(508) 867-7078 | Worship with us each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
(508) 867-7078 | Worship with us each Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Read the latest news for our church.
May 08, 2026
Open and Affirming Committee
SPECIAL VOTE MEETING
On Sunday, May 3, our church held a special meeting to vote on our Covenant of Welcome. The Open and Affirming Committee is thrilled to report that the document passed with near unanimity! Their next step will be to submit an application to the United Church of Christ (our denomination) for official status and become one of the almost 2000 churches in the UCC to declare themselves Open and Affirming of all people, specifically those in the LGBTQIA+ community. Please watch this space and the monthly newsletter for periodic updates regarding the next steps and thank you for the support you gave to this very important step for our ever-welcoming church.
Remember: There is a vocabulary list with definitions to assist in understanding our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters. Copies of this list are located on the table under the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please help yourself to a copy.
Doug Showalter, Pat Jackman, Karen Murphy, Angela Carville, Stephanie Beland, Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, Pastor Doug and Terry Hall
Asparagus, Heritage and Flower Festival – Saturday, May 16th 10 am – 3 pm
Spring has sprung and the asparagus is growing! Once again, it’s time for the annual festival that celebrates the gorgeous, green goodness!
Our church will have hot chowder by-the-cup ($7), cold chowder by the quart-to-go ($20), yummy brownies, and drinks on the church lawn from 10 – 3. Cold quarts will also be available on the town common (west end), along with raffle tickets for a chance to win Mary Deotte’s beautiful handmade quilt.
Mark your calendars and plan to stop in for a delicious treat and a quart to-go!
How can you help?
Offer support by inviting your friends and neighbors, donate needed groceries for the chowder (butter, half and half, chicken broth – see sign-up sheets on sliding doors), and offer to help clean up at the end of the day when the crew is tired! (approx. 2:45 – 4:30pm) The sign-up sheet for the clean-up crew is also on the sliding doors. This event is one of our 3 BIG fundraisers of the year and everyone’s support is appreciated.
Questions?
See Karen Andersen, Karen Murphy or Terry Hall
And thank you all!
Prayer Requests
Please keep Neil Blodgett and Jim Haynes in prayer. Neil is still at Holy Trinity Rehab in Worcester and now has the complication of pneumonia. Jim continues at JGS Lifecare Rehab in East Longmeadow.
Bible Study
The final session of our spring Bible study focused on the book Sermon on the Mount by Professor Amy-Jill Levine will be Wednesday, 5/13 from 5-6:30 p.m. We will start a bit earlier than usual, at 5 or a few minutes after, so that we have time to discuss both Chapter 6 and the Afterword.
Office Hours
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard currently needs mayo, mustard, ketchup, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry.
Meetings this Week
No meeting this week.
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our YouTube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Bonni Holmes
Church Secretary
May 01, 2026
Open and Affirming Committee
SPECIAL VOTE – Please join your Open and Affirming Committee on Sunday, May 3rd, following our morning service when a special meeting will be held to vote on our “Covenant of Welcome”. This covenant has been reviewed and approved by the Church Council, the Parish Board and the congregation over the past year. This is a very important vote in the life of our church so please plan to attend. Carefully read the warrant that is attached to this email for more details. Questions? Please see a member of the ONA Committee.
In addition, many have asked the committee for a vocabulary list with definitions to assist in understanding our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters. Copies of this list are located on the table under the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please help yourself to a copy.
Doug Showalter, Pat Jackman, Karen Murphy, Angela Carville, Stephanie Beland, Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, Pastor Doug and Terry Hall
Prayer Requests
Please keep Neil Blodgett and Jim Haynes in prayer. Neill is still at Holy Trinity Rehab in Worcester and now has the complication of pneumonia. Jim continues at JGS Lifecare Rehab in East Longmeadow.
Bible Study
The fourth week of the Spring Bible Study will take place on Wednesday, May 6th – 5:15 – 6:30pm. Please read chapter five.
