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!
Rev. David Hurst
🎶🎶 Notes from the Music Director: August in the Berkshires is a golden pause between the fullness of summer and the quiet promise of autumn. Though I had anticipated a time of rest, I was blessed with the opportunity to perform at the renowned Bang on a Can Summer Festival at Mass MoCA. The chance to share music with gifted artists from around the world and to learn from living composers was both inspiring and humbling. Equally precious was the time spent with family—being with my parents and watching my young child grow and discover the world anew reminded me of the sacred privilege of life itself.
As we turn to September, we welcome a season of renewal and new beginnings. For children, it marks the start of another school year; for parents, it is a reminder that God has a loving plan for their children, and our calling is to entrust them fully to His care. May the gift of music continue to gather us in worship at the Second Congregational Church and beyond—binding together the young and the old, the strong and the weary, in the abiding grace of God.
ASP 2025 Trip Overview – Davy, West Virginia
This year, the ASP youth team will be traveling to Davy, West Virginia, located in McDowell County, the southernmost and one of the most remote counties in the state. The journey will be longer than previous years, approximately 12 hours, but the commitment to serve within West Virginia continues.
About Davy and McDowell County:
Geography: A rugged, mountainous, and flood-prone region.
Economy: Once a bustling coal mining area (100k population in 1950), Davy has now declined to around 17,000 residents.
Income & Poverty:
Per capita income: $15,000/year (lower than previous counties last year and the year before at $22k and $30k).
Poverty rate: 38% of the community lives below the poverty line.
Local Employment: Mainly in coal mining, education, healthcare, and retail (e.g., Dollar General).
Living Arrangements:
ASP'ers will be staying at the local elementary school – expect indoor camping-style accommodations (e.g., sleeping bags on the classroom floors).
Work Assignments:
Teams will receive specific project assignments just days before departure. As always, expect a focus on home repair and community support, with flexibility and teamwork essential.[🛠️]
Hello folks!
Welcome back to church! I hope you have all had a great summer. Enjoying weather, any travel or engaging with family and friends is so important to our lives and to our Spirit.
Elva and I took a trip to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. It was a trip of a lifetime! One afternoon when we were free from our tour, I chatted with a young man who worked construction on the hotel where we were staying. The place is built into a mountain side. The scaffolding extended to the 7th floor, but the look below falls deep into the valley below. Thank God he had no fear of heights! Wayne had a hoodie on that said in bold letters in the back, “FIND THE GOOD”.
Our conversation started with me telling him, I liked his hoodie, “FIND THE GOOD”. “Well, I try,” he said. This Canadian had a positive force in his life. He had a point of view that was what Jesus has taught us to be. To be tolerant of others, admitting that we are “not all that” and others aren’t either. We are equal and free! He was more involved in the team of people putting together an amazing renovation, rather than complaining about the investors or his fellow employees. He seemed to live the difference between always responding to darkness, that negativity that permeates our society. The example of Jesus is to practice the good in oneself each day, each encounter, so that we can find the good in others! Walking the path of understanding, nor demonizing “them” because of their point of view; but taking people for being God’s creation and working to find potential in all of us, is indeed a difficult thing in our polarized world.
Wayne was a hard worker; making the big [Canadian] bucks! He seemed to enjoy his opportunity to talk to an American tourist, old enough to be his grandfather. “Well back to work,” his break over. We shook hands! He climbed through a 6th floor window, back to the scaffolding that wrapped around the building and the mountainside “FIND THE GOOD!”
Make God bless! Welcome back to Church! Pastor David
Past organists: Susan Matsui, Meg Dodds, En-Ting Hsu, Guest organists: Thomas Kirby, Jonathon Hartanto, Graham Ormerod, Ed Lawrence and David Vredenburg
WilliNet channel 1303 Sunday Worship 9am and 4pm. Rerun Wed at 10am and Friday at 7pm
The Week's Internet site is: https://reflect-willinet.cablecast.tv/store-3/12753-Second-Congregational-Church-Service-9-14-25-v1/vod.mp4
**Please scroll down to see the Weekly Bulletin below**
— 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
Rev. David Hurst, Pastor
September 14, 2025
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
En-Ting Hsu, Music Director
MORNING MEDITATION
Practice doesn’t make you perfect,
It makes you realize you don’t have to be! Roland Small
PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP Deacon Reader
Leader: Here we are once again dear Lord!
