


Jazz Sanctuary - November 16th (No Reader)


Sheila Swenson (Sunday, November 23rd)


Sara Nichols (Sunday, November 30th)


Rev. Renee' Rouse (Sunday, December 7th)


Phil Kimball (Sunday, December 14th)


Jazz Sanctuary - December 21st (No Reader)





October Birthdays




 Rev. Emilia Halstead – 10/2

 

Linda Baines – 10/4

 

Rev. Eleanor Kimball – 10/13

 

Hannah Irving – 10/26

 

 

                            


(If you would like your birthday listed, please email

Kathy at secretary@concordsfirstchurch.org)


PRAYER CONCERNS & PASTORAL CARE



If you would like your name included in the weekly prayer list, please contact our church administrator, Kathy secretary@concordsfirstchurch.org


We invite you to keep these people in your prayers this week:

Carol Hovey - Healing

Matt Wildman - Healing

Jim J - Healing

Family & Friends of Howard "BJ" Steinberg - Peace

Family of Carol Emery - Peace

Kellie Heath - Healing

Franklin Richardson Rouse - Comfort and Prayers

No one from First Congregational Church will ever contact you by email, text, or any other type of message to ask you to purchase gift cards on our behalf. If you receive a message asking for a "favor," or that you do something "discreetly," please give us a call right away.


Copies of our church directory are available in the church office. Please stop by in person during office hours if you need one.

Staff Information

Jock's Bebe


Kathy's Reagan

Emilia's Scarlett

 IN PERSON OFFICE HOURS:

First Church Office Hours: Mondays & Thursdays 7:15 am-12:15 pm at 79 Clinton St

Tuesday 7:00 am - 12:00 pm online/phone

Wednesdays 11:30 am-2:30pm online/phone


Please call before coming in to speak to a staff member in person - He/She/They may be out running an errand!


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Church Office Number - (603) 225-5491

Emilia Halstead - pastor@concordsfirstchurch.org

Kathy Akerman - secretary@concordsfirstchurch.org

Jock Irvine - technology@concordsfirstchurch.org

- financialsecretary@concordsfirstchurch.org




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