Worship Update
We hate to say this, but…
Have you heard…have you noticed? The “C monster” has been steadily but surely moving into our area once again. In our own Rockingham County, the Covid Positivity Rate has jumped from a 2% level to over 16% in the last several months – and that increase doesn’t include the many cases which are discovered via home testing! Local Covid outbreaks are not usually “advertised”, but they DO exist!
As a church that cares deeply about those who worship here, we want to do the “responsible thing”; however, it would be difficult and even painful right now to “walk back” to when ALL Covid protocols had to be in place. We are enjoying the “gathering”…the singing…the coffee hour…and all that makes up our Sunday morning experience! So let’s try this: BABY STEPS!
- Social distancing
- Wearing masks when moving about in the sanctuary…and ESPECIALLY when singing
- Sitting in smaller groups…at smaller tables instead of longer ones during coffee hour
We can DO this! We have done this and far MORE in some of the worst of times! PLEASE do your part! We’re counting on you!
Thank you--
The Worship Team
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Strawberry Festival
Volunteers Needed
Are you ready for some Strawberry Shortcake? Our annual Strawberry Festival is happening soon. If you can help in any way on Friday, 6/3 and/or Saturday, 6/4, it would be greatly appreciated.
Things you can do to help:
Friday: Help with Setup starting at 5PM
Saturday: Help with Games - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
Help with Bake Sale Table - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
Help with Grilling - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
Help with Raffle Table - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
Help with Serving The Shortcake - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
Help with Plant Table - multiple timeslots starting at 8:30AM
Help with Cleanup starting at 3:00PM
You can sign up here 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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In Memoriam
We are saddened to share the news that Harry Santacrose passed into eternal life last Wednesday, 5/11/22.
He will be greatly missed by so many in our congregation and community.
There will be a service held here at HCC on Saturday, May 28th at 11AM.
Please join in praying for Bernice and their family.
May Harry rest in peace and may his memory be a blessing.
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Steeple Lit May 18 – May 24
In celebration and recognition, on May 21 2022, of your 50 years of marriage, Lee and Aurora. With love, cousin Dina
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Worship This Week
Please join us in the sanctuary
or online at 10am for the
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Note that the positivity rate for Covid is again high in our county (over 10%). Please consider following Covid protocols until this latest wave subsides--see the Worship Team update above
Please join us for coffee hour after the service.
The service will be live streamed through Facebook Live here or on 3CX here.
artwork: Being In The Presence of Love © Mary Southard
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Aubrey Lee Zarella Baptism
Sunday, May 15th
Here is a picture of Aubrey Lee Zarella, her parents, godparents and Pastor Kathy from this past Sunday's Celebration of Baptism.
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UCC "One Great Hour of Sharing" Offering Update
Thank you so much for supporting our UCC "One Great Hour of Sharing" special offering held from March 20th to April 3rd. The 2022 OGHS theme was based on the love Paul called the church to in 1 Corinthians 13. Once again, our congregation continued to answer this call and we were able to send an impressive total of $740 to support people in places lacking health and educational resources and/or where disaster has struck.
Thank you, again, for your generosity in supporting the missions work of our local and wider church and always being prepared to answer the call to action in demonstrating God's love and care for our local and global communities!
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UCC Rockingham Association
Gathering
Sunday, May 22 @2pm
We are looking for a few participants from HCC!
You are invited to attend the UCC Rockingham Association Spring Meeting on Sunday, May 22, 2022 on Zoom. Social time will begin at 1:45pm followed by the business meeting at 2pm.
At our Spring meeting we will vote on the slate of nominees. We will be filling four slots. One of the ways you can serve our larger UCC church is by helping out in our Association.
Please prayerfully consider helping serve the larger church as:
Rockingham Association Executive Committee:
-
Moderator - fill out the term that ends 2024
- Treasurer
- Member at Large
or
- Committee on Church and Ministry member
If you are interested in attending, or interested in learning more about the meeting or positions available, please connect with Pastor Kathy. Thanks for your consideration!
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Another Finals Week Care Package Received
Mackenzie Finocchiaro received the "Finals Week Care Package" and sent HCC the following thank you via email.
Hello everyone at HCC!
I received the care package you sent me for my Finals Week at Boston University! Thank you for all the goodies - especially the yummy baked goods!
It means so much that you thought of me and sent this fabulous box of goodies.
I can't believe my "final" final as a BU student is tomorrow and I will be graduating next week.
Wishing you all the best!
Mackenzie Finocchiaro
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A Word from Peace & Justice
A month or so ago we shared an article and WMUR story about the Sacred Quilt Ministry quilts made by parishioners in several NH UCC churches. The quilts will now be on display in the Positive Exposure Gallery in New York City. The gallery is providing in-person and virtual experiences.
From the website:
In partnership with the Sacred Ally Quilt Ministry (SAQM), a 501(c)(3) ministry of the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, the POSITIVE EXPOSURE Gallery will host a series of quilts memorializing the last words of George Floyd, May 22 – June 10, 2022.
Comprised of ten quilts created by quilters from nine United Church of Christ congregations in New Hampshire, SAQM is a living, moving, breathing symbol and graphic reminder of the 400+ year history of racial injustice.
This exhibition is designed to inspire conversations and anti-racist thinking and action, while concurrently developing solidarity.
More information and registration here
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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.
Each week, we will update this section of our Weekly Word with the new link for the current newsletter.
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Food Drive to Support
Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry
The New needs for the Food Pantry are:
canned ravioli (or similar)
coffee
salad dressings
cans of grated cheese
pasta sauce
flour
sugar
Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall
Thank you for all your support!
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Next volunteer opportunity will be on Wednesday, May 25. If you are interested in volunteering contact Jane DeRosa via email
janederosa@comcast.net.
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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.
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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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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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If you are on Instagram, please follow us, and let your friends know about us by sharing our posts! Click this link
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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 call the church or send an email to pastorkathyucc@gmail.com.
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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 Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to 3:00pm
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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