February 13, 2020
Newsletter of Barrington Congregational Church United Church of Christ
Calendar
Church office hours: Mon - Fri, 9:30 - 12:30 and 1:30 - 4:30 unless otherwise noted


Fri, Feb 14
Dale on call for pastoral emergencies

Sat, Feb 15
9:30 - 11:30 am East Bay Kids Clothes and Toy Swap, Fellowship Hall
11 am Memorial Service for Emmet Deschene, Sanctuary

Sun, Feb 16 'God is Love' Sunday
10 am All Ages Worship, Nursery Care available

Mon, Feb 17 PRESIDENTS' DAY
Office Closed

Tues, Feb 18
11 am Staff meeting, Dale's office
11:30 am Book Group, The Coffee Depot in Warren
7 pm Deacons meeting, Library

Wed, Feb 19
1:30 pm Communion Service at Atria Senior Living
7 pm Mission and Justice Team meeting, Library
7:30 - 9 pm Choir rehearsal, Vestry

Thurs, Feb 20
10 - 11:30 am Barrington Clergy Association meeting, Library
1:30 - 3 pm Women's Faith Group, Library

Fri, Feb 21
Linda on call for pastoral emergencies

Sun, Feb 23 Spiritual Gifts Sunday
10 am Worship Service, Church School
After Worship: Mardi Gras Pancakes Fundraiser, Fellowship Hall
11:20 am Sing and Celebrate Choir rehearsal, Room 6

Mon, Feb 24
11 am Bereavement Group, Library
3 - 5 pm Barrington Interfaith Partners (BIP) meeting, Library
7 pm Vision 2020 meeting, Room 6

Tues, Feb 25
11 am Staff meeting, Dale's office

Wed, Feb 26 Ash Wednesday
Noon Deadline for eBridge
4 - 7:30 pm Loaves and Fishes RI - prep in kitchen then run to Providence
7 pm Ash Wednesday Service, Sanctuary
No Choir rehearsal

Fri, Feb 28
Dale on call for pastoral emergencies

Sun, Mar 1 Lent 1 'What a Covenant! Noah'
10 am Worship Service with communion, Church School
11:20 am Sing and Celebrate Choir rehearsal, Room 6


