News from the Organ and Piano benches: "It takes a village", a saying which seems very appropriate given the huge shoes to fill from Matt's retirement. Janet Holmgren is working her magic piecing together a musical alternative with multiple musicians utilizing both the organ and the piano. Our own Thomas Kirby, once again, will pick up some Sundays playing on the piano with two talented Williams College student organists, Jonathon Hartanto and Graham Omerod, playing as their schedule permits. Jonathan, a sophomore, and Graham, a freshman, both play beautifully and we hope they will stay with us for the foreseeable future. Also, David Vredenburg from the Albany area will be rejoining us as organist over the summer. He remembers our congregation fondly and sends his greetings. Thomas' former teacher, Ed Lawrence, retired musical director of First Church and part of the Williams community will also be sharing his musical talent. Clearly it's taken a village! Please welcome all of these musicians heartily!
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail; With peace on earth, good will to men."
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Rev. David Hurst
🎶🎶 Notes from the Music Director. This month, we are delighted that Jennifer Daley, who began learning violin at age four through the Kids 4 Harmony program, will share special music at the February 8 service. Jennifer plans to pursue a degree in music education in fall 2026, with the goal of becoming a violin teacher. Later in the month, Tommy, Mia, and I will rehearse and prepare the special music for the March 1 service, crafting another meaningful worship experience for the congregation.At Second Congregational Church, our music continues to provide space for reflection, prayer, and attentive listening, guiding us into the season with peace and a renewed awareness of God’s abiding grace.
ASP 2025 Trip Overview – Davy, West Virginia
This year, the ASP youth team will be traveling to Davy, West Virginia, located in McDowell County, the southernmost and one of the most remote counties in the state. The journey will be longer than previous years, approximately 12 hours, but the commitment to serve within West Virginia continues.
About Davy and McDowell County:
Geography: A rugged, mountainous, and flood-prone region.
Economy: Once a bustling coal mining area (100k population in 1950), Davy has now declined to around 17,000 residents.
Income & Poverty:
Per capita income: $15,000/year (lower than previous counties last year and the year before at $22k and $30k).
Poverty rate: 38% of the community lives below the poverty line.
Local Employment: Mainly in coal mining, education, healthcare, and retail (e.g., Dollar General).
Living Arrangements:
ASP'ers will be staying at the local elementary school – expect indoor camping-style accommodations (e.g., sleeping bags on the classroom floors).
Work Assignments:
Teams will receive specific project assignments just days before departure. As always, expect a focus on home repair and community support, with flexibility and teamwork essential.[🛠️]
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Reverend David Hurst
February 8, 2026
En-Ting Hsu, Music Director
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
PRELUDE ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP Lay Leader
Leader: O Lord, you have called us this day from the demands of our time to seek your grace.
People: From our busied lives, from the hassles and the pressures, we come to worship you in Spirit and in Truth.
Leader: You call us! You urge us! You invite us to grow and change.
People: You give us a sense of belonging. You create a place
of sanctuary for us. Bless us, fill us with your love and patience.
Leader: Hold us in your heart, O Lord! Energize us to be your church. Guide us! Open our hearts to understand your Will.
All: Strengthen us with bold courage. Heal us so that we can
heal others. Open us to your tender mercy.
OPENING HYMN Abide With Me Pg 487
[En-Ting will play the first verse through on each hymn; to help us get the tune. Then we will begin to sing the first verse.].
INVOCATION Lay Leader
Leader: O wondrous and unwearied God, breathe deeply into us so that we will feel alive and filled with your passion and grace.
People: In these January mornings filled with cold, let us take the time to turn to faith and our need to love one another.
Leader: This is a new day! Help us to be renewed, to start again, to keep our lives moving with honesty and confidence.
People: O wondrous and unwearied God, help us to respond to your calls. Give us the courage to follow through with what is right and to encourage others to do the same.
PRAYER FOR CONFESSION [in unison] Barry Grauman
O dear Lord, how easy it is to judge others, to conclude that our thoughts are correct. We confess that we tend to want others to be more like ourselves. We'd like it if all would think the same and agree with what we consider wisdom and accept as truth. What a boring world it would be! Help us to see that the one who comes
among us and leads us welcomes all without qualification. Forgive us when we make mistakes, when we sin and when we cannot admit our wrongs. Forgive our assumptions and our willingness to settle for second best. Forgive us when we know we should say something and we don't! Help us to seek your love, a love that challenges us, and molds us to be something new; something greater than what we are now.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON Barry Grauman
Leader: Almighty God, who in your mercy we are promised forgiveness.
Help us to accept your love so that we might change. Strengthen us, that
we will follow your Will. Through the love and blessing of Jesus Christ we
are forgiven!
