GREENFIELD — Sunday, Oct. 2, is Fall Festival Sunday at Saint James Episcopal Church, 8 Church St. Pastor Heather Blais says, “We will come together for one combined service (no Saturday, 5:30 p.m., or Sunday, 8 a.m.) for a morning of worship, food, fellowship and fun. At our worship service, we will formally welcome new members, commission new ministries, welcome the Sunday School, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Whiteman Room, welcome the choir, and say farewell to Education for Ministry at Saint James. The service will be followed by a fellowship meal in our Parish Hall. All are invited and welcomed. For more information: 413-773-3925 or visit www.saintjamesgreenfield.org
GREENFIELD — Franklin County Cathedral in the Light will continue on the Town Common Sundays at 2 p.m. The ministry consists of a weekly worship service followed by a hot meal. Additionally, those who need it will have the opportunity to take home a wrapped sandwich for a meal the next day. The various churches of Franklin County have been invited to join as partners in this ministry.
GREENFIELD — Temple Israel on Pierce Street invites the public to join them as they celebrate the high holy days, as follows. Donations and new memberships welcome for all programs. More information may be found on their website, templeisraelgreenfield.org.
Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. Rosh Hashanah Children’s Program: Families are invited to help prepare pizza and salad for the 6 p.m. Community Meal. No charge.
Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. Rosh Hashanah morning service: Welcome the new year with blessings, liturgy, Torah and Community Lunch. No tickets. Older children’s service (ages 9 to 12). Free child care provided.
Oct. 4 at 9:30 a.m. Rosh Hashanah morning service: Welcome the new year with morning blessings followed by inclusive, educational approach to the liturgy, Torah service and community lunch. No tickets.
Oct. 11 at 5:45 p.m. Stand for Kol Nidre in sacred community. Dress in white with tallit. No leather is to be worn for the evening Yom Kippur service. No tickets.
Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. Full day of prayer (9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Morning service, Yom Kippur, Torah, Yizkor, children’s holiday crafts for ages 10 to 12. 3 to 4 p.m.: Gentle Yoga. 4 to 5 p.m.: Retelling the Yonah Story (for children of all ages). 5 p.m.: Yom Kippur Ma-arive and Torah service. 6 p.m.: Neilah Service followed by break-the-fast. Free child care.
WHATELY — Iraq War veteran Gabriel Nutter, accompanied by his service dog, Sammy, will speak about his experience of healing through the auspices of the Trauma Assistance Dog Program, Sunday, at 10 a.m. at First Congregational Church of Whately.
TURNERS FALLS — Again this fall the Diocese of Western Massachusetts has set aside the time between the Feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4, and Chris the King Sunday, Nov. 20, as Creation Season — a special period in which to honor and serve “this fragile Earth” and to focus on the moral imperative of climate change and protecting the web of life.
On Sunday, Oct. 9, St. Andrews Episcopal Church (2 Prospect St.) will have as guest celebrant and preacher the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, Diocesan Missioner for Creation Care. Bullitt-Jonas is an author, preacher, teacher and activist. She believes that the ecological crisis — from climate change to the extinction of species — calls us to claim our kinship with all creation, to look deeply into our sources of hope, and to work together to build a just and sustainable future. She is the recipient of the “Steward of God’s Creation Award,” presented by the National Religious Coalition on Creation Care on Sept. 12. The award is given annually to a faith leader whose ministry is moving the needle toward climate justice and inspiring reverence for the earth.
The church is located at the intersection of 7th and L streets.
NORTHFIELD — Enjoy the fine music of Santina King and Dave Coffey at Coffee House Music, Friday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Patrick’s Church, Main Street.
DEERFIELD — The Brick Church Music Series at The First Church of Deerfield, 71 Old Main St., will present Michael Hey in an organ concert on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 3 p.m. A Julliard School graduate, Hey’s organ recitals are described as “flashy” and “exciting.” Presently assistant organist of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC, Hey performs for thousands of people each year. He will be playing works by J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Debussy and others, on the tracker organ built by Richards-Fowkes of Chattanooga, Tenn. This is a fundraiser for The First church of Deerfield and is co-sponsored by the American Guild of Organists/Springfield Chapter. There is a suggested donation of $10 at the door, with a reception following the concert. For more information, call Jean Pitman Turner, Artistic Director, at 413-774-2657.
NORTHFIELD — There will be an Anointing of the Sick on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the 4 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, Main Street.
NORTHFIELD — The New Day Chanting Service, a service of prayers and chanting, will take place Saturday, Oct. 22, from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m., at Trinitarian Congregational Church, 147 Main St. Communion will be served. Children are welcome.
GREENFIELD — Dr. C. Wayne Johnson is expected to visit the area for a weeklong series focusing on supporting pastors, churches and families. He will be at Agape Baptist Church (Moldovan) in Greenfield throughout the week of Oct. 23 and will also be visiting the Gill Church on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 30 at 10 a.m., as part of the regular worship service. Dr. Johnson, missions pastor at his home church in Medora, Kan., is president of Missions Revival, involved in planting and supporting churches, training pastors and rallying churches worldwide. He has ministered around the U.S. and in several countries including Moldova, and is missions pastor at Christian Bible Church in Saipan. Dr. Johnson has a Doctorate of Ministry from Pensacola Theological Seminary.
Pastor Gary Bourbeau of Gill Church says, “We invite you to join us, knowing he will inspire, inform and challenge us with news of the ministries he is associated with, and how to support and strengthen our own home churches.”
Bourbeau can be reached at 413-768-9543 or gryngill@yahoo.com.
BERNARDSTON — There will be a Water Issues Roundtable with water conservation guest speakers and artists Alice Thomas and Annette Mackin Wadleigh on Oct. 23 at 1 p.m., at the 1739 Bernardston Unitarian Meetinghouse, 49 Church St. An exhibition of art and the speakers are sponsored by Arts & Activism at Bernardston Unitarian Church. www.bernardstonunitarian.org.