Hampstead Congregational Church
January 25, 2026
Third Sunday After Epiphany
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
Call to Worship (responsive) Barry Sargent
Leader: Children of God, when fears press in on every
side, we can proclaim with confidence:
People: God is our light and
salvation! Whom shall we fear?
Leader: When our problems overwhelm us and we feel
pressed in on every side, we can declare with confidence:
People: God is the stronghold of our
lives! Of whom shall we be afraid?
Leader: No matter the troubles we face, we seek after
God and to live in the house of God forever.
People: God shelters and protects us
in the day of trouble.
Leader: Come, let us worship God with joy, for God is
our light and salvation!
People: We come to worship as bearers
of the Light. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Invocation (unison) Barry Sargent
Oh God, our light in former times, be our light this day. Help us seek you and behold your beauty. As we go about our usual routines, call us to follow you. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Passing of the Peace of Christ
(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: Ps 27: 1, 4-9, Matt 4: 12-23 (NRSVUE) Barry Sargent
Ps 27: 1, 4-9
1 The Lord is
my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing I asked of the Lord;
this I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.
Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
Matt 4: 12-23
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of
the gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Children’s Message
Sermon: Fishing for People: Horton Center 'Casts' a Wide Welcome
Tivvi Pare, Executive Director for Horton Center
Special Music
Call for Concerns & Celebrations
(Please write joys and concerns on the papers in the baskets in the pews and pass them to an usher. The Congregational Response is: “Hear Our Prayers”)
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
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 Christ, all creatures here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
One God, triune, whom we adore! Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
O Way-Making God, You are the source of every mercy and every new beginning, we give thanks for the gifts gathered here and for the hope you are stirring among us. As you lift burdens from weary shoulders and open paths we could not see before, shape these offerings into acts of healing, deeds of justice, and lives of shared joy. Bless the giving and the givers, that generosity may widen your way and strengthen the communities we touch. With gratitude for all you are doing in us and through us, we dedicate these gifts to the work of compassion you entrust to our care. Amen.
*Hymn of Going Forth: We Come from the Mountain
We come from the mountains, we come from the mountains
Go back to the mountains, turn the world around
We come from the mountains
Go back to the mountains, turn the world around
Go back to the mountains, turn the world around
We come from the water, we come from the water
Go back to the water, turn the world around
We come from the water
Go back to the water, turn the world around
Go back to the water, turn the world around
We come from the fire, we come from the fire
Go back to the fire, turn the world around
We come from the fire
Go back to the fire, turn the world around
Go back to the fire, turn the world around
We come from the sky, we come from the sky
Go back to the sky, turn the world around
We come from the sky
Go back to the sky, turn the world around
Go back to the sky, turn the world around
So we come from the mountains, we come from the water
Go back to the fire, turn the world around.
*Benediction Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin
Go forth bathed in the light and love of God.
Go forth to join with Jesus to proclaim the good news of this love and light.
Go forth empowered by the Spirit to live the Way with courage, conviction, and
joy.
Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.
Announcements:
HCC Annual Meeting - Sunday, February 8th, 10am
Our 273rd Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Hadley Hall following worship. Please attend this vital gathering, as we look back at this past year’s accomplishments and look ahead to God’s call in our congregational life this year. A quorum of members is needed.
The annual report will be e-mailed/mailed to each member family once it's completed.
Please take some time to read the reports and familiarize yourself with the proposed budget for 2026.
Joint Worship on February 8 at Hampstead at 9 am
Hampstead Congregational is having their Annual Meeting following worship on February 8. Since our pastor can’t be at 2 places at once, it has been decided that Atkinson Congregational will join HCC for worship at 9 am.
The service will be followed by a short fellowship time for both churches and then Hampstead will have their Annual Meeting.
New Member Classes
Are you interested in becoming a member of our church or learning more about what church membership is all about? A 3-part New Members class is being organized now. Classes will discuss our faith journeys, the United Church of Christ, and our own local church history and mission.
Use this link to sign up for more information:
https://hampsteadcongregationalchurch.breezechms.com/form/d8583d
Steeple Lighting
Steeple Lighting
Steeple Lit
January 24th
In Loving Memory of
Michael Toohey