November 17th Weekly Word
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Advent Booklets Available
Advent begins next Sunday, November 28th.
We have a wonderful daily Advent devotional booklet available to anyone who wants one. Those who used this resource last Advent loved it!
This Living Compass devotional focuses on practicing patience 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.
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Advent Discussion Groups
As we did for Advent and Lent this past year, there will be two weekly discussion groups based on the Advent devotional booklet.
Groups will meet on Monday evenings at 6:30 on Zoom and Tuesday mornings at 10:30 on Zoom and/or in person. We will begin meeting the week of December 6th and will meet for four weeks.
If you are interested, pick up a devotional and contact Pastor Kathy to sign up.
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Hampstead Thanksgiving Service
For over twenty years, local clergy and congregations have gathered at the old meeting house for a town Thanksgiving service with the offering going to benefit Isaiah 58. Due to Covid, the service was moved online last year. It will also be held on Zoom this year. The service is at 4pm this Sunday, November 21st.
All are welcome to attend. To attend, click here
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Worship This Week
Please join us in the sanctuary or online at 10am for the
Reign of Christ Sunday
As we pledge in our covenant, we recommend 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.
We hope you will join us!
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Pastor Kathy Vacation
Pastor Kathy will be out on vacation starting Monday, 11/22 returning on Monday, 11/29.
Linda Lea Snyder will preside at worship next Sunday, 11/28.
If you have a pastoral need during this time, you can contact the Rev. Dr. Deborah Roof from First Parish Church in Derry at 603-434-0628
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Scripture and Sermon
from November 14th
Did you miss this beautiful sermon from this past Sunday? Or maybe you want to listen to it again. It focuses on the growing contempt in our culture and our challenging call to love.
Click here to watch, or click on the picture. |
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Greens Workshop
Come create items for the craft fair while having fun with friends!
When: Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 6:30pm
Where: 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. 4 at the Christmas Craft Fair.
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Missions Christmas Gift Drive
Now - December 12th
The Missions Team will be holding our annual Christmas Gift Drive through December 12th.
This year we are partnering with the Manchester Diaper Pantry and Makeover Ministries. These organizations work to provide area families with diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, and various baby and household items.
The Diaper Pantry's wish list this year includes:
- Pack and Play cribs - new or gently used - (Amazon & Walmart both have Graco brand cribs listed for $40)
- Strollers - new or gently used (any type or size including inexpensive umbrella strollers)
- Boys clothes (sizes 6-12) - new or gently used
- Diapers (all sizes)
- Baby Wipes
All donated items should be UNWRAPPED, and can be left in the foyer or outside the Church Office. If you would prefer to make a monetary donation, checks can made out to HCC and designated "Missions Christmas Drive 2021" on the memo line.
As always, thank you for so generously supporting our church mission activities and making the holidays brighter for some local families!
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Christmas Baskets for Nursing Homes
Collecting now thru December 15th
Discipleship will be delivering Christmas Baskets to two nursing homes, Colonial Poplin in Fremont and Pleasant Valley in Derry.
We are asking for donations of individually wrapped candy, and signed Christmas cards for both the nursing home residents and the staff.
Items can be left in the foyer now thru December 15th. Baskets will be delivered on December 18.
Thank you for your donations.
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Blue Christmas Service
Sunday, December 12th
We will be offering a Blue Christmas Service of Remembrance, Comfort, and Hope on Sunday, December 12th at 3 pm in person and online.
For so many of us, the holiday season is a time of conflicting emotions. Given the unprecedented grief and loss that we are living through now, we want to provide an opportunity to reflect and come together, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles.
Please spread the word and join us for a contemplative service of prayer, scripture and music. The service will also be live streamed and recorded.
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It's Back - The Christmas Craft Fair!
Save the Date: December 4, 2021
9AM - 3PM
HELP WANTED
The crafters are all ready to go. We are completely booked. Now 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:
- Provide baked goods;
- Donate raffle items;
- Make a batch of soup;
- Man tables at the event;
- Set up the night before and/or break down after the event;
- Put out signs around town starting on 11/20 advertising the event;
- Attend and invite others to attend.
You can sign up at church, contact Barbara Wallack at bsw91@comcast.net or call her at 603-548-8326
Let’s make this the best Christmas Fair ever.
As always, thank you for your support.
Your Fundraising Team
Lora Manning, Ellen McCune, Barbara Wallack, Roxanne McGaffigan, Nancy Cheyne
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Steeple Lighting
November 14 - November 27
May
The Steeple light
That shines so bright
In the darkest
Of the night
Bring comfort, caring,
Celebration & delight
This November
In loving memory of Harry Mildonian Jr. by his wife Marcy and children Matt & Amanda
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Outdoor Coffee Hour
The Worship Team is doing its best to continue to provide our congregation with in-person worship and a chance for connection and conversation.
Given the continuing high rates of Covid in our area, it is not prudent to hold coffee hour indoors at this time. So—we are planning to continue to offer an outdoor coffee hour as long as it is possible.
If there is inclement weather, coffee hour will be cancelled that week. Please plan to bundle up (we are hearty New Englanders after all!) and join each other outside for a warm drink, tasty snacks, and good conversation.
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This month we help serve on Wednesday, November 24 . If you are interested in volunteering this month, please sign up here.
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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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Clothing Drive to Support
Epilepsy Foundation and HCC
Now Thru November 23rd
The Fundraising and Missions Teams have joined together to host a Clothing Drive Fundraiser to support Epilepsy Foundation New England (EFNE) and also raise funds for our church.
Simply clean out your closet and ask your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same. You will be decluttering, recycling, and doing good all at the same time!
Clothing drives account for more than 50% of the EFNE budget so they can really use our help. We in turn get paid for every pound of clothes we collect!
Wondering how much can be raised through used clothing? Global Goods Foundation raised $650 for community-based projects. Weare Middle School raised a whopping $6,700 for their 8th grade class trip. And thanks to Barbara Dennis, we already have 191 pounds of clothing donated to us from the Hampstead Library Thrift Store.
What are we looking for? First and foremost, all items must be clean and in good condition. They include the following:
• Clothing
• Outerwear
• Footwear (shoes, boots, heels, etc.)
• Accessories (belts, socks, ties, scarves, hats, etc.
• Backpacks and handbags
• Costumes & dress-up clothes
• Household fabrics (bedding, sofa covers, tablecloths, towels, etc.)
Please place items in trash bags and leave them in the foyer of Hadley Hall at your convenience now thru the 23rd of November. If you have a large quantity of bags, contact Barbara Wallack at 603-548-8326, and she will do her best to pick them up.
As always, we thank you for your support--
Fundraising Team and Mission Team
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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!
Rev. Kathy also has a page for all who are interested to follow.
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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
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.
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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
See what's happening on our social sites
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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