Thank you for supporting all of our endeavors to communicate and share news with the Canaan UCC family.

Please feel free to share any announcements, missives, and tidbits with us at:

communications@canaanucc.org

After all, the community is our collective eyes and ears!

Canaan UCC Schedule 

August

Worship and Breakfast Potluck, Sunday August 3 @ 10 AM at the Church

Zoom Service, Sunday August 10 @ 10 AM Link emailed upon request 

Worship with Rev. Kairin Eric Russell, Sunday August 17 @ 10 AM at the Church 

The Annual Poetry and Picnic, Sunday August 24

@ 10 AM to 1 PM, at the Home of Brian Clark in Canaan

Zoom Council Meeting, Tuesday, August 26 @ 7 PM Link emailed upon request 

Worship with Rev. Mike Denton, Sunday August 31 @ 10 AM at the Church

Rest In Peace

We mourn the death of Anne McKinstry, on Friday, July 11, wife of Rev. John McKinstry, who ministered to us here in Canaan from 1978 - 1987. Their daughter Rev. Janet McKinstry also filled our pulpit from 2006-2009.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 23 at 11 AM at the First Congregational Church of Stockbridge (United Church of Christ).

Should you wish to send condolence cards their addresses are: John: 32 Dresser Ave., Great Barrington, MA 01230; and Janet: 32B Dresser Ave., Great Barrington MA 01230.

Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Mike

With summer upon us, those interested in stopping by the Church for Rev. Mike's coffee and conversation, his August availability times are as follows: 7/2 - 9 AM to

 1 PM; 7/9 - 9 AM to 1 PM; 7/16 - 9 AM to 1 PM; 7/23 - 9 am to 1 PM; 7/30 & 8/6 vacation.

Musings from Rev. Mike on Canaan UCC's Open House

I might have told this story before, but it's a good one.

My grandfather liked to fish and, when he came home, there was a script he and some of us would sometimes follow. It went something like this:

“How was the fishing?”

“Fishing was great!”                                                             

“How many fish did you catch?”

“Not a one.”

“I thought you said the fishing was great?”

“It was my job to fish and I did that well. It was the fishes’ job to bite.”

I thought about that story at the open house last weekend. Although a few people did stop by, it was never particularly busy. We did what we should have. We got the word out, made personal invites, served coffee and donut holes, and had some great music in the sanctuary. The weather was perfect, and our space looked great.

Again, there weren’t many people there, but here’s the thing: we did have one group sign up to rent the space. One of the goals for this event was to inform people about our community and to introduce myself. The other was to let folks know about the space. We might not have had a large crowd here, but as those who offered the space, we actually did what we set out to do. And, we got to sit on the porch and talk a bit. And, we had a chance to talk about some more ways to reach out. And there were plenty of donut holes to go around.

So, back to the dialogue with my grandfather... If you cast out your line, you might not catch anything, but if you don’t, you definitely won’t. Sometimes churches find themselves in a place where they stop reaching out or being present in the community because they don’t get the immediate outcome they hoped for, and then wonder why no one joins them or knows about them. There’s almost this sense of entitlement to their continuing existence. That’s just not how it works. 

This is actually where the fishing analogy starts to break down, too. Even if you don’t catch anything, catching a fish is still the goal. The peculiar thing about the church is that its goal is to reach out, help, be present, and offer what we can. Sure, an outcome might be that the church grows and it frequently is, but the act of offering, in and of itself, is the goal. 

Any day we put ourselves out there is a great day. As we put up the new banner and get the new sign up, it’s a great day. When we’re present as a church in the community and serving others, it's a great day. When we share information about who we are on our website and social media, it's a great day. When we welcome folks to share our space, it's a great day. When we show up in public places to protest and advocate in ways that reflect our values, it's a great day.

Here’s to many, many great days.

There Is Still Time to Visit The Annual Roeliff Jansen Historical Society Summer Exhibition

Saturday, July 12th thru Sunday, October 26th, 2025

This summer, the Roeliff Jansen Historical Society (RJHS) is excited to unveil our upcoming annual exhibition, Sites to Celebrate: Local History Revisited.

This year's exhibit highlights ten historic sites within the Roe Jan area, each with a unique story. From well-known landmarks to hidden gems, and some that have recently emerged from the shadows of history, this exhibition invites you to explore the rich tapestry of our local heritage. Summer weekend programs will be pre-scheduled visits to actual sites featured in the exhibition. 

The sites we will visit range from established historic districts to recently restored treasures and those currently undergoing careful restoration. This exhibition represents the combined efforts of the RJHS, the Copake Historic Preservation Committee, the Copake Grange, the Copake Ironworks, and many dedicated individuals, organizations, and public institutions committed to preserving our shared history. 

The Canaan Historical Society Continues an Exciting Array of 2025 Summer Programs and Special Events In August

Aug. 16th  Annual Meeting and Program celebrating the Bi-Centennial of the Erie Canal by Rosemary Nichols, author of Building the Erie Canal, Murder in Rome.

