Posts by First Congregational Church Of Westminster, MA (Page 4)
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Thanksgiving Food Collection
Thankfully we have been able to make necessary adjustments to the current new normal, and some things have not changed. Poverty and homelessness still exist. People have lost jobs or had their income reduced resulting in more need for shelters and food pantries. We are fortunate to have the Westminster Community Food Pantry housed in our church. In a recent conversation with Dorcas Hurd, Director of the Westminster Community Food Pantry, she expressed great appreciation for everything our church does…
From The Pastor’s Pen
Have you ever pruned a tree? Have you had the privilege of raising a fruit tree from a mere “stick with roots in the ground” to fruit bearing on to maturity with a well-coiffed top? If you have, there is emotion you are registering in your body when you read these next words…you know it is not easy. If you haven’t, please believe those who have. It is especially not easy in these years of drought or too much rain paired…
October 2022 CE Update
Hi families, Welcome back and Happy Fall! We are off to a great start this year with lots of smiling faces, some old and some new! We will be starting the service together with our church family weekly in the Sanctuary. Children are invited to sit with their families and will experience the beginning of the church service including a special message for all ages before being dismissed to church school. We are asking that parents pick their children up…
Prayer Cards
On Sunday, October 16th, we will be stepping into a new process for requesting and maintaining our prayer list. We will ask that prayer requests be shared through Prayer Cards that can be filled out when you enter the church and placed in a basket in the Narthex on Sunday morning or next to the office on weekdays. The prayer cards will ask for you to identify yourself and a way for us to contact you should we need to double-check…
Staffing Changes
This Tuesday, the leadership of Christian Education and the church staff received a letter from our beloved Christian Education Director. Devon expressed to the congregation that given the current needs of her family and desire to be near her husband as he faces a difficult health diagnosis, she needs to resign from her position. We have known that this might be necessary for her and have wanted to be as supportive as possible in both her life and her ministry…
From The Pastor’s Pen
Mark Edelson reminds the Christian community in We Aren’t Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry, that the church has been doing “mission and money” since its inception in the book of Acts. Amid its many successes have come, if not failure, at least staleness.” When the church faces either, it backs itself into survival mode and protects its assets, at all costs, even to closure—a trend we have been seeing clearly across the country and in this Conference for…
Will You Take a Moment to Consider?
Nominating has begun the search to fill our committee slots. Please prayerfully consider how you can help support our church by joining one of the committees. Contact either Karen Brighenti or Ellen Holmes for more information. DEACONS This group works together to assist the Pastor in the work of the church, including assistance with various aspects of the worship services, and administration of Communion. Deacons perform their tasks along with at least one other person, so there is always support…
Surviving and Thriving
In a season of change As we celebrate survival, and hope, we must also seek ways to thrive in this season of change for our church. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 In the past year, this church experienced a huge change; for many, Pastor Ray’s departure in May clicked into focus the church’s need to reexamine who…
Messages for All Ages
Intergenerational Sundays Beginning in October, our Congregation is returning to a tradition of first Sundays, Communion Sundays, encompassing all ages (with a new name). These services will be celebratory of our church family and embracing of our neighbors. Messages for All Ages will be a little longer with the Reflection being a little shorter with the messages from each being connected and anchored in scripture. Children and teens will be invited to participate in reading, taking the collection, greeting, lighting…
Welcome back to church school!
Hi Families!Welcome back to church school! This year we are excited to start off the year similar to how we were pre-covid! We are going back to the model where children will first be attending the service with their families before being dismissed to church school with the teachers where we will then gather in the lower hall (Covenant Hall) before going to our classes. The first Sunday of the month is going to be Family Sunday.On Family Sunday the…
From The Pastor’s Pen
We are called to bless. “We are called to bless,” from the SALT Project reminds all, who are willing andinspired to click the watch button, what a blessing is. Hammers, backpacks, the cup and bread, waters of Baptism, canned goods, casseroles, pastors, mission trip participants—we ask God to bless all these. We stretch out our hands above our heads and call down the mercy and grace of God. We lift up our voices calling God to bless lands filled with…
June CE Update
Hi Families! Happy Summer! I wanted to first start off by thanking everyone who came to support our children in our annual Children’s day pageant. It was the first one we were able to hold in the last few years due to Covid and it felt so good to be back! Fun fact: The animals that the children used were all created by hand by them to use for our Christmas pageant. If you remember, the Christmas pageant had to…
Help wanted
Virtual Worship Service We are looking for volunteers to assist with the recording, editing, and posting of our Sunday Worship Service. Since its early development, Pastor Ray has continuously improved the process towhere we are today. If you’re comfortable navigating around a couple of websites, the learning curve should be short. The more volunteers the better, as long as each Sunday is covered. If you’re interested, have questions or know of somebody, please let contact me.Thank you for your consideration Doug…
Welcome To Rev. Stacey
The Diaconate is happy to announce that we now have an Interim Pastor to help guide and walk with us along our journey into the next chapter of our church. Please join us in welcoming Rev. Stacey Kullgren to our church family. Rev. Stacey is a long-time member of the United Church of Jaffrey, NH and currently lives in Winchester, NH. As a youth, Stacey became aware that her calling was to be of service to others. Stacey was ordained…
Strawberry Shortcake Booth
The last Town Benefit Day on Academy Hill washeld in 2019. The 2020 and 2021 events werecanceled due to the pandemic.As a form of Christian outreach within our localcommunity, our Church was asked if we would liketo participate in the Town Benefit Day events bysupporting a Strawberry Shortcake Booth, similarto what we had at the old Yankee Street Fairevents.This year’s event runs from 11:00 AM until 5:00PM on Sunday, August 14th. In the past, thestrawberries, biscuits, and whipped cream wereprovided…