Office Hours
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard currently needs mayo, mustard, ketchup, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry.
Meetings this Week
Sunday, May 3 – Special Congregation Meeting following our service
– Parish Board meeting following congregation meeting
Friday, May 8 – Asparagus Festival Tent Committee – 10:30 am
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
The First Congregational Church of W. Brookfield, UCC
Warrant
To the Members of the First Congregational Church of
You are hereby notified that the members who are qualified to vote in the affairs of the church are requested by the Parish Board to meet following morning worship on Sunday, May 3, 2026 to act on the following:
Article I: To call the roll of the members, or take any action related thereto.
Article II: To vote to adopt the following Covenant of Welcome for our church, which expresses our church’s intention to welcome all persons who seek to follow Christ and participate in the life, leadership, ministry, and mission of our church. The acceptance of this Covenant will require an 80% vote of the members of our church who are present at this May 3 meeting (in person or by Zoom).
Covenant of Welcome
We, the members of the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, UCC, are a people of faith, following Jesus and sharing God’s abundant love, believing each of us is created in God’s image. We seek to demonstrate God’s love through respect and care for one another. We celebrate and learn from differences in race, culture, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic and political background, and physical and cognitive challenges. We welcome those who have no church home, need strength, want to follow Christ, or are seekers in their spiritual lives. All are invited to participate fully in the life, leadership, ministry and mission of this church as we strive to grow in a safe and nurturing community of faith. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
I hereby certify that this notice was duly posted as directed.
Terry Hall, Clerk
(Members wishing to attend this meeting via Zoom please contact the church clerk to be sent a link.)
Apr 24, 2026
Open and Affirming Committee
Please plan to join the committee on Sunday, April 26th when we present two short videos: Gatekeeping an interview with the late Rachel Held Evans and another containing a brief interview with Nadia Bolz Weber. We will begin our meeting during coffee hour and hope everyone will be able to stay.
In addition, many have asked the committee for a vocabulary list with definitions to assist in understanding our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters. Copies of this list are located on the table under the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please help yourself to a copy.
SPECIAL VOTE – Please join your Open and Affirming Committee on Sunday, May 3rd, following our morning service when a special meeting will be held to vote on our “Covenant of Welcome”. This covenant has been reviewed and approved by the Church Council, the Parish Board and the congregation over the past year. This is a very important vote in the life of our church so please plan to attend. Carefully read the warrant that is attached to this email for more details. Questions? Please see a member of the ONA Committee.
Doug Showalter, Pat Jackman, Karen Murphy, Angela Carville, Stephanie Beland, Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, Pastor Doug and Terry Hall
Prayer Requests
Please keep Neil Blodgett and Jim Haynes in prayer. Neil fell and needed stitches to close a wound on his head. He is at Holy Trinity Rehab in Worcester. Jim continues at JGS LIfecare Rehab in East Longmeadow.
Bible Study
The fourth week of the Spring Bible Study will take place on Wednesday, April 29th – 5:15 – 6:30pm. Please read chapter four.
Office Hours
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs wet dog food, mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Meetings this Week
Sunday, April 26 – ONA video presentation during coffee hour
ONA Committee meets following coffee hour/video presentation
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Bonni Holmes
Church Secretary
The First Congregational Church of W. Brookfield, UCC
Warrant
To the Members of the First Congregational Church of
You are hereby notified that the members who are qualified to vote in the affairs of the church are requested by the Parish Board to meet following morning worship on Sunday, May 3, 2026 to act on the following:
Article I: To call the roll of the members, or take any action related thereto.
Article II: To vote to adopt the following Covenant of Welcome for our church, which expresses our church’s intention to welcome all persons who seek to follow Christ and participate in the life, leadership, ministry, and mission of our church. The acceptance of this Covenant will require an 80% vote of the members of our church who are present at this May 3 meeting (in person or by Zoom).
