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