Religion Notes: April 17, 2025 (2025)

Church events

Sunderland – First Congregational Church of Sunderland, 91 S. Main St., Serendipity Shop is open on Saturdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with items for sale at bargain prices.

Weekly Sunday church service is offered at 11 a.m. in-person or on Zoom. Email scc1717@wordpress.com or visit the church on Facebook for more information.

Weekly schedule

Holyoke – St. Peter’s Lutheran Church weekly schedule, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Worship and Sunday School, Facebook Live Worship Service; Monday, 10:30 a.m. a.m. Bible Study; Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Prayers with Pastor, Facebook Live; Thursday, 7 p.m. Worship at church. The church is located at 34 Jarvis Ave.

Easter Egg hunt

Holyoke - United Congregational Church of Holyoke’s second annual Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza will take place on Saturday, April 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event will feature activities for the whole family, including games, crafts, a scavenger hunt, a cafe, and photos with the Easter bunny. All activities will take place at 300 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA.

Blessing of Easter food and Easter Masses

Holyoke - Our Lady of the Cross Parish will be hosting the traditional Blessing of Easter Food on Saturday, April 19 at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. in the church. The parish invites you to attend Mass on Easter: Saturday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20 at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. in Polish & 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to celebrate the Lord’s resurrection. The church is located on Holy Cross Ave.

Holy week services

Easthampton – Easthampton Congregational Church, UCC, located at 112 Main St, Easter Sunrise Service: April 20, 6:30 a.m. Join in for the Easter Sunrise service at Molitoris Orchards; Easter Worship Service: April 20, 10 a.m. Featuring special music and guest musicians. For more information, please contact the church at (413) 527 4790.

Easter services

Springfield - Foster Memorial Church, UCC will hold two worship services on Easter Sunday, April 20. The 8 a.m. service will include the construction of the “Flowering Cross.” The 10 a.m. service will include special music by the choir and a surprise. All are most welcome to join in. The church is located at 1791 Wilbraham Road in the Sixteen Acres section. For more information, please call 413-782-2112.

Blessing of Journalists

South Hadley - The Rt. Rev. Douglas J. Fisher, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts, invites all members of the press – print, television, cable, online and radio – to attend the “Blessing of Journalists” on Thursday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 7 Woodbridge St.

The Rev. Tanya R. Wallace, rector of All Saints’, is the officiant of the Service of Evening Prayer and Bishop Fisher is the featured speaker. The First Amendment to the Constitution will be read in addition to readings from Scripture. The service is open to all who support the work of the free press and value this fundamental element of our democracy.

The Bishop’s Award is given to a local journalist who demonstrates excellence in bringing local and national concerns to the people of Western Massachusetts. This year’s recipient is Dr. Razvan Sibii, Senior Lecturer II of Journalism at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Sibii holds a Ph.D. and Master’s in Communication from UMass Amherst, as well as a B.A. in Journalism/Mass Communication from the American University in Bulgaria. A freelance journalist, Sibii was an opinion columnist for the Daily Hampshire Gazette, the Amherst Bulletin, the Greenfield Recorder and the Athol Daily News.

This service will also highlight the writer, orator and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass (1811-1895). Douglass founded The North Star, a newspaper published in Rochester, NY and distributed widely as part of the movement to end slavery. Past recipients of The Bishop’s Award include Wayne Phaneuf, former editor of The Republican newspaper and Carrie Saldo, former host of WGBY’s “Connecting Point.” Saldo currently hosts “The Rundown with Carrie Saldo” on NEPM.

Catholic Women’s Club Banquet

West Springfield – The Catholic Women’s Club of Agawam will hold their annual May banquet at the Storrowtown Tavern in West Springfield. It will be held on Thursday, May 15, and begins at 6 p.m. with fruit/cheese platter and veggie & dip platter. The buffet dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. The menu consist of salad, bread and butter, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, chicken francaise, Yankee pot roast, broiled scrod, tea, and coffee with a dessert ice cream puff to complete the meal. Open seating will be used. The price is $36, and checks should be made out to the Catholic Women’s Club or C.W.C and sent to Paula Raiche, 181 Leonard St., Agawam, MA 01001 by May 7. Checks may also be put in the basket at weekend Masses. No refunds will be made. The club’s monthly and yearly meetings will be held after the dinner.

