Hampstead Congregational Church UCC

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Hampstead Congregational Church

October 19, 2025

Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost

No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,

You are Welcome Here!

Order of Worship

Prelude                                                                                                               Herb Tardiff  

Greetings and Announcements                                                                       Judy Dobson      

Call to Worship (responsive)                                                                            Brad Robie

One:    Hope is an easy word to say, but how can we help make hope real for the hopeless?

Many:  We pray for the sight to see hope where there is despair.

One:     We pray for faith in what we hope for, even when we cannot see it.

Many:  We pray for the Light of Christ to guide our lives and bring hope to our struggling world.

All:       Let us worship our God who brings light and hope to all. Amen.

Gathering Prayer   (unison)                                                                              Brad Robie

Gracious and Holy God,

You have blessed us with life, light and love. In Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, we have new life and new hope. May that hope, life, and light shine through all we say and do as we praise you, this day and always.

Amen.

Passing of the Peace of Christ                                                                            Rev. Debbie Gline Allen

(Feel free to pass the peace by shaking hands, offering hugs or waves.  Those who would like to share peace without physical contact are invited to place their hands over their hearts in greeting.)

*Opening Hymn:  

Scripture Readings: Genesis 1:1-5 & John 1:1-5  (NRSVUE)                           Brad Robie

Genesis 1:1-5  

1 When God began to create the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

Children’s Message:  Hymn NC#524: This Little Light of Mine 

Sermon: "Hope and Light"                                                  Rev. Debbie Gline Allen

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

Pastoral Prayer                                                                       Rev. Debbie Gline Allen

     The Lord’s Prayer:

     Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Call to Offering

*Doxology:        Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
                           Praise God, all creatures here below;
                           Praise God above, you heavenly host:
                           One God, Triune whom we adore.

*Prayer of Dedication                                                             Rev. Debbie Gline Allen

Gracious God, 

we bring these, our offerings, to you: offerings of what we have and of what we are. Bless these gifts, that they may be used to show your love and care for all people. And bless us, as we commit ourselves to following your Light through Jesus, the Light of the World.

Amen.

*Hymn of Going Forth:

*Benediction                                                                Rev. Debbie Gline Allen                  

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.

Rev. Debbie Gline Allen has previously served as a Minister of Faith Formation for the Southern New England Conference and New Hampshire Conference (UCC) where she administrated faith formation training programs for local church lay leaders and clergy. She also has served in five United Church of Christ congregations, as a Minister of Christian Education. Debbie lives in Derry, New Hampshire with her spouse, two sons, and beloved cat.

Announcements:

Volunteers Needed for Shrub Removal -- We are looking for several volunteers to help remove the old shrubs out front on Friday 10/24 at 2pm and Saturday 10/25 at 9am. Our goal is to cut them down on Friday and remove the debris on Saturday.

If you can help, please contact Dave Chin or the office and let us know!