Covenant of Welcome
We, the members of the First Congregational Church of West Brookfield, UCC, are a people of faith, following Jesus and sharing God’s abundant love, believing each of us is created in God’s image. We seek to demonstrate God’s love through respect and care for one another. We celebrate and learn from differences in race, culture, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic and political background, and physical and cognitive challenges. We welcome those who have no church home, need strength, want to follow Christ, or are seekers in their spiritual lives. All are invited to participate fully in the life, leadership, ministry and mission of this church as we strive to grow in a safe and nurturing community of faith. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
I hereby certify that this notice was duly posted as directed.
Terry Hall, Clerk
(Members wishing to attend this meeting via Zoom please contact the church clerk to be sent a link.)
Apr 18, 2026
Open and Affirming Committee
Please plan to join the committee on Sunday, April 26th when we present two short videos: Gatekeeping an interview with the late Rachel Held Evans and another containing a brief interview with Nadia Bolz Weber. We will begin our meeting during coffee hour and hope everyone will be able to stay.
In addition, many have asked the committee for a vocabulary list with definitions to assist in understanding our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters. Copies of this list are located on the table under the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please help yourself to a copy.
Bible Study
The third week of the Spring Bible Study will take place on Wednesday, April 22. We will gather at 5 p.m., begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30.
Those that are participating please read the introduction and chapter three.
The books for our Bible study on The Sermon on the Mount have arrived and will be available at the church during my office hours on Friday or on Sunday. I was able to get a really good deal on the books, so the cost will be $12 each. Please make checks payable to the church and give them to me, and I will pass them on to Mary once I have collected them all. Thank you!
Office Hours
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs wet dog food, mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Meetings this Week
Sunday, April 19 – Church Council
Tuesday, April 21 – Missions – 2pm
Friday, April 24 – Deacons 10:30 am
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Apr 10, 2026
Dismas Dinner
The Dismas Farm dinner will be taken to the farm on Tuesday, April 14. Dinner is at 6 pm and we try to arrive by 5:30. If anyone would like to contribute to the meal, please let Deanna or Angela know via email, or Millie Gushue, by phone.
Open and Affirming Committee
Please plan to join the committee on Sunday, April 26th when we present two short videos: Gatekeeping an interview with the late Rachel Held Evans and another containing a brief interview with Nadia Bolz Weber. We will begin our meeting during coffee hour and hope everyone will be able to stay.
In addition, many have asked the committee for a vocabulary list with definitions to assist in understanding our LGBTQI+ brothers and sisters. Copies of this list are located on the table under the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. Please help yourself to a copy.
Bible Study
The second week of the Spring Bible Study will take place on Wednesday, April 15. We will gather at 5 p.m., begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30. Those that are participating please read chapter two. The cost of the book is $12. Please make checks payable to the church and give them to me, and I will pass them on to Mary once I have collected them all. Thank you!
Office Hours
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs wet dog food, mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Meetings this Week
Sunday, April 12 – Deacons
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Apr 03, 2026
Good Friday
Pastor Sandy Dam of the George Whitefield UMC will lead a cross walk, with devotional readings, around the West Brookfield Common beginning at 12 noon on Good Friday, April 3. The walk will begin from our church lawn, and all members of our congregation are welcome, as are all members of our wider community.
Easter – Sunrise
We will be joining friends from George Whitefield United Methodist Church for an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service of worship on Foster Hill Road at 6:15 a.m. that morning (timed so that we experience the sunrise at 6:24 a.m. as we are singing an opening hymn, accompanied by Mike Spencer’s trumpet). That service will be followed by breakfast at our church, as our United Methodist friends cooked last year, and Karen Andersen has graciously agreed to coordinate the breakfast. Our 10 o’clock worship service on Easter morning will include communion. We look forward to celebrating the joy of the resurrection together that morning!
Bible Study
It’s time for our spring Bible study!!!!
Our six-week Bible study will begin this Wednesday, April 8 and run for six weeks. We will gather at 5 p.m. each week, begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30.
Those that are participating please read the introduction and chapter one.
