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!
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail; With peace on earth, good will to men."
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A Tribute: We’d like to take a moment to share a few words about Thomas Kirby. Some of you call him Tom, others Tommy, and some Thomas, but no matter what name you use, he is one of the most thoughtful people we know.
Tommy has a truly giving heart. He is a wonderful son, a strong member of our community, and a friend to people of all ages. He has led our ASP trips, initiated the Take and Eat program, supported Habitat for Humanity, and generously shared his musical gifts, enriching our community in countless ways.
He laughs easily and his eyes twinkle when he smiles. He is helpful, sincere, intelligent, and hardworking, someone who makes those around him feel valued and supported.
Tommy is heading to Pennsylvania to complete a postbaccalaureate year before applying to medical school.
We are grateful for all he has given and excited for all he will continue to do. Perhaps Tommy will return to serve our rural community as a physician sometime in the not-so-distant future. Wishing him all the best in his future endeavors!!
Rev. David Hurst
🎶🎶 Notes from the Music Director:
September brings the return of our regular in-person worship, and I am especially excited to welcome the Strings for Change Youth String Ensemble to the Second Congregational Church. Mia and I have been working together to invite these young musicians into our worship and to share their music with the wider community as a way of serving others through music. I am grateful for the chance to celebrate their talents and encourage their musical journey. There is something especially meaningful about hearing young people share their gifts. Making music together teaches us to listen, support one another, and discover how each individual voice contributes to something greater. I hope their presence will bring joy to our congregation and remind us of the beauty of nurturing the next generation through music. As we begin a new season together, I look forward to the fresh energy, creativity, and connections that music can bring to our church and community. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.” Psalm 98:4
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.[🛠️]
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Rev. David F. Hurst, Pastor
September 13, 2026
En-Ting Hsu, Music Director
Sixteenth after Pentecost
ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP Lay Leader
Leader: The Lord is our strength and our Redeemer. He lives among us; guiding and loving us.
People: Our God has become our salvation through our faithful reliance upon His Word.
Leader: Come let us sing to the Lord! Let us rejoice and be happy in the Light of God.
People: Through your infinite love you have forgiven us. You have made us whole.
OPENING HYMN Praise, My soul, the God of Heaven Pg19
INVOCATION Lay Leader
Leader: O God the world is filled with your wonders and your grace.
People: Draw near to us when we pray, O Lord.
Leader: The world is filled with dangers, fears and violence.
People: O Lord, draw near to us when we pray.
Leader: Holy Spirit come into our hearts and grant us a clearness of mind, where we can see and understand your strength and your infinite love.
People: O Lord, be our bond and our refuge, both now and in the days ahead. In you, O Lord, we can rely.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION Rev. David F. Hurst
Leader: Open our hearts, O loving God to the realities of life. Focus us! Center us, so that we are able to pray for others, as well as ourselves. Bring us to an awareness of your Spirit, so that we can share your Word with others. Bless us, as we renew our faith and covenant in prayer.
People: Gracious God, we confess that we doubt you in the face of conflict and we ignore you when life is calm. Help us not to settle for meaningless substitutes for your saving grace. Help us to trust your guidance and listen to that still small voice
within us. Forgive us, O God, heal our self-inflicted wounds and renew our fragile covenants with you and one another.
PRAYER OF ASSURANCE Rev. David F. Hurst
O awesome and amazing God, you go to the depths of love and the heights of caring for us. Awaken us! Gladden our hearts! Walk with us each day. Bless us each evening. Protect us from our worries and our troubles. Awesome and amazing God, thank you for your love and forgiveness.
People: Halleluia! Thanks be to God
JOY AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYERS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
GLORIA PATRIA Pg 36
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY Pg 44
First Lesson Romans 14: 1-12 Pg 988
HYMN OF REFLECTION Let a Tree Beside the Waters Pg 244
Second Lesson Matthew 18: 21-35 Pg 852
Sermon Forgive 7 X 7 Rev. David Hurst
CLOSING HYMN Let There Be Peace on Earth Pg 512
BENEDICTION (In Unison)
Leader: As you have been blessed by God, go forth and share our good news with others.
