​Due to the heat advisory forecast for Saturday with high humidity and temperatures approaching 100 degrees, the Peter Griggs Guitar Concert has been cancelled.  It will be rescheduled and when that information is available it will be posted here.

​In the Fall, we are going to start a new Bible Study Group. This past Spring we finished reading the Gospel of Mark. We read each line and discussed the text. What we are going to be doing in our next round of Bible study, is look at the Bible in an overview, and to do so we will be using the Massachusetts Bible Society's "Exploring the Bible" series.
It comes in three volumes: What is the Bible; Introduction to the Old Testament; and Introduction to the New Testament. These texts will need to be purchased by each member of the class. I saw on Amazon that the price is anywhere from $11 to $4 per text.
Wunderley mentioned to me before Service yesterday that she was raised with the tradition that you discover three biblical quotes that are extremely meaningful to you, and that you memorize them and then use them as guides in life. The only way to do this is to be familiar with the Bible. We're hoping this Bible Study Group will help with this.
If you are interested in joining our Fall Bible Study Group, please let Rev. Randy know.
Thanks.

I received the email below today about the annual CROP Hunger Walk. These are inspiring events for the ones involved, and they help people in need around the globe and in our own backyards.
This walk is in Franklin County, but it is hosted by our sister church, Sunderland Congregational, UCC.
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INTERESTED???? Let me know.
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June 25, 2019
Dear Friends,
Ever felt you have a gift to help the world, but can’t quite figure out what it is? CROP Hunger Walk may be it! A first step in the voyage of eradicating worldwide hunger and poverty is having someone in your group become a recruiter, attending the Recruitment Rally of Annual Franklin County CROP Hunger Walk, where all pertinent CROP Hunger Walk information will be distributed.
2019 Franklin County CROP Hunger Walk
Recruitment Rally
Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 6:02 PM
Sunderland United Church of Christ
A light supper will be provided.
Not only do our funds benefit the hungry around the world, 25 percent of the proceeds are returned to aid Franklin County food assistance programs.
2019 Franklin County CROP Hunger Walk is Sunday, October 13 at 2:06 PM, starting and ending at Sunderland United Church of Christ at 91 South Main St.. Registration begins at 1:00 PM.
Please start now publicizing CROP Hunger Walk in your bulletins, newsletters, and calendars. Be sure to post news on your organization’s online publications; much of 2019 Franklin County CROP Hunger Walk news will be advertised online.
For information or clarification, please call Steve at 413-863-2850. We look forward to seeing you or a member of your group at the Rally!
Your Friend,
Steve Damon, Coordinator
Franklin County CROP Walk
P.S. This is CROP Hunger Walk's 50th anniversary.

This is Memorial Day Weekend. I saw on the morning news that the beautiful weather has filled the highways and the beaches, but let's remember that this is not only a three-day weekend. This is the solemn time of remembrance.

Tomorrow at our 10AM Service we will share in the singing of some patriotic hymns and we will offer Memorial Day prayers. Then we will have the opportunity to participate in the town's Memorial Day observance at the parade and the gathering at Smith Academy Park.
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Enjoy the long weekend, but we also need to honour those who fought and died in the Armed Services of our country. They deserve no less.
Rev. Randy

-The Hatfield Historical Society's new exhibit is called, Through Marian's Eyes: A Red Cross Canteen Worker Recounts World War I" (see attached poster). It will be open from 11 to 12:30 (before the parade) and from 1:30 to 3:30 (after the Town Hall ceremony). 

The exhibit is based on Marian Billings, a 37-year-old Hatfield woman who left her job as business manager of the family farm and sailed to France in August 2018 to do her part during World War I. Her journals not only tell us what life was like for a Red Cross canteen worker, but give us touching and sometimes gruesome stories about the soldiers she cares for. The exhibit also features mini profiles of a number of Hatfield WWI soldiers. 

The exhibit OPENING will include a Red Cross canteen tent -- starting at 1:30 pm -- staffed by costumed Red Cross canteen workers (some Smith Academy juniors), with a few WWI soldier reenactors (more Smith Academy juniors), and the girls will be serving the soldiers and visitors canteen fare - including coffee, lemonade, chocolate drops donated by Richardson's Candy Kitchen and cider donuts donated by Atkins Farms.

The Historical Society invites you to come visit the exhibit and participate in the canteen. They also ask you to pin up a card and a remembrance poppy with your WWI family member's name in front of the library. 

Kathie Gow
Curator, Hatfield Historical Museum     hatfieldhistory.weebly.com
​Oral History Producer     wordspicturesstories.com

Real Folks has been the women's group at the church for 150 years.  As part of their anniversary celebration, the group enjoyed each other's company at a High Tea in the church dining room and parlor.  Kathy Gow from the Hatfield Historical Society presented a talk and displayed some of the items she curates at the Museum, including the Billings family Bible.  A lot of the members came together to make this happen and we thank them because it looked like a perfectly enjoyable afternoon.

The pictures show the place settings and High Tea offerings, and of course our Real Folks ladies dressed appropriately in their Sunday-best hats.  Even Arnold got into the spirit as he helped out in the kitchen.  The ladies had a blast.  All set to do it again for the 200th anniversary.
​Rev. Randy