Community Events
Join Us!
About our Events
Since March, 2020 when COVID-19 guidelines were first established, we have chosen to remain socially distant as we continue to maintain a strong sense of being socially connected. While we are temporarily refrained from hosting Sunday Service in-person, we encourage everyone to join us through our online communities on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribing to our weekly Brookside Bridge eNewsletter.
Our Reopening Task Force and the Christian Formation ministry have been working hard to develop plans and protocols to ensure the safety of the entire Brookside community as we consider how to safely worship in the Sanctuary and how to reopen our building. The health and well-being of everyone in our community is paramount. We are relying on the guidelines published by the CDC, the Governor’s Economic Reopening Task Force, the New Hampshire Conference of the United Church of Christ, the UCC Insurance Board, and experiences of churches nationwide.
Please contact us during business hours with any questions or concerns.
A Message from our Church Minister and Church Moderator:
We can trust that God accompanies us in the most uncertain and insecure times. Our faith upholds this promise. And Jesus preaches constantly about God’s love for human beings in all situations and at all times. Please consider these words from Psalm 46:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Come behold the works of God: “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” God of hosts is with us; God of Jacob is our refuge.”
With love and deep blessings, Rev. Laura and Dale Trombley
Spring Concert & Ice Cream Social
Brookside Congregational Church often hosts a spring concert with an ice cream social that is open to the public
The 10th annual Bronze, Brass & Brookside Concert featured the Brookside choirs and the New Hampshire Brass.
Brookside’s Minister of Music, Kim Whitehead hosts inspiring concerts. Come out, bring the family and enjoy an afternoon of music and ice cream.
The ice cream is graciously donated by the Puritan Backroom.
Suggested donation for the event is $10.
Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner
The Brookside Youth Group hosts a traditional corned beef & cabbage dinner as a fundraiser on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the fellowship hall of the church with take-out and curbside pickup available. Proceeds of the event supports the mission work of the youth group.
Cost is $10 for adults and $7 for kids (12 and under), $30 max per family.
Brookside Holiday Lights
Each year Brookside presents a community light display during the month of December on the grounds of the church and everyone is welcome to participate!
Partnering again with The New England Holiday Light Company, Brookside Church invites everyone to contribute to the community holiday light display. You can donate a strand or strands of lights or even a family light tree in honor or memory of loved ones, those we’ve lost, those we pray for, or those we adore.
A single strand or strands of lights (with one name per strand) can be donated for $25 each. Or, you can donate a light tree for an entire family or a group of four or more names. The names of those honored or remembered will be a part of the display on the grounds of Brookside Church located at 2013 Elm St. in the North End of Manchester. Names will also be on our website throughout the month of December and gift acknowledgment cards are available and make great holiday gifts.
Donate now at https://www.brooksideholidaylights.com/.
If you prefer to pay with a check, you can download the form here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q3n3JEq4124w4cAJNuJ2AVmx7Z-zKl3P/view to print and mail in along with your check made out to Brookside Church. Please be sure to include the name of your loved one(s) and send to: Brookside Congregational Church at 2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03104. For more information contact the church at (603) 669-2807.
Holiday Light Nights
Come walk in the light this Christmas season at Brookside Church at our outdoor, socially distanced light nights on Saturdays Dec. 11 and 18 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. These light nights provide an opportunity to view thousands of lights in honor and memory of loved ones, enjoy some live entertainment, and grab some home cooked food and sweet treats to go. Walk in the light tunnel, take some magical holiday photos with a glimmering backdrop, and stroll through the light forest path to various fun activities.
Christmas at the Brook
Christmas at the Brook is a traditional New England craft fair hosted annually by Brookside Church that features local crafters, artisans, delicious food, entertainment and more.
Typically held at the end of November, Christmas at the Brook is a festive and fun day where you can explore one-of-kind, handmade treasures from more than 45 vendors featuring New Hampshire-made jewelry artisans, cards, books by local authors, quilts, handmade soaps, balms and lotions; painted glassware, alpaca wool scarves, hand-knit mittens and hats, prints, photography, American girl doll clothes, fairy houses, wreaths, wagon-wheel rugs, ornaments, bags and purses, hot sauces, chocolates, dog treats, pet toys, and so much more.
In addition to shopping, fair-goers can fill a container with their favorite varieties of fresh baked cookies in the Cookie Walk. Baked goods will be available for sale all day including Brookside's sought-after apple and pecan pies, quick breads, brownies, and many other delicious sweet and savory items. Gluten free options are also available.
Lunch is also served featuring soul-warming bowls of soup or chili served with fresh bread. Vegetarian options and take-out containers are available all day.
Various entertainment along with Santa Claus can be enjoyed throughout the day and face painting and other crafts are a highlight for kids.
Two-dollar admission to the fair buys visitors their first raffle tickets for chances to win a cash door prize and some of the most impressive raffle baskets of the season.
Living Nativity
Each year, Brookside presents a Living Nativity that tells the Christmas story with actors and animals recreating the scene in Bethlehem those many years ago. Ancient scriptures are read and songs are sung to bring the story to life.
The animals participating in the living nativity are from Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, NH. The event is free and open to the public.
