Friends,

Following are the current announcements from First Congregational Church, West Brookfield, United Church of Christ:

Looking Ahead

We will be holding a Maundy Thursday service of worship on April 2^nd at 7 p.m. Please watch the upcoming weekly announcement messages for more details about Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter!

Bible Study

I would like to do a six-week study using Professor Amy-Jill Levine’s book Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, beginning on Wednesday, April 8 and meeting on Wednesdays a 5 or 5:15 and lasting until 6:15 or 6:30 p.m. when we will still have plenty of daylight.  If we order books as a group, we will not have to pay shipping and they will likely cost $13.50-$14 each.  If this study sounds like something in which you would be interested , please e-mail me (djwnscaa@gmail.com) or text me (913-387-9947) and let me know if you would like to be part of a group book order or rather order your book individually.

Prayer Requests

Please continue to keep Dave and Joan Fitzgerald in prayer as Joan continues in hospice care at home.

Please also continue to keep Jim and Ellen Haynes both in prayer.  Jim has been transferred back to the rehabilitation facility in E. Longmeadow.

Pastor Doug’s Office Hours:

For the month of February and March, I will be changing my office hours to Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00-2:00 p.m.  Wednesday hours will be by appointment, and I can be available by appointment on other days by calling my mobile phone at 913/387-9947.

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 will have their initial rehearsal on Saturday, February 28th and a second 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

Sunday, March 1 – Parish Board

Have a wonderful weekend.

Bonni Holmes
Church Secretary