greylocknews

Come Laugh With God and the Williamstown Ecumenical Association on April 1

Williamstown, MA - At 7 pm on Tuesday, April 1 the Williamstown Ecumenical Association is bringing the Rev. Neil Gastonguay, pastor of the United Methodist Church in Bath, Maine, to the First Congregational Church of Williamstown to speak on Holy Humor.  The talk is preceded by a potluck supper at 6 pm in the Church’s Fellowship Hall. We will find in our ability to laugh together a common bond that will unite us in our identity and mission as Christians. Both events are free of charge and open to the public. Come and join us!

“Laughter is very unifying. We’re going to look at some humor in the bible and go from there to look at humor in the church, ultimately finding joy in being a Christian,” Gastonguay explained in a phone interview when asked how he planned to present Holy Humor to an ecumenical audience. “I love to laugh! What draws me to it is the knowledge of God’s saving love, which makes me very happy. In a world in which there is so much struggle economically and militarily there is a need to find joy and relief.”

Reverend Gastonguay graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary's Course of Study School, and has a lifelong interest in finding joy in Christian living.  He doesn’t speak specifically on humor very often, but it is an essential part of the preaching ministry in which he has been engaged for 15 years. In the last two churches he has served, parishioners have commented: "Since you have been here, we have gotten our laughter back."  Gastonguay and his wife Lisa have been married for 30 years, and that's no laughing matter.  Their two sons don't think he's funny at all.

The Williamstown Ecumenical Association (WEA) was established in the late 1970’s with the purpose of uniting the Christian Churches in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and the Williams College Chaplaincy, in affirming their common heritage in its diverse expressions: by united worship, by shared study, and through shared ministries in the community.  In addition the clergy and lay representatives of the WEA strive toward a greater understanding of all organized religions and an active openness to working with people of all faiths in important acts of compassion within the community and the wider world.

The current members of the WEA are: The Community Bible Church, the First Baptist Church, the First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ, the First United Methodist Church, the Parish of St. Patrick and Raphael, St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Second Congregational Church, the White Oaks Congregational Church, and the Williams College Chaplaincy.

The First Congregational Church is a Just Peace and an Open and Affirming Church, 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 WEA Holy Humor event or any other events at the Church call 413-458-4273 or e-mail fcc.willi@verizon.net

Jazz Palm Sunday Worship Service at North Adams Congregational Church

North Adams, MA - The First Congregational Church at 134 Main Street will present the Jazz Palm Sunday Worship Service, March 16th at 10:00 AM, in the assembly hall. Call 413-663-9940.

Evensong for Peace at St. John's March 9

North Adams, MA - St. John’s Episcopal Church will hold its monthly alternative worship service on Sunday, March 9 at 5:30 PM. The theme of the service is ‘An Evensong for Peace.’ For more information please call the church office at 413-664-9656.

Jazz Worship at 1st Congregational Church February 17

North Adams, MA - The First Congregational Church of North Adams, United Church of Christ at 134 Main Street announces that 10a.m. Sunday Morning Worship will flow in the rhythm of Jazz on the 3rd Sunday of each month, for the next three months.

This Sunday, February 17, will kick off this series of services. Jazz musicians taking part are Musci Director, Scott Bailey, Bobby Marshall, drums and Chris Caproni on trombone. The morning's anthem will be offered by the First Congregational Church choir.

The theme for worship will be "The Ryhthm of Hospitality", with the reflection on scripture by Steven Alspach, Interim Pastor. The service takes place in the assembly hall of the church followed by coffee hour and fellowship. Please enter through the Summer Street doors. "Visitors are Expected" at the First Congregational Church. Call 413-663-9940.

St. John’s Episcopal Church Offers Soup Lunches During Lent

North Adams, MA - St. John’s Episcopal Church will offer a bread and soup lunch at noon on Fridays during Lent in their parish hall. The community is invited to lunch and fellowship, starting Friday, February 8. St. John’s will also offer an alternative worship service on Sunday, February 10 at 5:30 pm. For more information about either event please call 413-664-9656.

Richard Ford to Lead Lenten Series at First Congregational Church

Williamstown, MA - On Wednesday evenings, starting February 6, and for approximately eight weeks Richard Q. Ford will lead an adult Lenten study series entitled “Eclipsing Empire: Paul, Rome, and the Kingdom of God" at the First Congregational Church of Williamstown.  There will be a potluck supper from 6-7 p.m.; followed by the DVD presentation and discussion from 7-8:15 p.m.

Created by preeminent New Testament scholars Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan on location in Turkey, this 12- session DVD, filmed in High-Definition across Turkey, Greece, and Italy, and web-based study explores fresh insights into Paul’s message of the Kingdom of God, its challenge to Roman imperial theology, and the apostle’s radical relevance for today as it traces the Apostle’s footsteps throughout the Roman Empire. Participant Guide written by John Dominic Crossan. .

Schedule:

Wed., Feb 6: I Empire, II Jesus.

Wed., Feb. 13, III Mission, IV Character.

Wed. Feb. 20: V Vocation, VI Cities.

Wed., Feb 27:VII Letters, VIII Ethics.

Wed., March 2: IX Theology, X Eschatology.

Wed., March 9: XI Icons, XII Eclipse.

The First Congregational Church is located at 906 Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown.  The church is fully handicap accessible and parking is available behind the building off of Chapin Hall Drive.  For more information call the church office 413-458-4273 between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. weekdays, or e-mail fcc.willi@verizon.net.

A Blue Christmas Service at St. John's December 18

North Adams, MA - St. John’s Episcopal Church offers a Blue Christmas worship service on Tuesday, December 18, 7:00 PM, as an opportunity for people to come into the presence of God, acknowledge their grief, despair, and loneliness and give it to God. Worshipers and non-worshipers alike are welcome to attend. A brief time for light refreshments and fellowship will follow. For more information please call St. John’s Church office at 413-664-9656.

North County Christmas December 16

North Adams, MA - The First Congregational Church of North Adams, United Church of Christ, at 134 Main Street North Adams, will host their Twenty-Sixth annual North County Christmas celebration on Sunday, December 16th at 4:00 PM. Call 413663-9940.

Living Nativity on Monument Square Decemeber 14, 21 & 24

North Adams, MA - On Friday, December 14, Friday, December 21 and on Christmas Eve,  take some time to view the Living Nativity scene, as performed by members of the First Baptist Church on Monument Square at the east end of Main Street. From 5:00 - 7:00 PM, drive by, or stop and enjoy the living display. For more information, call 413-663-3780.

Burmese Refugees Need Warm Clothing, Bedding

Williamstown, MA - The First Congregational Church-UCC of Williamstown is collecting warm clothing, shoes, blankets and towels for the more than one hundred Burmese refugees settling into Hartford area. Children's items and those for small adults especially needed. There's a big box just inside the back door. of the church (door closest to the parking lot.)  The church is open weekdays from 9 am-3:30 pm and on Sunday morning from 9:30 am-noon. The box will be picked up sometime after Sunday, October 27 so please try to drop off donations by then.