People: The world turns to morning and now we turn to you. Let your unfailing love, your ever-presence assure us each day that you guide us and never find us wanting.
Leader: Open our hearts to your love and care; so that we can live balanced, reasonable lives; guided and protected by the Holy Spirit.
People: In the beauty of this morning and in the joy of living each day, let us sing together, pray for this ever-changing world and worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
OPENING HYMM For the Beauty of the Earth Pg 54
INVOCATION
Leader: O Lord come into our minds and hearts today and assure
us of your strength and love.
People: May we pray and believe in you all the days of our lives, so that we are able to see the truth in moments of frustration and anger. Speak to us, O God in our hectic and stressful lives.
Leader: O Lord help us to do what is right in life. May we learn through our temptations that your voice is within us. Help us to avoid the easy way out, so that we are free to grow in your image.
People: Fill us, O God, with your Spirit and your blessing.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rev. David Hurst
Leader: O God, we come before you with full lives. We seek your
guidance and strength, for there are times that we are simply lost.
People: Help us to empty ourselves of our anxiety and fear, so that your loving Spirit might enter us.
Leader: Grant us the willingness to be humble; to give others our love
and friendship. Help us to be patient in all our encounters.
People: Help us to put away our prideful hearts that always seek approval. Help us to confess our faults so that our relationship with you, Lord, creates a life full of real joy and grace. Deliver us, Lord, forgive us our sins and keep us in your heart.
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE
Christ is our peace. Those who are divided, God has made one. Christ has
promised reconciliation to those who repent and believe. We are forgiven!
Let us live as reconciled people!
People: Hallelujah! Thanks be to God
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYERS AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
GLORIA PATRI
First Lesson Psalm 14 Pg 470
HYMN OF REFLECTION There's Wideness in God's Mercy Pg 72
Second Lesson Luke 15: 1-10. Pg 908
SERMON Grow in God's Love Rev. David Hurst
CLOSING HYMN Go Forth for God # 352
BENEDICTION
Leader: O precious and living God grant us your peace and serenity.
ALL: Let us now go in peace, seeking the favor of God so that
our deeds may be not exalted here on earth, but rather in
heaven, where the true reward is in the kingdom of God!
POSTLUDE
Bulletins for September are given in memory of Carl and Marion Lamb by Anne Tiffany.
Archived News of Note:
Music Director /Organist
Matt Alcombright
Thank you!!
September Calendar
September 7th Morning Worship 9am
Communion
ASP Trip Feedback by Youth Group
Coffee Hour following Worship
Take & Eat
Sept 11th(Thu) Deacons Meeting 3:30pm
September 14th Morning Worship 9am
Dorcas Meeting following Worship
(To plan Harvest Take-out)
Coffee Hour following Worship
Sept 18st(Thu) Trustees Meeting 4:15 pm
September 21th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
September 28th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Take & Eat
Upcoming
October 12th Church Council Meeting following Worship
Looking Back and Looking Forward. God is so good!! Over the last 10-15 years we have seen a lot of changes at Second Congregational Church. We have had people pass away and others move away. We have had new people join the church. Through it all God has provided funds to allow us to meet our needs. The parsonage was upgraded and returned to a place we could be proud to lease out and for a much greater income. Funds that God provided and a lot of volunteered labor got it done. New Hymnals most given in memory of a loved ones arrived. New bathrooms and choir storage were built, once again volunteers and funds God provided. Both buildings painted. Another project that you all contributed to and some of our neighbors made donations but it was God leading the way. The Trustees were looking forward when they decided to replace the oil tank at church and build a retaining pit at the parsonage to insure we would not be facing thousands of dollars of environmental cleanup in the years ahead. Again, God provided those funds through your weekly offering, building fund offering and special gifts. We have been able to increase our income by renting a section of the Sunday School room to Morais as they provide an office for MADOT. God provided that opportunity through a chance encounter at the coffee bar at the corner store. The Trustees had to purchase a new stove for the parsonage but God provided. They just bought a lawnmower and leaf blower to help maintain the grounds. In that process we discussed where we might draw the money from. General fund, Building fund or Memorial fund. We chose the Building fund but God led us to taking a serious look at the Memorial fund. We discovered there are many smaller amounts donated in someone's memory as the original size of the gift or left over from a purchase made from a larger gift that is over three years old. These gifts together amounted to almost $6500 with the money setting in a low interest savings account. We will be coming to the October Council meeting looking for your approval to set a policy to move these funds to the Raymond James account annually if they have not been used after 3 years. We would also appoint a Trustee to work with families that are in the less than 3-year group to mutually agree on a needed project or moving the funds to the higher interest Raymond James account. Looking back 15 plus years, we had a sizable donation to set up that account and have used the interest funds that it acquires to meet the everyday needs of our yearly programs, pay staff and handle surprise expenses. God provided these funds to allow Second Congregational to continue to be a witness to this community and the world. A detailed proposal will be part of the October newsletter. Thank you all for following God's leading as you support this church in all the ways He leads you.
