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The bi-weekly newsletter of Barrington Congregational Church, United Church of Christ. |
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If your email platform only lets you see part of this email, then click on the following link to View as Webpage We don't want you to miss anything!
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Church Office is CLOSED until further notice.
There will be no in-person worship services at church until further notice
Thurs, Jan 14
8 am A Peaceful Pause and Prayer, livestreamed
Sat, Jan 16
10 am Buildings and Grounds meeting, Terrace
Sun, Jan 17
Mon, Jan 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
8 am A Peaceful Pause and Prayer, livestreamed
Tues, Jan 19
9:30 am Book Group meets via Zoom
11 am Staff meeting via Zoom
2 pm Worship Tech Team meeting via Zoom
7 pm Deacons meeting via Zoom
Wed, Jan 20
8 am A Peaceful Pause and Prayer, livestreamed
11 am Lay Visitation meeting via Zoom
7 pm Mission and Justice team meeting via Zoom
Fri, Jan 22
8 am A Peaceful Pause and Prayer, livestreamed
Sun, Jan 24
After Worship: BCCUCC Annual Budget Meeting via Zoom
Mon, Jan 25
7 - 7:30 pm Meditative Coloring for Adults, via Zoom
Tues, Jan 26
11 am Staff meeting via Zoom
2 pm Worship Tech Team meeting via Zoom
Wed, Jan 27
Noon - Deadline for next eBridge
7 pm Membership Team meeting via Zoom
Sat, Jan 30
9:30 am Bird Feeder Fun, Terrace
Sun, Jan 31
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We have a new church website! |
Our new church website went live on Monday and it has an entirely new layout and appearance. You can find it at the same web address www.bccucc.org. It was designed to be welcoming to visitors and easy for them to navigate. It also contains nearly all the same information as our old website so all of your important questions can be answered there. Check it out!
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'Peaceful Pause and Prayer' continues during these tumultuous times |
In response to the riot that shook our nation on January 6, we are holding a series of livestreamed morning meditations leading up to and immediately following the presidential inauguration.
These Peaceful Pause & Prayer meditations will continue to be held at 8:00 a.m. on
Monday, January 18
Wednesday, January 20
Friday, January 22
Each meditation provides moments for reflection, music, comforting scripture, and silence. Please join us as you are able.
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Contribution Envelopes for 2021 |
Contribution envelopes for 2021 have been received and were mailed out on January 11th to folks that used them last year. Please contact Financial Secretary, Pat Stoddard, if you would like a set of envelopes for 2021 (additional sets are available). Email her at pat@bccucc.org
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Our online worship service is at 10 am every Sunday morning and you can watch it live either on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/bccucc (click on the 'posts' or 'videos' link to find it) or on our website at this new link https://bccucc.org/live-stream-2/ If you miss it live, a recording can be watched later at the same links.
We include on the screen all of the information needed for participating in worship each week. Please note that there will be no in-person worship until further notice (see below)
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A message from the Moderator - online worship only continues |
The Church Council met on Tuesday, January 12th and as promised in an earlier communication, discussed the future of moving back to in-person services.
After much discussion, the Church Council felt moving to in-person services is not possible at this time and we will continue with online worship services.
Church Council will reassess this again when three goals are met. One is that we have a higher rate of vaccinated people. Secondly, we need to see the positivity rate of infection go down, and thirdly, the state increases the capacity of places of worship. When these three goals are met, Church Council will once again discuss the return to in-person.
As stated last time, Church Council grieves with you and we hope you continue to join the online Sunday services that so many work so hard to prepare on a weekly basis.
Tom Strolla, Moderator
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Dale and Linda started a new sermon series on Jan 10th entitled Short Stories of Jesus. They are exploring four of Jesus’ parables found throughout the gospels. Many of these stories you will have heard before. What makes this series interesting is that the sermons are based on the work of Amy-Jill Levine, a professor of Jewish studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She tries to approach the New Testament as one of Jesus’ original listeners might have. Come (virtually) and hear these timeless stories in a new way! Remaining dates are Jan 17th, 31st, and Feb 7th. (We have a guest preacher on Jan 24th - see below). |
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Guest Preacher - Rev Jim Antal |
On Sunday, January 24th the Rev. Jim Antal will be our guest preacher. Jim is the former Conference Minister of the Massachusetts Conference of the UCC and is a well-known advocate for climate justice and its intersection with faith. He is the author of the recently released book Climate Church, Climate World.
About his new book, Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes, “Jim Antal shows how the church can engage the urgent moral crisis of climate change. This book will inspire both the courage and conviction people of faith need to provide the leadership necessary to realise [sic] God’s dream of a just world in which humanity is reconciled to all of creation.”
There will be a follow up virtual Q&A with Jim at a later date, and also a possible adult discussion class/study. Learn more
Join us online on the 24th and stay tuned for ways of joining in the discussion!
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On Sunday, January 17th:
One arrangement is given by Pat Cordeiro in honor of family and friends.
The other arrangement is given by Joe and Joanne Judge wishing everyone a joyous and healthy New Year.
