Rev. David Hurst
Blessings to All!
Well April is near! Trust that spring will change our temperatures and our spirits. I hope all is well with you as you read my note. This past month has seen losses in our church and community. Our condolences and love goes out to Meg Dodds and her family for the loss of Dick, a long time member of the church. He passed this Tuesday, March 25. We extend our sympathies to the Burdick family for the loss of their mother Betsey, and for the Latson/Steele for the loss of Tessah and Kim. We also extent our prayers to Mickey Thaisz and all those on our prayer list who in hospitals and shut in.
I want to thank Janet Holmgren and our substitute organists and pianists who are doing a marvelous job filling in as Matthew Alcombright has retired. Thank you, Janet, for coordinating all of this! It is difficult to find organists and musicians these days!
In these times of change both personal and global, let us pray with the assurance of the Apostle Paul in Philippians that all will be well! If we focus on doing the next right thing in our lives and we ignore the gossip, innuendo and our ”exaggerating” news, we find through prayer and thanksgiving that a life in Christ Jesus transcends all things. The most amazing feeling to me is that as I pray, “put my requests to God,” that there is a peace. There is a calm that comes over me and there is an assurance that things will work out. Through faith and our dedication to it, we will help getting not too vested in the little arguments and frustrations and “keep our eyes upon the prize!" So let us be still and find our path. Let's show our love and faith to others and be joyful in the Lord!
May God Bless,
David
— Remember in Prayer —
A Prayer List is part of the weekly Bulletin. Please email the church (wmst2ndcongo@outlook.com) if you would like to make additions or subtractions to keep those on the list in prayer. . . It Works!
All of the First Responders who put their lives in jeopardy to care for all of us. For those working in grocery stores, gas stations, hospitals, nursing homes, health care facilities, food banks… who are working in spite of the danger to themselves. Prayers for anyone who is overwhelmed by this pandemic. Prayers for those who are feeling isolated or afraid. Prayers that God give us the mindfulness to reach out by phone to those who we are not frequently in touch -those on the outer edges of our friendship and family. Prayers for all people as we look to “love our neighbor” as God has commanded.
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SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
81 Hancock Road, Williamstown, MA
Jonathon Hartanto, Organist
Rev. David Hurst, Pastor
April 27, 2025
MORNING MEDITATION
“Answers that begin by explaining too much end always by
explaining all too little.” Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Jr.
PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP Deacon Reader
Leader: Once there was sadness.
People: Now we are clothed in Easter joy
Leader: Once there was mourning.
People: Now there is a possibility of rejoicing.
Leader: Once there were tears and silence.
People: Now laughter has returned and the songs of praise!
Leader: Once there was hunger and longing.
People: Now we are gathered in Christ's Kingdom; fed with the
love of God and filled the assurance of God's forgiveness.
OPENING HYMM "This is the Day" Pg 257
INVOCATION (In Unison) Deacon Reader
Leader: O Lord, as you entered the upper room through locked doors,
People: Come now and enter the locked doors of our own lives.
Leader: Find in us the hidden places of doubt and shame, hurt and
brokenness, fear and apathy.
People: Breathe into us your life-giving Holy Spirit and help us to
live the resurrection throughout our lives.
Leader: Grant us your salvation and your strength. Give us the confi-
dence to love, to share and to be righteous in all that we do and say.
People: O Lord we pray that you might shape us, change us and
love us into being the best that we can be.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rev. David Hurst
Leader: Let us open our hearts to God.
All: O God, help us remember to be grateful for our lives and the wondrous gifts that you have given to us. In the Easter season keep our minds open and honest to see where we are wrong. We confess that we have not always been true. While wading through the mire, we have compromised our values. Allow us to forget our sense of entitlement, our expectation to never suffer and to feel above it all. Forgive us, Lord, when we do not right our wrongs or hesitate to support those in need of our affirmation and strength. Grant us the confidence to not take the easy way out when we are challenged in life. Help us to trust that in God that we are never alone! Help us to respond to God’s grace; so that we do not envy others or resent those who seem more successful.
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
Leader: Thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of your Son, who died for our
sins. Strengthen us, to follow your teachings through the love and blessing
of Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
People: Hallelujah! Thanks be to God
OFFERATORY
DOXOLOGY
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYERS AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
GLORIA PATRI
First Lesson Psalm 149 Pg 546
HYMN OF REFLECTION "Come, Christians, Join to Sing" #108
Second Lesson John 20: 19-31 Pg 945
SERMON Life of Witness Rev. David Hurst
CLOSING HYMN "Lift High the Cross" # 602
BENEDICTION (Revelation 1: 5-6)
Leader: Let us go forth to include others in our lives, so that we can
fully enjoy our days of faith and love.