People: Halleluia! Thanks be to God
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY Pg 44
JOY AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYERS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
GLORIA PATRIA Pg 36
First Lesson Isaiah 9: 1-4 Pg 593
HYMN OF REFLECTION They Cast Their Nets in Galilee Pg 176
Second Lesson Matthew 4: 12-23 Pg 837
Sermon Encounter Jesus Rev. David F. Hurst
CLOSING HYMN Come Christians Join to Sing Pg 108
BENEDICTION
Leader: Hear the promise of Jesus Christ!
People: “Peace I leave with you. Peace, I give to you; not as the world gives, but as I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled: nor let them be afraid.”
POSTLUDE
Bulletins for February are given in memory of Harvey, Thelma, Charmaine and Eunice Lapier by Agnes and Jim Hoffman
“The time is always right to do what is right! Martin L King Jr.
Greetings and salutations,
As we enter into the second month of the new year, the winter gets more burdensome! It's been a cold one! Hopefully you are enjoying Barry Grauman's sermons as I am on vacation!
Many thanks to those doing service for our church and those who come to visit! This month's Passage from John tells us that the Light, symbolizes Jesus Christ's bringing truth, life, and hope into the world which is so fraught with fear and unpredictability. The reference to Darkness in this passage is to describe this ignorant and selfish world which is, so obvious to us these days. It can be so bad that we cannot comprehend Jesus's divine presence and power that can bring about peace and love, extinguishing evil in our society and in our world.
John's words give us hope amidst despair which is so a part of our daily news. Today our passage offers great reassurance that even in the darkest of times Christ Light persists and offers us a way out and a chance for salvation.
do to keep our church to continue into the future. We have a small but wonderful church, that loses members as time goes on. We say good bye to Mark Thaisz, Mickey Thaisz, Dick Dodd, Betsy Burdick, Ginny Gaskill and Eunice Lapier. Yet we welcome others. En-Ting, our new music director, is a wonderful addition to our church! Our mission work continues through the Appalachian project and through our monthly meal service Take & Eat.
As we make resolutions let us become Jesus’s disciples, making sure we ask for forgiveness, and extend forgiveness in return. Help us always to seek to live in harmony with others. In the New Year, there needs to be more effort to find ways to serve the poor, the needy and those in need of affirmation and care. Let there be Light! Let us serve God and become part of God’s presence in this challenging world.
Happy New Year and May God Bless,
David
Past organists: Susan Matsui, Meg Dodds, En-Ting Hsu, Guest organists: Thomas Kirby, Jonathon Hartanto, Graham Ormerod, Ed Lawrence and David Vredenburg
WilliNet channel 1303 Sunday Worship 9am and 4pm. Rerun Wed at 10am and Friday at 7pm
The Week's Internet site is:
https://reflect-willinet.cablecast.tv/store-3/12273-Second-Congregational-Church-Service-2-16-25-v1/vod.mp4
**Please scroll down to see the Weekly Bulletin below**
— Remember in Prayer —
A Prayer List is part of the weekly Bulletin. Please email the church (wmst2ndcongo@outlook.com) if you would like to make additions or subtractions to keep those on the list in prayer. . . It Works!
All of the First Responders who put their lives in jeopardy to care for all of us. For those working in grocery stores, gas stations, hospitals, nursing homes, health care facilities, food banks… who are working in spite of the danger to themselves. Prayers for anyone who is overwhelmed by this pandemic. Prayers for those who are feeling isolated or afraid. Prayers that God give us the mindfulness to reach out by phone to those who we are not frequently in touch -those on the outer edges of our friendship and family. Prayers for all people as we look to “love our neighbor” as God has commanded.
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Archived News of Note:
Music Director /Organist
Matt Alcombright
Thank you!!
February Calendar
Feb. 1st Morning Worship 9am
Guest Speaker Barry Grauman
Coffee Hour following Worship
Annual Reports Available (Please read before meeting next Sunday) Take & Eat
Feb 8th Morning Worship 9am
Communion
(Delayed a week while David was on vacation)
Annual Meeting Immediately following Worship
Coffee Hour following Meeting
Feb 12th (Thu) Deacons Meeting 3:30pm
Feb 14th(Sat) Happy Valentines Day
Feb 15th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Feb 18th (Wed) Ash Wednesday
Feb. 19th(Thurs.) Trustees Meeting 4:15
Feb 22th Morning Worship 9am
Coffee Hour following Worship
Final Day for Submitting Annual Reports
Upcoming
March 1st (Sunday) Take and Eat
March 8th (Sunday) Leadership Work Camp
(See Below for more information)
Youth News: Our youth are gearing up to serve our community through Leadership Work Camp, and the first project dates are set for March 13 to 15. If you or someone you know could use help with minor home repairs, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Mia or Tommy as soon as possible with a brief description of the work needed. Our focus is on projects that do not require a permit, such as stair railing improvements, flooring repairs, insulation, winterizing, minor siding repairs, or similar needs. There is no charge for the work or materials, only a need for helping hands.
