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: November invites us to pause and reflect on the many blessings in our lives. As a musician, I am grateful for the opportunity to share music with others and to be reminded of how music can express hope, bring comfort, and connect people from different backgrounds. On November 6, I will be performing with the Berkshire Symphony in a concert featuring the premiere of Dreamers, a new work by Williams College Professor of Composition Ileana Perez Velazquez, inspired by immigrants pursuing a new life. The second half will feature Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, a powerful journey from struggle to triumph. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Chapin Hall at Williams College and is free and open to the public. As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded that gratitude is not only about appreciating what we have, but also recognizing the people who encourage us, welcome us, and walk alongside us through life's challenges. May we carry this spirit of thankfulness into our church and community, sharing kindness and making room for others to feel welcomed and valued.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1
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
David J. Hurst, Pastor
November 15, 2026
En-Ting Hsu, Music Director
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP Lay Leader
Leader: O God, Eternal Spirit, you have called us into relationship with you to fulfill a mission whose meaning we dimly see.
People: Grant us a secure sense of our identity as children of the promise. Distribute among us the gifts of faith and prayer, of love and hope, and thanksgiving. Open us that we may never cease to do thy will, nor cease to be generous with our love.
Leader: O God, help us to be willing and excited to share the good news with those around us.
People: We thank you this day for creating us and giving us all that is necessary for life. Help us to remember your gifts, that we will raise our voices in praise with joy, humility and service.
OPENING HYMN O Master Let Me Walk with Thee Pg 465
INVOCATION (In unison) Lay Leader
“Give us thankful hearts in this season of Thy Thanksgiving. May we be thankful for health and strength, for sun and rain and peace. Let us seize the day, and the opportunity, and strive for that greatness of spirit that measures life, not by its
disappointments but by its possibilities. Let us remember that true gratitude and appreciation shows itself, neither in independence nor satisfaction, but passes the gift joyfully on, in larger and better form." W.E.B. Du Bois
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION [in unison] Rev. David F. Hurst
O gracious God, giver of joy and hope, you offer us the beauty of the earth and the hope for eternity. We are grateful. Thank you! We love you God, but we know we don’t love enough. You offer us guidance but we fail to heed your Wisdom in word or deed. There is pain and despair, war and terror in the world that frightens us, but we seem to go about our lives without thought of the suffering. We pray that your peace remains and that our thanksgiving for your gifts may be shared in a world of peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON Rev. David F. Hurst
Leader: Almighty God, who in your mercy, we are promised forgiveness. Help us to accept your love so that we might change. Strengthen us, that we will follow your Will. Through the love and blessing of Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
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 Psalm 123 Pg 476
HYMN OF REFLECTION God of the Fertile Fields Pg 456
Second Lesson Matthew 25:14-30 Pg 860
Sermon Abundant Opportunities Rev. David Hurst
CLOSING HYMN Faith of Our Fathers Pg 418
BENEDICTION (In Unison)
Leader: O God, Creator of all things, hear our prayers and accept our thanks and gratitude.
People: Let our mouths be filled with laughter and our tongues with shouts of joy.
Leader: As we go forth to family and dinners, let us be aware of those who are alone or who suffer in some way.
People: May they too be included in our lives and festivities.
Leader: For it is in the giving that we receive the gift of salvation.
POSTLUDE
Bulletins for November are given in memory of Jack Haig and Saul and
Cecile Love by Priscilla Haig and family.
“The time is always right to do what is right! Martin L King Jr.
Blessing to all,
As we are entering the month of November, the leaves are dropping from the trees and nature slows its pace. We have had a great fall with the foliage so bright! Thank you so much to Barry and Wayne for subbing for me the third week of the month. It has been great for me to spend more time with family. And their conducting worship adds new ideas and experience, which creates healthy and change difference. Many thanks to En-Ting and her wonderful music, thanks to the Deacons and the Trustees and all who serve our church.
This last Sunday we dedicated a Crabtree to the memories of Cecile Love, her son Rev David Love and her son-in-law John [Jack Haig]. It was a beautiful day to be outside [for a short time.] The dedication struck me in that there are many generations who lived locally and served our church in various ways. It is great to see them remembered, because this Sunday is All Saints Day. It is a Sunday to remember all who served in so many direct and indirect ways our church and the church universal.
As Thanksgiving comes and we give thanks for the harvest and the bounties we all share, Isaiah’s passage reminds us that even in the midst of decay and seasonal change, the word of God is unchanging! His grace and love is always there! On that, we can rely! So let us find joy and happiness in all our dealings. Let us walk faithfully with God each and every day.
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-3/13608-Second-Congregational-Church-Service-11-8-26-v3/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!!
November Calendar
Nov 1st Morning Worship 9am
Communion
Tags for Thanksgiving Food Pantry Items Available
Coffee Hour following Worship
Take & Eat
Nov 3rd Election Day--VOTE!!
