First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ,
Conant Memorial
135 Center Road
Dudley, Massachusetts
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During the first 3 Sundays of August,
when PJ will be on vacation, WORSHIP WILL BE ON YOUTUBE ONLY (PJs Puppets, etc) ______________________________________________ New to our website are weekly podcasts and
YouTube videos created by Pastor John and church members. Check them out and know that we are still here, praying for you and your loved ones, looking forward to the day when we will ALL be able to worship again together in our sanctuary. In the meantime, for those choosing not to attend church just yet, let us bring worship to you, wherever you may be, so that you are able to feel connected still during this time of social distancing and quasi-isolation. Be well and God bless you! View the most current virtual worship service here: PJ's Puppets, etc. Listen to PJ's most current Podcast here: PJ's PODCAST |
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Welcome!
Throughout the journey of our lives we find ourselves on many different roads, traveling with a diverse group of people. We learn much through the joys and pains of daily living. Each of these experiences forms and molds us a bit more as children of God. At the First Congregational Church of Dudley we celebrate the journey you are on towards becoming the highest expression of yourself, whom God created you to be. As an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ we want you to know no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here! At our church we encourage a journey which is traveled with our bodies, minds and hearts, our intelligence and our compassion working together… side by side. This is a community of seekers who work to live the questions of our faith, the faith of Jesus, forming ourselves more and more in that image of perfect love. Please take some time to explore our website, sign up for PJ’s Place (my weekly e-letter) and visit us for worship. You may not be fully sure why it is you are exploring a relationship with our church and The United Church of Christ. You may simply be following some inner urging. We encourage you to listen to the voice of your heart for God is still speaking now. Come and become something more, as together we seek to live and grow as followers of Jesus on The Way…an inclusive and ever-expanding journey of love, beginning with ourselves and our families, extending to our communities, our nation and all the world. We look forward to meeting and getting to know you soon. Blessings on your journey, Pastor John |
UPCOMING PROGRAMS/EVENTS:
AA Day at a Time meetings have resumed in person
at the church, Thursday evenings, 8:00 - 9:15 pm _________________________________________________ A "soft reopening" of In person Worship resumed June 14. However, the following will continue for the foreseeable future: PJ's Podcasts, PJ's Puppets etc. (worship) PJ's Virtual Coffee Hour allowing you to choose how you wish to worship during any given week. Thanks so much to Bob Kersting (chairperson) and
all the members of our Reopening Task Force for work which will continue for a long time to come. A document has been put together by the members of the task force, helping you make your best decision regarding how you choose to worship. Click Church Reopening Plan __________________________________________________
A Message from the Technology Committee:
The Technology Committee has been meeting virtually for many weeks, collaborating together on the best way to continue to keep our Church community spiritually connected through the advances of technology. We have been charged with figuring out a plan to offer worship services virtually with an emphasis on maintaining this presence indefinitely - long after the COVID-19 pandemic resolves itself. The state of the world has made it clear this pandemic is not ending anytime soon. Our previous way of physically attending worship has changed and will be different for a long time. Some people have returned to in-person worship, while others have not. Our current remote offerings have made a huge impact on keeping us connected one with another, yet we must do more. It is imperative that we continue to expand our technology offerings so we can reach those within our community while also furthering our reach to those we have yet to meet. In order to accomplish this goal, we need financial support. The pandemic has created a number of financial challenges across all areas of our community and beyond. Our church is no exception. The Technology Committee has come up with the following list of necessities so worship services can be provided virtually - with an ultimate goal of offering LIVE streaming of Sunday morning worship. Please help us reach our goal. * Hardware / Software Components: Computer, video camera, cabling, microphone, and editing/uploading software. * Wi-Fi - component upgrades are necessary to the current Wi-Fi to ensure a strong signal is achieved in the sanctuary. * Copyright Licenses - required as per copyright laws surrounding streaming musical selections as part of the worship service. We are asking our church community for financial assistance. Our research has determined that this will cost approximately $4,000 to meet the above listed requirements. If you are willing and able to assist in financially supporting this project, please send your check to The First Congregational Church of Dudley (UCC) - 135 Center Road - Dudley, MA 01571 - Attn: Church Collector. In the Memo of your check, please write "Technology Committee". If you have any questions regarding this project, please do not hesitate to reach out to me by clicking Kenny Thank you for your consideration in supporting this effort to keep us connected. We are in this together. On behalf of the Technology Committee Team, Kenny |
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As we continue to bring worship to you through podcasts and
videos, we invite you to share your financial gifts with the
church, especially during this unprecedented time of
physical church closure. Checks may be made out to
First Congregational Church, UCC, Dudley
and mailed to
First Congregational Church, UCC
135 Center Road
Dudley, MA 01571
In the memo, please write: "Offering" and
include your pledge number if you have one.
Thank you and God bless!
