(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.
Sep 25, 2026
Pastor Doug’s upcoming office hours
Friday, September 18 (today); 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (this is a change from the originally published time)
Doug will be out of town at the end of next week to attend the Alumni Award gathering at Rockford University in Illinois.
Thursday, October 8; 2-4 p.m.
Prayer Request
Please continue to pray for Lois Bennett as she transitions to a skilled nursing facility in the days to come.
Looking for help to move furniture!
The Parish Board is looking into getting a junk trailer to get rid of the old furniture that is upstairs as well as a bunch of stuff that is downstairs. If you are able and or know someone that is willing to give us a hand, please contact Karen Murphy at kmurphy718@charter.net or 508-801-7692 with your availability.
We are looking at doing this the beginning of October. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sunday School
Would you consider taking a turn teaching Sunday School occasionally? We are hoping to get Sunday School class sessions started again soon—with classes lasting 25 minutes following the Youth Message in worship on Sunday morning. We would like to have classes on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month. We have just ordered a wonderful new story-based curriculum that makes planning and leading classes easy—and it has arrived in case anyone would like to look at it. No one will have to teach every week, so if you would be willing to volunteer to teach once every other month or “once in a while,” you would help immensely! If interested, please talk with Nancy Arsenault or Pastor Doug sometime soon!
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
Saturday, September 26 – SNECUCC Annual Meeting, Worcester
Sunday, September 27 – Church Council following morning worship
Church YouTube Channel
Did you know that we now have a church Youtube channel?!
Miss a Sunday but still want to hear Pastor Doug’s message and Stephen’s beautiful music? Tune in!
https://www.youtube.com/@FirstCongregationalChurchofW.B
Have a great week,
Bonni
Sep 18, 2026
Pastor Doug’s upcoming office hours
Friday, September 18 (today); 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (this is a change from the originally published time)
Thursday, September 24; 2-4 p.m.
A Thank You from Doug and Karen
I offered spoken thanks for the wonderful “anniversary celebration” that our church family held for us on September 6, but I wanted to reiterate those thanks in writing. We are most grateful for the kind words, the cards and the gift you gave us, but even more grateful for the laughter and love in our fellowship hall that morning!
Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday Morning, September 20 [Note: sadly, the forecast for Sunday does not look good. If it rains, or there is an imminent threat of rain, we will move the service into our sanctuary. Please still bring an item or two for the Sharing Cupboard!]
We are going to hold our Sunday morning 10 a.m. worship service on September 20 on the Common. We will be worshipping with our neighbors from George Whitefield United Methodist Church. We will be celebrating the “Season of Creation” recognized by many Christian churches on the Sundays from the beginning of September through the first Sunday of October, and praying for good weather! We’ll also be asking everyone to bring a donation for the Sharing Cupboard in place of your customary offering (save that for the following week). More details are in a notice in the September Glad Tidings. Think about inviting a friend to join us that morning, and let’s look forward to celebrating God’s unconditional love for all God’s children under open skies that Sunday!
Prayer Requests
JoAnn Bakulski (still seeking housing)
Lois Bennett (now at Overlook Masonic Health Care Center, Charlton)
Bible Study
Our six-week Bible study has begun and we have class again next Thursday! We are doing a six-week study entitled Signs and Wonders: A Beginner’s Guide to the Miracles of Jesus, by Professor Amy-Jill Levine. We meet on Thursday afternoons from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., and the remaining dates will be September 24, and October 8, 15, 22 and 29. This is another wonderful chance for us to learn together! I will mention that all are welcome to drop in for one or more class sessions, even if you have not bought a book. There are always short videos and handouts in each session, so folks who drop in will have some insights into the week’s material. For those in the class, if you have not yet paid for your book, please make checks out to the church and give either a check or cash to Pastor Doug at church on Sunday or at the next session of class. Thank you!
FLEA MARKET ON THE COMMON – THANK YOU!