Mia can be reached at
413-884-2433 or mia.luciaa.holmgren@gmail.com
Take and Eat 2026 dates are: 1/4, 2/1, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3, 5/31, 9/6, 10/4,11/29, 12/6
The Trustees haven't needed to mow the lawn but they have worked with Galusha to keep the parking lot open during this brutal winter. Thanks to John Quimby for keeping the walkways clear and safe. We have arranged with our fuel and burner service to also have their plumbing division cover the church's needs in the future. We are still in the process of looking for an electrician. We are looking for a way to cover the funds that will go away once MADOT finishes up this summer when the roundabout is completed. Thanks to Clare for putting together the Annual Report. We continue to look at insurance cost savings by putting together and submitting plans for a "Functional Replacement" design.
The Mission Committee is pleased to report that the Christmas Food Pantry was a huge success and all items requested and more were delivered to Carol DeMayo at the Williamstown Food Pantry. The Dorcas Society provided two hams and 2 Gift cards ($25.00 each) for this pantry. We received $188.00 from the Christmas Eve offering. This was sent to Carol at the Food Pantry also. She was very pleased and is always grateful for our large donations. She will be attending church soon to give us an overview of the Food Pantry and how the donations are provided for those in need. I will let you know the date.
This year we will return to our monthly Food Pantry and items will be brought to the food pantry on the First Sunday of each month. This time of year can be challenging and I know we have members on limited income, so we will just do our best. If everyone brought one item a week, it will be fine. Thank you all for being so generous all year long.
Our committee will meet in March after our Annual Meeting. All Thank you’ s are on the bulletin board in the Fellowship room. We will resume our UCC mission in March with One Great Hour of Sharing. More details next month. We will provide envelopes in the bulletins for the donations.
I want to thank all the committee members and church members for the generous donations provided.
We are asking for an additional $100.00 donation for the Williamstown Youth Center in our proposed budget for 2026. They have many programs including a summer program and an after-school program for working parents. You may read about them in the link on the internet. williamstownyouthcenter.org
Our commitment to our Mission Committee is strong and I know that we provide joy and care for those we serve. Thanking everyone again who gives so generously.
Also, I received a nice letter from the Board of Directors President, Tim Faselt for the Berkshire Food Project thanking us for our $300.00 donation this year. They also invited us to join them for a meal at the First Congregation Church in North Adams. Monday-Friday, 11:30am-1:00 pm. To learn more about their project or volunteer contact him at director@berkshirefoodproject.org.
The dates for getting the Christmas Food Pantry list are November 30, and December 7th, cards will be available. We will deliver to the pantry on December 14th.
ITEMS NEED FOR THE VETERANS:
(Please place them in the tub in the SS Room)
SOAPS SHAMPOO CONDITIONER
LAUNDRY DETERGENT HOT COCOA
Memorial Bulletin Sign-up The sheet for signing up to purchase a month of Memorial Bulletins for 2024 is now posted in the SS Room. Please fill in the information for the month that you select. The cost is $30/month.
The Deacon's met on 1/8/2026 at 3:30pmPastor David told us he would be on vacation January 25th and February 1st. Barry Grauman will fill in for him.
We will have communion on February 8th when Pastor David returns.
Deacon's were set for February.
Christmas services went very well. We need to order more small candles for next year.
We are saddened by another loss of a member. Eunice LaPier passed away on Christmas Day. She will be missed by all, especially the Deacon's.
We are trying to do a Memorial for Dick Dodds, Mark & Mickey Thaisz, and Eunice LaPier. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..
The Dorcas met on January 4th after Church
14 were in attendance. We elected officers President: Clare Morrison Vice President: Caroline Martel, Sec/Treasurer: Linda Seney
Sunshine: Linda Brown
Linda Seney and Clare Morrison have been going to the bank to straighten
our accounts out after our loss of Mickey Thaisz. We need to have two people
sign on accounts.
Easter was discussed. We will have our 7:00 am Sunrise Service and then go
to Church for a few snacks.. And on to our 9:00 am service.
**Reminder: We will have the ANNUAL MEETING this Sunday, 2/08/26 after Church. We need as many as possible to attend. Thanks.
For those that were not able to be at the final service or need additional time to consider their 2023 Giving, you may send in your gifts and pledges to:
Jean Richer 124 S. Hemlock Brook, Williamstown, MA 01267.