The Trustees continue contact with our insurance carrier looking toward an accurate budget number for 2026. We expect that the church and parsonage values will rise. We were able to avoid that last year when we installed oil spill protection in both buildings. A new stove has been purchased for the parsonage. MADOT has the sense that they will continue to need the office space through next fall and maybe longer as the roundabout takes shape and the added details of a memorial wall and historic signage are added. The lawn continues to be cut and the new blower removes the clippings from the parking area and sidewalk with Wayne at the controls. The parsonage twin front shrubs, the greens around the handicap ramp and the front sidewalk were reclaimed from the snowball bushes with a trim to all. We continue to look at repair needs ahead of them being issues and deal with them head on. We are very grateful to Jean and Missy providing us detail financial information. We look forward to the return of Worship following the August shutdown and would remind everyone that we have had nearly normal expenses while closed. Please be sure to catch up on your pledges and gifts if you didn't prior to the break. Thank you for your support.
The Youth are excited to keep up the good work with Take and Eat and appreciate the church’s support. Upcoming service dates are August 31, September 7, September 28, October 5, November 2, November 30, and December 7. Mia has now completed the ServSafe course and test. This credential allows her to represent the church as health and safety manager.
The youth are equally excited about sharing news of their ASP trip with “y’all” on September 7th during service!
In the meantime, if you are eager to learn more of their ASP location without leaving Williamstown, you could read Homer Hickam’s #1 New York Times Bestselling Memoir “Rocket Boys” that inspired the major motion picture “October Sky”. Tommy mentioned it last newsletter. It’s a true story about the Coalwood, WV boys whose innovations in rocket science gained the town national recognition in 1957.
McDowell County, where our ASP group worked, is the setting of the movie, so you’ll get a feel for the mountainous terrain, curvy country roads, and more. Also, the tensions within the film (stay local vs leave and pursue opportunity) are still felt today.
MISSION COMMITTEE NEWS. All this year’s Mission donations which were budgeted have been given to the designated projects. A big thank you to our Treasurer, Missy Young, for her continued support and sending out the donations. We will begin September with our Monthly Food Pantry. Please remember to bring an item for the food wagon at the back of the sanctuary. We will have a list of items for the Veterans Pantry soon. You may still bring items. The container is in the Fellowship Room and labeled. Our committee will meet in September to begin the budget work for 2026. One of our Missions is the Williamstown Youth Center. They provide a weekly newsletter, (email) and I will mention some of the programs they provide for students. They are open for the 25/26 School Year After School Program, which operates every school day from Williamstown Elementary School dismissal time (3-5 PM). Children are organized into groups by age, supervised by a group leader and program assistants. They can choose from a range of activities. It is open for 1st through 6th graders. You can find more information on their website. They count on our support to make the programs affordable for everyone. Scholarships are available. They provide need-based scholarships so that any child can afford to attend. They are open for the Fall Soccer Registration, grades K-2. This year I am hoping to increase our donation amount as I feel the childhood years are so important to provide as much learning skills, making friends, and enjoying all the center has to offer. Our current donation is $100.00. Your continued support for all our mission projects is very important and we hope everyone who is able will continue to donate. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Caroline Martel, Chairman
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.
The Dorcas had a lovely picnic August 21st at noon at church. It was a beautiful day and the guys working inside took the tables out for us. 10 lovely ladies were there and we were missing a few lovely ones as well. A good time was had by all. We will meet after Church in Sept. to plan our Take out Harvest Dinner.
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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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!
"FIND THE GOOD"
“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