February 2nd Weekly Word
HCC Annual Meeting Sunday, Feb 20th, at 11am
on Zoom & Telephone


Our 269th Annual Meeting will be held on February 20, 2022, following worship. We will hold it online. There is an option for people to call in if they cannot attend online.

Worship on February 20th will be online only.




The annual report and proposed budget will be emailed/mailed out early next week.

We hope you can attend this celebration of the wonderful ministry we have done over the past year!
candy
Valentine's Baskets for Parkland

The Discipleship team will be delivering three Valentine's Day baskets to Parkland hospital for the staff caring for COVID-19 patients. They have done so much for so long--this is a wonderful way we can show our love and support!

We are in need of a few things:
·      Cards with a personal message for the staff as a whole
·      Individually wrapped Valentine's candy
·      Monetary donations that will go towards giving each of them a
small gift card. Please earmark donations for "Valentine's
baskets for Parkland." 

Please have all donations in by Thursday, February 10th. There is a basket set up in the entrance to Hadley Hall or you can drop them by the office.

Thank you for your generosity!
Worship This Week

Please join us in the sanctuary
or online at 10am for
the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany and Communion Sunday

Beginning this month we will resume offering the bread and juice during communion.

As we pledge in our covenant, we strongly advocate that everyone who attends in-person worship on Sunday mornings wear a mask during the entire service.

The service will be live-streamed through Facebook Live here or on 3CX here.
2021 Year End Statements

On Monday, 1/24 we sent out the 2021 Year End Donation Statements. Where we had an email address, we emailed your statement. If we didn't have an email address, we USPS mailed your statement.

If you didn't get your statement, please contact the office and we will work on getting your copy to you.
Looking for Information

We are updating our database and are asking for special dates in your lives that we can honor and remember. We would appreciate knowing any of the following:

A Birthday
A Wedding Anniversary
A Life Event

Also, if you have not done so, please let us know of an emergency contact in case there is a situation in which we cannot reach you.

Please contact the church office and we will update our system with your information. Thanks!
A Word from Peace and Justice

There was a disturbing article in the Washington Post recently about the increasing violence against people experiencing homelessness. The reports of violence have been steadily increasing for the last four years and is expected to continue. The disturbing part is the comment by executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, Donald Whitehead, that the response in many communities to these increases is “a criminalization of homelessness” which creates a “culture of people not being important. Or people being less-than. It gives people permission to commit violence.” This article focused on some of the local actions that contribute the violence against people who are homeless and the work of advocate organizations to bring the consequences of living on the streets to light.

People experiencing homelessness are less willing to go to the police to report violence or crime against themselves or others. They usually have had bad experiences with police in the past or they have outstanding warrants for minor offences. The minor offences are usually citations for vagrancy or public urination because on the lack of places for them to take care of themselves. I have seen in some cities a total lock down of rest room facilities in areas where homeless people congregate.

In 2020 the number of unsheltered people was higher than the number in shelters according to Bobby Watts of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. This fact has resulted in a public “backlash” against homelessness. The National Council of the Homeless tracked homeless encampment sweeps in 55 cities between January 2020 and July 2021. We heard Rev. Zach Harmon during our Zoom Homeless Memorial service last year talk about bearing witness to one of these sweeps in Manchester. Though it was not a physically violent sweep it was traumatizing for the people living in the encampment.

As with many of the sweeps the stated goal is to put people into housing, but the opportunities for getting into housing are overstated. So, the result is that the people are forced to set up encampments in more remote locations where they are more susceptible to violence. Though numbers are difficult to come by for a variety of reasons it is expected that a survey of people experiencing homelessness will reveal that for every 60 days without housing an individual is likely to experience at least one violent incident and that increases for females. Brian Davis, also of the National Coalition, is heading an effort to get numbers to reveal the statistical dangers of living on the street. He says “There needs to be some urgency about finding safe places for people. In my experience, we’ve let lots of people languish while waiting for housing to become available. We have to show that there are real world consequences, people are attacked, robbed and raped, because they are waiting for shelter.”

So, it is clear to me that we need to redouble our efforts to advocate for affordable housing and for mental health supports in our communities. Our support of Isaiah 58 in the light of this article is certainly important in the effort to keep individuals and families from experiencing homelessness and falling into situations that make them vulnerable to violence.

The full article can be found here.

Debra Sawyer
Foyer Artwork

Our administrator, Suzanne Finocchiaro regularly updates the foyer with season relevant art for all those entering to enjoy.

This past week she created this framed piece with 12 different layers of paper. When it is backlit, the light shines through the windows of the church and the steeple and the snow "glistens".

She created this piece as it reminded her so much of how our own HCC steeple looks at night.

Thanks to Suzanne for sharing this art with us!


We welcome Brad and Carol Robie's new grandson Nico Prioli Rizzo!


The proud grandparents were able to be in California to welcome Nico and help take care of big sister Isla.
Bible Study

Bible Study continues on Fridays in the Davis Room.

We will start at 1:30 to 1:45 or 2:00 depending on how much yakking we do but no later than 2. 

If you need help with the lift to the second floor let Jeanne Stalker know by calling her at 603-770-8515 either beforehand or when you arrive, whichever is easier for you.
Groveland Congregational Church
Taize Meditation Service
Live-Streamed and In-Person
Groveland Congregational Church invites the community to attend the upcoming Taizé candlelight meditation service which will take place on Sunday evening, February 6th at 7:00 PM at the church, 4 King St. in Groveland.

The theme will be trust and hope in God’s loving care for us. During these uncertain times, it is good to take some quiet time to pray and meditate on how we are always held in God’s care.

We will gather in the candlelit sanctuary to listen to scripture, offer petitions, sing simple refrains and enjoy an extended period of silent meditation. Give yourself this gift of peace in God’s presence, with renewed hope for the future.

The service is also live-streamed on the church’s facebook page. If you plan on attending in person, check first with the church’s facebook page to make sure Covid restrictions have not closed the church.
Hampstead Public Library
Pavilion Brick Campaign

The Hampstead Public Library Board of Trustees plans to build a 20 x 40 ft. shingle-roofed, pavilion (similar to Ordway Park) on the front lawn to facilitate outdoor programs and events.

If you would like to consider helping this campaign, you can buy a brick here.
Steeple Lighting
February 1 - February 7


The HCC steeple is being lit for Joshua Janvrin


Lit in loving memory by his family
Missions Opportunities:
Food Drive to Support
Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry

For the next couple of months, we are going to focus on the needs of St. Anne’s Food Pantry. 

The current needs are:
salad dressings
cans of coffee
flour
sugar
containers of grated cheese
ketchup

Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall

Thank you for all your support!
This month we help serve on Wednesday, February 23. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email
janederosa@comcast.net.
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!
Connect on Facebook
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!

Rev. Kathy also has a page for all who are interested to follow.

We are now on Instagram!
If you are on Instagram, please follow us, and let your friends know about us by sharing our posts! Click this link
Scam Emails

Emails 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--she'll address it to your name. She will never ask you for money/gift cards over email.

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

If in doubt, please call the church or send an email to pastorkathyucc@gmail.com.
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 3:00pm

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Hampstead Congregational Church Website