The First Congregational Church of Shelburne, UCC, has become the newest partner, or covenant, congregation of Pioneer Valley Habitat. The congregation voted at their annual meeting on December 5, 2004. Leadership leading to this step came from Diantha Wholey, mission chair, Nancy Hammond and Helen McBride of the West County Churches Task Force, and the pastor, Rev. Phyllis Evelyn.

The church has supported PVH in many ways since early in '03 when the West County Churches began having regular work days at the Montague City Road site in Greenfield. They held a fund-raising breakfast that October and continued regular construction work. Last summer they used the Habitat Vacation Bible School curriculum, which included building birdhouses for the MCR families, making quilts for the PVH quilt auction, and collecting funds.

Awareness of Habitat dates from the arrival in September of 2002 of their new pastor, Phyllis Evelyn, who had prior experience with the Habitat program in St. Louis. She has kept it before the congregation through bulletin announcements and guest speakers. She says "Habitat experience has brought our church into working relationship with other churches around us on an ecumenical basis."

As the congregation signed their framing timber to be a part of the groundbreaking ceremony in Turners Falls, they realized they were looking forward to being a spiritual presence in a troubled community. They also were motivated by Jen Sullivan's words at the dedication of 161 Montague City Road about how shattering it is to find yourself in poverty and how much a "hand up" is needed.

The certificate of covenant partnership will be presented to the congregation by PVH president Nancy Denig on April 17.