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Discover Creative Ways to Celebrate a Simple Holiday Season

Williamstown, MA - Craft puppets, celebrate the season in verse, and sing and drum yourself silly! Or, just watch! The First Congregational Church of Williamstown, Massachusetts, invites the public to their free event “Give Christmas a-Way: Preparing a Simple Season” from 11:45 am-3 pm on Sunday, November 22.

The expense, frantic pace, and over-commercialization of the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas takes a toll on everyone – whether or not you belong to a church, or even identify yourself as a Christian.  This intergenerational event is designed to offer a positive, inexpensive, and just plain fun Way to create a simpler, more home-centered holiday season. 

Following the 10:30 service of worship, everyone is invited to a delicious, simple luncheon in Fellowship Hall from 11:45 am-12:15 pm. If you would like to come for lunch, please call 413-458-4273 or e-mail office@firstchurchwilliamstown.org and let us know so that we will be sure to have plenty for all!

Throughout the day, the building will be filled with the wonderful aroma of the pumpkin pies we bake every year for the Berkshire Food Project’s Thanksgiving meal. There will be opportunities to join in the baking, and to buy slices of pie to benefit the Berkshire Food Project. There will also be a corner for younger children to make simple crafts throughout the day with local artist Beth Parker.

During three activity sessions starting at 12:15, 1 and 2 pm there will be workshops and performances in puppetry, poetry, and music designed for all ages. Meredyth Babcock and Michael Wolski of Becket-based Marmalade Productions will present a performance of “Dr. Marmalaid and The Emerge-and-See Wagon” and offer a puppetry workshop.  Teens and adults will love composing their own limericks with local poet and humor columnist Seth Brown. Become your own Epic Poem! And Strings of Glory and Friends will help everyone find new notes to express holiday cheer with voices, instruments, and drums.

The First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is located at 906 Main Street (Route 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in the middle of the Williams College campus.  The building is fully handicap accessible and ample parking is available behind the church.  Everyone is welcome.  The First Congregational Church is a Just Peace Church and an Open & Affirming Congregation. For more information call or e-mail the church office 413-458-4273 or office@firstchurchwilliamstown.org, or visit the church Web site www.firstchurchwilliamstown.org.

St. John's Hosts Halloween Party, Takes Xmas Cookie Orders

North Adams, MA - St. John's Episcopal Church is hosting an entertaining Halloween Party on Sunday, October 25, from 2-4 pm. The party will be held in the parish hall adjacent to the church and is being organized by Tammy LaValley and Debi Ciempa. Call 413.664.965.

During the month of October, the Outreach Committee of St. John's Church will take orders for fresh Christmas wreaths and swags. Call 413.664.9656

Blessing of the Animals October 4 at St. John's, Williamstown

Williamstown, MA - St. John’s Episcopal Church, Williamstown, invites the public to a Blessing of Animals during a simple service of Evensong at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 4th.

All creatures great and small will be welcomed to take their places in and among the pews, which make excellent corrals for animal companions.  Dogs should be on leashes, and cats in carriers.  Participants who wish to remember a deceased pet may bring a photo or keepsake for that purpose.

The music ensemble Wintergreen will be guest musicians at this service.  The folk trio of Larry and Alice Spatz and Jared Polens performs a mixture of traditional and contemporary folk music from Britain and America on a variety of instruments including hammered dulcimer, guitar, mandolin, psaltery, and bass.

A free-will offering will be received for the fund for strays and wild animals at Greylock Animal Hospital.

St. John’s is located at 35 Park Street, and is wheelchair accessible.  Information: 413-458-8144.

Kirkin' o' the Tartans at St. John's June 7

North Adams, MA - The 10 am service on June 7 at St. John’s Church will be rife with music and pageantry as the church celebrates its Scottish roots with the “Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans” ceremony. Call 413.664.9656.

Bernice Lewis Presents Multi-media Yom Hashoah Program April 19

North Adams, MA - Congregation Beth Israel member Bernice Lewis will present a multi-media Yom Hashoah program on Sunday April 19 at 6 pm in the synagogue at 53 Lois Street. Call 413.663.5830.

WILLIAMS LABYRINTH AVAILABLE FOR LENTEN WALKING MEDITATION APRIL 7-10

Williamstown, MA - During January of 2005, about two dozen members of the Williams College community helped to create a 36-foot portable canvas labyrinth which is a replica of the one at Chartres. This is an eleven-circuit design divided into four quadrants.

Several times each semester, for several days at a time, the labyrinth is spread out and available free of charge to the whole community for many kinds of meditative use.  This Lent it will be available in the Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church from 7 am-3:30 pm Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8, and from 7 am-7 pm on Maundy Thursday, April 9, and Good Friday, April 10.

