A Prayer for Today
Loving God, increase my faith in you. When confronted with the magnitude of the world’s sufferings, give me the grace to trust in the long haul. When besieged by doubt and despair, remind me to look for the small signs of your presence, embedded in the daily details of my life. When tempted toward cynicism and negativity, grace me with a mellow heart, so that I continue to find hope in beauty, love and laughter. In deep faith I pray. Amen.
-- from a Salesian inspiration book
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A Message from Our Staff
Relations Group
In recognition of Pastor Kathy’s dedication to our faith community during these trying times, the Staff Relations Group has advocated for Kathy to have an extra week of vacation time.
This recommendation came to us from the Associate Conference Minister, Rev. Richard Slater, and from ministry support groups of the Rockingham Association and the NH Conference of the United Church of Christ. This request was then approved by Ministry Oversight in acknowledgment of Pastor Kathy’s outstanding ministry to our beloved church.
Along with Kathy's already scheduled vacation week, she will be out of the office July 18-31st.
Many thanks and blessings to Pastor Kathy!
Joann Klawitter: SRG Chair
Members: Jane Conradsen, Fred Malcolm, & Pam Mc Gravey
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Pastor Kathy's Vacation
As noted above, Pastor Kathy will be on vacation starting on Monday, July 18th through Sunday, July 31st.
Rev. David Yasenka is providing pastoral coverage during these dates - we ask that you contact Judy Dobson if a pastoral emergency arises and she will connect with Rev. David Yasenka.
Rev. David Yasenka will celebrate worship with HCC next Sunday, July 24 and the service on Sunday, July 31 will be lay led.
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Worship This Week
Please join us outside
or online at 10am for the
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Please plan to bring a chair.
Coffee hour will be held inside after the service.
We hope you will join us.
The service will be live streamed through Facebook Live here or on 3CX here.
artwork: Abundant Harvest © Mary Southard
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The Video Pastor Kathy
Preached About on Sunday
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This past Sunday I preached about hope and love and generative conversations--conversations in which we are vulnerable and courageous enough to share and listen to one another. I mentioned this video of two pastors who have different beliefs about abortion, but have an incredibly meaningful and loving conversation. I would invite you to watch it and be inspired by their courage.
Pastor Kathy
Here is an excerpt from the Peace and Justice Group's summary of the video:
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.
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The Scripture and Sermon from Sunday
lf you missed Sunday's service, or would like to hear the sermon again, here is the link (or click on the picture). Unfortunately, we were having technical issues, so some of the words are hard to hear.
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2022 Q2 Statements
Today, 7/13 we sent out the 2022 Q2 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.
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Is your garden producing crops you can share? Would you like some?
If you'd like to make a donation from the bounty of your garden, please bring produce items to Hadley Hall when you come for Sunday Service or drop them off anytime in the basket located in the foyer.
Donations for the produce you take can be placed in the offering basket (on Sunday mornings) or in the lockbox in the foyer.
All proceeds go to RIP Medical Debt to help pay off medical debt for those in need.
For every $1 you donate, $100 of medical debt is paid off!!
For more information on RIP Medical Debt, direct donations to the organization, and personal stories by those that have been helped, go to https://ripmedicaldebt.org
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Steeple Lit July 6 - July 19
In memory of Captain Richard Allen Jones by Thom Gregsak
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Office Summer Hours
Office summer hours continue through Thursday, August 25th.
The office will be open from 9AM to Noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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July Birthdays
We are continuing to only list First names and last initial to minimize scamming issues with personal information being shared via electronic documents.
Happy Birthday to:
Kenneth T 7/02
Jonathan C 7/07
Cleo H 7/09
Alanna M 7/12
Rev. Linda S. 7/16
Frank W 7/21
Ginny D 7/31 (who will be 100!!!)
If you would like your birthday recognized, please call the office to make sure we have it in our records!
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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:
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!
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Next volunteer opportunity will be on Wednesday, July 27. 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 Summer Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00am to Noon
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Hampstead Congregational Church Website
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