Western Region ENews - November 14, 2019

NOVEMBER ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY DATES

30 Years
The Rev. Penny Smith
The Rev. Kathryn Stevens

10 Years
The Rev. Darienne Gagne

Please contact Deb Holmes if we have missed your anniversary.
Anniversaries are listed from 5 years and forward in increments of 5.

CONFERENCE & REGIONAL EVENTS

November 17, 2019
Berkshire Association 61st Annual Meeting
South Congregational Church UCC
110 South Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
2:00 PM

December 8, 2019
Ecclesiastical Council for Gordon Pullan
North Hadley Congregational Church
243 River Drive
Hadley, MA 01035
3:00 PM

CHURCH EVENTS & OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST

The Sojourner Truth School
for Social Change Leadership

The Sojourner Truth School for Social Change Leadership, known as “the Truth School”, invites UCC clergy, lay leaders, congregants and churches to attend one, or several, of their free classes in a wide range of movement-building skills. Social change leaders and engaged participants are essential now to grow movements to build just and creative communities and to stop climate collapse.

As Truth School participant and trainer Norma Akamatsu describes, “The Truth School is a unique experiment offering free community classes on a wide variety of skills for making social change happen now. Amidst the serious challenges we are facing, the school supports finding the path than can translate one’s unique talents, concerns and commitments into action.”

Upcoming classes include: Cultural Humility and Cross Cultural Communication, Effective Mentoring of Young People of Color, and Immigrant Stories of Challenge and Success in U.S. Culture. All classes this semester are led by trainers of color or by bi-racial pairs.

As described on their website, the Truth School believes, “that knowledge and education, bolstered by support and guidance lead to empowerment – and empowered people make change. When people have the skills and confidence they need to organize a vigil, run for elected office, write guest editorials for local and national newspapers, engage in civil disobedience, visit their elected officials, or talk with care and sensitivity across differences, the result is real and lasting change.”

The Truth School offers their free classes in donated spaces in Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield and Easthampton. Explore more classes and register at truthschool.org.

Church Treasurer Gatherings

Church treasurers are invited to attend an upcoming regional gathering for church treasurers! Please join us for conversation that will help define your role as church treasurer and answer all those questions you may have. The sessions run from 9:30-noon, and include coffee "and". New church treasurers are invited to stay for a post gathering Q&A session ending at 1:30 (you are welcome to bring a bagged lunch if you stay). All sessions cover the same material and you are welcome to attend whichever session fits your schedule. There is no charge to attend, but please sign up so we know how many to expect. Use the links below for additional information and registration:

Saturday, November 16: Edwards Church of Northampton

Annual Silver Bell Bazaar

First Congregational Church of Buckland
(aka Mary Lyon Church)
17 Upper St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Saturday, November 23rd
9:00-2:00 PM

Annual Silver Bell Bazaar, at the First Congregational Church of Buckland (aka Mary Lyon Church) and in the Buckland Public Hall, 15 & 17 Upper St., Buckland Center on Saturday Nov 23rd 9 am to 2 pm. Silent Auction, Baked goods, Arts & Crafts, Book Sale, Tag Sale items, framed photos and paintings, greeting cards, Holiday items, Lots and lots of gifts, and several Raffles. There will be coffee, beverages, and snacks all day. Tables available for your crafts and sales, just $10 fee to reserve your table now! New this year, ‘Ugly Sweater Contest’ – where a $5 entry fee and you wearing your crazy, ugly, holiday sweater could result in you winning a great prize! Buffet Lunch from 11 am to 2 pm Adults $12, children 6 to 12 $6, under age 6 free. To have a table and for more info call the church and leave a message at 413-625-9440 or email info@marylyonchurch.org

Fifth Annual
Christmas Sing-A-Long
With the Fanfare Brass Choir
The First Congregational Church of Huntington
Norwich Hill, 6 Searle Road
Huntington, MA 01050-9768
Sunday, December 1, 2019 @ 3:00 PM

Come start the Christmas Season singing along to all your favorite Christmas songs! Fun for the whole family! Cookies, punch and hot chocolate after the sing-a-long!.
Click here for the flyer.

Holiday Fair

First Congregational Church of Lee
25 Park Place
Lee, MA
Saturday, December 7th
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Handcrafted Items * Wreaths * Santa's Attic * Nearly New Shop * Baked Goods * Meals-To-Go * Jams & Jellies * And More! Click here for a flyer to share.

Christmas Market and Concert

Second Congregational Church
1080 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA
December 14th
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Local vendors, plus Thrift Shop will be open, bake sale, raffle, luncheon (12-1:30) and concert songs by Donna Lee (11:30-12:30).

Fall Offerings by Art & Soul
The Nest @ First Churches
11 Center Street
Northampton, MA

Please click on the links for more information on all the Fall Offerings:
Deep Listening to the Psalms: An Interfaith Gathering
Curiosity Labs
The Seeker's Writing Circle
The Alchemy of Grief: Re-Visioning Loss
The Art of Dying Well
Bone and Seed: Women Naming and Claiming Voice

RECURRING EVENTS

Journey

Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence (USNF)
220 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
3rd Thursday of each month
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Journey: a social and support group for trans and non binary individuals of all ages will meet at the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, 220 Main St., Northampton MA, 6-8 PM on the following:

Second Mondays of the month in 2019:
December 9th, 2019

Third Thursdays of the month in 2019:
November 21st, and December 19th, 2019

Meetings will continue to be scheduled going forward. The meetings focus on life concerns and are not religious in nature. The group is free. This is an outreach ministry of the Haydenville Congregational Church UCC. Use the side door and doorbell. Allies, friends, and family are welcome. FMI: journeynorthampton@gmail.com