|
|
Weekly newsletter of Barrington Congregational Church United Church of Christ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thurs, May 18
6:30 – 8 pm Historical Group meets, Tom Wegner’s house
Fri, May 19
3 - 5 pm Brendan’s ‘Public Office Hours’ at Coffee Depot in Warren
Sat, May 20
10 am SYG meet at church to build raised garden
2 pm Meet in church parking lot to go to 'Open Mosques RI'
Sun, May 21
Jubilation Sunday and 300th Birthday Picnic
10 am Special
Worship Service for All Ages, Nursery Care only
11:30 am – 2:30 pm 300th Birthday Picnic, Fellowship Hall and outside
Tues, May 23
1
1 am S
taff meeting, Dale’s office
1 – 2:30 pm
Memory Impairment Support Group, Library
Wed, May 24
7:30 – 9 pm
Choir rehearsal
Fri, May 26
3 - 5 pm
Brendan’s ‘Public Office Hours’ at Coffee Depot in Warren
Sun, May 28
Deadline for KLF Scholarship Applications
10 am
Worship Service for All Ages, Nursery Care only
|
|
|
The weekly deadline for information to be included in the eBridge and Sunday Announcements is Wednesdays at Noon. Send info to
office@bccucc.org
|
|
|
Some of the new articles in this week's eBridge.....
|
|
Senior Youth Group project this Saturday morning
Church School Registration for 2017-2018
Co-ed Softball
Riverwalk Accessibility Project
Call for the RI Conference Annual Meeting
Did you know?
(Sorry, but it's not possible to add links to these - you'll have to scroll down to find each of them).
|
|
|
Brendan's 'Public Office Hours'
|
|
Brendan makes himself available to anyone who would like to visit him at The Coffee Depot, 501 Main St, Warren on
Friday afternoons from 3 – 5 pm. All are welcome!
|
|
This Saturday, May 20th at 10 am we will be gathering outside the Library at Barrington Congregational Church to build our raised bed garden! If you are able to help us build the garden or if you are interested in learning more about the gardening project, please join us! All youth in grades 9 - 12 are welcome. Questions? Contact Brendan at
brendan@bccucc.org
|
|
|
Meet Your Muslim Neighbors
|
This Saturday, May 20th, Rev. Dale Azevedo is going to lead a group from BCCUCC to ‘Open Mosques RI’. This event is being hosted by the RI Council for Muslim Advancement as an opportunity for Rhode Islanders to visit and tour mosques throughout our state and learn more about the religion of Islam and its role in RI. We are going to meet in the church parking lot at 2 pm and carpool to one of the nearby mosques. The event should be over by 4 pm or shortly thereafter. For more information or to RSVP contact Dale at
dale@bccucc.org or 246-0111 x 103.
Event flyer
|
|
Jubilation Sunday is
this Sunday, May 21st. There will be a very special Worship Service for All Ages in celebration of the end of the Church School year. We’ll celebrate our diversity and the hope for peace with the church school children as we tell the story of “God’s Dream”, and worship together. There will be an abbreviated traditional service that will continue with a service project in the education building.
Please dress casually with the possibility of making a mess as we will be painting our own version of “God’s doors are open to all”! The 300th year anniversary team will be hosting an all church picnic following the project (see below). Please join us for a fun time of fellowship
.
|
|
|
'3 Centuries and Beyond' Birthday Picnic - All Are Invited!
|
|
This Sunday, May 21st we're having a special picnic after worship from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm to celebrate our church's 300th birthday! There'll be hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, baked beans, salads, sides, cake and ice cream!
Live music will be provided by 'Celtic Modern' a 3 person band that plays an upbeat blend of Celtic Tunes and American Folk Rock. The members include Tony Thompson (percussion and back-up vocals), Brian O'Donnelly (mandolin, acoustic and electric guitars) and church member Steve Venuti (12-string acoustic guitar, lead vocals and assorted Celtic instruments).
There will also be a bouncy house for the kids, in addition to the playground
!
We hope that you are planning to come and be part of this free, fun celebration.
Have you RSVP'd yet for the picnic? Please RSVP to
300th@bccucc.org to let us know if you're coming and how many - it helps with the planning.
Please note that If you don't RSVP, you're still very welcome to attend!
|
|
|
2017 - 2018 Church School Registration
|
|
Registration of children and youth for next year begins
this Sunday, May 21st after worship. If you registered your child for 2016-17 you’ll only need to update and initial your current form. To register a child for the first time, you need to fill out a registration form at the table in the foyer outside Fellowship Hall. All children from nursery through 12th grade
must be registered to participate in church school or youth activities (including confirmation, youth group, mission trips, and OWL). A separate registration form is required for each child.