The books for our Bible study on The Sermon on the Mount have arrived and will be available at the church during my office hours on Friday or on Sunday. I was able to get a really good deal on the books, so the cost will be $12 each. Please make checks payable to the church and give them to me, and I will pass them on to Mary once I have collected them all. Thank you!
Office Hours
With our Bible study group starting next week, Pastor Doug will be adjusting his office hours slightly. He will be in on Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30 p.m, and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. until 12 noon.
Prayer List
Jane Fountain, a member of our church, has been admitted to Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer and is receiving hospice care. Pastor Doug visited her on
Wednesday afternoon. Jane was designated Deacon Emerita by the congregation a number of years ago. Please pray for Jane and her family in the days ahead.
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs wet dog food,mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Meetings this Week
Monday, April 6 – Asparagus Festival (Tent) planning Committee – 10:30 am
Friday, April 6 – ONA Committee – 1 pm
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Mar 27, 2026
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Bible Study
It’s time for our spring Bible study!!!!
Our six-week Bible study will begin on Wednesday, April 8 and run for six weeks. We will gather at 5 p.m. each week, begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30.
The books for our Bible study on The Sermon on the Mount have arrived and will be available at the church during my office hours on Friday or on Sunday. I was able to get a really good deal on the books, so the cost will be $12 each. Please make checks payable to the church and give them to me, and I will pass them on to Mary once I have collected them all. Thank you!
Maundy Thursday
We will be having a Maundy Thursday service of worship in our sanctuary on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m., and we have invited folks from the George Whitefield United Methodist Church to join us for that service. The service will last about 40-45 minutes and we will invite everyone to stay after the service to share in a quiet time of fellowship over a simple dessert before heading home. Karen Andersen has graciously volunteered to make that dessert, Indian pudding (with ice cream), a confection that is quintessentially New England, dating back to the first European settlers in the Plymouth colony learning to make it from the Native Americans living in the area. Please consider joining us that evening for a special time of worship and fellowship.
Good Friday
Pastor Sandy Dam of the George Whitefield UMC will lead a cross walk, with devotional readings, around the West Brookfield Common beginning at 12 noon on Good Friday, April 3. The walk will begin from our church lawn, and all members of our congregation are welcome, as are all members of our wider community.
Easter – Sunrise
We will be joining friends from George Whitefield United Methodist Church for an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service of worship on Foster Hill Road at 6:15 a.m. that morning (timed so that we experience the sunrise at 6:24 a.m. as we are singing an opening hymn, accompanied by Mike Spencer’s trumpet). That service will be followed by breakfast at our church, as our United Methodist friends cooked last year, and Karen Andersen has graciously agreed to coordinate the breakfast. Our 10 o’clock worship service on Easter morning will include communion. We look forward to celebrating the joy of the resurrection together that morning!
With Sadness
As a church family, we offer our condolences to Dave Fitzgerald on the death of Joan this past Monday night. Joan has requested there be no formal services, but please keep Dave in prayer during this time of sadness and loss.
Let us also keep in prayer the family of Pat Turner, a friend of this community of faith, upon her recent passing. Pat also requested no formal services for her.
The Sharing Cupboard will be open April 2nd (Maundy Thursday) from 7-8pm.
Maundy Thursday and Sharing Cupboard
As this is the first Thursday of the Month, we expect the Cupboard to be busy. Clients have been known to arrive around 6.00 P.M.
I’m asking folk who are setting up for, or attending the service to park on the left hand side (from the Church Street entrance) or the back wall of the car park. The clients park on the right hand side. I’ll have the Sharing Cupboard parking signs placed before 6.00pm.
Apologies for any inconvenience and thank you all for your help.
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs wet dog food,mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Meetings this Week
There are no meetings this week.
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Mar 20, 2026
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
You can also find a link on our website. Look under the NEWS tab and you will find SERMONS.