On Sunday, January 24th:
One arrangement is given by Betty Vohr (Gidley) in memory of Matthew Vohr from Mom, Tom and the entire Vohr-Gidley family.
The other arrangement is paid for from the Chancel Fund.
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Birthdays being celebrated |
The week of January 17th: Linda Hartley, Charlie Stoddard, Patrick Collins, Sue Black, Trinki Brueckner, and Rob McGarry.
The week of January 24th: AJ Maio, Owen Porter, Joe Schall, Richard Frary, Howard Rotblat-Walker, Pat Rude, and Steve Clemens.
If your name doesn't appear and you'd like it to, please contact the church office so we can add your birthdate to our data base. Thank you.
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Deadline for submitting prayers to be included in worship is 8 am Sunday morning. You can either leave a message on the church’s answering machine (401) 246-0111, or email Dale dale@bccucc.org or Linda linda@bccucc.org. Please be sure that the person you are lifting up is comfortable with them reading your prayer to the whole community, and consider using first names only.
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Amy Barkat (chair), Nancy Arena, Steve Fodor, Lory McCoy, Pat Stoddard, Carol Strakosch, Jeff Stumpff, and Jane Tonn. In a pastoral emergency if you cannot reach either of our ministers, please reach out to one of our deacons. |
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Annual Budget Meeting is Sun, Jan 24 |
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All church members are invited to virtually attend our church's annual budget meeting on Sunday, January 24th that will take place at approx 11:15 am, following the worship service. We need to have a quorum of members in order to vote on the proposed budget for 2021.
The proposed budget will be emailed to the congregation prior to the meeting.
Warrant for the ANNUAL BUDGET MEETING
Barrington Congregational Church, Barrington, Rhode Island
Sunday, January 24, 2021 via Zoom
The annual budget meeting of the Barrington Congregational Church, UCC, is hereby called to take place virtually via Zoom on Sunday, January 24th, 2021 following the worship service (approx 11:15 am). The business to be transacted is as follows:
ARTICLE I: To call the meeting to order.
ARTICLE II: To review and vote on the proposed church budget for January 1—December 31, 2021
ARTICLE III: To consider any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
ARTICLE IV: To adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted: Greg Voigt, Clerk
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Zoom Information
Please note that there will be an approx. 5 minute break between the end of the livestream worship service and the opening up of a new Zoom meeting for the Annual Budget Meeting to take place. In order to attend the meeting you will need to log in to zoom from an electronic device (computer/tablet/smartphone etc), or call in via a regular phone.
For security reasons the zoom information is not included here but was in the email sent to the congregation.
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More happenings at BCCUCC |
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The Book Group will next meet virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, January 19th at 9:30 am. to discuss With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo. For more information about the group, contact Helen Schall at helenschall@hotmail.com or 401 245-4724. All are welcome to participate. For security reasons the zoom information is not included here.
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Blanket and Comforter Drive for TAPIN |
Blankets and comforters are currently the most requested item by Tap-In’s clients after food. While Tap-In is not accepting household items due to the pandemic, they are welcoming donations of gently used blankets and comforters to meet this specific need. To keep Tap-In’s volunteers safe and the congregation safe, Pat Stoddard and Andrea Bullard are organizing a contactless drop-off at the church and they will make a single delivery to Tap-In. This is another way that our church can continue their support for all that Tap-In is doing in the local community.
Sat., Jan. 23, 2021 ~ 9 am-11 am ~ in front of the Education Building
If you are unable to participate that day, please contact Pat (401-829-0654 or pat@bccucc.org) or Andrea (401-474-4722 or andrea@bccucc.org) to make other arrangements. |
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'Bird Feeder Fun' for our children and families |
On Saturday, January 30th at 9:30 a.m., Andrea will be hosting “Bird Feeder Fun” for the children and families of our church community. Join her on the patio (we will be using the outside heaters!) to make birdfeeders to hang around the church campus as well as to take home.
Each family will have their own table with the supplies they will need. We will be socially distanced, hand sanitizer will be available and masks are required. Refreshments will not be provided, but families are welcome to bring their own snacks and beverages. There will NOT be access to the building, so please plan ahead!
If the weather is inclement, the decision to postpone will be made early that morning. Please RSVP to Andrea at andrea@bccucc.org by January 27th to secure your spot and include a contact phone number and the number of people in your group. Let her know if you have any questions. It will be great to see each other again! |
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Weekly Meditative Coloring for Adults |
The group will not meet on Jan 18th as it's a holiday. They next meet Mon, Jan 25th. Elizabeth Azevedo offers this online (Zoom) weekly meditative adult coloring small group on Monday evenings at 7 pm via Zoom for about 30 minutes. Each week, participants get the coloring page ahead of time so that when they meet virtually they can color together and discuss the “page” for the week. So come, relax and color an uplifting message together. If interested in participating, p lease email Elizabeth at eazevedo17@gmail.com.
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BCCUCC COVID Commemoration Tile Project |
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Our congregation is working to come together through ART! Create a personalized tile to hang at church as a way to remember this time apart during the pandemic.
