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March 2011CONNECTICUT AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS DISTRICTNEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THE REVEREND HEIDI N. CHAMBERLAND, Superintendent P.O. BOX 970, Tolland, CT 06084 TEL. (860) 871-7149 FAX (860) 871-1714 E-MAIL: hchamberland@neumc.org Dear First UMC Williamstown/North Adams family, Making a commitment to leave “home” and live in “a wilderness” on the way to the Promised Land and is not a comfortable place to be. We know well the how the Israelites struggled with their own time of wilderness, and were angry at times with Moses as their leader, and angry and frustrated at times with God.
I have a great respect for each of you, I know these are not easy decisions. Know that I continue to hold you in prayer, and look forward to being with you next Sunday.
Together in Ministry, Heidi
Rev. Heidi N. Chamberland COUNCIL NEWS
At the (combined) Church Council Meeting on Sunday, February 20, 2011, we shared our frustrations with the merger process and our hopes and dreams for our merged congregation. Our frustrations and concerns: There’s too much worry!...we need to decide on our new name…we need to get to know each other by being together…it’s stressful…let’s just be done…we’re too focused on the negative…we’ve lost our joy…our dreams and our finances don’t match up…our indecision will lead to the loss of members…for every step we take forward, we seem to take two steps back-ward…separate worship is a problem—let’s come together…we miss our friends…when will be done?...the process is too legalistic and bureaucratic…we need a place…we need a “merger rule book”…it’s taking too long…there’s too much confusion and rumors…we’re forgetting God in the process…there are different paths, let’s discern which is best. Our hopes and dreams: That our church will be more than just an hour on Sundays…that we can look beyond just ourselves…that we can be Wesleyan…based on faith…new ways of doing and being church…being bold and creative…younger people…a permanent site…use modern technology…growing bond between our two communities…let go and let God…connect to the community…be God’s eyes, ears, hands and feet…a full church with all ages…Sunday School…more hands and talents to work together…be the church…that we can be one before God calls me home (Jane Marino)…to be a place to fall in love with Jesus… revitalization and new-ness…music…stronger, larger Body of Christ…more than a building…be there for Emma (and all children)…all of us are the church family. Our hopes and dreams are stronger than our frustrations. Let us continue working together to be the church God calls us to be. Let us choose life, act boldly and embrace the possibilities! Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, Pure and holy, tried and true. With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living Sanctuary for you. DEAR FRIENDS –
As a congregant shared recently with me, it is hard to find “sanctuary” in our churches right now. Tension runs high. Change is at every turn. People seem to be on each other’s nerves. Words of anger are being shared. And people do not trust one another. Where is God in all of this? Where is the “sanctuary” of the church? In the midst of this, many of you have already heard that I am going to leave. As of June 30th, there will no longer be a single full-time minister serving the merged con-gregation of North Adams / Williamstown. For many years, both churches have been living off their endowments. For many years, neither church has had a balanced budget. In order to start this new church off on a fresh beginning, it was decided by SPRC in conversation with the treasurers, the District Superintendent, the Cabinet, and myself that I should leave. With that said, I know that only causes more change and more grief in many of your lives. For that, I am sorry. So I want to make a pact with you. While I am here, I want to be your pastor – not your administrator, not your preacher, not your bureaucrat – but your pastor. I want to share your tears of grief with you. I want to share your tensions with you. I want to sit with you in the pain and in the darkness. That does not mean that I won’t go to meetings. Yes, I will be involved in the day-to-day workings of the church. I will go to all the meetings. I will prepare sermons and preach on Sundays. But in the remaining four months, I want to walk with you. I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I want you to be able to find at least a little “sanctuary” in me, if you will allow me to be there with you. I know change is hard. It is hard for me. But I know that God never abandons us. I know that in my wilderness wanderings I sometimes draw even closer to God. Together, let us draw close to God. We never have to walk or suffer alone. God is with us. I am with you. With Love, Michelle MAPPING OUR FUTURE
