— Music Notes —
The adult choir is looking for more members! We are very happy to welcome part-time members or occasional members. Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 and Sunday mornings at 8:15. But if you can't make it to Wednesday rehearsals, feel free to just come on Sunday mornings! Or just visit once to see what it's like. Singing in our choir is lots of fun and it's good for your health, too!
The Sunday School led a wonderful Sunday Advent Service which included readings, personal accounts, hymns, and beautiful vocal and instrumental music performed by each of the kids. It was a very special time for our congregation and we thank you all!
Welcome to
The Second Congregational Church
81 Hancock Road • Williamstown, MA 01267 • (413) 458-3467
Matt Alcombright was born and raised in North Adams, MA. He is a graduate of Drury High School class of 2001. He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and completed his Bachelors Degrees in Music Education and Piano Performance. He later went on to study at St. John's Seminary in Brighton earning a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy and a Masters in Divinity. For the past seven years he was active in parish ministry in the Diocese of Springfield before taking a leave of absence and now resides back in North Adams where he is a caretaker for his grandmother as well as working at Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home. He also serves as the organist/choir director at St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington, VT.
Matt began his career in church music at the age of 13 at the former Holy Family and Notre Dame Parishes in North Adams. He would later become an organist and choir director for many parishes in the North Berkshire area. He served as Music Director for the Newman Center at UMass, the former Sacred Heart Parish in Easthampton and St. Mary's Parish in Longmeadow. Matt also served, throughout his years in music ministry, as a substitute for many other faith traditions and denominations. Said Matt, "I very excited to be with the community at the Second Congregational Church in Williamstown, and I'm grateful for their warm and kind welcome."
Happy New Year!
Welcome to our new
Music Director /Organist
Matt Alcombright!
Rev. Belle Fox-Martin
We are delighted to introduce Belle as our
new Bridge Minister! She joined us in
October and will lead our congregation until
we have found a settled minister.
Belle has been a minister with the United
Church of Christ for over 20 years. She
served as Pastor to the West Stockbridge
Congregational Church, UCC, and the
Housatonic Congregational Church, UCC.
Belle was born and raised in New York
City. She and her wife, Cheryl, live in
Stockbridge, MA, with three unruly but loving dogs. As well as being a minister, Belle is an artist, an author of several collections of poetry and micro stories, and she is a Substance Abuse Specialist having worked in NYC with the homeless .
Please join us on Sundays as we welcome Belle Fox-Martin to our church community!
Cookies, food, gifts, songs, decorations, music, candle light and oh such an uplifting of God's glory, such a sharing of that light of love born through a child that broke through/breaks through the darkness. The Candle Light service and the church's Advent and Christmas season warmed the heart and stirred the soul of all. Thank you for all your good work, generosity of spirit and good cheer. Pastor Belle
January 5th 9am Worship and Communion —
Pastor Belle Fox-Martin
Table Talk following coffee hour —
Pastor Belle's choice
January 12th 9am Worship Pastor Belle Fox-Martin
Table Talk following coffee hour Your choice
(see below)
January 14th 7pm Church Council
January 16th 3:30pm Deacons
4:30pm Trustees
January 19th 9am Worship — Pastor Belle Fox-Martin
Table Talk following coffee hour — Informal look
back/forward (see below)
January 25th Winter Farmers Market in Sunday School room —
(see below)
January 26th 9am Worship — Pastor Belle Fox-Martin
Table Talk following coffee hour —
Geared for Young Adults
Reports due today for inclusion in the
2019 Annual Report
Table Talk continues each week following coffee hour. A varity of topics for you to choose from for 1/12 includes What are the needs of our community? How do people know we are a welcoming church? If one thing needs to be changed in our worship service it would be . . . Let Belle know what topic you would like on the 12th. The Table Talk on 1/19 is for the council/trustees/search/diaconate to have an informal discussion of the past year and future goals we may have. The Table Talk on 1/26 is an opportunity for the young adults of the church to share their thoughts.
Pastor Visitation: There will be a sign-up sheet posted in the SS room for anyone to write down the name, address and tel. number of someone who might like a pastoral visit. It would be helpful if you told Pastor Belle a little about the person.
The Mission Committee gives a big thank you to all our members and friends who participated in the Christmas Mission gift tag program. Carol DeMayo reports an overwhelming grateful response from those who received our generous gifts and items of food. It is very much appreciated. Thanks also to the Mission Committee for providing the church with the opportunity to serve our community. Remember that they are collecting non-perishable food items each week for the Food Pantry.
The Sunday School wants to give you a heads up that they will be collecting for the "Souper Bowl" on 2/2. Look for them at the door following morning worship. They are also excited to be working with Matt, the new music director and organist.
Wanted: Clare Morrison is looking for a year off from putting together the Annual Report due to Wayne's illness. She is willing to talk you through what needs to be done but does not feel she has the time to work on it this year. Please contact Clare by 1/19 if you are willing to take on this project. She can be reached at
413-672-8295 or via email at cmorrison45@hotmail.com.
Winter Farmers Market: It is anticipated that the first of 4 Monthly Markets will be held at our church on 1/25th. Details are being worked out as to hours and vendors.