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This
page contains an overview of programs offered by All
Souls Church. Programs and committees are
opportunities for people to apply their interests
and talents and to link with other members of the
church community in small groups.
This
is a lively, vibrant community where ideas for
new activities spring up all the time. Our church
newsletter, the Clarion, will keep you informed.
Where you have questions, an interest in one of the
programs, or an idea of your own, please call or
approach the contact person given. You can also
direct questions to one of the church staff at
413-773-5018.
We
hope that everyone will enjoy a mix of activity,
events, and committee work and enjoy exploring
niches of this active church. Our programs exist for
growth — personal, spiritual, of the church
community and otherwise — and for the community
and friendships that church programs and service can
entail. Thank you for your interest!
Programs
and Committees:
Women's
and Men's Programs
Men's
Group
Contacts: Cliff Booth-Daniels
This meeting of men of the church happens every
other Wednesday. Participants share in conversation and
activities related to their personal, work and
spiritual life as well as men's issues. The Men's
Group annually supports participation in the
Massachusetts Men's Gatherings.
Wise
Women
Contact: Marion Yetter,
Irmarie Jones
The Wise Women is a group that meets one Thursday
afternoon a month. We meet during the day for the
convenience of older members; however, all women are
welcome. Our emphasis is on the search for
community. We are not a working group and we are not
a fundraising group; we are helping each other learn
the joys and challenges of aging. We share our life
stories and we talk about what it means to have
lived and grown in strength over the course of our
lives.
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Ministry
Programs
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Church
Committees
Membership
and Hospitality
Contact: Toni Eaton
Spring and fall Newcomer's Circles and New
Member Orientations are programs for those
becoming involved at All Souls. Circle Dinners
and other social events help newcomers integrate
with the community. Committee members also organize
a wide range of services to the church related to
pastoral care and providing a welcoming church
environment. The committee meets the second Tuesday
of the month at the church or in a member's home.
Religious
Education
Contact:
Martha Elliott
The religious Education program builds community
among our children and supports their spiritual
growth through Sunday School classes and group
activities. The RE program also coordinates special
events like the Enchanted Kingdom, the May
Day Celebration, Family fun Nights and
overnight District Youth Conferences. The RE
program offers opportunities for community members
to minister to our children and to one another. The
committee usually meets one Sunday a month after
coffee hour. (Childcare can be
provided if needed.)
Charity
Fund
Contact: Church
Office — (413) 773-5018
Committee members dispense emergency grants up to
$100 to Greenfield residents from a small endowed
fund.
Social
Action
Contact: Molly Chambers
Programs have included current event and educational
forums, support for peace and justice actions and
organizations and relations with our Romanian
partner church.
Social
Action Mission Statement:
The mission of the Social Action Committee of All
Souls Church is the promotion of justice and unity
for all by confronting issues of social and economic
injustice, including, but not limited to racism. We
hope to foster this in ways that will tap the
talents of our community through education, action,
celebration, mutual support, witnessing, role
modeling — both in the home and wider community,
personal sharing, and with the collaboration of the
congregation and larger community. The Social Action
Committee welcomes new members and ideas from the
congregation. We are committed to using the
democratic process within the Committee to decide
the goals and objectives we will address each year.
All
Souls Renaissance Committee
Contact: Paul Flandreau,
Mark Gregory
A committee involved in long range planning for All
Souls.
Worship
Committee
Contact:
Diane
Dix
The Worship Committee plans those Sunday services
during the year not conducted by the minister.
Committee members brainstorm ideas, find speakers
and organize and lead services themselves.
Flower
Committee
Contact: Irmarie Jones
The
Flower Committee operates a fund endowed to provide
flowers for the sanctuary for Sundays and special
services.
Ways
& Means Committee (see below)
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Fundraising
and Fun Events
The
Ways & Means Committee
Contact:
Lynn
Nichols or Don Kruger
Ways & Means plans fundraising events for the
church, such as Fair Trade coffee sales at coffee
hour, the annual dinner & auction, etc.
The
Spring Tag Sale
Contact: Irmarie
Jones
Tag items are collected throughout the year for this
gala sale and exchange of wares. Usually held in
May. Clean out those
closets!
Family
Fun Night/Monday Parlor Game Night
Contact: The RE Committee
These family fun nights have been held frequently
over the past year and continue into 2005. Games,
pizza, beverages, etc.