Church bus trip

Springfield – Saint Catherine of Siena presents a bus trip to see the Woosox vs Scranton, on Friday, July 18 with a 6:45 p.m. game. Fireworks immediately after the game. Cost is $79.and includes covered seats by the third baseline, bus and driver’s tip, plus a $5 credit on food or the store. Call Betty at 413-896-8801.

Church events

Springfield - South Congregational Church, an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ in downtown Springfield, invites everyone to its regular worship services, Sundays at 10 a.m. in person at 45 Maple Street in Springfield or on Zoom. Find the Zoom link and more information about us on our website at www.sococh.org. Childcare is also available. The Bible Study group on Zoom will now take place on Mondays at 7 p.m. (use the Zoom worship link) — whether you are new to bible study or have a lifetime of experience, you are welcome. Other programs include regular knitting and quilting circles as well as an upcoming Lenten Book Group. In addition to church services and events, South is particularly engaged in the downtown community, and many public programs are offered in their spaces. If you’d like to know more, receive our weekly email newsletter, or have any questions, please email admin@sococh.org or call ‪(413) 732-0117. Find them on Facebook or Instagram.

Church events

Wilbraham - Wilbraham United Church at 500 Main St., welcomes the community to Sunday morning services at 10 a.m. For the Easter season, the church will hold the following services. April 20 – Easter: 10 a.m. service followed by Easter Egg hunt. On the first Sunday of every month communion is served with bread and grape juice. Following all Sunday services, there is a Friendship gathering in the Fellowship Hall. Coffee, and other refreshments are served and all are welcomed. Wilbraham United is a merged congregation of the Congregational and Methodist Societies. They celebrate as both a congregation that recognizes the traditions and values of both the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist denominations. Wilbraham United Church is a place where someone from any walk of life can feel comfortable. They are committed to service and sharing their space for the good of the community and to the glory of God. The church is especially welcoming to children, who are gladly received in the worship service. There are church school classes for children who wish to attend for ages 3 through 13 during the worship service time. The church is handicapped accessible with a large parking lot in the rear. For any questions contact the church administrator at 413-596-2511 ext. 100 or email admin@wilbrahamunitedchurch.org.

Sunday service hours

Holyoke – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 485 Appleton St. Sunday service hours are as follows: 8 a.m.-Holy Eucharist with no music; 10 a.m.-Holy Eucharist with music; 5 p.m. service in Spanish with music. All are welcome. The church will hold its Easter service on, April 20, bilingual service at 10 a.m. There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children after service.

Additional adoration times

Agawam – St. John the Evangelist Church, 833 Main St. will offer weekly adoration ceremonies on Wednesdays between noon and 5:30 p.m. The Holy Mass takes place at 6 p.m. Lawn signs are available for Agawam residents announcing the Year of the Eucharist. Contact the parish office to obtain one, 413-786-8105, ext. 101.

Free weekly Veterans lunch

Holyoke – Community Roots Neighborhood Services offers a free hot lunch for Veterans and their adult immediate family (Parents or spouse). The lunches are every Thursday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 485 Appleton St. Questions? Email Gina Nelson at crnsholyoke@gmail.com.

Church service hours

Springfield – Christ Church Cathedral, 35 Chestnut St., Weekly Sunday service hours are as follows: 8 a.m.-Holy Eucharist with no music; 10 a.m.-Holy Eucharist with music; 12:15 p.m.- service in Spanish with music. A healing service is held at the church on the first Sunday of each month. For the Easter season, the Easter service takes place on April 20: English service at 6 a.m. (Sunrise Service), 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Spanish service at 12:15 p.m.