First Congregational Church
of Ashfield
Creating Community, Welcoming All
☞ Choir Sunday, May 10 ☜
Come celebrate the Choir, Margery, and Meg
on Mother's Day!
See details on our Events page
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Rev. Bert Marshall will be providing emergency pastoral coverage while Rev. David is on Paternity leave. Rev. Bert may be reached at (413) 834-2835 or [email protected]
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HILLTOWN CHURCHES FOOD PANTRY Visit their website Hilltown Churches Food Pantry Distributions: Tuesdays, 3-5 May 12 & 26, June 9 ► IMPORTANT LINKS: Bruce Bennett's Sermon/Reflection for 3/8/26: The Woman at the Well, and Four Months till the Harvest Bruce Bennett's Sermon from 1/11/26: Molecules and Love Forever Lori Wyman's Sermon from 12/28/25: In Praise of Mary Joe Osterman's Sermon from 11/16/25: The Golden Rule, Non-Violence and the Purpose of Religion 
Transformation Team
Conversation Café These are the sheets provided by the Transformation Team after church last Sunday, March 15, at the Conversation Cafe. Stay tuned for next steps. Many thanks to all who participated! Conversation Café Questions Spiritual Identity How do we welcome All, honor all faith traditions, and maintain Christian rituals, based on Scripture and our history? What does it mean to be a questioner? A believer? A questioning believer? How does our spiritual identity fit in the context of renewed “Christian Nationalism,” current politics, and current UCC guidance/support. Congregational Life: Gathering Together Why do we gather? What are our core values driving gathering together? How can we best share leadership in our gatherings? What kind of gatherings inspire us the most? Shared Ministries with a Part Time Pastor Since our minister’s contract is under 30 hours/week how do we move into the future with outreach, additional pastoral care for an aging congregation, offerings for families and/or youth, topical education? What roles can church leadership and the whole congregation play? What role do we envision the pastor playing? Community Invitation/Collaborations What events inspire you the most? How do you feel when we invite the community into the church for discussions, performances, and special services? What is your hope for 'the community' in their attendance? What ideas do you have for creating partnerships with other groups. --------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSFORMATION TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS - WHAT DID WE MEAN? Spiritual Identity >Embrace our diverse, individual roots and paths >Gain a deeper understanding of our shared faith identity in this place Congregational life: Gathering Together >It’s what we love! >Finding models that encourage leadership as well as participation Shared Ministries with a Part Time Pastor >Consider this NOT from a budgetary perspective >How can the congregation step up to support the ministries we want our Church to BE Community Invitation/Collaborations >Hosting cultural events for a purpose >Exploring ‘radical welcome’ >Sharing our space 
Ahmadi Family Update
December 2025 From Ashfield Churches Together Recently Jafar sent an update to Ashfield Churches Together about their struggles and their joys. In the first paragraph he is referring to a gift of houseplants they gave to each Ashfield church – a living reminder of their love for us. Both churches have placed the plants near their altars. Here is what Jafar wrote to us: Thank you so much for your constant kindness and prayers. Your message truly touched our hearts. Although we are far from you, knowing that our plant gifts are beside your church altars makes us feel close to your community — as if a part of our spirit is always there with you. Regarding our immigration status, we have not yet received any news, and daily life can be challenging. However, we have not lost hope. I still remember the Thanksgiving Day four years ago when your prayers reached us exactly at a difficult moment — even while we were on the airplane flying from Afghanistan to Germany. Those messages gave us strength, and I will never forget that feeling. These challenges have made us stronger and taught us to live with gratitude — for God, for others, and for ourselves. I believe Thanksgiving is a meaningful reminder that gratitude connects our past, present, and future. I am developing this idea as a method for personal growth, and I hope to teach it to others as part of my work. The children, Zeinab and I are doing well, thanks to your prayers:
I am attaching a photo from a short family trip to New York City. Once again, thank you and the entire Ashfield community for your continued support. Wishing you a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving. On behalf of Jafar, Zeinab, and their children, thank you for your support over the past three years. Annie Cheatham and Sue Craft for Ashfield Churches Together |
Stories help us re-imagine the world. — Thomas King
OF NOTE:
IN PERSON & ZOOM WORSHIP First Congregational Church continues in-person Sunday services at 10AM, masks optional. Join the Sunday Zoom service here.
Meeting ID: 878 8863 1016 
Watch the most recent service recording here.
Find previous recordings here.
♫ View/Download Spring Schedule ♫ Rehearsal 5/6, Choir Sunday 5/10 Summer Break! Rehearsal July 8, Sanderson Sunday July 12 Recording of Sherrill Hogen’s talk about her most recent trip to Palestine From Traprock Center for Peace and Justice and Sherrill: Here is a link to the talk by Sherrill on July 24th: “Let’s Talk About Palestine."We are delighted to be able to offer it to you here, in full, courtesy of Greenfield Community TV: https://youtu.be/jBjQDSp2hmM "It’s in that convergence of spiritual people becoming active and active people becoming spiritual that the hope of humanity now rests."
VAN JONES 
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Creating Community, Welcoming All
Welcome
“Creating Community, Welcoming All” -- Those words sum up our aspirations for our Ashfield church. For over 250 years, we have been group of people who strive to know God — in each other, in our life together, in the wider community, and in ourselves. Read more. |
Worship
First Congregational Church of Ashfield is offering both in-person worship services and on-line access for those who wish to connect virtually. To receive information about online services, contact [email protected]. Read more. |
Spiritual Resources
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