First Congregational Church
of Ashfield
Creating Community, Welcoming All
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COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD Hilltown Churches Food Pantry Distributions: Tuesdays, 3-5 November 25, December 9 & 23 
Transformation Team Survey The Transformation Team has created this fairly short survey and is asking ALL church friends and members to fill this in and return asap. The results will be collated and used to help plan the Nov. 22 All Church Retreat - aka: “Mutual Ministry Review.” Printed copies of the survey are available at church if you’d prefer to complete your survey on paper instead of on line. See link is below. The Team thanks you for your time and input. Link to Transformation Team’s Survey: https://forms.gle/V5rjQ2jY7x4yTyey9 
Community Welcomes Ahmadi Family at Picnic
From Ashfield Churches Together Over sixty people gathered under the tent at St. John’s Episcopal Church on August 14 for the Ashfield Churches Together’s community picnic. The Ahmadi family joined the party, visited with new and old friends, while their children and other young people played soccer on the Town Common. Everyone enjoyed ice cream served by Laura Bessette and Nancy Hoff from the Ashfield Hardware. Thank you to everyone in the community who attended, brought food, helped set up and clean up, and donated dollars to the family to help them defray immigration related costs. We were able to pass along donations exceeding $2,000. Jafar Ahmadi offered the following remarks at the gathering: Dear friends and beloved families, Today, in this warm and heartfelt gathering, I want to sincerely thank both of the dear churches and the Ashfield community that have stood by us all these years. You are not merely a community or a group of church buildings – you have been like a big family to me and my loved ones. The last time I was here, I spoke about our struggles, about the darkness we faced. But today, I want to speak about light and hope – the light of hope that you have planted in our hearts. From the days before we even arrived in the United States to the moment we set food in this land, your kindness, support, and prayers have been with us. Along the way, I spoke every week with my dear mentor, Mr. Gary Partenheimer, staying informed about your efforts and encouragement. He has been like a representative of the Ashfield community throughout our journey of growth – reviewing my speeches, offering valuable guidance, and mentoring me like a life coach. We have travelled together to many important events – from my presentation at the American Psychological Association in Washington, D.C., to a trip to Albany, and to Bard College. In every one of these moments, I felt the spirit and love of the Ashfield community beside me. Today on behalf of myself, my beautiful wife Zeinab, and my children, Ali, Amir, and Fatima, I thank each and every one of you for your kindness, prayers, and companionship. You have given us not only material and moral support, but also a sense of safety, worth, and belonging. This is a gift beyond measure. I will close my words with a verse by Rumi from the Ghazel (Ode), 1475, Divan-e Shams: In this Earth, in this Field, in this clean Farm, Let us sow nothing but the seeds of kindness and love. May God bless you all. After Jafar spoke, Nancy Hoff offered the following poem by Naomi Shihab Nye: The Arabs used to say, When a stranger appears at your door, feed him for three days before asking who he is, where he’s come from, where he’s headed. That way they have strength enough to answer. Or, by then you’ll be such good friends, you don’t care. Let’s go back to that. Rice? Pine nuts? Here. Take the red brocade pillow. My child will serve water to your horse. No, I was not busy when you came! I was not preparing to be busy. That’s the armor everyone put on at the end of the century to pretend they had a purpose in the world. I refuse to be claimed. Your place is waiting. We will snip fresh mint Into your tea. 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 |
We are to find the risen Christ, find our own risen life, in our unity with each other and with humankind, in the friendship we symbolise and seal in the [Church]. — Herbert McCabe
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.
♫ View/Download Choir Schedule ♫ Rehearsal 11/12, Service 11/16 Rehearsal 11/19 Thanksgiving Sunday Service 11/23 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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