Our Guest Pastor on March 22nd
This Sunday, we will welcome Pastor Julie Olmsted back to our church as our guest minister while Pastor Doug is away. Some of you will remember Julie from last year when she joined us on quite a few Sundays. Julie has served churches in New York, Ohio, Connecticut and Massachusetts since 1999. She retired from settled ministry in 2019 and is now an intentional interim. Julie brings enthusiasm, humor and warmth to her preaching and interpretation of the Gospel. She has a son and daughter-in-law who live in West Hatfield and a daughter who lives and teaches English and music in Madrid, Spain. Pastor Julie lives in Northampton with her church musician and composer husband, Jeff. Please join your Board of Deacons in welcoming Julie to our church this Sunday.
And there’s more….
Join us in the pastor’s office during coffee hour as Pastor Julie reads a chapter from her latest book, “Cornbread From Heaven, Crumbs and Pieces from a Sweet/Savory Life”.
“Red Penguin Books is proud to announce the release of Cornbread in Heaven, the moving and memorable memoir by Julie G. Olmsted. This honest, tender, and often quirky story chronicles a childhood filled with challenges, triumphs, and unexpected grace.”
Join us as Julie shares the story of her inspirational life.
Bible Study
Our six-week Bible study will begin on Wednesday, April 8 and run for six weeks. We will gather at 5 p.m. each week, begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30. If you would like Pastor Doug to order the book for you and have not yet told him that, please let him know by this Sunday morning, March 8. The book that we will use is Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by New Testament scholar Dr. Amy-Jill Levine. Doug will order the books and let everyone know what the cost will be for each book (no shipping costs if we order as a group).
Maundy Thursday
We will be having a Maundy Thursday service of worship in our sanctuary on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m., and we have invited folks from the George Whitefield United Methodist Church to join us for that service. The service will last about 40-45 minutes and we will invite everyone to stay after the service to share in a quiet time of fellowship over a simple dessert before heading home. Karen Andersen has graciously volunteered to make that dessert, Indian pudding (with ice cream), a confection that is quintessentially New England, dating back to the first European settlers in the Plymouth colony learning to make it from the Native Americans living in the area. Please consider joining us that evening for a special time of worship and fellowship.
Good Friday
Pastor Sandy the George Dam of Whitefield UMC will lead a cross walk, with devotional readings, around the West Brookfield Common beginning at 12 noon on Good Friday, April 3. The walk will begin from our church lawn, and all members of our congregation are welcome, as are all members of our wider community.
Easter – Sunrise
We will be joining friends from George Whitefield United Methodist Church for an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service of worship on Foster Hill Road at 6:15 a.m. that morning (timed so that we experience the sunrise at 6:24 a.m. as we are singing an opening hymn, accompanied by Mike Spencer’s trumpet). That service will be followed by breakfast at our church, as our United Methodist friends cooked last year, and Karen Andersen has graciously agreed to coordinate the breakfast. Our 10 o’clock worship service on Easter morning will include communion. We look forward to celebrating the joy of the resurrection together that morning!
With Sadness
As a church family, we offer our condolences to Dave Fitzgerald on the death of Joan this past Monday night. Joan has requested there be no formal services, but please keep Dave in prayer during this time of sadness and loss.
Let us also keep in prayer the family of Pat Turner, a friend of this community of faith, upon her recent passing. Pat also requested no formal services for her.
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Brookfield Farmer’s Market
Time is running out to shop the market – Last one is next Wednesday, March 25th!
Meetings this Week
***Does your committee or Board have a meeting planned? Please let others know! Send your meeting date and time to Bonni before any Friday as she posts on Friday mornings. The church email address is fccwbworship@gmail.com. Thank you.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Bonni Holmes
Church Secretary
Mar 14, 2026
Did you know that we are on YouTube???
Visit our Youtube channel and see recorded sermons from Pastor Doug Williamson.
www.youtube.com/@firstcongregationalchurchofW.B
Easter Plants
Each year we decorate our sanctuary with beautiful Easter lilies, tulips and hyacinths for Easter Sunday. If you would like to purchase a plant In Memory Of or In Honor Of a loved one, please pick up a form on Sunday, return it to Nancy Arsenault with your payment and your dedication will appear in our Easter morning bulletin (10 am service).
