(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 29, 2026
Asparagus, Heritage and Flower Festival – A Roaring Success for All!
We planned, they came, and we had an incredible day!
The weather was picture perfect and the crowds were bigger than ever. We sold gallons and gallons of asparagus chowder and tons of brownies.
There was frequent and loud laughter from many corners of our lawn – – – and we’ll do it again next year!
Thanks to everyone who donated the groceries, gave monetary support or volunteered their time to help on Friday and Saturday. It was ALL appreciated!
The total raised from all your efforts to support our church missions and our church infrastructure was just shy of $10,000. A very successful day, indeed!
Thanks, everyone!
Your Asparagus Festival Kitchen and Tent Crews – and Committee
In Case You Missed it
There are still 5 quarts of chowder left for purchase. They have been put in the freezer. If you are interested, please see Karen Andersen or Karen Murphy.
Prayer Requests
Please keep Jim Haynes in prayer. Jim continues at JGS Lifecare Rehab in East Longmeadow.
Please keep Millie Gushue in prayer. Millie is at Harrington Hospital in room 321, being treated for an infection, and would love to have visitors.
Pastor Doug / Office Hours
Pastor Doug will be taking a short break next week, taking off Friday through Monday, May 29-June 1. He will be working from home in the early part of next week, so please feel free to call him (913-387-9947) if you need to speak with him or make an appointment. Pastor Doug will be offering a Memorial Day prayer on the Common at 9:45 a.m. as part of the community remembrances that day.
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
Open and Affirming Committee – Friday, May 22, 1 pm
Deacons – Sunday, May 24
Church Council Sunday, May 31
***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.
Next issue of Glad Tidings
The deadline for submissions to the June issue of Glad Tidings is Tuesday, May 26th.
May 22, 2026
Open and Affirming Committee
As was reported in last week’s email, our congregation ushered in a new welcoming era on Sunday, May 3rd as we made our Covenant of Welcome an official document of our church. With the adoption of this covenant, we were able to apply to the United Church of Christ’s Open and Affirming Coalition for open and affirming status. We celebrated this milestone on Sunday, May 10 with a group photo! In addition, on Thursday of this week, the Coalition approved our application. This makes our church the 1954th church in our denomination to achieve this status. Truly something to celebrate!
Thanks for your continued support of this very important mission of our church.
Doug Showalter, Pat Jackman, Karen Murphy, Angela Carville, Stephanie Beland, Beverly Prestwood-Taylor, Pastor Doug and Terry Hall
Our 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.
Asparagus, Heritage and Flower Festival – THIS 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!
Thanks to everyone who has donated the groceries needed, given monetary support or is scheduled to volunteer their time to help on Saturday. It is ALL appreciated!
Questions?
See Karen Andersen, Karen Murphy or Terry Hall
Prayer Requests
Please keep Jim Haynes in prayer. Jim continues at JGS Lifecare Rehab in East Longmeadow.
Prayers of thanksgiving that Neil Blodgett is healed and home from his lengthy stay in the rehab care center.
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
No 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.
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
May 15, 2026
May 08, 2026
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
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
May 08, 2026
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.)
Read the latest issue of our newsletter, Glad Tidings