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First Congregational UCC
Buckland
MA
01338-9701
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Who we are
Welcome to The First Congregational Church of Buckland - also known as The Mary Lyon Church.
We are pleased your journey of faith has led you to this moment of connection with our faith community.
If you are searching for a church home, we invite you to worship with us, ask questions, tell us what you are looking for in a church, and share your story of faith with us.
As a community of Christian believers, our life together begins as we worship God. Out of that center, we try to create an atmosphere where all are welcome to bring their full selves into relationship with God and one another. As Congregationalists, we affirm the notion of "soul freedom", which implies that each person is responsible for theological reflection that shapes and directs their lives. This is a place where we can reflect together on God's presence in our lives, individually and collectively.
Our hope is that in this context of worship and support each one of us will be empowered to develop and use our gifts in God's service, both here and in the community. So please, walk with us as we struggle, celebrate, grow, mature, and joyfully serve our God in justice, mercy, and love.
We are pleased your journey of faith has led you to this moment of connection with our faith community.
If you are searching for a church home, we invite you to worship with us, ask questions, tell us what you are looking for in a church, and share your story of faith with us.
As a community of Christian believers, our life together begins as we worship God. Out of that center, we try to create an atmosphere where all are welcome to bring their full selves into relationship with God and one another. As Congregationalists, we affirm the notion of "soul freedom", which implies that each person is responsible for theological reflection that shapes and directs their lives. This is a place where we can reflect together on God's presence in our lives, individually and collectively.
Our hope is that in this context of worship and support each one of us will be empowered to develop and use our gifts in God's service, both here and in the community. So please, walk with us as we struggle, celebrate, grow, mature, and joyfully serve our God in justice, mercy, and love.
Street Address
Church Pastor
Richard T. Fournier
Pastor
17 Upper St
Buckland,
MA
01338-9701
United States
Phone: 413-625-9440
Download Pastor Richard T. Fournier vCard with Bio
Quote of the Day
Mark 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Denomination
United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ churches in Buckland, Massachusetts, United States
United Church of Christ churches in Massachusetts, United States
United Church of Christ churches in United States
All churches in Buckland, MA
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Leadership
Leader Name:
Richard T. Fournier
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Pastor
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We are pleased to welcome the Reverend Richard T. Fournier as our new settled pastor. Rev. Fournier’s first Sunday worship service at the church was August 5th at 10:30am.
Fournier went to Boston Latin High School and earned his B.A. at Colby College in Waterville ME. He was ordained in 1982 after graduating magna cum laude from the Boston University School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity Degree. In the twenty five years that have followed his ordination, Rich has been the faith leader of small and large churches in both rural and city settings.
In Cummington he was Pastor of Village Church and West Cummington Congregational and he was Senior Pastor at Old First Church in Springfield, MA. Reverend Fournier has served as Protestant Chaplain at Mount Holyoke College and was the Founder and Director of Taproot Center in Northampton where he worked to establish a Spiritual Life Resource and Education Center, led retreats, and hosted interfaith dialogues. For the past three years Rich has been the Interim Senior Pastor at United Congregational Church of Holyoke.
Before entering seminary, Rich worked in several programs to help troubled youth in the eastern part of the state and in Springfield. Youth ministry has remained a particular interest and strength. Rich said he has recently played basketball with Holyoke teens and didn’t get laughed off the court. Rich stays interested in sports having coached his daughter’s soccer team for several seasons. Over thirty years ago (and he adds, over thirty pounds ago) Rich ran the Boston Marathon.
In 1997, Rich got involved with international programming to help people with disabilities through the Polus Center for Social and Economic Development. He has traveled to Central America over twenty times, as well as to Ethiopia and Zambia in Africa. He continues to be involved in this ongoing mission work.
Rev. Fournier led this year’s (2007) remembrance ceremonies at the cemeteries in Buckland Center as part of the annual Hat ‘n Sock Memorial Day Parade. A resident of Northampton, Fournier said he hopes to move closer to the Buckland area in the near future. He says when he’s not involved with his pastoral work for the church, he’ll be looking for opportunities to lead and teach small groups on a variety of secular and spiritual subjects.
Fournier went to Boston Latin High School and earned his B.A. at Colby College in Waterville ME. He was ordained in 1982 after graduating magna cum laude from the Boston University School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity Degree. In the twenty five years that have followed his ordination, Rich has been the faith leader of small and large churches in both rural and city settings.
In Cummington he was Pastor of Village Church and West Cummington Congregational and he was Senior Pastor at Old First Church in Springfield, MA. Reverend Fournier has served as Protestant Chaplain at Mount Holyoke College and was the Founder and Director of Taproot Center in Northampton where he worked to establish a Spiritual Life Resource and Education Center, led retreats, and hosted interfaith dialogues. For the past three years Rich has been the Interim Senior Pastor at United Congregational Church of Holyoke.