**************
Thank you from our Church: Thank you, Matt, from the whole Second Congregational Church family and community!
Five years have indeed flown by and we all appreciate your contributions of music, voice, and stability that you brought with unwavering consistency, beautiful quality and perfect humbleness. Much appreciated!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your next chapter.
News from the Organ and Piano benches: "It takes a village", a saying which seems very appropriate given the huge shoes to fill from Matt's retirement. Janet Holmgren is working her magic piecing together a musical alternative with multiple musicians utilizing both the organ and the piano. Our own Thomas Kirby, once again, will pick up some Sundays playing on the piano with two talented Williams College student organists, Jonathon Hartanto and Graham Omerod, playing as their schedule permits. Jonathan, a sophomore, and Graham, a freshman, both play beautifully and we hope they will stay with us for the foreseeable future. Also, David Vredenburg from the Albany area will be rejoining us as organist over the summer. He remembers our congregation fondly and sends his greetings. Thomas' former teacher, Ed Lawrence, retired musical director of First Church and part of the Williams community will also be sharing his musical talent. Clearly it's taken a village! Please welcome all of these musicians heartily!
**Church Organist needed!**
Please contact The Second Congregational Church
if you are interested in the position or know of someone who might be!
Looking Back and Looking Forward. God is so good!! Over the last 10-15 years we have seen a lot of changes at Second Congregational Church. We have had people pass away and others move away. We have had new people join the church. Through it all God has provided funds to allow us to meet our needs. The parsonage was upgraded and returned to a place we could be proud to lease out and for a much greater income. Funds that God provided and a lot of volunteered labor got it done. New Hymnals most given in memory of a loved ones arrived. New bathrooms and choir storage were built, once again volunteers and funds God provided. Both buildings painted. Another project that you all contributed to and some of our neighbors made donations but it was God leading the way. The Trustees were looking forward when they decided to replace the oil tank at church and build a retaining pit at the parsonage to insure we would not be facing thousands of dollars of environmental cleanup in the years ahead. Again, God provided those funds through your weekly offering, building fund offering and special gifts. We have been able to increase our income by renting a section of the Sunday School room to Morais as they provide an office for MADOT. God provided that opportunity through a chance encounter at the coffee bar at the corner store. The Trustees had to purchase a new stove for the parsonage but God provided. They just bought a lawnmower and leaf blower to help maintain the grounds. In that process we discussed where we might draw the money from. General fund, Building fund or Memorial fund. We chose the Building fund but God led us to taking a serious look at the Memorial fund. We discovered there are many smaller amounts donated in someone's memory as the original size of the gift or left over from a purchase made from a larger gift that is over three years old. These gifts together amounted to almost $6500 with the money setting in a low interest savings account. We will be coming to the October Council meeting looking for your approval to set a policy to move these funds to the Raymond James account annually if they have not been used after 3 years. We would also appoint a Trustee to work with families that are in the less than 3-year group to mutually agree on a needed project or moving the funds to the higher interest Raymond James account. Looking back 15 plus years, we had a sizable donation to set up that account and have used the interest funds that it acquires to meet the everyday needs of our yearly programs, pay staff and handle surprise expenses. God provided these funds to allow Second Congregational to continue to be a witness to this community and the world. A detailed proposal will be part of the October newsletter. Thank you all for following God's leading as you support this church in all the ways He leads you.
The Trustees continue contact with our insurance carrier looking toward an accurate budget number for 2026. We expect that the church and parsonage values will rise. We were able to avoid that last year when we installed oil spill protection in both buildings. A new stove has been purchased for the parsonage. MADOT has the sense that they will continue to need the office space through next fall and maybe longer as the roundabout takes shape and the added details of a memorial wall and historic signage are added. The lawn continues to be cut and the new blower removes the clippings from the parking area and sidewalk with Wayne at the controls. The parsonage twin front shrubs, the greens around the handicap ramp and the front sidewalk were reclaimed from the snowball bushes with a trim to all. We continue to look at repair needs ahead of them being issues and deal with them head on. We are very grateful to Jean and Missy providing us detail financial information. We look forward to the return of Worship following the August shutdown and would remind everyone that we have had nearly normal expenses while closed. Please be sure to catch up on your pledges and gifts if you didn't prior to the break. Thank you for your support.
I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8: 12
“The time is always right to do what is right! Martin L King Jr.
“All love that has not friendship for its base
is like a mansion built on sand.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“Sometimes I go about pitying myself. And all the while I am being carried
across the sky by beautiful clouds.” Ojibway Indian saying
Arab proverb; “To have a good neighbor you must be one.”
Welcome to
The Second Congregational Church
81 Hancock Road • Williamstown, MA 01267 • (413) 458-3467