Please join us at the Williamstown Church on Sunday, March 20 for worship at 10:30 a.m. followed by a light lunch and an afternoon of Mapping our Future with Rev. Barbara Lemmel. As you may remember, Barb worked with us in April 2009 as we began the process of combining our congregations. Barb met with us again in January 2010. Please plan on about 4 hours for this discussion. We promise to be done before 4:30 p.m. Bring your ideas, your hopes and dreams. Encourage all members of our combined congregation to participate. OUTREACH COMMITTEE NEWS
As previously announced, David and Rosemary Mangun will be leaving very shortly for Louisiana as part of the Hurricane Katrina Rebuilding Project. They will be part of a group of people organized by the New England United Methodist Conference. Several among you have already sent them financial help. And we thank you for it. The Outreach Committee has decided to give the Manguns $100.00 out of our budget to help them accomplish their goal to help hurricane victims to rebuild their homes and their lives. If others wish to make a contribution, call the Manguns at 884-6033 or mail to 230 Sand Springs Road Williamstown, MA 01267. May God and our prayers accompany them. Marc and Michou Toureille, co-chairs of the Outreach Committee THANK YOUS
To Our Satellite Church at Williamstown, Thank you so much for all you do. You are so generous with your time, talents, and gifts. At Christmas time, this is even more evident. Thank you so much for the gift you gave me. I appreciate so much your generosity. I will definitely use the money to pamper myself during these busy days. Thanks again. Michelle * * * Dear Members of the Church and Outreach Committee, Dave and I would like to thank you for your generous donation towards our volunteers in mission trip to New Orleans. We will be a part of a group from our New England United Methodist Church Conference that will be spending a week doing Hurricane Katrina rebuilding in the New Orleans area. Your gift demonstrates you support of the meaningful project and your support of our efforts on your behalf. We thank you again and ask for your prayers during the week of February 28 through March 4. Sincerely, Dave and Rosemary Mangun * * * Dear Church Family, Thank you so much for the generous cash Christmas gift. You are all so supportive of my efforts as the church musician, and I love being a part of our worship together. I deeply appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness! Best wishes to you all in the new year! Fondly, Robin ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Williamstown Church LENTEN DEVOTIONS
Goshen College offers a daily online devotional for Lent or you may sign up to have it emailed to you. Visit www.goshen.edu for details. The Upper Room offers an online retreat/study from March 9-April 25 for $40 plus the cost of the study guide. More information is available. www.beadisciple.com/workshops.html FRIENDLY CIRCLE MEETING
Nancy Parrino, President of the Friendly Circle would like to invite all those interested in participating with this fellowship group. Program booklets are in the works and will be distributed at the March meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, March 8th at 2:00 p.m. This meeting will be a meet and greet at the home of Nancy Parrino, 33 Barth St., North Adams, if you would like directions or more information please call her at 664-9777. Daylight Savings Time Reminder
Set your clocks ahead on March 12 so you wake up at the right time for church on March 13! CHURCH WORLD SERVICE KITS
Thank you so much for the many donations we received for Church World Service on White Gift Sunday. The white gifts included notebooks, crayons, erasers, pencils, pencil sharpeners, baby washcloths, baby undershirts, toothbrushes, nail clippers, combs, and bars of soap. Many thanks for this outpouring of gifts! Of all the items we collect for our CWS Kits, baby t-shirts, sleepers, and washcloths are always the items we need the most. Other items for the Baby Kits - receiving blankets, sweaters, cloth diapers and diaper pins- are either being made or will be purchased. This month we would like to focus on collecting the following items which we still need to meet our goal of 50 Baby Kits: 35 Baby t-shirts or undershirts (no onesies) : size 6-9 mos. 26 Baby gowns or sleepers: size 6-9 mos. 30 Baby washcloths As always, if shopping is difficult for you, please consider a cash donation and we'll gladly purchase items for you. It's also time to begin sewing school bags, as we want to fill 100+ bags this year. Please speak to Pat Austin if you could help with this project. Thank you! Barbara Kourajian 458-2798 MEMORIAL DONATION
In loving memory of Walter & Ida Alderman, given by Walter A. Alderman, Jr. & Sandra M. Alderman. TAKE & EAT
Take and Eat is a weekend meal delivery program. We participate in the Williamstown area Take and Eat every other 1st Sunday of the month. The next meal will be March 6. You might be interested in baking desserts on occasion, helping to fill dinner trays or bags of fruit, bread, etc. or you might even be interested in delivering meals. Some of the delivery routes are very short, but even the longer ones don’t take more than an hour…not too much time to give to a very worthwhile cause. Please let Jeanne Moulthrop know if you would like to help. 663-3630. PRAYER CHAIN
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