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IN PERSON WORSHIP HAS RESUMED
First Congregational Church has resumed in person Sunday services at 10AM. Zoom access to the service will continue to be available. Read statement by Rev. David and Deacons here. Ahmadi Family Update Our friend and neighbor Dr. Carter J. Carter informed us on Friday of a happy update about the Ahmadi family that he is sponsoring with our community’s support: the Ahmadi family, which we knew had made it safely from Afghanistan to Germany, has now finally gotten confirmation that they will be able to arrive in the United States this April. And further good news: Jafar Ahmadi has been offered a teaching job at Bard College in Red Hook, NY, to begin at the start of May. The Ahmadis will be going straight to Red Hook on their arrival but the two Ashfield churches continue to be engaged with supporting them to settle in to their new home. We know financial support is needed and the two churches have set a goal of raising $25,000. If you would like to make an immediate contribution in this time of transition for this young family, our partner St. John’s will be receiving community donations (Please send checks to St. John’s Episcopal Church Ashfield, PO Box 253, Ashfield, MA 01330. In the Memo Line, write “For the Ahmadi Family”). In addition there are opportunities to donate household goods as they are moving into an empty house. Please email uccashfield@gmail.com to find out what goods are needed. Thank you! Church Awarded Grant to Work with Bug Hill Farm and Food Pantry Our church has received a grant of $12,000 from the Stackpole-Hall Foundation to support a collaboration with Bug Hill Farm and the Food Pantry. This is seed funding to get the project off the ground over a two year period. The grant will bring together young people and adult volunteers from the First Congregational Church, St. John’s Episcopal, local schools, and from Food Pantry families themselves at Bug Hill Farm to help owners Sam and Charlotte Perkins plant, tend, and harvest vegetables for the Hilltown Churches Food Pantry. Read more here. |
Congregants from the Congregational Church and St John's Episcopal Church and friends gather and ring their bells for eleven minutes on the eleventh day of each month at 11AM, joining with religious groups across the country and beyond to express our hope and determination that together we can act boldly to address the climate crisis, now in its eleventh hour. Come join us next month. 11th Hour Calling is an interfaith collection of people who intend to build hope through faith-based actions. Read more here. 
Eleventh Hour Calling at First Congregational Church
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