Our sincere and HUGE thanks to all of you who supported the Flea Market on the Common this year. It was a wonderful success, but it couldn’t have been done without each of you doing all that you did – from the smallest job/contribution to those who were there all day – thanks to each of you! Approximately $4000 was raised to support the general fund and the missions of our church. A great day!
Looking for help to move furniture!
The Parish Board is looking into getting a junk trailer to get rid of the old furniture that is upstairs as well as a bunch of stuff that is downstairs. If you are able and or know someone that is willing to give us a hand, please contact Karen Murphy at kmurphy718@charter.net or 508-801-7692 with your availability.
We are looking at doing this the beginning of October. Thank you in advance for your help.
Sunday School
Would you consider taking a turn teaching Sunday School occasionally? We are hoping to get Sunday School class sessions started again soon—with classes lasting 25 minutes following the Youth Message in worship on Sunday morning. We would like to have classes on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month. We have just ordered a wonderful new story-based curriculum that makes planning and leading classes easy. No one will have to teach every week, so if you would be willing to volunteer to teach once every other month or “once in a while,” you would help immensely! If interested, please talk with Nancy Arsenault or Pastor Doug some time soon!
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
Church YouTube Channel
Did you know that we now have a church Youtube channel?!
Miss a Sunday but still want to hear Pastor Doug’s message and Stephen’s beautiful music? Tune in!
Sep 11, 2026
Sep 11, 2026
Pastor Doug’s upcoming office hours
Friday, September 18; 9:30-12 Noon, 1-2:15 p.m.
Bible Study
Our six-week Bible study has begun! We are doing a six-week study entitled Signs and Wonders: A Beginner’s Guide to the Miracles of Jesus, by Professor Amy-Jill Levine. We meet on Thursday afternoons from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., and the remaining dates will be September 24, and October 8, 15, 22 and 29. This is another wonderful chance for us to learn together! I will mention that all are welcome to drop in for one or more class sessions, even if you have not bought a book. There are always short videos and handouts in each session, so folks who drop in will have some insights into the week’s material. For those in the class, if you have not yet paid for your book, please make checks out to the church and give either a check or cash to Pastor Doug at church on Sunday or at the next session of class. Thank you!
FLEA MARKET ON THE COMMON – THIS SATURDAY 9/12!
Plan to join your church and our community for the annual Flea Market on the Common from 9 am – 3 pm this Saturday!
The weather forecast is calling for a beautiful day to be outside! The flea market is a great place to shop for treasures at bargain prices, visit with friends, and enjoy a delicious grilled lunch from our food tent, along with yummy desserts from our bake table. If you’ve never been, you don’t know what you’re missing!
Organizer Karen Murphy has shared that 50 vendors are signed up with a huge variety of items for sale. This flea market also welcomes artists (think hand-crafted jewelry and beautiful home goods) and vendors with new products, along with the tag-salers – and some antiquers too!
On the church lawn you will find raffle tickets for our beautiful quilt for sale, a “free stuff” table and a “donations only table”. Stop over and take a look.
Truly something for everyone.
Word has it that our baked-goods tent could use a few more cookies and brownies to be donated. If you are able to bake some, please contact Debbie Steltzer (774-452-2691 (or Karen Andersen (413-230-7476) – and thanks!
Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday Morning, September 20
We are going to hold our Sunday morning 10 a.m. worship service on September 20 on the Common. We will be worshipping with our neighbors from George Whitefield United Methodist Church. We will be celebrating the “Season of Creation” recognized by many Christian churches on the Sundays from the beginning of September through the first Sunday of October, and praying for good weather! We’ll also be asking everyone to bring a donation for the Sharing Cupboard in place of your customary offering (save that for the following week). More details are in a notice in the September Glad Tidings. Think about inviting a friend to join us that morning, and let’s look forward to celebrating God’s unconditional love for all God’s children under open skies that Sunday!
Remember to bring your own folding chair! Thanks.
