Anne Tiffiny fell in her house this past week and was operated on at BMC. She has now been moved to the Williamstown Commons for an anticipated 10 weeks of rehab. If you would like to send a card or note the address is Adams Rd, Williamstown, MA 01267 (Room 206)
The Trustees are looking forward. They have contacted the town to renew our Kichen Permit which allows us to hold special events such as the Strawberry Festival and Harvest Supper. We have sent out the Stewardship Letter and Proposed 2021 Budget with assistance from the Stewardship Committee and are awaiting your response.
The Prayer List is above. Please look it over and add or remove names by emailing the church. wmst2ndcongo@outlook.com Please keep those on the list in prayer.
Memorial Bulletins sign-up sheet for 2021 will be posted in the Sunday School room this coming week. Please indicate who you would like remembered and who the bulletins are given by on the area provided for each month on the sheet. You may also sign-up by emailing the church and providing the same information along with the desired month. The cost for a month remains at $30. A check can be sent to Jean Richer with Memorial Bulletins on the memo line.
Welcome to
The Second Congregational Church
81 Hancock Road • Williamstown, MA 01267 • (413) 458-3467
Rev. David Hurst!
The Holidays Begin!
As we begin the Season of Advent, I hope that all of you have had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. In spite of changes of our traditions of getting together, the hope is that we are grateful for our faith and our lives. Without the full trappings we can see more clearly the importance of our love for one another. As we pray for patience to live through this pandemic and economic down turn, let the blessings of God be in our hearts.
As we move into December, the Advent season, we must be reminded to stay safe and apart as much as possible. The less exposure the better; particularly with folks who are in the high-risk groups.
As of now we will be celebrating Christmas Eve on December 24th at 5pm. The current capacity for the church is 30 people This may change! We will have the Christmas Eve service on WilliNet as well.
I especially like this poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and a good many other books and essays, because it describes in detail the story of Jesus' birth and his coming into the world. As we wait and watch the story unfold again in this very weird year, let us breathe deep and pray for peace and healing in the world. May the blessings of Advent be with us in caring and respect for all those in need of God's infinite grace.
Pastor David
— December Calendar —
December 6th Morning Worship 9 am,
Communion Service
December 10th Deacons Meeting at 3:30 pm
December 13th Morning Worship 9 am
December 17th Trustees Meeting at 4:30 pm
December 20th Morning Worship at 9 am
December 24th Christmas Eve Service at 5 pm
(see Deacons below)
December 25th Christmas Day
December 27th Morning Worship 9 am
WilliNet channel 1303 will have the Sunday service on at 9am and 4pm. Rerun Wed at 10am and Friday at 7pm. They will also have the Christmas Eve Service Thursday the 24th at 5pm.
The Deacon's need readers for Advent for December 6th, 13th and 20th. Please let Pastor David know if you can read and he will get you your reading. We will be having a Christmas Eve Service at 5pm and are allowed only 30 people in the church per the town. Please let Clare Morrison (413-672-8295) or Pastor David (413-426-6031) know so we can plan accordingly. The service will also be on WilliNet for those who cannot attend.
From the Sunday School . . . Second Congo Youth will definitely miss what has traditionally been an active time at church with pageants and musical services. Yet we will roll with it! Literally! Five youth, respective parents, Pastor David and hopefully Mark and Mickey (if healed) will caravan in cars (although camels would be much more fun) to sing at various congregation member's houses. We will focus on those who do not have the chance to get out and about as much on their own. With joy, we look forward to sharing the anticipation of Christ's birth by raising our voices in harmony on December 20th while caroling on behalf of the church.
The Dorcas will be doing a Cookie Mission. If you wish to bake please have your cookies (2 or 3 wrapped in baggies) for Sat. the 19th by noon. Leave them in the Sunday School room or kitchen. Janet Holmgren and crew will be caroling on December 20th and has graciously offered to deliver some of the cookies on their way. The Dorcas will not be having our Annual Christmas Luncheon.
