News

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

• Friday, May 8^st–  9:30am – 12 noon.
• Wednesday, May 13^th– 3:00 – 4:00 pm
• Friday, May 15^th–  9:30am – 12 noon.

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

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

• Friday, May 1^st–  9:30am – 12 noon.
• Wednesday, May 6^th – 2:30 – 4:30pm
• Friday, May 8^th –  9:30am – 12 noon.

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

1. Brookfield and the First Parish of West Brookfield:

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.)

Open and Affirming Committee 

Please plan to join the committee on Sunday, April 26^th 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 29^th – 5:15 – 6:30pm.  Please read chapter four.

Office Hours

• Friday, April 24^th –  9:30am – 12 noon.
• Wednesday, April 29^th  – 2:30 – 4:30pm
• Friday, May 1^st –  9:30am – 12 noon.

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

1. Brookfield and the First Parish of West Brookfield:

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.)

Open and Affirming Committee 

Please plan to join the committee on Sunday, April 26^th 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

• Wednesday, April 22^nd – 2:30 – 4:30pm
• Friday, April 24^th9:30am – 12 noon.

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.