Nov 6th En-Ting will be preforming with
Berkshire Symphony 7:30 pm Chapin Hall
Nov 8th Morning Worship 9am
Tags for Thanksgiving Food Pantry Items Available
Coffee Hour following Worship
Nov 11th Veterans Day
Nov 12th(Thu)Deacons Meeting 3:30
Nov 15th Morning Worship 9am
Thanksgiving Food Pantry Items Due
Church Council Meeting following Worship
Coffee Hour following Meeting
Nov 19th(Thu) Trustees Meeting 4:15
Nov 22nd Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Nov 26th Thanksgiving Day
Nov 29th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Take & Eat
Upcoming
Sunday December 6th Take & Eat (Final for 2026)
From the Youth: Warm the Children is currently underway! SCC is collecting donations for our local veterans through Northern Berkshire Veterans Services. Mia will deliver the donations just before Thanksgiving. Needed items include hygiene and household products, beverages, breakfast items, nonperishable food, and clothing .A clear plastic storage bin is located on the “egg table” in the Fellowship Room. Donations may be placed in the bin at any time through November 23.Take and Eat: Our next meal delivery is November 29, and our last of the year is December 6. Our 2027 dates are coming soon! Strings for Change: Thank you for your generosity! We received a lovely thank-you note from Kids for Harmony expressing their appreciation for our donation.
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: Paul and David will look at the Parsonage Porch roof to see if it needs replacement before winter following our meeting.
The wall by the Oil Pit was patched again and there was no intrusion following the last rain. The Epoxy coating will be applied next.
As a follow-up to the Church Council Meeting, three of the Trustees as individuals would pay the $100-110 for having the sanctuary heated and available the 1st Sunday of Jan, Feb and March. This would avoid conflict with Take & Eat and enhance the Communion Service.
The Trustees have appointed David Young as the individual with the second signature on the Raymond James account.
The Trustees looked at the offer of the Parsonage tenant to purchase the building. After some discussion, the fact that money from the sale would run out in approximately 15 years when used as rent replacement it was decided to reject the offer.
Ron has contacted all the church groups asking for their budget needs for 2027. The Trustees will put the Proposed Budget together at their November meeting. Once the budget is compiled, it will be sent along with the Stewardship letter.
A discussion was held on how the winter church services might be set-up in the SS Room. Pulpit and pew location, use of the speaker and the keyboard were considered. Wayne will bring our thoughts to the Deacon meeting.
The Dorcas Report: We want to thank everyone who donated time, energy and money to the cleaning of the sanctuary and the entryway. We received $860 towards the $1837 bill. Looking forward, we will be donating 2 turkeys to the Thanksgiving Mission. And we will donate to the Christmas Mission. Hopefully we will have our annual Christmas Luncheon in December. Anna will continue to sell the Rada cutlery in the Sunday School room.
We want to thank everyone for all you do for the church. People are constantly working behind the scenes working on finances, collecting the offering, recording and depositing it, paying the bills, keeping the accounts, missions, keeping the yard beautiful, mowing, trimming the trees and bushes, cleaning and painting the outside of the building, doing repairs. The Deacons are there every Sunday to welcome us and help with the service. John Q for seeing that the church is ready for us each Sunday and getting coffee hour ready. En Ting for the beautiful music she plays each week. And to David for leading us and bringing a sense of peacefulness each week. We thank you all.
The Deacon's met on October 8th, 2026 at 3:30pm. We didn't have much news. Everyone just enjoying the beautiful weather. We set the Deacon's for November. We were looking forward to Wayne Botto preaching on the 18th and he did a great job!!! I received a call from Wayne that he was resigning from the Deacon's effective immediately. We are so sorry to have him leave. He was such a joy to work with. Thank you, Wayne, for your service.
We had a dedication to the Haig/Love family in memory of Jack Haig, Cecile Love, and David Love after service on Sunday. A tree was planted in memory of them along with a plaque. They were all long- standing members of our church. Our next meeting will be November 12th at 3:30 pm. Don't forget the clocks..... Fall back.
The Mission Commitee will be preparing for the Thanksgiving Food Pantry Mission. The Tags for items will be on the Corn Stalks provided by John Quimby this Sunday, November 1st and November 8th. We have asked the Dorcas Society for two turkeys for this project. Items will be delivered on Sunday, November 15, 2026, for the Thanksgiving Pantry on the 18th. You may include fresh vegetables and/or fruit if your tag item says canned vegetables. The paper products are also welcome and any other Thanksgiving decorations you like to provide.
We provided our Mission Budge at the Council Meeting on October 11th. Our budget for 2027 will remain the same as 2026. $3000.00 for all our Missions.
We will be doing Christmas Veterans Basket for their Breakfast on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. There will be a basket in the Fellowship Hall on the back table for items. We are doing hygiene items for a lady Veteran. I will have a list of items there and you may pick one item and bring it on any Sunday until delivery date. Please cross off or check the item, so we don’t have multiple items. Thank you all for helping with this new project this year.
In speaking with Carol DeMayo who has been the Food Pantry Co-0rdinator for over 40 years, she mentioned they are looking for someone to take her place and keep the pantry going. It has become more difficult for her these last few years and months. So, if anyone would like to volunteer, please let me know and I will give you Carol’s contact number.
Thank you all again for your continued support of our Food Pantry Missions. There will be more information regarding clothing for the Veteran’s pantry in December.
Our church is so generous on all the projects, and I like to think we help so many people who are in need. Every donation is a blessing.
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.
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. But the Word of our God endures forever!
Isaiah 40: 7-8
“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