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The original Berkshire Church from the back. The boy on the left, now a high school senior, is a Boy Scout who put aluminum siding on the church as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Wow! Does this take me back! I hold in my hands the request for support of Berkshire Community Church’s new construction project, approved by the Congregational Church Development Division of the NACCC, and sent out as part of the 21st Century Pilgrim Club program. It takes me back because it wasn’t so long ago that we built our original church, a small log building, completed with the assistance of the NACCC $10 Club. I will never forget the Sunday we received the results of the drive, and the many wonderful messages of encouragement and prayer that came with the money (we still have them). We spread them on our communion table, and each member came up and read aloud one of the messages. I get goose pimples just remembering! As our Pastor Robbi (the Rev. Roberta Heath) reminds us, the $10 Club gave us just what we needed: no more, no less! Does that speak of the care with which our Heavenly Father watches over us?
We have been so blessed over the years, and have felt the Lord’s hand on us as we carefully nurtured this small congregation of 70. When we first came together as a group, with no clear idea of where we were going, or how we were going to get there, we were like a flock of lost sheep. We had no building, no leader, but a clear understanding that we wanted to worship our Lord in our own way. Our first need was to “belong” to someone. We talked to people from several denominations but did not find the right ” until Dr. Michael Halcomb (former NACCC Associate Executive Secretary) came to see what we were about, and to tell us about the NACCC. We liked what we heard. I’m not sure he thought we could make it, but he encouraged us and offered us the assistance of the NACCC. We voted to apply for membership with this fine group of people—people who cared for strangers outside of their own walls. We have never been disappointed.
When we hired Roberta Heath as our part-time Pastor, she helped us to immediately put a building program into operation. That was in January. We soon had financing and plans for a modest building that seemed to be more than adequate for our small group. By August, the foundation was poured and the building was delivered. This had to be in place with a roof on before one of our famous New England winters arrived. Once the frame was in place, we spent every spare moment hammering nails, painting, putting in windows—everything was done by the members of the church. Dr. Halcomb returned, and blessed us and the building that we proudly showed him, although far from finished. We celebrated our Lord’s birth that December (1988) in our new building. What a thrilling experience that was!
Built in 1988 by members of the church, Berkshire Community Church added classrooms in 2002 and has a new sanctuary underway.
Along the way we have made many wonderful celebrations in our building. The first was the dedication ceremony of our building, with friends from the Mountain Congregational Association, Rev. David Spahn representing the NACCC Office, a bagpiper, former NACCC Historian the Rev. Dr. Arvel M. Steece, flowers and endless food. It was thrilling. Our next special celebration was the Ordination of our Pastor, who had finished her studies and graduated from seminary. Once more our friends from NACCC churches joined us and helped celebrate our good fortune. Robbi is modest about her role at BCC but she is one of the many blessings we have received in our journey of faith. Her wisdom, administrative skills, knowledge of the Bible and our Lord Jesus has taught all of us to look at the world in new and different ways—as Jesus would. This past year we ordained our first CFTS student, Rev. Angela Buchauer, who now has a church of her own. Another CFTS student, Jennifer Henderson, encouraged by the whole congregation, has graduated from Andover Newton Seminary.
About four years ago we began to feel the squeeze. Our fellowship hall was divided into Sunday School classes with temporary walls. Adult classes met in the Sanctuary. It was noisy every place we went. We began to mumble, “We need more space.” “We need an addition.” “We need it NOW!” We could not hold a dinner in our fellowship hall, or any other kind of social gathering. Finally, in desperation, we held a wonderful dinner in our sanctuary to demonstrate the need for more space. An ambitious committee rented round tables and 100 chairs, which were set up in the sanctuary. A fabulous dinner was served (everything had to be brought upstairs, but the girls did a noble job). After dinner, each table was given some questions to act as food for thought about new construction:
The tables were alive with conversation; excitement was on the rise. Even though we knew we were acting on faith alone, the result was, cautiously, “let’s do it!”
Next, a questionnaire went to all members and friends of the church, seeking input on priorities and abilities for financial and/or practical help. Members of the Steering Committee met personally with members and friends to discuss the questionnaire and answer questions. As a result, the following priorities were established:
After much prayerful thought and many meetings to discuss what we needed and how we would pay for it, the decision was made to go ahead with a new addition. There would be seven classrooms on the ground floor, with a lovely new sanctuary overhead. This would leave us room to move around. Enticing ideas came from all sides. Like all Congregational churches, we have lots of good cooks who had been so frustrated by not being able to put on fellowship dinners. The Kitchen Committee swung into gear with plans for a more modern kitchen, with new equipment! Such joy! They are ready to “go” as soon as the “old” space can be refinished. New office space for our Pastor and the secretary was at the top of our list.
By September 2002, the Sunday School rooms were completed, carpeted, painted, and filled with happy youngsters. We have a nursery for infants, and classes for youngsters all the way through high school. Active Youth groups require space to show their talents. The completed construction works beautifully. Our workers completed the space that will be our new sanctuary to the point that we could procure a building permit, but it is now waiting We know that if the Lord wants it to be completed, it will be. In His time. We are content with that. I personally hope it will be in my lifetime.
I’d like to take a moment to thank the NACCC for the many ways they have been of assistance to us over the years. The $10 Club, of course. Then, when our Pastor became a full- time, one-person staff, the Congregational Church Development Division (CCD) assisted us in paying a part of her salary for a period of five years. Our second seminary student is completing seminary work, thanks to the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies (CFTS). And now, thanks to the CCD and the 21st Century Pilgrim Club, we look forward to receiving encouragement in completing our construction project. For myself, I had the good fortune to be on the Missionary Society for four years—an experience I will never forget, and would love to do again! Thanks to all of you.
Well, here we are. In 2005 we will have been a Congregational Church for 25 years. We plan to have a big celebration, complete with noted speakers, special music, and of course, lots of good food. We will have much to celebrate as we recall our early beginnings in people’s homes, our first service in a chilly, unfinished sanctuary, a growing Sunday school, ministries that feed our spiritual needs and reach out to the greater community, and the continued hand of God on all that we do. We know that our work will never be done—that God will always present us with new challenges and the resources we need to accomplish them. Berkshire Community Church has been richly blessed!
Mary Foster chairs the Missions Commission at Berkshire Community Church, Richmond, Massachusetts.
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