Enchanted
Kingdom
Contact: Elizabeth Bonney
Enchanted Kingdom, the annual non-scary alternative
to haunted houses, is held at All Souls Church each
Halloween weekend. The fantasy spaces are not only
fun to be in but provide interactive entertainment
for people as young as two years old. Favorite
fantasy spaces might include a Fairy Princess Room,
an Elf Forest, a Middle Eastern room, a Castle Room,
an Ice Palace, a 60s Room, or an Under the Sea
World. Friendly wizards tell stories in the Parish
Hall where refreshments are sold and pumpkin coach
rides are given to the smallest children. Enchanted
Kingdom is generally held on Friday of Halloween
weekend from 6 – 8:30 p.m., Saturday, from 4 – 9
p.m., and Sunday, from 2 – 5 p.m. Children are
welcome to come in costume or play dress-up in the
different fantasy areas. Admission is $3 per person
or $10 per family.
Guest
at Your Table
Contact: Irmarie
Jones
An annual spring collection aimed at educating
families and gathering coins for the UU Service
Committee.
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Special
Services and Sunday Mornings
All
Souls has several services and Sundays in the church
year of a special or community nature. For more
information contact members of the staff.
All
Souls Day of the Dead
On the Sunday before November 2, energy inspired by
diverse worship practices combine for remembrance
and celebration of the dead with the living. Some
years, the sanctuary of All Souls is open all day to
anyone who wishes time for mediation and prayer.
Christmas
Eve
Jesus' birth and teachings are celebrated along with
the lights of many nations and traditions. Christmas
Eve at All Souls is a beautiful and often
alternative testimony to this great teacher of God,
his family and his legacy in story and song.
May
Day Sunday
Each year, led by the children's program, many All
Souls families and community members opt for this
traditional celebration of Spring. It is held on the
Sunday nearest May Day on the town common in
Montague. Note:
The regular Sunday service takes place at 9:30 a.m.
that morning.
End-of-the-Year
Picnic
A June church family gathering at a camp or
backyard.
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Music
Programs
All
Souls Choir
Contact: Barbara Weeks,
Director
Sing your heart out! The choir rehearses Thursday
evenings at 7:30 p.m. at the church and performs at
the Sunday services monthly and at some special
services. Note: As of September 2005, the All Souls
choir is participating in services on an ad hoc
basis.
Coffee
and Soul
Contacts:
Diane Dix (773-5018)
A monthly folk and alternative music coffeehouse at
the church, featuring some of the best sounds in New
England. The third
Saturday evening of each month. More
information and a complete schedule for All Souls'
Coffee and Soul can be found by clicking
here, or by e-mail at music@uugreenfield.org
and coffeeandsoul@yahoo.com.
Mid-Week
Music
Contact: Diane Dix (773-5018)
This community lunch offering of music happens
Wednesdays with Fall and Spring seasons from 12:15
p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Performers include jazz groups,
classical virtuosos and top high school performance
groups. Held in the sanctuary and free of charge!
More
information and a current schedule for All Souls'
Mid-Week Music can be found by clicking
here, or by e-mail at music@uugreenfield.org.
Sunday
Service Music Committee
Members arrange the mix of accompanists and soloists
who grace our Sunday and special services.
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Other
Programs
Small
Group Ministries
Contact:
Martha
Elliott
Currently, there is are no small groups meeting. Briefly, SGM are regularly scheduled
meetings of 8-12 people, intended to enhance
the overall connectedness among us as a larger
community. Groups are deliberately created in ways
that combine people of different ages, genders,
backgrounds, marital status, etc. and are intended
to bring them to common ground with each
other. Contact Martha is you are interested in
participating in future SGM programs.
Seasonal
Feasts
Contact:
Kate Wadleigh
Fall, Winter, and Spring seasonal feasts are held
each year (replacing Friendship luncheons). Church
members are asked to bring an entree, side dish or
dessert to share. Locally grown food is encouraged.
Community
Meals
Contact: Toni Eaton
Three times yearly, All Souls makes and serves the
community meal held at 2nd Congregational Church in
Greenfield. All Souls founded this program in 1984.
Associated
Programs
All Souls Church serves as the meeting site for
(among others) Alcoholics Anonymous and the Dial/Self Thanksgiving Meal
and programs of the Interfaith Council of
Franklin County. Theses programs are open to the
community.
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