The labyrinth is an ancient device for walking meditation. While many find walking the Labyrinth a spiritual experience, it has no direct ties to any specific faith community and can be enjoyed by people of all faiths as well as by those who feel no affiliation with any organized religion. Though one of its most familiar manifestations is engraved in the stone floor of the 13th century nave of Chartres cathedral near Paris, France, it has pre-Christian roots in many cultures, and people have been walking the convoluted path to the center and back again for countless centuries.

The labyrinth looks like a maze – but you can’t get lost! The beautifully complex path always leads faithfully to the center, and then always back out again to the waiting world. During your labyrinth walk you will meander through each of the four quadrants several times as you wend your way to the center and back out.

There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth and for most people no two labyrinth walks are alike. Most people need about 20 or 30 minutes for a gentle, reflective walk to the center and then back out again – though it’s possible to stretch the journey longer, or to linger in the center. Adults usually enjoy walking slowly along the winding path, while children often run or skip.

Any preparation, any kind of mindfulness that's helpful to you and nourishing to your inner life before walking the labyrinth, is appropriate and welcome.  You will find printed sheets with suggestions on how to structure your walk and be asked to remove your shoes to protect the canvas.
A journal is available wherever and whenever the labyrinth is set up for walkers to write in or enjoy reading what others have written. One walker poignantly wrote: “Thanks for a calm place in the storm.”

The First Congregational Church is located at 906 Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The building is fully handicap accessible and parking is available behind the church off of Chapin Hall Drive.  For more information on the Williams College Labyrinth call the Chaplain’s office at 413-597-2483

WHLH Presents Program on the History of St. Raphael Church

Williamstown, MA:  Sunday, March 15th, starting at 2pm, the Williamstown House of Local History is presenting the third free public program in its monthly local history series:  "The History of St. Raphael Church".  The program takes place at the Williamstown Milne Public Library, located on Main Street, across from the Williams Inn.  For more information contact WHLH at 413-458-2160, or visit their website at www.williamstownhistory.com.

The program will cover the substantial impact of this local Catholic icon on the surrounding community, including family stories and photographs of the building's long life.  The program is presented by local history enthusiasts, and long-time parish members, Arthur and Jean Lafave.

Arthur Lafave was born in 1942, in Williamstown, and lived on Arnold Street most of his life until his marriage to Jean on July 4, 1964, at St. Raphael.  His wife Jean Smythe Lafave was born in 1944 in Ellenburg, NY, about 5-6 miles from the French Canadian border.  She moved to Williamstown in 1961.  Jean became the St. Raphael bookkeeper in 1966 and worked at the church, even when it became a merged parish, for 22 years until her retirement in 2006.

Williamstown Church Postpones Posada to December 18

Williamstown, MA - Due to the ongoing inclement weather, the First Congregational Church of Williamstown has decided to postpone their family Posada celebration, originally scheduled for December 11, till Thursday, December 18 at 4:30 pm. All generations are invited to participate in this Mexican tradition – a singing pilgrimage in search of shelter for the Holy Family.

The church is also planning a special outdoor living crêche with live animals at the conclusion of the 10:30 am service on Sunday, December 21.

The First Congregational Church is an Open & Affirming and a Just Peace congregation located at 906 Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown, MA. The building is fully handicap accessible and parking is available behind the church off of Chapin Hall Drive. Call 413-458-4273 or e-mail Office@firstchurchwilliamstown.org for more information.

St John's, North Adams, Offers Blue Christmas Service December 16

North Adams, MA - The community is invited to a Blue Christmas Worship Service at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Tuesday, December 16 at 7pm. A Blue Christmas Service is offered to those who find the holiday season difficult.

The joy of the season is proclaimed on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, but many people are reminded of what they have lost—or never had. For some, Christmas is a time that has always been difficult. For others, it may be the first Christmas without a beloved family member. It may be a time of grief and stress from a broken relationship, the weariness of ill health, the insecurity of unemployment, or the struggle with an addiction.

It is important to remember at this season that God does not begrudge sadness. The Holy Scriptures and church history have shown that God does not demand smiles from us—not even at Christmas. God, through Christ, seeks to bind up our wounds and heal broken hearts.

If you, or someone you know, yearn for understanding and peace in the midst of celebrating and spending, St. John’s Blue Christmas Service offers God’s word to give light to your darkness.

Everyone, regardless of church background – or lack of it – is welcome to attend St. John’s Blue Christmas Service. A brief time for light refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. St. John’s is wheelchair accessible, and offers plenty of free, convenient parking adjacent to the church. For more information please call St. John’s Church office at 413-664-9656.

Markham to Speak on "Fundamentalism & Modern Science" December 4

North Adams, MA - On Thursday December 4 at the North Adams Public Library, the program “Fundamentalism and Modern Science” is free and open to the public and will feature local author R.E. Markham. Program held at 6:30 pm. Call 413.662.3133.