For additional information email: CanaanHistoricalSociety@gmail.com

Mark Your Calendars for the Berkshire Churches Family Picnic.

Please let Jay know, call or text 518-610-5174, by August 2, so we can give a head count for burgers which are provided by our Berkshire Association. 

See additional details below!

Save the Date!

Canaan UCC's Annual Poetry Sunday and Picnic

August 24 from 10 AM to 1 PM

At the Home of Brian Clark in Canaan

Calling All Columbia County Seniors!

Canaan UCC and NY Connects - Columbia County and The Healthcare Consortium Announces a Bimonthly Community “Resource Roundtable Series” on August 29, at 10:00 AM. 

This Free Event is Located at 1670 County Route 5, Canaan.

See details below!

You Are Cordially Invited to a Great Summer Read and September Book Discussion

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s slim volume, The Serviceberry, is “a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world, according to Goodreads.

Together, the United Church Pittsfield and Canaan Congregational will gather at the end of the summer to discuss this provocative book and look at how Dr. Kimmerer’s vision might impact us. Pick up the book at your favorite shop, borrow it from your library, get the Kindle version – and join us in Canaan at noon on September 21.  Even if you did not read her #1 New York Times bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass, Dr. Kimmerer offers here an inspiration and challenge to our current economic ands capitalistic oriented society to look at another way of living.

Sunday Brunch at the Abode

If you are looking The Abode will be hosting a brunch every Sunday, at 12:30 pm, year round.

It's a farm-to-table brunch spread that you will love. Serve yourself and fill up your plate with a mix of brunch favorites like frittata, homemade yogurt, french toast casserole, tahini cookies, and more. Our chef, Amber Maisano, curates a buffet based on local ingredients, changing every week, and it's all complemented with tea and coffee.

Please register for the event at theabode.org as limited seating is available. Pay what you can. The suggested donation is $10–35.

Meet new folks, walk the beautiful property, and discover a little about the Abode, located at 5 Abode Road, New Lebanon, NY, 12125.

The Canaan Squares Are Kicking Up Their Heels Again on Wednesday, August 20

from 2 to 4:30 PM

If you are interested in learning how to square dance, or are experienced dancers who would like to join a local square dance group, come join us at Canaan UCC, 1670 County Route 5, Canaan.

Teaching/calling will be provided by the accomplished Cliff Brodeur.

Please contact Stephanie Guelpa at 518-369-9897 or at sguelpa@gmail.com for more information regarding dates and other particulars.

School Supplies Donations Welcome

This summer and fall, our church will again be collecting school supplies for local families in need. We will officially start our collection activity at the end of August and continue through the months of September and October.

Those wishing to donate may bring their supplies to the church building.  Items may be left in the food pantry basket near the entryway. We will also again have a plastic bin marked “School Supplies” on the church deck near the far entry door. This is a second bin which is located next to one designated for food, diapers and paper goods.  If choosing this option, please place your items in the school supplies bin and close the cover tightly.  

Please note: If using the outside bin, leave only paper, pencils and other items that are not affected by warm temperatures.  In previous years, items such as crayons have melted in the heat.

Members of the Mission Team will come to the church mid-day or early afternoon on Tuesdays, gather the school supplies and take them to the Chatham Area Silent Pantry which will distribute them to area families with school children.

Here is a list of suggested items: loose leaf paper; construction paper; index cards; post it notes; plastic pencil boxes; glue sticks; gallon zip lock bags; children’s scissors; crayons; markers; highlighters; dry erase markers; lead pencils; and colored pencils. 

We are grateful for any and all donations to this worthy mission.

Ed Fallon

For the Missions Team

Thank You From the Chatham Area Silent Pantry

Greetings all,

The church’s Missions Team continues to collect items for the Chatham Area Silent Pantry.  We especially welcome donations of non-food items that are not allowed under SNAP (formerly “food stamps”) benefits. These include toilet paper, diapers, hygiene products, (e.g., soaps, hand sanitizers) and other household products. 

The pantry staff gratefully receive our contributions each week.  We are always recognized for our thoughtfulness and for consistently “showing up.”  

Many thanks to our generous congregants who never fail to remember the ongoing needs of the local community.

Ed Fallon,

for the Missions Team

Who are We?

We are a United Church of Christ (UCC) congregation. Though we are a small assemblage, we endeavor to support mission efforts globally. Locally, we sponsor efforts here in Canaan, New Lebanon, and Chatham to serve families and people through community agencies and organizations.

Whether you are a Christian or a person who wonders about God, you have a place here. As a church designated by the UCC as an Open and Affirming congregation, we welcome people who are LGBTQ+. Periodically, we have an on-line worship service to serve people who physically cannot come to our church. When the on-line worship is scheduled, you will find the date and link to that service in this newsletter.

 Hours

Wednesday: 10 am - 12 pm 

Friday: 10 pm - 12 pm

Sunday: 10 am - 12 pm

Mailing Address

Canaan Congregational Church

 Box 66

Canaan, NY 12029

518.781.4775