Once that service has ended, we ask that you take your plant home. Please leave this form and your payment (checks made to First Congregational of W. Brookfield and write -Easter plants on the “for” line) with our Church Flower Coordinator Nancy Arsenault or contact Bonni Holmes at fccwbworship@gmail.com for a form. Deadline is Sunday, March 15TH. The plants available are: Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths. The lilies are $15 and the tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are $10.
Bible Study
Our six-week Bible study will begin on Wednesday, April 8 and run for six weeks. We will gather at 5 p.m. each week, begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30. If you would like Pastor Doug to order the book for you and have not yet told him that, please let him know by this Sunday morning, March 8. The book that we will use is Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by New Testament scholar Dr. Amy-Jill Levine. Doug will order the books and let everyone know what the cost will be for each book (no shipping costs if we order as a group).
Maundy Thursday
We will be having a Maundy Thursday service of worship in our sanctuary on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m., and we have invited folks from the George Whitefield United Methodist Church to join us for that service. The service will last about 40-45 minutes and we will invite everyone to stay after the service to share in a quiet time of fellowship over a simple dessert before heading home. Karen Andersen has graciously volunteered to make that dessert, Indian pudding (with ice cream), a confection that is quintessentially New England, dating back to the first European settlers in the Plymouth colony learning to make it from the Native Americans living in the area. Please consider joining us that evening for a special time of worship and fellowship.
Good Friday
Pastor Sandy the George Dam of Whitefield UMC will lead a cross walk, with devotional readings, around the West Brookfield Common beginning at 12 noon on Good Friday, April 3. The walk will begin from our church lawn, and all members of our congregation are welcome, as are all members of our wider community.
Easter – Sunrise
We will be joining friends from George Whitefield United Methodist Church for an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service of worship on Foster Hill Road at 6:15 a.m. that morning (timed so that we experience the sunrise at 6:24 a.m. as we are singing an opening hymn, accompanied by Mike Spencer’s trumpet). That service will be followed by breakfast at our church, as our United Methodist friends cooked last year, and Karen Andersen has graciously agreed to coordinate the breakfast. Our 10 o’clock worship service on Easter morning will include communion. We look forward to celebrating the joy of the resurrection together that morning!
Prayer Requests
Please continue to keep Dave and Joan Fitzgerald in prayer as Joan continues in hospice care at home.
Pastor Doug’s Office Hours:
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Brookfield Farmer’s Market
Did you know?
….Our church is host to a fabulous farmer’s market each Wednesday afternoon from 3 – 6 in our Fellowship Hall!
Some of the fresh and delicious fare at the market include a wide variety of mushrooms, micro greens, fresh eggs, incredible bread, beautiful bulbs and flowers, a plethora of vegetables, fresh baked goodies, imported coffee, kombucha, honey, maple syrup, ice cream, grass-fed meat, hand-crafted jewelry, wooden bowls and cutting boards and even more! Stop in sometime and enjoy one of West Brookfield’s hidden treasures! (Hidden right inside our church!)
(Time is running out to shop the market – Last one is Wednesday, March 25th!)
Have a wonderful weekend.
Bonni Holmes
Church Secretary
Mar 06, 2026
Dismas Farm
Dinner will be at the church Tuesday, March 10th at 6.00 PM. Please email Deanna or Angela with whatever you would like to bring! Thank you for your help! Deanna Randall – 413-436-7849 or drandall444@comcast.net or Angela Carville – 508-347-1148 or angelacarville67@gmail.com
Easter Plants
Each year we decorate our sanctuary with beautiful Easter lilies, tulips and hyacinths for Easter Sunday. If you would like to purchase a plant In Memory Of or In Honor Of a loved one, please pick up a form on Sunday, return it to Nancy Arsenault with your payment and your dedication will appear in our Easter morning bulletin (10 am service).
