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
Rev. David Hurst
🎶🎶 Notes from the Music Director: As we enter March, subtle signs of early spring begin to appear, reminding us that renewal often unfolds quietly and gradually. In this season of Lent, we are invited into deeper reflection, prayer, and attentive listening. Music becomes a gentle companion, guiding us into stillness, giving voice to longing, and sustaining hope as we journey toward Easter.
On March 1, Mia, Tommy, and I will share special music as a trio, offering a collaborative expression of worship. We are also grateful that Kids 4 Harmony alumna Jennifer Daley will provide special music during the March 15 service, sharing her gifts with the congregation. For those seeking additional musical inspiration, the Berkshire Symphony, conducted by Andrew J. Kim, will present a program titled Opera Without Words on Friday, March 6 at 7:30 PM in Chapin Hall. I will have the privilege of performing in this concert and would be delighted to see familiar faces there. The concert is free and open to the public.
It is my hope that the music we share this month, both within and beyond our sanctuary, will draw us closer to God and to one another, guiding us gently toward renewal and a deeper awareness of His abiding presence.
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
April 12, 2026
En-Ting Hsu, Music Director
Second Sunday of Easter
CALL TO WORSHIP Lay Leader
Leader: In the beginning was the Word
People: And the Word was with God.
Leader: And the Word was God.
People: He was in the beginning with God.
Leader: All things came into being through him.
People: And without him not one thing came into being.
Leader: And the Word became flesh and lives among us,
People: And we have seen the glory, the glory as of a father; only son, full of grace and truth.
OPENING HYMN Come, Christians Join to Sing Pg 108
INVOCATION Lay Leader
Leader: Almighty and everlasting God, you appeared to terrified disciples in your risen glory.
People: Come into our presence now, O Lord. Enter our lives with the power of Easter life.
Leader: Open our minds to worship joyfully, for we are your disciples too.
People: Gladden our hearts. Fill us with love. Let us praise your name.
Leader: Open our hands to serve you and those around us. May we become witnesses to the Resurrection and walk the path of Christ in our daily lives.
People: O God, let the Holy Spirit of Christ enter our lives. Let your grace transform us into living and loving Christians.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (In Unison) Rev. David F. Hurst
God of mercy, we confess before you and each other that we have been unfaithful to you. We lack love for our neighbors. We waste opportunities to do good. We look the other way when you cry out to us in suffering of our brothers and sisters. We are sincerely sorry for our sins, both those we commit deliberately and those we allow to overtake us. We pray for the strength to follow in your path. Help us to love with that perfect love that casts out our fear, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer! Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God calls us to be in covenant, no matter how often we break it! God offers
us grace, no matter how far we wander from it! God enfolds us in
forgiveness, and there we find deep peace.
People: Halleluia! Thanks be to God
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY Pg 44
JOY AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYERS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
GLORIA PATRIA Pg 36
First Lesson 1 Peter 1: 3-9 Pg 1058
Second Lesson John 20: 19-31 Pg 945
Sermon Enter the Holy Spirit Rev. David F. Hurst
HYMN OF COMMUNION Breathe on Me, Breath of God Pg 220
THANKSGIVING AND HOLY COMMUNION
We celebrate an open communion table - All are welcome!
CLOSING HYMN All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name Pg 205
BENEDICTION
Leader: “Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
People: Let us go forth; confident and free. Let us open our hands to
the poor, the confused and those who search for meaning in darker
places. May we live Christ's presence and contribute the good news.
POSTLUDE
Bulletins for April are given in memory of Chuck and Mark Gardner by the Rita Gardner
“The time is always right to do what is right! Martin L King Jr.
Greetings and blessings,
And this verse is no April fool! I hope all is well with all those around us. Let us keep in our prayers all those challenged by sickness and infirmity. Let us, as we look to the beginning of spring and hoping that April will come in like a lamb. While being aware of God’s grace; giving and creating in us the humility to believe and to serve God, we set an example for others.
With our society becoming more and more secular, it appears to me that our coming into church and planning for its future is so important as we grow older. As we age, we must accept God’s grace. Wherever we are in life, there will be things we regret and things we have done astonishing well. There are strong beliefs in Christ that have guided us by hearing the good news. When we think of Jesus’ commandment of loving one another and having the faith to trust in God, it is much easier to forgive others, because we have been forgiven through God’s grace! Through God’s love and forgiveness, we find an inner peace that gives us the ability to endure or not overreact.
And now that we have grown in experience and age, there can be a wonderful feeling of gratitude of a life lived hearing the Word of God read, sung, and preached in worship. Thus, we enjoy serving God in the many tasks that a church community requires. These produce a feeling of unity; where we are all loving and serving and we avoid argument and dissention.