_______________________________________________________
As we continue to bring worship to you through podcasts and
videos, we invite you to share your financial gifts with the
church, especially during this unprecedented time of
physical church closure. Checks may be made out to
First Congregational Church, UCC, Dudley
and mailed to
First Congregational Church, UCC
135 Center Road
Dudley, MA 01571
In the memo, please write: "Offering" and
include your pledge number if you have one.
Thank you and God bless!
_______________________________________________________
Loving Deacon Outreach
During Covid 19 Public Health Emergency
Thank you, Tom Boyd for taking on a leadership role with this project. Tom would also like to share with
you his desire that every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. we momentarily pause, where we are,
and say the Lord's Prayer together, to give us a feeling of being in solidarity during our regular
time of worship. I also recommend you praying the prayer I weekly write, which you can find under PJ's
Reflection/Prayer. And please listen to PJ's Podcasts (auditory experience on Soundcloud) and PJ's
Puppets etc. (visual worship experience on YouTube) which we hope to have available to you by
10 a.m. every Sunday morning by clicking on Podcasts and Puppets at the top of this page.
Tom Boyd writes to say:
In an effort to further reach out to the Congregation, the present Board of Deacons, as well
as some past Deacons, are doing our best to get in touch with all families in the church. We
are using an updated directory as of April 2nd (Thanks Tasha). We've noticed that some information
for the directory is either incorrect or missing information such as a telephone number. If you would
like to update your information for our latest directory, please click on one of our Deacon's names and
follow the link to update information. The Deacons have begun making calls yet ask for patience since
it will take us a while to make all phone calls. If you do not get a phone call, it's either because we don't
have a phone number to contact you or you might not be included in the present directory. Please let
us know by clicking on one of the following names to e-mail either Pat Mezynski Carol Shelsy or
Tom Boyd so we can correct or add information as needed.
Thanks in advance,
Tom Boyd
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
During Covid 19 Public Health Emergency
Thank you, Tom Boyd for taking on a leadership role with this project. Tom would also like to share with
you his desire that every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. we momentarily pause, where we are,
and say the Lord's Prayer together, to give us a feeling of being in solidarity during our regular
time of worship. I also recommend you praying the prayer I weekly write, which you can find under PJ's
Reflection/Prayer. And please listen to PJ's Podcasts (auditory experience on Soundcloud) and PJ's
Puppets etc. (visual worship experience on YouTube) which we hope to have available to you by
10 a.m. every Sunday morning by clicking on Podcasts and Puppets at the top of this page.
Tom Boyd writes to say:
In an effort to further reach out to the Congregation, the present Board of Deacons, as well
as some past Deacons, are doing our best to get in touch with all families in the church. We
are using an updated directory as of April 2nd (Thanks Tasha). We've noticed that some information
for the directory is either incorrect or missing information such as a telephone number. If you would
like to update your information for our latest directory, please click on one of our Deacon's names and
follow the link to update information. The Deacons have begun making calls yet ask for patience since
it will take us a while to make all phone calls. If you do not get a phone call, it's either because we don't
have a phone number to contact you or you might not be included in the present directory. Please let
us know by clicking on one of the following names to e-mail either Pat Mezynski Carol Shelsy or
Tom Boyd so we can correct or add information as needed.
Thanks in advance,
Tom Boyd
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When you get up in the morning and wonder what person in leadership will lie to you today, what
unnecessary, unhelpful and potentially dangerous displays of power will be suggested or acted upon,
what person you believed in yesterday will let you down today... it can be depressing. When you hear
of one more neighborhood struggling with violence, one more person mislabeled as someone we should
fear, one more struggling soul needing to overcome an addiction to opioids, alcohol, sexual misconduct,
racism or fear... it's deeply sad. So remember, we're on this journey together. Remember, none of us is
beyond repair, and since we are not beyond repair, the world is not beyond repair.
Let us work together to repair our little corner of the world,
bringing the kin-dom of God here, now. Peace.
When you get up in the morning and wonder what person in leadership will lie to you today, what
unnecessary, unhelpful and potentially dangerous displays of power will be suggested or acted upon,
what person you believed in yesterday will let you down today... it can be depressing. When you hear
of one more neighborhood struggling with violence, one more person mislabeled as someone we should
fear, one more struggling soul needing to overcome an addiction to opioids, alcohol, sexual misconduct,
racism or fear... it's deeply sad. So remember, we're on this journey together. Remember, none of us is
beyond repair, and since we are not beyond repair, the world is not beyond repair.
Let us work together to repair our little corner of the world,
bringing the kin-dom of God here, now. Peace.
Open and Affirming
All are welcome! The Open and Affirming Coalition provides support and sanctuary to all our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers, their families and friends; advocates for their full inclusion in church and society; and brings Christ's affirming message of love and justice for all people.
All are welcome! The Open and Affirming Coalition provides support and sanctuary to all our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers, their families and friends; advocates for their full inclusion in church and society; and brings Christ's affirming message of love and justice for all people.
Follow Pastor John on Twitter @PJsPeace
