June 22nd Weekly Word
A Note from the Pastor

This note first appeared in last week's Weekly Word--but it is just as true this week, so I'll say it again!

As you scroll through this Weekly Word, notice how many wonderful ways our congregation has been active and vibrant in our community and world recently.
You are amazing!
I'm in awe of the passion, dedication, and commitment of congregation to live out our mission. The number of hours you give and myriad ways you volunteer humble me.

It is worth taking a moment to recognize and rejoice in the ways we are making a real difference in our community and world!

Thank you for being a part this faith community and living out the gospel. May God's Spirit continue to enliven and inspire us--

Pastor Kathy
Worship This Week
Being Held Outside
Behind the Church

Please join us outside
or online at 10am
Third Sunday After Pentecost

Plan on bringing your own chair!

Please join us for coffee hour after the service.

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

July's Communion Sunday will be July 10th due to Pastor Kathy being on vacation July 3rd.

artwork:Butterflies © Mary Southard
Hampstead Congregational Church
Recognized on 2 Facebook Pages

HCC was recognized on the New Hampshire Food Bank & the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Facebook pages for the ways we have helped their organizations. See Facebook posts below.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Many thanks to our members who volunteered for several years making blankets and layettes for Neighbors Helping Newborns (NHN). The blankets and layettes were donated to area hospitals for newborns.

Due to Covid, people could no longer meet, hospital demand for the blankets/layettes was down and with increasing costs of storage and insurance, NHN could no longer maintain a sustainable organization and unfortunately dissolved in August of 2021. You can read the story on NHN's decision to dissolve here.

NHN distributed their remaining monies to other organizations that had supported them throughout the years. HCC received $1,022. We decided to donate the entire amount to the organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit that makes beds for foster children. Our donation went to the Rochester, NH chapter and they were very thankful and posted their appreciation on their Facebook page (see below).

To learn more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace check out their website here.
Out of Office
Pastor Kathy Vacation


Pastor Kathy will be on vacation starting Monday, June 27 returning on Tuesday, July 5. Rev. Jim Thomas of Atkinson Congregational Church will be providing pastoral coverage during these dates.  Rev. David Yasenka will celebrate worship with HCC on July 3.

Communion for July will be celebrated on July 10.
Office Summer Hours

Office summer hours will start on Monday, June 27th and continue through Thursday, August 25th.

The office will be open from 9AM to Noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Upper Room Devotional



We have copies of the July/August Upper Room devotional available in the foyer to Hadley Hall. If you need a copy mailed to you, please contact the main office.
Strawberry Festival Recap & Thanks

Once again, thanks to everyone’s support, our annual Strawberry Festival was a tremendous success.

As a matter of fact, the festival was record breaking both financially and in community participation! Once the doors opened, there was a steady flow of people enjoying this greatly anticipated community event.

Thanks to all who volunteered whether you were setup/cleanup, baked goodies, donated a raffle, donated plants or assisted at different stations during the day. The fundraising team greatly appreciates your continued support. (And many thanks to our fundraising team!!)

Enjoy these pictures from the event.
graduate
Congratulations To Our Graduates!

The Discipleship Team would like to recognize the following students in honor of their achievements:

Evan Kuhl graduated from Pinkerton Academy and will attend Bentley University in the fall.

Vincent McGravey graduated from Timberlane Middle School and will attend Timberlane High School in the fall.

Peter Tinker graduated from the University of Washington.

Mackenzie Finocchiaro graduated from Boston University.
Bible Study New Day, New Time, & New Location

Bible study has a new day, time, and venue. Meetings are Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM.

We are now meeting at Jane Conradsen's home. If you need the address, you can contact Jane or the church office.

The group study is the gospel of John. All are invited!
A Word from Peace & Justice

We found a video from Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CT called Brave Conversations: Abortion. The video was well worth watching for a number of reasons. Mainly for us, it modeled how people with different views on a controversial topic can listen and better understand each other’s position. It was not about changing minds or debating the issue; it was all about listening to and better understanding each other. Secondarily, the speakers articulated their beliefs and how they arrived there in quite compelling ways that gave listeners a lot to think about and consider.

The video is 1 hour 22 minutes long, but the conversation was so personal and authentic that the time flew by. The conversation was between two pastors at the church, Tracy Mehr-Muska and Jordan Rebjolz, who have different views on abortion. They began by sharing the personal experiences that formed their individual beliefs. They shared Biblical references to pregnancy and personhood and how those words influence their thinking. Both spoke of Micah 6:8 as foundational to them as they consider mercy and justice for women and children and that justice in this context is multifaceted. This discussion was the core of the conversation and both brought the conversation to some really profound places. They ended by talking about the role public opinion should play in policy-making on abortion rights.
The closing was a list of “take-aways” they had from preparing for and participating in this conversation.

● Don’t assume you know someone’s story; most issues are not binary.
● Don’t be afraid of conversation.
● Start from a place of love and respect.
● Have curiosity about the issue; be willing to look at all aspects of it.
● Find and give a safe space to get and share information.

These are great tenets from which to start any conversation on a difficult topic and the video above is well worth your time.

Your Peace & Justice Group



Steeple Lit Now – June 25

In Memory of Rev. Bob Dobson By His Loving Family
Music
From Our Music Director - Herb Tardiff

Johann Sebastian Bach was truly a phenomenal composer and performer. He managed to write music for every Sunday and traveled to three churches the same day. Each of his compositions was very different from any others and they often depended on available musicians.
One of his most revered compositions is the “Prelude and Fugue in D minor” for organ. If you want to hear a rather ambitious arrangement of this piece, google Youtube “Canadian Brass Quintet plays Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in D minor.”
The Sanctuary Looks Fabulous
After Being Painted! Thanks to the Operations Team for Making it Happen.
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.
Missions Opportunities:
Food Drive to Support
Saint Anne Ecumenical Food Pantry




The New needs for the Food Pantry are:

rice/rice pilaf, ketchup, mustard, Raisin Bran, Cheerios, Special K, salad dressings, coffee.

Please drop off any donations in the foyer of Hadley Hall

Thank you for all your support!
Next volunteer opportunity will be on Wednesday, July 27. 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!

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 & 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.
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
Hampstead Congregational Church Website