First Churches of Northampton

In commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the Bombing of Hiroshima, The First Churches of Northampton is hosting an Interfaith Service for Peace from 8-9 am. Reflections by local faith leaders including Rabbi Justin David of Congregation B’nai Israel, Ms. Jean Esther of the Buddhist community, Ms. Nancy First of the Northampton Friends Meeting, Sr. Jane Morrissey, a Sister of St. Joseph from Holyoke, and Rev. Clare Overlander of The First Churches, will be interspersed with selections on organ and harp played by Ms. Dana Pasquale and Ms. Piper Pichette.  All are warmly welcomed.

The Council of First Churches unanimously approved the appointment of Reverend Mark Seifried (pronounced “sigh”-”freed,”) to serve as Interim Minister of First Churches of Northampton following the retirement of Reverend Peter Ives on June 30, 2010. Reverend Seifried, who is known as Pastor Mark, will begin his duties on June 23 and will join Reverend Ives in the pulpit for Reverend Ives’s final worship service at First Churches on June 27, 2010.

“Pastor Mark brings an enormous amount of experience, sensitivity, skill, and spiritual leadership to the position of Interim Minister,” said Jon Western, who chaired the search committee that selected Reverend Seifried from a pool of qualified applicants. “He has been very successful in leading other churches through the difficult period of adjustment following the retirement of a beloved, long-term minister while at the same time encouraging congregations to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We all believed he is the right person to help lead our congregation through the coming transition.”

Pastor Mark is concluding a 2-year term as the Interim Minister of the First Congregational Church –UCC in Auburn, MA. He has served in diverse settings for ministry – as pastor for urban, rural, and suburban congregations. He is an active member of the Massachusetts UCC Association and has held Conference, and national positions; and is active in several ecumenical and interfaith organizations. He currently serves as Moderator of the Central Association (Mass. Conference UCC). In addition to these duties, Pastor Mark serves on the task force to establish an Innocence Commission in MA and is liaison for the UCC to the MA Council of Churches working to defeat expanded gambling in MA. He is a member of a synergy group to reintegrate former prisoners into the fabric of community in Worcester.

Pastor Mark was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. He went to college at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He attended Andover Newton Theological School where he was a member of the Jonathan Edwards Society for students with notable academic achievement, theological depth, and socially transformative ethical commitments.

Pastor Mark lives with his partner Dave and their two occasional-visiting adult sons in Worcester, where he is active in his neighborhood and city. He will be commuting to First Churches in his 2001, well-used Prius Hybrid that takes 3 gallons of gas for a round trip. In his time away from church he is an avid organic gardener and cook (formerly a certified chef). He hikes and exercises regularly, and he loves politics and music.

April 1, 2010 – Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service at 7:30 pm
Prelude Music at 7:20 pm.
Communion Service (The Last Supper)
Tenebrae Readings and Extinguishing of Candles

April 2, 2010 – Good Friday Service from noon to 1:00 pm.
“The Seven Last Words from the Cross:
Seven meditations from Church members

April 4, 2010 -  EASTER SUNDAY (White)
Bring your flowers for the Cross.
Children’s Anthem
Trumpet soloist
Easter Acclamations from around the World
Benediction on the Front Steps of the Meeting House
No Coffee Hour

April 11 2010 – First Sunday After Easter (White)
Membership Class in Pastor’s Office at 9:00 am.
Church Choir at Williamsburg Congregational Church
“Regina Coeli ” Cantata
Liza Knapp: preaching at First Churches
Baptistm of Sue Massey’s granddaughter
Coffee Hour

April 18, 2010 – Second Sunday After Easter (White)
Membership Class in Pastor’s Office at 9:00 am.
Children’s Message –Cindy Naughton
Rev. Ives and Rebecca Lockwood preaching
No Coffee Hour
ALL CHURCH MEETING (Pledge Campaign)

April 25, 2010- SERVICE OF CELEBRATION (White)
30 Field Education and In Care Students
Students all leading the worship service
Special Coffee Hour following

That’s right, it’s time for the Holiday Festival at First Churches! From 9 to 2 this coming Saturday (November 21), we’ll have baked goods, silent auctions, raffles, lunch, crafts, jewelry, and so much more. Stop by any time — but early if you want to get one of the 150 amazing apple pies!