Pastor Doug
Sunday School
Would you continue taking a turn teaching Sunday School occasionally? We are hoping to get Sunday School class sessions started again soon—with classes lasting 25 minutes following the Youth Message in worship on Sunday morning. We would like to have classes on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays of the month. We have just ordered a wonderful new story-based curriculum that makes planning and leading classes easy. No one will have to teach every week, so if you would be willing to volunteer to teach once every other month or “once in a while,” you would help immensely! If interested, please talk with Nancy Arsenault or Pastor Doug some time soon!
Anniversary Celebration
These pictures were taken last Sunday, September 6th of Doug’s one year anniversary celebration.
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
Friday, September 11th – Flea Market Prep 5 pm (still need helpers!)
Saturday, September 12th – Flea Market on the Common 9 am – 3 pm (thanks to all who have agreed to help!)
Sunday, September 13th – Deacon’s meeting following worship
Birthdays this week
Ellen Haynes – 9/16
Church YouTube Channel
Did you know that we now have a church Youtube channel?!
Miss a Sunday but still want to hear Pastor Doug’s message and Stephen’s beautiful music? Tune in!
Pastor Doug’s upcoming office hours
Thursday, September 10; 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Friday, September 18; 9:30-12 Noon, 1-2:15 p.m.
Glad Tidings
The September issue of our church newsletter, Glad Tidings, was sent out last week. Be sure to take a look to keep up on all the church news.
Haven’t been receiving Glad Tidings? Please send an email to fccwbworship@gmail.com and let the church office know!
Upcoming Bible Study (PLEASE NOTE ONE DATE CHANGE)
Our six week Bible study has had a change of focus. We will do a six-week study entitled Signs and Wonders: A Beginner’s Guide to the Miracles of Jesus, by Professor Amy-Jill Levine. Unfortunately, the book Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of A Controversial Rabbi, was only available at an affordable price from one outlet, and after assuring me they would have the books here by Sunday September 6, they sent me an e-mail saying they could not deliver the books until September 25. So, we will still meet on Thursday afternoons from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., the same time as we used in the spring, which seemed to work reasonably well. Dates will be September 10 and 24, and October 8, 15, 22 and 29. Books for the study will cost just $12, which is one positive of the book change! The books have arrived and will be available on Sunday. Please make checks out to the church and give either a check or cash to Pastor Doug at church on September 6 or at the first session of class. This will be another wonderful chance for us to learn together!
Outdoor Worship Service on Sunday Morning, September 20
We are going to hold our Sunday morning 10 a.m. worship service on September 20 on the Common. We will be worshipping with our neighbors from George Whitefield United Methodist Church. We will be celebrating the “Season of Creation” recognized by many Christian churches on the Sundays from the beginning of September through the first Sunday of October, and praying for good weather! We’ll also be asking everyone to bring a donation for the Sharing Cupboard in lieu of your customary offering (save that for the following week). More details are in a notice in the September Glad Tidings. Think about inviting a friend to join us that morning, and let’s look forward to celebrating God’s unconditional love for all God’s children under open skies that Sunday!
Pastor Doug
Parish Board
Our parking lot repairs are going well. The drain areas have been repaired, and the sealing and painting of the lines will happen in the next week or so, depending on weather. We appreciate your patience with the parking adjustments. If you have any questions, contact Parish Board chair Karen Murphy.
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
Thursday, September 10th – 5:15 – 6:30 – Parable Study
Friday, September 11th – Flea Market Prep 5 pm (still need helpers!)
Saturday, September 12th – Flea Market on the Common 9 am – 3 pm (thanks to all who have agreed to help!)
Sunday, September 13th – Deacon’s meeting following worship
Birthdays this week
Al Randall – 9/6
Everleigh Page Boucher – 9/10
Church YouTube Channel
Did you know that we now have a church Youtube channel?!
Miss a Sunday but still want to hear Pastor Doug’s message and Stephen’s beautiful music? Tune in!
https://www.youtube.com/@FirstCongregationalChurchofW.B
Read the latest issue of our newsletter, Glad Tidings