Someone from the project group will be reaching out to you to arrange your participation. We are using contactless drop-off/pick-up methods arranged personally with each family. The materials are also sanitized between use.
It is our sincere hope to have EVERYONE in the congregation participate. As we expect this project to take several months with only a few tiles safely out at a time, if you do not receive a phone call soon, no worries. If you are really excited about participating and have not received a phone call yet, feel free to reach out sooner to one of us listed below.
Pictured are some of the tiles that have been created so far.
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Knitting for Others Group |
The group meets virtually each month and will next meet on Tuesday, February 2nd at 7 pm via Zoom. All knitters and crocheters are invited to attend and new faces are very welcome. For more information on the group, contact Nancy Arena at 401 246-0212 or nancy.arena@outlook.com. For security reason the zoom information is not included here.
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From the Mission and Justice Team |
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'Climate Church, Climate World' |
Our Mission and Justice Team has contracted with Rev. Jim Antal to engage in an adult faith study program at BCCUCC. This program includes a virtual appearance at BCCUCC as a guest preacher on January 24th (see earlier); 10 copies of Jim’s recently released book, Climate Church, Climate World; and a follow-up Q&A with him at a later date. M&J is currently in discussion with Dale as they consider holding an adult discussion class scheduled between the guest preaching appearance and the Q&A. More details later on how you can get one of the copies of the book, participate in the study, and join the Q&A.
For now, we look forward to Jim’s virtual presence with us on Jan 24th.
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Significant climate legislation passed by Congress |
M&J would like to bring to your attention an article in ecoRI News in which reporter Tim Faulkner interviewed Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., The senator expounded on the unheralded and unexpected environmental and climate legislation stashed within the fiscal 2021 $1.4 trillion omnibus spending package passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in late December.
The National Resources Defense Council has described the financial package as “perhaps the most significant climate legislation Congress has ever passed.” Read the article and interview
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EAST BAY READS discusses How to be an Antiracist |
East Bay Reads is a new book group that brings neighbors together to encourage each other to read, discuss, and act. Our inaugural discussion will be on Thursday, January 21st at 7 pm on Zoom and will feature Ibram X. Kendi’s New York Times bestselling book, How to Be an Antiracist.
Click on this link to learn more the group, more about this book, and the dates and titles of future book discussions this winter. Registration is required and is at the same link.
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A virtual screening & discussion of 'PURPLE' |
Did you know a study found 1 in 6 Americans stopped speaking to a family member or close friend after the 2016 election?
Barrington Public Library invites you to a Virtual Screening of PURPLE on Thursday, February 4 at 7 pm via Zoom. Following the screening will be an interactive discussion and workshop facilitated by trained mediator, Helen Kramer of Resetting the Table. Register to participate.
At a time of immense division, PURPLE tells the story of Americans with opposing viewpoints confronting their disagreements head-on and discovering the concerns and humanity that lie behind each other's positions.
A collaboration between Resetting the Table, a leading political mediation organization, and Landon Van Soest, an Emmy award winning filmmaker, PURPLE presents a rare political conversation that uplifts, provokes, and inspires while going toward the heat of passionate political differences. Filmed in rural Wisconsin and Iowa—in a swing region within two bordering swing states—PURPLE models what healthy public debate on fault-line issues can look like. Learn more at resettingthetable.org/purple
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Tap-In Thanks Our Congregation |
Our generous congregation financially supported Tap-In several times in 2020, capped off with a $700 donation to them for their holiday programs. We received a thank you letter from Tap-In and want to share it with the congregation. The need for food assistance in the local community in Oct.-Dec. 2020 was absolutely staggering (up 60% over 2019). Tap-In provided food and toiletries to more than 500 households per month, to an average of 1,300 individuals.
Click here to see the complete letter which includes many other relevant statistics.
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A death in the church family |
Long-time church member Joan Allen died Monday, January 11th, surrounded by her family. Funeral services and burial will be private. We keep Joan's family in our prayers.
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The latest blog was written by Linda and titled 'A Change of Perspective'. If you missed it earlier, you can read it here
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Keep up to date with our Conference - SNEUCC |
The Southern New England Conference, UCC (SNEUCC), publishes several newsletters - one of which comes out weekly and is titled '5 Things to Know and Share'. Read the latest edition at this link and sign up to subscribe and get it sent to your inbox.
Click on this link to see the archive of all of the different SNEUCC newsletters - and subscribe to any that are of interest to you.
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Keep yourself and others safe |
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A reminder that the church buildings remain closed until further notice. If you need to drop something off, or have asked to pick something up, the items can be deposited or retrieved from the white wooden “Church Mailbox” that’s located at the top of the stairs by the office entrance, next to the boiler room door. We ask that people not enter the building. Thank you. |
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The office is closed but you can still reach us |
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Until further notice, the church office will remain closed. However you can still be in touch with the ministers and staff. You can either send an email or leave a message on the answering machine at the person's extension. Both emails and voice mail messages are checked regularly. Our contact information is:
Clergy Days off each week: Linda is off on Mondays and Dale is off on Fridays.
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