The Mission Committee: First we want to thank everyone for the Thanksgiving food for the Williamstown Food Pantry, the Dorcas for two turkeys and John Quimby for delivering the food. It was greatly appreciated. The Christmas Gift Mission will be different this year due to Covid-19 restriction on everyone. We cannot buy gifts for individuals this year. Carol De-Mayo and her volunteers are asking for Gift Cards and candy. They will distribute to families in need. If you cannot provide a gift card then candy is fine. Small boxes with a gift card will be given to those she has on her list. Card suggestions are as follows: Dunkin Donuts, Cumberland Farms, Target, Wal-Mart, Wild Oats, The Cottage, Where did you get that? (Williamstown), Sunoco Gas Card, Walgreens or other local stores. Candy suggestions are hard candy, Andes' Mints, Bags of wrapped candy or bars. We have asked the Dorcas for 2 canned Hams. The dates to bring your cards to the church will be December 6th and 13th. A basket will be provided under the Christmas Tree for the gift cards and candy. If anyone cannot bring these items to church please call Caroline Martel (802-823-5016) and she will gladly pick up at your home.
During the month of December and until further notice if you wish to donate food please bring it directly to the Food Pantry on Southworth St at the St Patrick's/Raphael's church except on Wednesday mornings when they distribute food. Also, Gift Cards for grocery stores or checks may be mailed directly to the Williamstown Food Pantry, 53 Southworth St. Williamstown, MA 01267. Attn. Food Pantry.
One of our Missions is the Williamstown Youth Center and we would like to make note they are still providing programs for the children. Some are full days and some are half days. There is a full schedule of activities and programs on their web site. They have Basketball Skills Development and other after school activities. They hope to have Skiing and Snowboarding at jiminy Peak in December on Wednesdays. Children must be registered for each program online. They are accommodating students from Williamstown Elementary School with remote learning for a fee. You can find a brochure on the table in the Fellowship Hall for anyone interested with phone numbers.
Thank you all for helping to support our Mission work. We know it is different this year, but with God's help we can do Miracles.
Music Director /Organist
Matt Alcombright!
— From the Organ Bench —
As we begin this month of December, we also begin the beautiful Season of Advent. In many Christian faith traditions one of the great hymns of the season is "O' Come, O' Come Emmanuel". This hymn tune is based on a Gregorian Chant. Most importantly the hymn traditionally has seven verses. Each verse highlights a name or title given to Christ throughout the Scriptures. Christ is referred to as Emmanuel, Wisdom, Lord, Root of Jesse, Key of David, Dayspring and King of Nations. These titles for Christ lead us deeper into the mystery of this Long Awaited Savior. Jesus is the expected one, the Savior that is hoped for and King who has come. God among us. Each week, after the lighting of the Advent Wreath, we will listen to (and sing) two verses of this great hymn to lead us deeper into that reality that God chose to come among us and be with us. God truly is with us! (Emmanuel) As this hymn draws us into the awesome reality that God has come and will come to us again let us enter the season of Hope echoing the refrain of this hymn "Rejoyce! Rejoyce! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!"
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
A Christmas Prayer
by Robert Lewis Stevenson
Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
— Remember in Prayer —
Members of the congregation
Norm & Betsey Burdick, Sam Westcott, Maggie Guiden, Jack Haig, Cecile Love,
Polly Roberts (Dalmaso), Missy & Brian Young, Don Quimby, John Storey, Mary Kirby, Caroline Martel, Mickey Thaisz, Anne Tiffany
Dick Diest, cousin of Wayne Morrison
Linda Cangelosi, sister-in-law of Mary Ellen Cangelosi
Charmaine Lapier, sister of Eunice Lapier
Hank Schneider, brother of Mary Ellen Cangelosi
Becky Leto , friend of Clare Morrison
Megan Jennings Dostal, friend of Chris van Luling & community
Matt Parker, friend of Chris van Luling
Jenna Fenander, friend of Bridget Spann
Julia Peele, sister of Bonnie Herr
Jessica & Taylor vanLuling, relatives of Bart & Chris
Paul Hamilton, friend of congregation
Michelle Nicklein, daughter-in-law of Virginia Nicklein
Fred Brill family of Mary Ellen Cangelosi
Victor Fraenckel friend of Bob & Janet Mayer
Cathy Foley, friend of Chris Bradich
Julie Weber, friend of Caroline Martel
Carol Clement, Mary-Ellen Cangelosi’s sister
Keith Roberts, Polly Roberts’ grandson
Sandra Joyce, friend of Ann Tiffany
Sue Linquist Bob and Janet Mayer’s daughter
Susan Rockefeller’s daughter’s upcoming adoption hearing for her foster children
Mary Beth Miller, friend to both Janet Holmgren and Bridget Spann
Ann (Ostrander) Lemons, cousin of Clare Morrison
Sol Wertkins, friend of Clare and Wayne Morrison’s son
Frances Spann, mother of Bridget
Damon George, son of Jon George
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 & family. Prayers for all people as we look to “love our neighbor” as God has commanded.