Once that service has ended, we ask that you take your plant home. Please leave this form and your payment (checks made to First Congregational of W. Brookfield and write -Easter plants on the “for” line) with our Church Flower Coordinator Nancy Arsenault or contact Bonni Holmes at fccwbworship@gmail.com for a form. Deadline is Sunday, March 15TH. The plants available are: Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths. The lilies are $15 and the tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are $10.
Bible Study
Our six-week Bible study will begin on Wednesday, April 8 and run for six weeks. We will gather at 5 p.m. each week, begin class at 5:15 and end at 6:30. If you would like Pastor Doug to order the book for you and have not yet told him that, please let him know by this Sunday morning, March 8. The book that we will use is Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by New Testament scholar Dr. Amy-Jill Levine. Doug will order the books and let everyone know what the cost will be for each book (no shipping costs if we order as a group).
Maundy Thursday
We will be having a Maundy Thursday service of worship in our sanctuary on Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m., and we have invited folks from the George Whitefield United Methodist Church to join us for that service. The service will last about 40-45 minutes and we will invite everyone to stay after the service to share in a quiet time of fellowship over a simple dessert before heading home. Karen Andersen has graciously volunteered to make that dessert, Indian pudding (with ice cream), a confection that is quintessentially New England, dating back to the first European settlers in the Plymouth colony learning to make it from the Native Americans living in the area. Please consider joining us that evening for a special time of worship and fellowship.
Good Friday
Pastor Sandy Dam of the George Whitefield UMC will lead a cross walk, with devotional readings, around the West Brookfield Common beginning at 12 noon on Good Friday, April 3. The walk will begin from our church lawn, and all members of our congregation are welcome, as are all members of our wider community.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to keep Dave and Joan Fitzgerald in prayer as Joan continues in hospice care at home.
Pastor Doug’s Office Hours:
Annual Reports
Our 2025 annual report is available in printed form for those who need a paper copy. They are located on the chest in the Fellowship Hall near the mailboxes.
A Chorus for These Times
It is with great pleasure that we welcome a newly formed choral group, A Chorus for These Times, directed by Nym Cooke, to rehearse in our sanctuary. They had their initial rehearsal on Saturday, February 28th and will have a second one on March 7th, both from 2 pm – 4 pm. Thereafter, they are scheduled to rehearse every other Saturday. If you are interested in joining this chorus, you can contact Nym at: nymcooke@gmail.com.
Snow Cancellations:
We will make decisions about snow cancellations by 8:30 and if we decide the safest decision is to cancel the service we will send out an e-mail message announcing the cancellation. If you would prefer to receive a telephone call regarding such cancellations, please let Karen Murphy know.
Sharing Cupboard Needs:
The Sharing Cupboard always needs mayo, mustard, ketchup, canned carrots, cookies, crackers cereal and coffee. Thanks to the wonderful community outreach, our shelves are well stocked with other items. Please leave all donations in the donation box at the church entry. Thank you.
Brookfield Farmer’s Market
Did you know?
….Our church is host to a fabulous farmer’s market each Wednesday afternoon from 3 – 6 in our Fellowship Hall!
Some of the fresh and delicious fare at the market include a wide variety of mushrooms, micro greens, fresh eggs, incredible bread, beautiful bulbs and flowers, a plethora of vegetables, fresh baked goodies, imported coffee, kombucha, honey, maple syrup, ice cream, grass-fed meat, hand-crafted jewelry, wooden bowls and cutting boards and even more! Stop in sometime and enjoy one of West Brookfield’s hidden treasures! (Hidden right inside our church!)
(Time is running out to shop the market – Last one is Wednesday, March 25th!)
Meetings this Week
Friday March, 6 – 1 pm
Sunday, March 8 – Board of Deacons
Have a wonderful weekend.
Bonni Holmes
Church Secretary
Read the latest issue of our newsletter, Glad Tidings