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IN PERSON WORSHIP CONTINUES; ZOOM SERVICE RESUMES.
First Congregational Church continues in-person Sunday services at 10AM, masks optional. Sunday Zoom has resumed. Access the service at this link. Ahmadi Family Safe in Red Hook NY In Kabul, they worked closely with American psychologists at Hunter College to train Afghan psychologists many of whom were women and/or ethnic minorities. Their research concerned mental health interventions for traumatized women and girls. After Kabul fell, they left Afghanistan with nothing and escaped to Germany. On May 5, the Ahmadis arrived safely in the U.S. and have moved in to their new home in Red Hook, NY, near Bard College where Jafar has been hired. They are sponsored by the Carter family who asked the two Ashfield churches to help with their resettlement. They will not qualify for any U.S. Government assistance because of their refugee status. Ahmadi Family Picnic a Wonderful Success! St. John’s Episcopal and the First Congregational Church (UCC) of Ashfield hosted a picnic on Thursday, July 21, to welcome the displaced Afghan family being sponsored by Ashfield resident, Dr. Carter J. Carter. The potluck picnic began at 5 pm and took place on Ashfield’s Town Common and under the tent at St. John’s. One hundred people brought delicious Afghan dishes and cold salads for the potluck; kids and adults played soccer and enjoyed s'mores and ice cream on a steamy summer evening; and we got to meet the Ahmadi family we have been supporting and coming to love for so many months. We have raised $21,175 as of August 8 of our $25,000 goal! Please join in raising start-up funds for this Afghan family of five. Write checks to St. John’s Episcopal Church of Ashfield with “for the Ahmadi family” written in the memo line and mail to St. John’s at PO Box 253, Ashfield, MA 01330. |
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 on the 11th of each month. 11th Hour Calling is an interfaith collection of people who intend to build hope through faith-based actions. Read more here. 
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