This Sunday's Announcements

April 20 - Office Closed this Week
The church office will be closed Monday, April 20 through Monday, April 27. Regular office hours resume Tuesday, April 28.

April 21 at 1 p.m. - Gary Brown Celebration of Life
Join us for Gary Brown’s celebration of life followed by a reception in the Whiteman Room. 

April 21 - Consecration Watchparty RSVP Deadline
St. John’s in Northampton have invited us to join their consecration watch party on April 25 at 9:30 a.m. If interested in attending, please RSVP by April 21 [email protected]. 

April 22 at 12:15 p.m. - Bach’s Lunch Concert
The next Bach’s Lunch concert will take place on Wednesday, April 22 at 12:15 p.m. Pianist Steven Beck will perform music by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms. The concert is free. Audience members are invited to bring their own lunch to eat during the concert.

April 25 at 10 a.m. - Ordination and Consecration of Bishop-elect Howell
Livestream the ordination and consecration of Bishop-elect Howell at our Cathedral here. 

April 26 at 10:00 a.m. - Children’s Chapel
We invite children to gather for singing, stories, and crafts during the first half of Sunday services: Apr 26; May 3, 17.  To learn more, please contact Cara Hins at [email protected].

April 26 at 12:30 p.m. - Rabbi Cohen-Kiener on Ecological Crisis from Lens of Faith
Many of us grew up with the idea that the Bible gives humans dominion over the Earth and its resources. How do we reconcile this with the need to care for our planet? Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener will be speaking from her book, Claiming Earth as Common Ground: The Ecological Crisis through the Lens of Faith at 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at All Souls Church, 399 Main Street, Greenfield, MA. This event is cosponsored by the Green Team at Saints James and Andrew and All Soul's Social Justice Committee. Please join us!

April 27 at 6 p.m. - Cultivating Conversations by The Interfaith Council of Franklin County
Program: Is Religious Nationalism Changing Our Spiritual and Moral Values? How does your faith inform your response to current religious war and national aggression? What is yours to do to foster the Golden Rule and loving our neighbors? Fiery Hope will share singing and inspiration amidst heartbreak. The program will be held at the  Second Congregational Church across from Greenfield Common. Potluck at 6:00pm and program at 6:30pm.

May 3 at 10 a.m. - Blessing of Gardens and Gardeners
Join us for an early Rogation Day liturgy featuring a blessing of gardeners and rogation prayers where we will process outside and bless our little corner of creation at the end of worship. Bring seeds, bulbs, soil, tools, to be blessed during worship, and to wear your gardening attire to church. 

May 3 at 11:30 a.m. - Coffee & Conversation
Join us for coffee and conversations in the Whiteman Room & Cloisters on May 3; May 24; June 7. To volunteer, email Allyson Michael at [email protected]. 

May 4 - New Office Hours in Effect
This spring and summer we will experiment with a shift in office hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (closed holidays).

May 12 at 6:30 p.m. - 2026 Annual Peacemaker Awards
Save the date. These awards honor youth who are cultivating community. Location: All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Greenfield.

May 13 at 12:15 p.m. - Bach's Lunch Concert
The May Bach’s Lunch concert will take place on Wednesday, May 13 at 12:15 p.m. The concert is free. Audience members are invited to bring their own lunch to eat during the concert.

May 14 at 11:00 a.m. - Blessing of Bicycles 
Cyclists of all ages and abilities are invited and welcomed to have their wheels blessed on the Community Labyrinth on the church lawn at the end of worship. 

May 24 at 10 a.m. - Pentecost Lessons & Carols & Welcoming Newcomers
We will celebrate the church’s birthday and welcome newcomers. You are invited to wear red, a color that symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Immediately following worship we hope to welcome Morris and Molly Dancers on the lawn to demonstrate two forms of traditional English folk dancing that were historically performed on Pentecost. Followed by a special Coffee & Conversation in the Cloisters. 

June 7 at 10 a.m. - Bishop Visitation
Our new bishop will join us for a visitation that will feature baptisms, confirmations, receptions, and more. 

Rev. Heather Away
Rev. Heather will be away May 4-10 on retreat, and then at diocesean retreat May 12-16, returning  Sunday, May 17. For pastoral emergencies, call (413) 773-3925 and our answer serving will connect you to the appropriate person.

Welcoming Newcomers Liturgy on Pentecost 
Each year on Pentecost we invite folks who have been exploring our community to consider becoming members. This year our Pentecost Lessons & Carols worship will be on May 24 at 10 a.m.  We think about membership as three P’s: regular presence in our community worship; participation in the life and ministries of the parish; and pledging to support this parish and our outreach efforts with an annual or ongoing financial gift. You do not need to be baptized or a confirmed Episcopalian to join as members of this parish. If you are interested in baptism or confirmation, please contact the office. If you consider yourself a newcomer or a newly returned member, please join us for this special liturgy when invited to come forward. Questions? Contact Rev. Heather. 



Safe Church Training
There is a new model for Safe Church Training in our diocese, being facilitated by Interim Safe Church Officer Rev. Dr. Molly Scherm and Safe Church Trainer Dan Carew. It requires watching modules at home through Praesidium, at your leisure, and then attending a 90 minute integration session for the first time attending safe church, or a 60 minute refresher (required every 3 years). Learn more here, and contact the office for SsJA’s Praesidium code to access modules. Safe church certificates should be forwarded to the office. 

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