(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 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.)
May 01, 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 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.
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 18, 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 10, 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.
Read the latest issue of our newsletter, Glad Tidings