ALL: To the one who loves us and freed us from our sins by his
blood, who made us a Kingdom, with all of us ministers to his God
and Father-- to Him be glory and power forever and always.
Bulletins for April are given in memory of Chuck and Mark Gardner, given by Rite Gardner.
Archived News of Note:
Youth news: Our third ASP trip has come and gone! We spent the week completing a siding and drainage project in eastern West Virginia. Unlike previous years, we were there for ASP's last week of the summer, meaning we got to finish the job and see the final product. Other groups had already stripped and insulated the house and partially installed J-channel around windows and fixtures, leaving us to finish the J-channel and side the house. We worked hard and completed these tasks early, giving us time to improve the drainage around the house and spread 4 tons of gravel!
We served a man named Trampus living in a small place he recently bought from family members for just $16k. He worked most of the day at a nearby sawmill, hitching rides from coworkers because his own truck had been totaled. Near the end of our week, he got hit by a log at work and broke his wrist, knocking him out of work for the immediate future. It was unclear whether he'd be able to claim worker's compensation. We were fortunate to be able to give him something to smile about when he returned home that day.
There's a lot to adjust to during an ASP week, including the poor sleeping conditions, meeting the other volunteers staying at our center, finding a new routine, and more. It's easy to imagine how all this could detract from the work, but everyone in our group stayed focused throughout the week. From the moment we set foot on site and divided up to conquer the project efficiently, to the final evening when we took over sweeping the center from the ASP staff, it was incredible to see the intentionality our group brought.
When I reflect on this group, Timothy's description of the faithful comes to mind: "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." (2 Tim 1:7) This group had the power to help others, and used it. They had the love born of deep friendship and of compassion for those who suffer, and they acted on it. And when faced with a week challenging both physically and mentally, they showed discipline far beyond their years. As always, it was a privilege to spend this time working alongside them. I look forward to continuing this mission for years to come! Tom Kirby
your paragraph here.
Music Director /Organist
Matt Alcombright
Thank you!!
April Calendar
April 1 (Tues) Funeral service for Dick Dodds Sr.
April 6th In-house Morning Worship 9am
Communion
Coffee Hour following Worship
Take & Eat
April 5th(Fri) Good Friday
April 10th(Thu) Deacons Meeting 3:30pm
April 13th Palm Sunday
In-house Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
April 17th(Thu) Trustees Meeting 3:30pm
April 20th 7:00 Easter Sunrise Service at Mt Hope
Easter Munchies 8am-8:50am For all who attended
the Sunrise Service as well as those heading into the 9:00 service
**Easter Munch at 8:00 am sponsored by the Dorcas
In-house Morning Worship 9am
April 27th In-house Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
**Inserts for Easter Memorial Flowers will be in your bulletin 3/30-4/13. Please return them to the Deacon on Duty by 4/13 so an Insert can be made for the Easter morning service.
Upcoming Calendar
The Christian Education Committee has Lentin booklets available for anyone who would like to do a daily reading in Lent. These can be picked up at the back of the church.
Offering envelopes for 2025 are available. If you don't find a box with your name on it take a blank set and indicate who you are so Jean can send statements.
YOUTH INFO: Mia has been taking the ServSafe course for kitchen safety, which provides valuable knowledge for using SCC’s kitchen for Take and Eat and more. Passing the upcoming two-hour test will earn her a five-year ServSafe certificate and will allow us to use SCC’s kitchen.
Additionally, Mia is on her way to Guatemala for a week as part of a mobile medical unit. Together with three American physicians and two local nurses, she will visit five villages to provide medical and dental care to the indigenous Mayans known as the Poqomchi. The Poqomchi live in poverty and have one of the lowest ratings on the United Nations' Human Development Index.