People: Lord, may we be confident and strong; instill in us Your Wisdom so that we might share your love with those around us.
POSTLUDE Now Thank We All Our God – Wilbur Held
Bulletins for September are given in memory of Saul and Cecile Love by Allen and Linda Seney
“The time is always right to do what is right! Martin L King Jr.
Greetings and blessings to all!
Fall is arriving and we are ready for another year! I hope you have had a good summer to relax and enjoy our beautiful Berkshire weather. I’ve enjoyed the time off and am ready to go for my seventh year of service to our wonderful church!
As most of you know I will be taking every third Sunday off beginning this September. Barry Grauman and Wayne Botto will be doing the services for the fall. I will be doing the bulletins and arranging music with En-Ting as usual. I am looking forward to you letting me know how that goes and whether it will be good for the church to encourage lay people to conduct worship.
Let us pray, for all those on our prayer lists, including Susan Rockefeller and all those who need a call or a card. We welcome back the Holgren’s from Kenya and are anxious to hear their story. Thank you all for the service you do for this church.
We see in our scripture verse, as our season now changes into fall. I enjoy the cooler weather and the beautiful clear days of September, then Fall ends too! But we know as the weather changes, that change of all kinds is inevitable. Life cannot remain static, although we might think we would like it that way. And how do we cope with change? How do we pass from one phase of life to another? It is hard! It produces anxiety and fear. But we know that God is in control of every transition; that change is a natural part of God’s plan. If we rely upon our Creator, change can be a total shift of the heart and mind rather than just fixes in our daily lives. It is important to remember God does not change! God gives us the power to become new! We receive renewed love! We think more of God’s truth and how we apply it to the pressures of life. Then we receive new life; filled with gratitude, filled with peace and goodness.
God bless,
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-3/13535-Second-Congregational-Church-Service-9-6-26-v2/vod.mp4
Upcoming
**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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Archived News of Note:
Music Director /Organist
Matt Alcombright
Thank you!!
September Calendar
Sept 6th Morning Worship 9am with Strings for Change
Communion
Coffee Hour following Worship
Take & Eat
Sept 7th Labor Day
Sept 10th(Thu)Deacons Meeting 3:30
Sept 13th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Sept 17th(Thu) Trustees Meeting 4:15
Sept 20th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Sept 27th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Q & A time
Upcoming
October 11th Church Council Meeting after Worship
A Dedication of the Haig/Love Memorial tree following Worship (Date to be determined)
A Joint Meeting of the Deacons, Trustees, Pastorate Committees and the Pastor was held on August 3 to discuss David's request to have the 3rd Sunday of each month off beginning in September 2026. After a lengthy discussion looking at the way this might affect the church and being assured that David would continue with all the other duties of the pastor on those weeks, the Deacons voted to allow him the time off. Barry Grauman has agreed to be the primary replacement with Wayne Botto as his backup. David will work with the fill-in(s) as required. He would also preach on any of those 3rd Sundays that was a church Holiday (Easter.) The WilliNet service on those Sundays will be from reruns. Following the Deacons approval the Trustee discussed and agreed on a pay reduction with David and passed that information on to the Treasurer for the payroll adjustment.
Youth News: Happy Fall! It is off to a busy start! Mia and En-Ting are collaborating on a wonderful project called Strings for Change, a youth string ensemble made up of young musicians and even some of their parents! Together, they are using the power of music to bring people together, strengthen communities, and create meaningful change. Through their classical music performances, Strings for Change hopes to give back to the community while helping expand access to music education for young people in underserved local communities.
Strings for Change has a busy weekend ahead! They will be playing on Spring Street, followed by performances at the Williamstown Public Library on Saturday at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., and then at our church during the service on Sunday, September 6.