Before entering seminary, Rich worked in several programs to help troubled youth in the eastern part of the state and in Springfield. Youth ministry has remained a particular interest and strength. Rich said he has recently played basketball with Holyoke teens and didn’t get laughed off the court. Rich stays interested in sports having coached his daughter’s soccer team for several seasons. Over thirty years ago (and he adds, over thirty pounds ago) Rich ran the Boston Marathon.
In 1997, Rich got involved with international programming to help people with disabilities through the Polus Center for Social and Economic Development. He has traveled to Central America over twenty times, as well as to Ethiopia and Zambia in Africa. He continues to be involved in this ongoing mission work.
Rev. Fournier led this year’s (2007) remembrance ceremonies at the cemeteries in Buckland Center as part of the annual Hat ‘n Sock Memorial Day Parade. A resident of Northampton, Fournier said he hopes to move closer to the Buckland area in the near future. He says when he’s not involved with his pastoral work for the church, he’ll be looking for opportunities to lead and teach small groups on a variety of secular and spiritual subjects.
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First Congregational UCC Leadership Photos
Administration
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Mailing Address
PO Box 87
Buckland, MA
01338-0087
Buckland, MA
01338-0087
Driving Directions to First Congregational UCC
Travel/Directions Tips
From Shelburne or Ashfield, follow Route 112 towards the center of Buckland. From either north or south, turn west onto Upper Street. Follow Upper Street to the crest of the hill. The church is located at the juncture of Upper Street and Charlemont Road. There is ample parking in front and around the church.
Parking
First Congregational UCC Buckland Service Times
SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:30AM
Year-Round
Service Times last updated on the 14th of January, 2020
Year-Round
Service Times last updated on the 14th of January, 2020
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First Congregational UCC Photo Gallery
First Congregational UCC History
Brief History of the Mary Lyon Church
The First Congregational Church of Buckland was organized in October 1785 with eighteen members.
The erection of the church building, which is known to have contained a balcony and box pews, was completed in 1800. In 1846 this building was remodeled and enlarged. It was also raised in order to provide a hall beneath the sanctuary, in which the town meetings were held for a period of about forty years. The roof had very little alterations. The massive trusses of the original building can still be seen in the attic. Although built at the end of the 18th century, the construction looks backward in style and has some features in common with the roof construction of the famous 17th century “Old Ship Church” in Hingham, Massachusetts.
In 1907 the interior of the sanctuary was equipped with metal sheathing on the walls and ceilings. The pews, which are being used today, were installed, replacing a set which had been in use since the removal of the box pews. Other changes during the 20th century included the installation of memorial windows in the sanctuary in 1909 and an electric organ in 1958.
Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, has been the church’s most distinguished gift to the world. Miss Lyon was baptized and received membership in 1822. Through the generosity of an admirer, a memorial tablet was placed on the south wall of the sanctuary, above the central door. It is altogether fitting that this church should be known as “The Mary Lyon Church”.
The tribute to Miss Lyon should be accompanied with an equally grateful tribute to the host of men and women of lesser fame, living and dead, who have helped to make the church what it is today.
On January 3, 1961 the church voted to join the United Church of Christ.
If you would like to know more about Mary Lyon, please click on the following link to learn more about this important local and national figure: www.mtholyoke.edu/marylyon/
The First Congregational Church of Buckland was organized in October 1785 with eighteen members.
The erection of the church building, which is known to have contained a balcony and box pews, was completed in 1800. In 1846 this building was remodeled and enlarged. It was also raised in order to provide a hall beneath the sanctuary, in which the town meetings were held for a period of about forty years. The roof had very little alterations. The massive trusses of the original building can still be seen in the attic. Although built at the end of the 18th century, the construction looks backward in style and has some features in common with the roof construction of the famous 17th century “Old Ship Church” in Hingham, Massachusetts.
In 1907 the interior of the sanctuary was equipped with metal sheathing on the walls and ceilings. The pews, which are being used today, were installed, replacing a set which had been in use since the removal of the box pews. Other changes during the 20th century included the installation of memorial windows in the sanctuary in 1909 and an electric organ in 1958.
Mary Lyon, founder of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, has been the church’s most distinguished gift to the world. Miss Lyon was baptized and received membership in 1822. Through the generosity of an admirer, a memorial tablet was placed on the south wall of the sanctuary, above the central door. It is altogether fitting that this church should be known as “The Mary Lyon Church”.
The tribute to Miss Lyon should be accompanied with an equally grateful tribute to the host of men and women of lesser fame, living and dead, who have helped to make the church what it is today.
On January 3, 1961 the church voted to join the United Church of Christ.
If you would like to know more about Mary Lyon, please click on the following link to learn more about this important local and national figure: www.mtholyoke.edu/marylyon/
First Congregational UCC Historical Photos
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