News

Please join us for gathered worship on the front lawn of the church.  Masks will be required, spaces will be marked on the lawn for chairs or blankets, and pre-registration is required. Outdoor services are also livestreamed. Register – May 23 MORE INFO ABOUT INDOOR AND OUTDOOR WORSHIP

May is always a season of great change in the Berkshires.  The natural landscape changes as greens in multitudes of shapes and hues burst forth on the hillsides.  There is a change of pace as visitors flock to absorb many of the blessings we enjoy every day.  Various institutions in the area find greater life…

The First Congregational Church hosted  a mixed media art show fundraiser to support restoration of the historic building on Sunday, May 2. There are still works of art looking for a home!  Call the office to make an appointment to see the remaining pieces.  Soon we will put pictures on the website; stay tuned. Well-known…

Read all about our Easter plans, reports from the Board of Deacons and Service League, and an important message from the Capital Campaign Steering Committee. I have marveled at the way this church has stuck together over this past year. You have shown up in so many ways to be church and to care for…

In honor of Black History Month, the Board of Christian Education presented a series on black sacred music.  African American music is American music, from blues to rock and roll, Motown, jazz, funk and hip hop. Within that, there is a rich heritage of black sacred music that evolved from spirituals to gospel, hymns, freedom…

Holy Week and Easter For more information and registration forms, click here. Palm Sunday Palms are on the way to the church and we want to get them in your hands so that you can wave them triumphantly.  Once they arrive you will be able to pick them up during Office Hours (M-F 9:00-1:00) at the…

Happy Easter, neighbor! The Growth and Fellowship Board is trying out a new idea for the Easter. We are hoping to help our members reach out to others in our church community who are also their neighbors! Here’s how it works: if you want to, sign up to bake a little extra something for Easter. Hot…

There is a future, it is coming, there is reason to hope great things for it.  So that we might be ready for it, let’s commit to a time to remember those things we have learned, honor the ones and the things we have lost, mark the wisdom that has been gained, and celebrate the…

During Lent we will be offering a few things to make worship meaningful and alive: Time with Children – the stories from the Old Testament assigned for Lent are all about our Covenant with God.  String art kits have been sent to our families with kids that we will use each week to bring the stories…

Welcome to the Book Sharing initiative!  We are asking you to pass along to the church family the books that have brought meaning, beauty, peace, and/or joy to you in these times along with a brief description of why you liked it. During office hours the J.E. Room will be open for you to browse,…

We stand poised for new beginnings not just as a nation but as a people of faith. We are the folks, the disciples, called through our words and actions to both show others who we can collectively be and walk with them even as Christ still walks with us into our future.  Do not let…

Now what?  2020 is now part of our history.  There were times that I wondered if the year would ever run its course, and if so, to where.  Much of it focused on surviving one day to the next… Please fill out the Worship Feedback survey; link is on page 5.  Thank you! Download January…

Worship Feedback Requested We continue to understand that worship is at the heart of our shared experience.  It is that common time where we disentangle ourselves from the demands and expectations of the world and entangle ourselves in our covenant with God and neighbor.  It is a time for honesty, beauty, truth, hope, and possibility. …

We both wait for the birth of the Christ Child that already happened two thousand years ago and wait with open hearts that the Christ Child may indeed be born again in us this very year. We help celebrate with the Community Advent Wreath. This 54-foot diameter Advent Wreath on the lawn of the church. …

There is an unmistakable element of surprise that is inherent in Christmas.  Presents thoughtfully selected, wrapped up in beautiful packaging, their contents unknown until opening.  We go to sleep one night and the next morning wake up to a sense of anticipation and newness – a rush of footsteps on the stairs, shouts of excitement…

In the coming months much of our energy will be put into fostering resilience.  These efforts will take many forms including worship, formation, fellowship, small groups, live radio shows, and even spooky organ concerts. Download November Newsletter

The First Congregational Church announces the return of the Lake Mahkeenac Radio Theater!  It was live streamed on Sunday, October 25 at 5 pm. This “live radio” show is loosely based upon radio variety shows of the past. It features comedy skits, beautiful singing, and dramatic monologues in a family-friendly format, and as always, the…

Dear Friends in Christ, Grace and Peace to you from the one who was, who is, and who always will be.  I write to you with great joy about our plans to gather for worship in the Sanctuary for two more upcoming Sundays (October 25 and November 8).  We will be meeting in drastically reduced…

We are working here at the church to imagine ways that both help you to explore interiority while staying connected. I am imaging learning circles, outward adventures, one-on-one partnerships, group networks and more about ways that we can bring our passions together, share the gifts that God has blessed us with, and not just survive…

Thought we forgot your birthday?  Think Again! The All-Church Birthday Party is coming up…Sunday, October 4th.  We will not have a parade of cakes at the church, but we will have several nice cakes to choose from!  We will not be able to eat together but we will deliver your piece of cake right to your…