After an 18-month search for a new pastor, the Haydenville Congregational Church has invited the Rev. Donald Morgan to take his place at the pulpit.
“The transition is going great,” said church member Carla Imperial. “He is working side by side with the worship team, and things are going very well.”
Ordained as a United Church of Christ minister in 1984, Morgan says that spiritually ministering to others has been his passion from a young age.
“I entered the ministry at 16 and pastored my first church at 20,” he said. “For me, it is a deep sense of calling.”
A native of North Carolina, Morgan attended Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, and Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
He has served churches in North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana and Connecticut and was most recently the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Red Oak, Iowa.
For 13 years, he was also the director of volunteer services for the Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. Run by the United Church of Christ, the mission provides education, advocacy and community services for low-income people in the region.
Morgan said that he had concerns that the church in Red Oak was not going to remain sustainable; rather than retire, he sought a part-time position with a new church.
“The fact that this church is a liberal, welcoming, open and affirming congregation is one of the things that I was looking for,” he said. “While we are part of the UCC, which is overall open and affirming, not all congregations are.”
Morgan was chosen by a unanimous vote of the congregation in June after an 18-month search for a new pastor. Previous minister Andrea Ayvazian had served as the pastor of the church for 12 years until her retirement in January of 2017, after which Chris Mereschuk served as pastor until January of 2018.
Morgan preaches at the church three Sundays a month.
“We have had new people coming by to check out the services, so it is very exciting,” Imperial said.
Morgan said that he is happy with his decision to relocate to Haydenville.
“First impressions of the church are that it has a very strong congregation with strong leadership,” he said. “It is a side-by-side ministry, and I love that the congregation is involved in the ministry of the church.”
Arriving in town with his dog, Buffy, and cat, Peanut, Morgan moved in just two blocks from the church.
“People are very welcoming here, and I already feel right at home,” he said.
When not preaching or preparing sermons, Morgan said that he enjoys bowling, theater and spending time with his pets.
CHESTERFIELD — The First Congregational Church of Chesterfield will hold its Annual Harvest Supper on Saturday, Nov. 2 with sittings at 5 and 6:30 p.m.
This celebratory turkey dinner will include all the fixings and a choice of apple or pumpkin pie for dessert. The event will take place at the church located at 404 Main Road.
Prices are $14 for adults, $7 for children under 12 and free for children under 3.
For reservations, call Nancy Hewes at 296-4230.
GOSHEN — On Sunday, Nov. 10, StompBoxTrio will perform at the Institute for the Musical Arts in Goshen.
This Western Mass based band is made up of musicians Evelyn Harris, John Caban and David Rodriguez. Together, they blend classic 20th-century American music with 21st-century mojo.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. IMA is located at 165 Cape St. in Goshen. For more information, call 268-3009.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.