May 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-3/13224-Second-Congregational-Church-Service-4-5-26-v1/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!!
April Calendar
April 3rd Good Friday
April 4th Take & Eat
Youth doing Sanctuary cleaning
April 5 Easter Sunrise Service - 7am at Mt. Hope Morning Worship 9am
Special Coffee Hour following Worship
April 9th(Thu) Deacons Meeting
Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Meeting
April 12th (Thu) Deacons Meeting 3:30pm
April 14th (Sat) Leadership Work Camp
April 15th Morning Worship 9am
Easter Flower Forms Available
Easter Food Pantry Tags Available
Coffee Hour following Worship
April 19th(Thurs.)Trustees Meeting 4:15
April 22th Morning Worship 9am
Easter Flower Forms Available
Easter Food Pantry Items Due Today
Coffee Hour following Worship
April 29th Palm Sunday
Morning Worship 9am
Easter Flower Forms Due Today
Coffee Hour following Worship
Upcoming
Friday April 3rd Good Friday
Saturday April 4th Take & Eat (Note Day Change)
Sunday April 5th Easter Sunrise Service 7am
Easter Sunday Morning Worship 9am
Youth News: A black Labrador retriever named Patricia is Mia’s latest Guiding Eyes for the Blind pup. She has already been nicknamed Patty — and sometimes Patsy — and is about 12 weeks old. She was born on Thanksgiving Day to proud mama Ettie, who Mia also raised. So that makes Mia a grandma!
Patty and Mia will visit Sweetwood residents on March 20 for National Puppy Day. It is also the first day of spring.
Our Leadership Work Camp will take place in mid-March and in April. We’ve split the work up because of the snow. One project is indoors and the other — you guessed it — outside in the cold.
The next Take and Eat is March 1.
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 Trustees The Trustees welcomed Linda Seney to the group. Paul will continue on as Chairman. Ron will be the Secretary and continue as Memorial Trustee. Linda will be our representative to the Pastorate Board. The church's well water was tested and found to be safe. A sump pump in the parsonage that was not working properly was replaced ahead of anticipated Spring rain. Paul will speak to two electricians to see if either is interested in our business as it comes up. A tree to replace the one cut last year and a bench were suggested as options if a family was interested in using funds in the Memorial Fund. We looked at potential attendance today verses 5 years ago and found that because of several reasons (Deaths or Mobility Issues, Relocating, Natural Attrition) the number is 20 lower. We looked at that number as we continue to work up a "Functional Replacement Church" to reduce our expense in insuring our present building. We are interested in filling the area rented by Morais and used by MADOT once that lease is complete in order to continue supplementing our income if we can find another business with similar needs and demands.
“Happy are the people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, because they will be fed until they are full.” Matthew 5:6
The Mission Committee will meet on Sunday, March 1, 2026, to discuss the Easter Food Pantry. This will begin on March 15, and 22, 2026. We will take it to the Food Pantry on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Tags will be on the Pussy Willows provided by John Quimby. The Dorcas Society will donate 2 Canned Hams.One Great hour of Sharing will begin on Sunday, March 8 and March 15, 2026. Envelopes will be placed in the church bulletins for 2 weeks. There will be a Mission Moment at each church service from the Mission Committee. The Church World Service Vision is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement and disaster. For more information on their programs, you may visit their site online at Church World Service. This year’s theme is: Our Love Offering to the World.
Thank you all for your generous donations.
To learn more about their project or volunteer contact him at director@berkshirefoodproject.org
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.
The Deacon's met on February 12th. They elected officers and arranged Sunday coverage for the next month. David will be doing announcements prior to the Prelude.They made plans for the Palm Sunday service on March 29th and the purchase and pick up of palms. The Deacons have a desire to recognize those that served the church and passed in the previous Calander year. It was decided to recognize those individuals at the Annual Outdoor Service each year going forward and invite their families to join with us at that service. The next meeting will be March 12th at 3:30. Wayne thought a text should be sent out prior to the meeting to remind all.
The Dorcas met on February 12th. They elected officers and arranged Sunday coverage for the next month. David will be doing announcements prior to the Prelude.They made plans for the Palm Sunday service on March 29th and the purchase and pick up of palms. The Deacons have a desire to recognize those that served the church and passed in the previous Calendar year. It was decided to recognize those individuals at the Annual Outdoor Service each year going forward and invite their families to join with us at that service. The next meeting will be March 12th at 3:30. Wayne thought a text should be sent out prior to the meeting to remind all.
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.
“Faith comes from hearing the good news. Its message to us is heard through the word of God in Christ.” Romans 10:17
“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