2017-18 Registration Form
|
|
|
Station Fire Memorial Park dedication
|
|
The Station Fire Memorial Park in West Warwick will be dedicated this
Sunday, May 21st, with ceremonies beginning at 1 pm. The Park is a tribute to the 100 people who lost their lives on February 20th, 2003, at the Station Nightclub fire. More than 100 Churches (including BCCUCC), Synagogues, Mosques and Houses of Worship donated money to this memorial and received a commemorative brick in the walkway.
More details
|
|
|
Attention Graduates!
Deadlines for Baccalaureate Sunday and Graduate Information is this Sunday!
|
|
Are you, or do you have in your family, a graduating high school senior? If so this announcement is for you! We will be hosting our annual Baccalaureate Service on Sunday, June 4th and we invite our high school seniors to attend. This year's service will be handled a little differently than in the past. There are three things you need to do: 1) RSVP to the church office by this Sunday, May 21st (office@bccucc.org or 246-0111); 2) get a copy of the questions for the graduate introductions from the office and return it; 3) don't worry about wearing a gown to church (regular church clothes will suffice). If you have any questions, talk with Dale (dale@bccucc.org). And Congratulations!
|
|
|
Graduation information needed for newsletter
|
|
We like to recognize those in our church family who are graduating from high school, college, graduate school etc, by publishing the names and graduation information in our newsletter. If you or a family member is graduating this spring, please send the information to the church office at
office@bccucc.org
by this Sunday, May 21st. I
nformation needed is name of graduate, high school or college from which they’re graduating, what college or further education they will be attending, or what degree they are getting, and any future plans if appropriate.
|
|
|
Kathleen Lynne Fodor Scholarships - application forms available
|
|
Two scholarships are awarded each year - one to a high school graduate going on to further education, and one to a student already in college. Graduating high school seniors and college students
who have been confirmed and are members of this church
are eligible to apply.
Application deadline is Sunday, May 28th
and the scholarships are awarded on Baccalaureate Sunday, June 4th. Applications forms are available
at this link
, or from outside the church office, or at
www.bccucc.org
under Get Involved > Information for Church Members.
|
|
|
Riverwalk Accessibility Project needs your support
|
We are seeking to make our church buildings more accessible. Church Council recently approved a plan that will make it much easier for those with physical disabilities to access the Education Building from the Church Sanctuary. This new plan calls for a sidewalk to be constructed along the back of the Education Building running from the sanctuary to the terrace behind Fellowship Hall. This cuts the distance in half for those joining us at coffee hour who need ramp access. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $30,000. To make this project happen, we need your financial support. If you can make a donation, please send a check to the church office with “Riverwalk Project” in the memo, or contact Pat Stoddard at the office (401-246-0111 Ext. 102). We need everyone’s help to continue making our church truly welcoming to all. To learn more about this project and see pictures go to
www.bccucc.org and follow the link to the
Riverwalk Accessibility Project.
|
|
Every summer BCCUCC fields a co-ed softball team to participate in the Barrington Churches Softball League. Any interested men aged 30+ or women aged 16+ who would enjoy playing are invited to contact Tom Strolla at
ostrolla@cox.net or (401) 246-0936. Games are usually played Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays starting late June at 6 pm at Bicknell Field, located at the end of Walnut Road off Lincoln. It’s fun and new players are always most welcome.
|
|
|
There are several ministry teams that have openings for 2017-18. Building & Grounds, Mission & Justice, and Endowment are all looking for some new members and they all offer an invitation for you to become more involved in the life of BCCUCC. There is also an opening for a Member-at-Large on the Church Council. You can choose to serve in any of these capacities for one or two years, and since our 2014 By-Laws update, you don’t have to have officially joined the church to serve on some of the ministry teams. Please contact Joanne Ela or Beth Buckley of Membership/Nominating if interested in any of these positions. Look for them at Coffee Hour or email/call either Beth at
elizabethbuckley21@msn.com (401) 247-0324, or Joanne at
gsbse@me.com ((413) 262-3880.
|
|
|
Altar Flower donors needed
|
Altar Flower donors are needed for
Sunday, June 4th. You can choose to pay for one or both vases. Cost is $30 per vase and a dedication will be included in the Sunday bulletin. Flowers can be given in memory, in celebration, or in thanksgiving of a person or event etc. If interested, please contact Audrey Rogers at 246-1727 or
adrogers8@cox.net or speak with her at coffee hour.
|
|
|
Memory Impairment Support Group
|
|
The group next meets Tuesday, May 23rd from 1 - 2:30 pm in the church library. The group is open to patients and caregivers, and participants need not be members of this church. For more information contact Jim McCartney at 245-3288 or jrmcc@fullchannel.net
|
|
On
Sunday, June 4th we will honor our High School Seniors at our 10 am worship service. We hope that all can come and be a part of this service as we celebrate their achievement.