For the complete church calendar visit http://bccucc.view-events.com
Send calendar information to office@bccucc.org
Send information for inclusion in the next eBridge to office@bccucc.org
Deadline for the next eBridge is Noon on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020
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Today thru Sunday, February 16
East Bay Kids Clothing and Toy Swap
Held on the 3rd Saturday of the month, the next one is on Saturday, February 15th from 9:30 - 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall. Trade in clean clothes, shoes, and gently used toys, and get new (to you) items! Size newborn to age 12. Give what you can, take what you need. $3 - 5 donation at the door, but no-one turned away. Open to the community.
All Ages Worship
All Ages Worship is this Sunday, February 16th and the theme will be ‘God is Love’. Each of these services are specially designed to be multi-generational and child-friendly, and people of all ages have been finding them engaging and meaningful. Some of our children will help lead worship along with adults of all ages, and it’s always a unique worship experience. This time we even plan to have a reprise of “Bible Improv” so be sure not to miss it
Help us know who you are
With Linda Hartley, our new associate, having r ecently joined us, it's even more important that everyone remembers to wear their nametag - both during worship and at coffee hour. It helps us all get to know each other and is particularly welcoming to newcomers.  If you don’t have a permanent one, stick-on nametags are available from baskets in various locations including on the table beside the greeters, when you come into church, and the Welcome Table at the back of Fellowship Hall.  
Need a permanent nametag? Sign up for one in the vestry hallway or at the Welcome Table in Fellowship Hall. Or email the church office at office@bccucc.org to request one - and include whether you want a clip, pin or string holder. Newly made nametags are placed in the specially labeled basket on the sideboard in the vestry hallway for you to pick up.  If you place your nametag in one of the specially labelled baskets when you leave on a Sunday, it will be returned to the nametag rack for you to find next time. Many thanks to Deb Clarke who puts all the nametags back on the racks each week!
Also happening in February
Church Office closed
The church office will be closed on Monday, February 17th for Presidents' Day.
Mardi Gras Pancake Fundraiser!
You are invited to kick off the season of Lent and support the mission trip with a Fat-Tuesday Mardi Gras Pancake Breakfast! After worship on Sunday, February 23rd the CEYM team, with support from the mission trip participants, will serve pancakes during coffee hour. This festive pancake breakfast is a fundraiser for the mission trip to Puerto Rico. Congregation members and friends are asked to donate generously. Look for a collection basket for donations in Fellowship Hall. You are also invited to join in the Mardi Gras festive spirit by wearing your green , gold , and purple colors to church! Come and enjoy!  
Sing and Celebrate Children's choir
Our Sing & Celebrate Children’s Choir has started rehearsing again and meets on Sundays at 11:20 am in Room 6.   (Note - there's no rehearsal on Feb 16th) . Rehearsals are currently scheduled for Sundays, Feb 23rd, and March 1st and we hope to be ready to sing in worship again sometime in March. Rehearsals last about 20 minutes and while it’s hoped that participants will make as many rehearsals as possible, it’s not expected that they can make every one. If you have a child (boy or girl) in Grades 1 – 5 who might like to sing, we’d love them to join us – it’s a lot of fun and we enjoy singing together! For questions or more information, contact Kate Colby at 246-1743 or kcolby@fullchannel.net.
Loaves and Fishes RI Ministry
On Wednesday, February 26th , volunteers from our church will be going to Trinity Methodist Church and Emmanuel House in Providence to provide nourishment to those in need . Donations of specific food and clothing items are needed – check the online sign-up sheet at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a4aacae2aa75-mobile3 and sign up how you can help. Prep starts in the kitchen at 4 pm to prepare the food and start loading up. For more info, questions, or if you are unable to sign up on line, contact Liz White (401-245-0285 or lizzyw2@aol.com ) or Phyllis Buckley (401-742-7320 or pbuckley6@cox.net ). Thank you.  
Ash Wednesday service
We will be holding our annual Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, February 26th at 7 pm in the sanctuary. This simple but meaningful service will recognize the beginning of this holy time of year (Lent) with select readings, prayers, a brief reflection, and the imposition of ashes for those who desire them. Please join us, All are welcome.
Lenten Learning Series with Linda
‘Discerning Your Spiritual Gifts’ is a Lenten series being offered by our Associate Minister Linda Hartley on five Thursday evenings during Lent:  March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2.  Each session runs from 7 – 8:15 pm in the Library. 
Moses didn’t think he could lead, but he did. Isaiah didn’t think he could influence others, but he did. The Apostle Paul wasn’t an impressive figure, but his passion fueled a movement. Each one was gifted by the Spirit in ways they never anticipated and found new ways to use their gifts for the good of others. Come to our Lenten series, Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts , as we discover together the many ways the Spirit has gifted each of us. You may be surprised to find that you have gifts to share that you never imagined. As we journey through Lent, we will express gratitude for the gifts we have employed in our lives, open ourselves to the possibility of new gifts, and brainstorm about the ways our gifts can make a difference. Come and explore – it’s never too late to learn something new about yourself and find new ways to share your gifts with others. There is no cost for this program. 
If you’re interested in participating, please email Linda Hartley at linda@bccucc.org o so we can plan ahead for supplies. All are welcome. 
Racial Justice Book Discussion Series