If allowed, perhaps we can take a Second Collection on Sunday to support Strings for Change’s mission and help provide greater access to music education for young people in underserved communities.Take and Eat is also September 6. Future dates: October 4 • November 29 • December 6
The Trustees want to thank Linda Seney and the Dorcas Society for funding and arranging the cleanup of the sanctuary. Catching the cleaning bug, the mail desk was found under a pile of "stuff" that had accumulated on it and was sorted and discarded as appropriate. Wayne has continued to mow and trim along with blowing off the walkways and parking lot weekly even when it sprinkles. The bushes in front of the parsonage were trimmed and the ones in front of the church and along the handicap ramp too. The yearly cutting back of the snowball bushes and vines was done to again have access to the sidewalk leading to the church. The memorial tree by the ramp was trimmed away from the building and roof by David Young. He also trimmed the old pine stump to make a post for the Haig/Love Memorial plaque. Small projects continue to pop up and are handled cheerfully. MADOT continues to have their Field Office in the SS area while the work is being done on Rt7. This income source could end by the end of 2026. We would be open to renting office space to a similar low/non traffic business. Please let Ron know if you hear of anyone that might be interested.
Take and Eat 2026 dates are: 1/4, 2/1, 3/1, 4/4, 5/3, 5/31, 9/6, 10/4,11/29, 12/6
The Dorcas Report: Our picnic was held on Aug. 18th at the church. Twelve of us enjoyed great food and a fun time together. We will be paying for a thorough cleaning of the sanctuary done by Paul Senecal and crew. This includes cleaning the pews and cushions, wood floors, cleaning the carpet, and washing the windows inside and out. The cost is $1837. At this point, we have been given donations of $640 for this. If anyone would like to donate to this please make a check out to the Dorcas Society and give to Linda Seney, if mailing please use PO Box 877 Lanesboro. MA 01237. Thank you. We are unsure if we will be able to do the Harvest Takeout Dinner. We will have a meeting soon to discuss this. On a sad note, Susan Rockefeller will be moving to Housatonic to be near her family. We will all miss her and wish her the best.
The Deacon's met on 7/9/2026 at 3:30 pm. The service for Remembrance of the members we lost last year was discussed. We had to change the date to July 12th as Field Farm had another engagement. The service was held at the Church. We had the obituaries of our lost members on a board for all to see. Many of their families came to the service. We had a nice coffee hour after. July 19th was our outdoor service at Field Farm. A beautiful morning in a beautiful setting. The Deacon's provided refreshments. We will not have Church Services in the month of August. The Deacons were set for September. Our next meeting will be September 10th at 3:30 pm. At the outdoor service Pastor David announced that he would like to start having the 3rd Sunday of each month off. He had talked to Barry Grauman and Wayne Botto to fill in for him and they were receptive to that. The Deacon's and the Trustees met to discuss this with Pastor David. He will be available for visitations, funerals and emergencies. We all agreed that it was fine for him to do.
The Mission Commitee will resume meeting in September when church services begin.
The Williamstown Food Pantry will resume delivery from our church on the first Sunday of the month. We will begin on September 6, 2026. Items for school students will be appreciated as they need snacks and cereal bars.
When we receive a new list from the Veterans Services, I will post or put a new list on the container in the Fellowship Hall. I don’t know what their clothing needs are at this time, but whenever I receive the information, it will be announced in church, or a list will be on the container.
Thank you all for the generous donations you have given. Warm clothing will probably be the next need. Personal care items and detergents are always welcome.
We will be working on the budget for next year at our upcoming meeting and the Thanksgiving Food Pantry in November.
Looking forward to seeing everyone again at Church on Sunday next week. Let us all remember that God loves a cheerful giver.
Thank you everyone.
The Veterans pantry continues and the box has a list of items that they have asked to be donated. Everyone has been so generous, and it is really appreciated by Veterans Service office in North Adams.
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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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!
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.
Greetings and welcome back!
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
“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.”
A favorite quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us of the spirit behind their work: “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
Welcome to
The Second Congregational Church
81 Hancock Road • Williamstown, MA 01267 • (413) 458-3467