First Congregational Church
of Ashfield
Creating Community, Welcoming All
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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD Hilltown Churches Food Pantry Distributions: Tuesdays, 3-5 March 18, April 1 & 15 
Ahmadi Family Update
From Ashfield Churches Together Like so many innocent people, the Ahmadi family has been caught up in the USAID and immigration turmoil in DC. Today the family is still in Red Hook, NY, where Jafar is a psychologist and research scholar at Bard College. Zeinab was working remotely with Afghan girls and women who escaped to Pakistan, but one of President Trump’s Executive Orders canceled funding for that program, so now she has no income. Work Situation Jafar’s position at Bard ends in July, so he must find work elsewhere, or remote work. He has applied for positions at academic and research institutions but has not received any responses. Jackie Baillargeon, the Deputy Director of the Threatened Scholars Initiative at Bard, sent us this message, “Jafar needs a job because he has to leave Bard in July. He is an amazing researcher so I imagine he could do research on many issues. A remote job would be great so the family can stay in Red Hook, and it is also possible he could travel for a hybrid position 3 days a week. Zeinab is also a good researcher and teacher, and she’s good at administrative tasks. She would really like to get into a psychology PhD program. If folks in your community have ideas, please reach out. July is not that far away.” Immigration Status Jafar said this about their immigration status: The new administration will affect our status. It will make the case processing very slow and rejections will increase. However, I have submitted two applications to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The first form for asylum was submitted in May 2023. The fingerprinting was completed, and we are waiting for the interview appointment. Additionally, I submitted the I-140 EB-2 NIW form to USCIS in May 2024. If we receive approval for that, we can obtain a green card or residency without having to go through the asylum process. So far, the attorney fees and filing costs have amounted to approximately $5,800. If this application is approved, medical expenses [$200-300 per family member] and the green card application [$2,000-3,000 for family] will be necessary. With new White House announcements, we expect the process to be delayed, but we trust God. How you can help this family 1. Send notes of support to 32 Old Rt. 199, Red Hook, NY 12571. Or email greetings. Jafar’s email is sjahmadi2002 at gmail.com. Zeinab’s email is zm.musavi2020 at gmail.com 2. Help them defray immigration costs. Send a check to St. John’s Episcopal Church with “For the Ahmadi Family” written on the Memo line (PO Box 253, Ashfield, MA 01330). Your donation will be tax deductible, and we will forward all of the funds to the family. 3. Make inquiries about PhD programs and research positions in your networks. 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 Study Group on Israel-Palestine The Ashfield Churches Together (ACT) Invites Members and Friends of First Church and St. John's to form a Joint Study Group on Israel-Palestine - First Meeting on Sunday, March 16 after church. The ACT has dedicated time during each of its last several meetings to discuss the mounting need for a renewed study of the situation in Israel-Palestine. Affirming the value of doing this jointly--both for our churches and for our wider community--the team has chosen the recently published Between the Wall--co-authored by a Jewish American and Canadian Arab--to begin our conversation and discernment. The book focuses on "what Jews and Palestinians don't want to know about each other", detailing and unpacking the assumptions and misunderstandings that have kept peace out of reach for so many decades. The study group will meet in-person at the First Congregational Church in Ashfield, on three Sundays at 11:30-1PM. The first session will be held on February 16, and will cover the Introduction and Chapter 1. The second session will be held on March 16, covering Chapters 2 and 3, and a final session held on March 30, covering Chapter 4 and wrapping-up this discussion. Participants are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee provided. Unfortunately, the deadline for signing up has passed. This study group will also make time over the course of the three sessions to review and discuss the present and historic statements of the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church. To learn more and to hear a conversation about the book, hosted by the Forbes Library and featuring its co-authors Raja G. Khouri and Jeffrey J. Wilkinson, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgaivlh4roc&feature=youtu.be&themeRefresh=1 |
God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. — Pope Francis
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 
Find previous recordings here.
♫ Sun. March 16, 9:00 rehearsal; 10:00 Service ♫ * NO CHOIR March 19 and 23 * View Spring 2025 Choir Schedule Church’s Revitalization Leadership Team As you continue to discern about joining me on our church's revitalization leadership team, I wanted to provide a few more specifics about what you can expect and what is needed. Last week I mentioned that the team will meet, beginning in January, five times over six months with a designated Conference staff person--the program "navigator". In these meetings we will cover the program curriculum, discuss what we are learning, and determine how to engage the congregation throughout this process. Each of these sessions will be held in-person at First Church, and each session is expected to last 2 hours. Every session will, in turn, generate new assignments for the group to complete. The leadership group may decide to complete a given assignment on its own, or it may reach out to the congregation (or others), depending on whatever gifts are needed. These assignments will include (among other things): gathering demographic and statistical information about the community; gathering stories and information about the people and the needs of the community; gathering stories about how the work or ministries of the church are impacting individuals, groups, and the community as a whole; reflecting as individuals and as a group, based on what is being learned and experienced; and a lot of brainstorming and sharing ideas individually, in pairs, as a group, and with the wider church in small and large gatherings. The team will make use of its own gifts and the gifts of others in the church. But it is clear, as I think about these assignments, that it will be especially important that our leadership group include those of us who are open-minded, curious, creative, and persistent. This will be a highly collaborative process, with each session depending on each voice, and each of our 'homework' assignments depending on the group's willingness to take some risks to generate excitement. And everything will need to be communicated clearly and consistently. As we discussed at our congregational meeting, this kind of undertaking is not new for our church, and it is timely. This is the work that will set us up for years to come. But as you can see, it is not a small or easy thing to do. It will need leadership. Blessings in your continued discernment, David "It’s in that convergence of spiritual people becoming active and active people becoming spiritual that the hope of humanity now rests."
VAN JONES 
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
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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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