This October, the Massachusetts Bible Society will once again be hosting its annual Beck Lectureship at 5 locations across the state. This year’s lectures will be given by award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Liz Walker who will be screening “One Book, Many Voices”, her latest documentary about the role of media in religion, to be followed up by a lecture and discussion.

The lectures are scheduled for:

Sunday, Oct. 18 — film & lecture; 7-9p.m at Andover Newton Theological School;

Monday, Oct. 19 — Buffet lunch w/film & lecture, 11:30am-1:30pm, at Western New England College in Springfield;

Tues., Oct. 20 — film & lecture, 7-9pm. at Smith College in Northampton;

Wed., Oct. 21 — buffet lunch w/film & lecture, 11:30am-1:30pm at First Baptist Church in Worcester;

Thursday, Oct. 22 — film & lecture, 8-10 pm at Endicott College in Beverly

Evening lectures are free and open to the public. Luncheon lectures require an RSVP. To register for luncheon lectures taking place in Worcester or Springfield, please call Nathan at 617-969-9404 or email to admin@massbible.org. There is a suggested $15 donation for the Worcester luncheon.

For more on the Beck Lectures, visit www.massbible.org.

Please join us at 11:45 am on Sept. 13 in the Parlor when Deacon Hélène Powers will read from “Friends Indeed: How to Help During a Serious Illness.”

Part memoir, part resource guide, in this short booklet Hélène shows how an organized caregiving group can provide life-enhancing support to a friend or family member who is seriously ill. Published by Fiftyshift.com Publishing, “Friends Indeed” offers tips, resources and strategies for people who want to help but don’t know where to begin.

The First Churches Congregation appears in the booklet—come learn why!

Questions: Contact Hélène at (413) 584-8035 or hjpowers@verizon.net .

As noted below, beloved church member David Banigan-White died in mid-August.  On Sunday, September 20, there will be a family music party in tribute to David, featuring Brooklyn band the Deedle Deedle Dees.  The Dees have played in Northampton several times, including shows that David was instrumental in producing; the band is one of the Banigan-White family’s favorites.  Lloyd Miller, the lead singer from the band, was the composer who worked with First Churches children to write the 2008 Christmas pageant.

The show (which will start at 2:00, with doors opening at 1:30) will take place at the Iron Horse Music Hall.  All of the band’s proceeds from the show will be donated to support family music and arts in the Valley.  Additionally, other members of the church will contribute $2 per ticket sold to those same causes.

You can find more information about the show on the Facebook event page (you need not join Facebook to see the details), or at the Iron Horse’s website, which has a link to buy tickets.  Individual tickets are $10 in advance or $13 at the door; there will also be a $30 family four-pack price.

We’ll have a church book sale May 30, 2009 in front of First Churches!  All proceeds will be given to First Churches Capital Campaign.  Questions?  please contact Barbara Parsons.

Is racism still alive in America today?   UCC minister Jeremiah Wright thinks so, and for a while his controversial comments seemed to threaten Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign.

In response, last year UCC called for local churches to examine racism.  First Congregational Church of Amherst celebrated a “Sacred Conversation on Race.”  Following the sermon, people gathered in small groups and shared stories — experiences, feelings, refelctions.  The book Moving Beyond Racism is a collection of these stories, edited by Carol Ann Camp, a retired UCC pastor, and her daughter Heather Powers Albanesi, Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado.

A few of these story tellers will visit First Churches on Sunday, May 17, 2009 in the Church Parlor following Sunday Worship Service, to read from their book and invited discussion.

ITALIAN NIGHT
&
SILENT AUCTION

5:00pm-7:pm

Lyman Hall, First Churches, Northampton

This is a great time for family and friends to gather and support First Churches and to win some great prizes!

Questions:  please contact: Holly Martineau 584.5628 (email at brallie@comcast.net)  or Wendy Williams 529.0558 (email at murwill1@charter.net)