Your Mission and Justice Team want you to be aware that this is happening on Thursday, February 27th , and every fourth Thursday from 7 – 8:30 pm at Weaver Library, 41 Grove Ave, East Providence, RI. In an effort to stimulate new ideas for equipping ourselves and our community to act justly and dismantle systems of injustice, Weaver Library and the Newman Congregational Church in Rhode Island are offering a Racial Justice Book Discussion Series. Over the course of six months, participants will look at elements of systemic racism from a variety of perspectives as presented in six books on the topic. February’s book is The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. Learn more at www.sneucc.org/events and click on the link on their calendar.
Make sure that you see ALL of the eBridge.
Some platforms - including gmail - only show part of it with a link to the remainder. Click on that link at the end of what's visible, to see the rest of the newsletter!
Information about all of the groups that meet regularly, is found later in this email....scroll down to find it!
Opportunities
Hygiene Items needed for Confirmation Service Project
On Saturday, March 7th the Confirmands will be participating in a Community Service Day putting together Hygiene Kits for Church World Services. CWS provides these kits to people affected by natural disasters in our country. For individuals affected by tornadoes, flooding, and other natural disasters, these kits are a welcome gift providing them with hygiene essentials. Last year, CWS actually ran out of kits while responding to devasting spring flooding.
We would like to put together as many kits as possible. To do this, the Confirmands need your help in collecting items for these kits and there will be a donation bin located in Fellowship Hall where you can drop off items on the list . The donations will then be sorted and packed by our Confirmands on Saturday, March 7th and shipped out to Church World Services. This is an opportunity for our Confirmands to “Be the Church” and for our church to reach out to those in need. You can donate one of each item, or multiples of an item on the list (such as a box of Band-Aids, or a multi-pack of bath soap). All contributions will make a difference and need to be received before Sat, March 7th . List of items needed
Altar flower donors needed
Celebrate a birthday, anniversary or remember loved ones with altar flowers in the sanctuary. We have openings for donors for both vases on Sunday, February 23rd . A donation of $30 is requested for each vase. You can choose to donate one or both, and a dedication of your choice is included in the Sunday bulletin. Contact Chancel Team member Jen Melker at jkmelker@gmail.com or (617) 877-1278 by Wed, Feb 19th if interested. Thank you. 
If you're interested in paying for the altar flowers some other Sunday during the year, please contact our Chancel Team chair, Beth Buckley elizabethbuckley21@msn.com or 401 247-0324.
Ushers needed
We’re in need of additional people willing to join our team of ushers - the only qualification needed is a willingness to be helpful and friendly! Ushers serve in teams of 4 and each team serves once every 4 weeks. Training will be provided and it’s a wonderful way to get to know other members of the congregation. If interested or to learn more, please speak with or contact Bethia Rosner 383-5538 or Tom Colby 246-1743 or tcolby@fullchannel.net  
Greeters needed
Greeting is an easy way to participate in the ministry here at Barrington Congregational Church, UCC. No experience is necessary and greeters can be individuals, couples or families! Greeters arrive at church 20 minutes early and welcome everyone as they come up the stairs to the sanctuary. Sign-ups for all of 2020 are available at coffee hour. Worried about forgetting? Make sure to include your information so that the Membership Team can send you a reminder. Thanks to everyone willing to do this important and welcoming ministry. 
Sign up to help with coffee hour
Volunteers are asked to help the assigned teams with coffee hour on a Sunday by providing food, serving, or cleaning up. You can sign up for a specific Sunday that works for you either during coffee hour, or contact Jane Tonn at jtonn2@cox.net or 289-2349.  Those who signup will receive an email reminder the Wednesday before the Sunday that they have volunteered to help.
Custodian position available
Our lead custodian Paul Dziedzic has retired. The church is looking to fill this part-time, paid position. Anyone interested or knows of anyone who might be interested, should get in touch with Paul Dennis, chair of our Buildings and Grounds Team, at wrbtwks@aol.com or (401) 243-3493; or contact the church office at office@bccucc.org or (401) 246-0111. Thank you.
Worth reading
'From the River's Edge': The Pastors' Blog
The latest blog is from Linda "Introductions and Upcoming Confirmation Opportunities" - emailed out 2/6/20.
If you missed any earlier blog posts they are all on the church website at this link . There are also links to the most recent ones from the homepage of our website www.bccucc.org  
'Sacred Journeying: A Someday Minister Living Out God's Call in Global Community'
Many church members know Gabrielle Sclafani who was raised in our church and is the daughter of church member and deacon Carol Strakosch. Gabi graduated from seminary last spring and is 'in care' at our church as she seeks ordination. She is spending a year working in Germany as part of her road to ordination, and you can follow and support her adventures via her blog:  www.sacredjourneying.home.blog. Gabi writes very eloquently and has a lot of good things to say!
Regular Weekly and Monthly happenings
(listed alphabetically)
Bereavement Group
The group next meets Monday, Feb 24th at 11 am in the library. The group is open to anyone (not just church members) who has lost a loved one at any time. For more information, contact the facilitator Betsy Brenner at jsbeeb@aol.com or 245-8031.
Book Group
The Book Group next meets on Tuesday, February 18th at 11:30 am at the Coffee Depot, 501 Main St, Warren to discuss S wimming Lessons by Claire Fuller. Learn more about the book.
For information about the group, please contact Helen Schall at helenschall@hotmail.com or 245-4724. All are welcome!   
East Bay Kids Clothing and Toy Swap