MISSION COMMITTEE NEWS FOR APRIL: Our March Mission was two weeks of One Great Hour of Sharing. If you have not made a donation you may still send one to the church or place in the offering plate at the morning service. The Theme was "Be The Light". When you give to OGHS you are the light
for people in need. You offer light when disasters hit. You offer light when conditions threaten families and communities. When you give to OGHS, you are light that shines today, tomorrow, and well into the future. We will start the Easter Food Pantry on March 30th with tags on the pussy willows provided by John Quimby. There will be two weeks and the list will be on the Bulletin Board in the Fellowship Room if you have any questions. Easter stuffed animals and candy are also nice to add to your donation. Easter decorations and candy are also welcome. We have asked the Dorcas Society to donate two hams for the Easter Pantry. The Easter Food Pantry will be delivered on Sunday, April 13, 2025 so they can distribute on Wednesday the 17th. Carol Demayo is always so
appreciative of our wonderful items to celebrate the Easter holiday. She extends a "big thank you" to all of us at 2nd Congregational Church.
The Monthly Food pantry has been very lacking. If you could donate one item a month that would be wonderful. The wagon is located near the
last pew in the church sanctuary.
The Veterans Pantry continues and they would like personal care items and cosmetics. New toothbrushes, hairbrushes, deodorant, after shave lotion, mouthwash, hand lotions and laundry detergent. Mia Holmgren will be helping us with the delivery to the Veterans Service Office in North Adams.
Once again, we thank all of our members and friends who generously participate in our Missions each year. Sharing is really caring.
Thank you so much!!
The Trustees are grateful that their newest member took it upon himself to do most of the yard cleanup by himself while the senior trustees were south soaking up sunshine and spending time with family. Wayne was officially welcomed at the March meeting. Paul and David have been working on the parsonage basement to stem water entry through some of the reinforcement rods and the floor connection. Once that is resolved the newly installed oil retention area can be epoxied. Also at the parsonage, work is in progress to improve the support at the porch corner and redirecting the gutters to ease basement water issues. We are pleased that Mia Holmgren is going the be the churches' ServSafe certificate holder once she completes the training and testing. This will allow us to continue Take & Eat and the two Dorcas fundraisers.
ITEMS NEED FOR THE VETERANS.
(Please place them in the tub in the SS Room)
SOAPS SHAMPOO CONDITIONER
LAUNDRY DETERGENT HOT COCOA
Memorial Bulletin Sign-up The sheet for signing up to purchase a month of Memorial Bulletins for 2024 is now posted in the SS Room. Please fill in the information for the month that you select.
The cost is $30/month.
For those that were not able to be at the final service or need additional time to consider their 2023 Giving, you may send in your gifts and pledges to:
Jean Richer 124 S. Hemlock Brook, Williamstown, MA 01267.
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"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And by the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"
Philippians 4: 6-7
WilliNet channel 1303 Sunday Worship 9am and 4pm. Rerun Wed at 10am and Friday at 7pm
This Week's Internet site is:
https://reflect-willinet.cablecast.tv/store-3/12472-Second-Congregational-Church-Service-4-27-25-v1/vod.mp4
**Please scroll down to see the Weekly Bulletin below**
Thank you from our Church: Thank you, Matt, from the whole Second Congregational Church family and community!
Five years have indeed flown by and we all appreciate your contributions of music, voice, and stability that you brought with unwavering consistency, beautiful quality and perfect humbleness. Much appreciated!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your next chapter.
News from the Organ and Piano benches: "It takes a village", a saying which seems very appropriate given the huge shoes to fill from Matt's retirement. Janet Holmgren is working her magic piecing together a musical alternative with multiple musicians utilizing both the organ and the piano. Our own Thomas Kirby, once again, will pick up some Sundays playing on the piano with two talented Williams College student organists, Jonathon Hartanto and Graham Omerod, playing as their schedule permits. Jonathan, a sophomore, and Graham, a freshman, both play beautifully and we hope they will stay with us for the foreseeable future. Also, David Vredenburg from the Albany area will be rejoining us as organist over the summer. He remembers our congregation fondly and sends his greetings. Thomas' former teacher, Ed Lawrence, retired musical director of First Church and part of the Williams community will also be sharing his musical talent. Clearly it's taken a village! Please welcome all of these musicians heartily!
**Church Organist needed!**
Please contact The Second Congregational Church
if you are interested in the position or know of someone who might be!
“The time is always right to do what is right! Martin L King Jr.
“All love that has not friendship for its base
is like a mansion built on sand.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“Sometimes I go about pitying myself. And all the while I am being carried
across the sky by beautiful clouds.” Ojibway Indian saying
Arab proverb; “To have a good neighbor you must be one.”
Welcome to
The Second Congregational Church
81 Hancock Road • Williamstown, MA 01267 • (413) 458-3467