High School Seniors are reminded to RSVP to the
church office
by this Sunday, May 21st to let us know if you will be attending the service. Graduation information for publication in our newsletter is also due
this Sunday, May 21st. See earlier articles for more information.
|
|
The 5th Annual Senior Ladies Lunch will take place on
Thursday, June 8th at Noon in Fellowship Hall. It will be hosted by the Women's Faith Group and the Membership Team, and all Senior Ladies from the church are invited. (Not sure what constitutes a ‘Senior’? You can decide!) If you would like to attend, please either sign up at coffee hour or contact the church office at (401) 246-0111 or
office@bccucc.org
|
|
|
Save the date for Mission Trip Sunday and Annual Meeting
|
|
On
Sunday, June 11th the youth who went on the recent
Mission Trip to h.o.m.e. in Orland, ME, will report back on their experiences.
Following worship our
church’s Annual Meeting will be held in the Sanctuary. All church members are encouraged to attend the meeting and child care will be provided.
|
|
|
Attention Church Officers & Ministry Team Chairs!
|
|
|
2016-2017 Annual Reports needed
|
It’s that time of year again – time for church officers and ministry team leaders to write their annual report covering the period June 2016 – May 2017. Reports should be sent to
office@bccucc.org or dropped off in the church office
by Wednesday, May 31s
t. They will be compiled into BCCUCC’s 2017 Annual Report in time for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 11th following the 10 am worship service.
|
|
|
'From the River's Edge' - The Pastors' Blog
|
|
|
|
|
If you missed reading any posts you can find them all on the church website
at this link. There are also links to the most recent ones from the homepage of our church website
www.bccucc.org
|
|
|
In February of 1738, while the new meeting house was being rebuilt, the town voted that Rev. Heath shall preach at the home of Mr. Bosworth – close to Tyler Point. This was about ¼ mile from the original site of the Congregational meeting house. Conflict again arose as a protest was entered declaring the residents of the town of Barrington were against paying any part of the minister’s salary if he preached and conducted business other than at a place the Town appointed. When the Town met again in March, the protestors declared that half a year’s salary be withheld except he comply with the location the Town “hath appointed.” His answer “I will consider it.” His consideration was not to preach at the home of Mr. Bosworth and brought suit against the Town for withholding half a year’s salary. It was voted by the selectmen to pay the legal costs and to exempt the Baptists from paying any part of the ten pounds and also to raise 100 pounds to defend themselves against the legal actions pending. To shorten this last part of the saga, all sorts of law suits were filed, people were imprisoned and after two years of conflict and expenditures of hundreds of pounds, by mutual vote of the Church Council, the Town and the Church, pastoral relations were dissolved. In November of 1740, it was agreed to “concur with the vote of the Town in dismissing the Rev. Heath.”
This fascinating story and more can be found in the “History of Barrington” by Mr. Bicknell. Brought to you by Liz Rosenholm of the church's Historical Group.
|
|
|
Tri-Conference Annual Meeting
|
|
The official call to the
RI Conference Annual Meeting has gone out and all are invited to come to this historic meeting! Not only will this be the Annual Meeting of the Rhode Island Conference of the United Church of Christ, it will also be an historic gathering of the three UCC Conferences in southern New England (RI, MA and CT). We will come together not only to have our three separate Annual Meetings; this event has been carefully planned for us to share in collaborative time together as we all make a decision about our shared future. The meetings take place at the Convention Center in Hartford, CT on
Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17, 2017. Dale, Brendan, and the delegates to the RI Conference from our church will all be attending and will get to vote. Non-voting guests are also very welcome. For more details and registration visit
www.ricucc.org/TriConAM
|
|
|
Registration Open for Online Forums about New Conference Proposal
|
Leading up to the historic, first-ever Tri-Conference Annual Meeting of the CT, MA and RI Conferences, Conference leaders will be hosting a series of five online forums, or webinars, open to anyone who would like to join a discussion about the proposal to form a new Conference. The free webinars will be no longer than 90 minutes each and will be limited to 100 participants each. They will be held at various times on May 16, May 21, June 7 and two on June 8.
|
|
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a Comprehensive Sexuality Education Curriculum and CEYM will be offering OWL for our 10th – 12th grade youth beginning in the Fall of 2017. We encourage families of 10th – 12th graders to start thinking about participating in the upcoming program year. Letters and information will be mailed to you this summer with an invitation to register. For more information about OWL visit
http://www.ucc.org/justice/sexuality-education/
|
|
Saturday, June 3rd at Warren's Town Beach 9 am - 12 pm. No experience needed. Small and large row boats to try. Lifejackets supplied.
Details. Contact church member Kathy Sullivan for more info.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