Held on the 3rd Saturday of the month, the next one is on Saturday, February 15th from 9:30 - 11:30 am in Fellowship Hall. Trade in clean clothes, shoes, and gently used toys, and get new (to you) items! Size newborn to age 12. Give what you can, take what you need. $3 - 5 donation at the door, but no-one turned away. Open to the community.
Knitting Group
Knitting for Others Group will meet Tuesday, March 3rd from 7 – 9 pm in the Living Room at Atria Senior Living, 147 Bay Spring Ave, Barrington. The group meets monthly - on the 1st Tuesday - makes a variety of different items to be given away (prayer shawls, hats for children in Head Start etc) and can provide patterns and help. All knitters and crocheters are welcome, especially new faces! For more information about the group, contact Nancy Arena at 246-0212 or Nancy.Arena@outlook.com.  
NAMI RI Family Support Group
NAMI RI ( National Alliance on Mental Illness ) holds a monthly support group at our church for family members of people with mental illness. Open to anyone in the community the next meeting is Thurs, Mar 5th from 6 – 7:30 pm in Room 6. For more info contact NAMI RI at info@namirhodeisland.org or call (401) 331-3060 .
Women's Faith Group
The Women’s Faith Group has it's next regular meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 20th from 1:30 – 3 pm in the church library. They are starting a new book ‘ The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Richardson and copies are available for purchase from the office ($13).    The group welcomes women of all ages from BCCUCC as well as other churches and faith traditions. For more information contact Jane Tonn at 289-2349 or jtonn2@cox.net .  
Make sure that you see ALL of the eBridge.
Some platforms - including gmail - only show part of it with a link to the remainder. Click on that link at the end of what's visible, to see the rest of the newsletter!
In the event of bad weather
In the event of bad weather....
We will always do our best to notify you of cancellations, especially if we ever need to cancel Sunday worship. Be sure to check your email, Facebook, and the TV and radio stations. There's also a link to the RI Broadcasters list of cancellations on our church website www.bccucc.org under What's Happening>Snow and Event Cancellations, or click here
However, in the event that we lose power and/or internet connection we will be unable to post these notifications. Also please note that if there is bad weather during office hours, the office may need to close without notice.
Community Notices
'Broadway at the Biltmore'
Church member Beth Zarlengo and office administrator Christine Wallis are both proud members of The Providence Singers and they'd love you to attend ' Broadway at the Biltmore' on Saturday, March 28th. This is a fundraiser for the organization that includes a gala performance of musical theater favorites with guest soloists, followed by a silent auction and tapas buffet. Seating is limited and reserved, so buy your tickets soon for the best seats!
Chess Classes offered at BCCUCC for children and adults
USA Chess Kids Inc (a non-profit organization) is renting space at the church to teach chess to children and adults (beginners and advanced players). Classes are available for ages 8 - 18 on Mondays and Tuesdays, and for adults on Wednesdays. All classes are from 5 – 6:30 pm in Room 6 and players may attend once per week. Cost for 4 months of classes is $720 for children and $800 for adults. For more information contact George Sammour, Chess Life Master, at (401) 732-4028 or usachesskidsvip@gmail.com   
Reminders
2020 Pledge envelopes
If you would like a set of weekly envelopes for your giving, please contact our financial secretary, Pat Stoddard, who will be happy to assign some to you. Pat can be contacted at (401) 246-0111 x 102 or pat@bccucc.org  
Church Photo Directories
Our new church photo directory contains contact information for all of the current active households at BCCUCC. An email was sent out to those included in the directory with links to digital versions of the directory. Paper copies are also available from the church office. Because of the cost of producing it, we ask that you take only one printed copy per household, please.
If you/your family isn't included in the directory and you consider yourself to be active here at church, please contact the church office at office@bccucc.org or (401) 246-0111. We would like to get to know you and also get your contact information so it can be included in our database. Thank you.
Nametags
Both adult and children’s nametags are stored in the racks in the vestry hallway. Please pick up yours as you come into worship and wear it through coffee hour. As you leave put it in one of the collection baskets - to be returned to the nametag rack ready next time.  Need a nametag?  Sign up in the vestry hallway or at the back of Fellowship Hall or email the office a t office@bccucc.org - be sure to indicate if you want a clip, pin or string style of holder . Newly made nametags are placed in the specially labeled basket on the sideboard in the vestry hallway for you to pick up.  
Older Sermons available on line - current ones not available
The company that hosts the sermons on-line has made some changes so the sermons have not been posted since mid-November. However past sermons of Dale's and Brendan's thru 11/17/19 can be listened to again at the following link  Sermon Archive. We hope to resume posting the sermons at a future date.
Please 'Like' and 'Comment' on our posts to keep us visible!
Help us stay visible on Facebook by both liking AND commenting (in 5 or more words) on our posts! That way the Facebook algorithm allows our church’s page ( www.facebook.com/bccucc ) to show up in more people’s feeds. You can also find us on Instagram at BarringtonUCC. 
Make sure your emails are reaching us!
We only receive emails sent to the following addresses: D ale  dale@bccucc.org    Christine  office@bccucc.org    Pat  pat@bccucc.org    Andrea  andrea@bccucc.org. 
Keep up to date with what's happening at church!
2019-2020 Church Calendar can be seen at http://bccucc.view-events.com  or from the bottom of any page on our church website www.bccucc.org.
Please notify Christine with information about meetings/events etc. so the calendar can always be kept up to date. Contact her at office@bccucc.org or 246-0111.
Useful Links
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