Tues, Aug 15

11 am Staff Meeting, Dale's Office

Wed, Aug 16

8 - 10 am   Dale's Community Office Hours, Coffee Depot in Warren

7 pm  CPR Planning Team meeting, Library

Thurs, Aug 17

6 pm  BCCUCC Softball Game vs St Luke's, Bicknell Field

6:30 - 8 pm  Historical Group meeting, Tom Wegner's home

Fri, Aug 18

4 pm Wedding Rehearsal

Sat, Aug 19

4 pm  Wedding of Megan Hoyt and Frank Ogura, Sanctuary

Sun, Aug 20

9:30 am  Worship Service for All Ages, Nursery Care only

Noon - 7 pm   Free Fun Day at Irons Homestead

Mon, Aug 21

6 pm  Softball 'Play In' game (4th vs 5th place teams), Bicknell Field

Tues, Aug 22

11 am  Staff meeting, Dale's Office

6 pm  Softball game (Seed 2 vs Seed 3), Bicknell Field

Wed. Aug 23

8 - 10 am   Dale's Community Office Hours, Coffee Depot in Warren

Church Office Closed  (Christine is away, but clergy and other staff will be in)

Thurs, Aug 24

3 - 5 pm  Brendan's Community Office Hours, Coffee Depot in Warren

6 pm  Softball game (Seed 1 vs Winner of Play In game)m Bicknell FIeld

Sun, Aug 27

9:30 am  Worship Service for All Ages, Nursery Care only

The summer weekly deadline for information to be included in the eBridge and Sunday Announcements is Tuesdays at Noon.  Send info to [email protected]

During the summer, the ministers aren't choosing the hymns for each Sunday, but instead are giving the congregation the chance to select them.  So think about what you'd like to sing and come ready with your request.  Only three can be sung each week - but over the course of the summer, that's 33 hymns!!

The 10th Annual Haitian Hoopla will take place on Sunday, August 13th from 4 - 9 pm at Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth. The event is a fundraiser for the RICUCC Haiti Task Force.   BCCUCC is one of the churches that will be recognized at the event for the Time, Treasure and Talent that members of our congregation have devoted to carrying out the mission of the RICUCC Haiti Task Force in Haiti.    Recognized churches are being offered a special discount on a table of 8 for $500. TIckets for individuals and couples are also available.   Ticket information and details   

TAPIN is organizing a distribution of backpacks and school supplies to children of their clients.  Back to school times are always difficult for persons in need because they have to stretch their limited budgets to buy school supplies for their children.   TAPIN was able to purchase 100 backpacks, but they would love to have supplies to put in them!   Congregations have been asked to join in this activity by donating any kind of school supplies.   The last Sunday for donations will be August 13th.    A collection bin is at the back of Fellowship Hall for your donations.  Thank you

At the time of writing, BCCUCC has 2 wins and 3 losses.  The two games that BCCUCC won were very exciting as they came back from behind....the first time from 0-6 to win 14-8 against St John's, and the second time from 0-9 to win 15-14 against Temple Habonim. The team is thankful for all the folks who come out to watch and cheer them on.   Thanks also to Tom Strolla, team captain, and to all of the players for representing our church so well. 

Upcoming games in the regular season are on Monday, August 14th against St John's, and on Thursday, August 17th against St Luke's.  (Due to scheduling conflicts, the rained out game against Temple Habonim will just be considered a draw).  BCCUCC won't know until after the season ends if they'll be in the playoffs or which games they might play in. (see calendar above for playoff schedule).   

All games begin at 6 pm and are held at Bicknell Field, located at the end of Walnut Road off Lincoln Ave.   Spectators are encouraged to come cheer on the team!    2017 Softball Schedule    

Dale is holding Community Office Hours at The Coffee Depot, 501 Main Street, Warren on Wednesday mornings from 8 - 10 am. Anyone from the church or community is invited to stop by for a visit in this relaxed setting.   Dale apologizes if anyone showed up on August 9th to find him not there.  He had spent the previous night in the ER after breaking his clavicle playing softball.

On Sunday, August 20th, all churches and individuals who are part of the Rhode Island Conference of the United Church of Christ (RICUCC) are invited to spend a day at Irons Homestead Camp & Retreat for free.  You can arrive anytime between 11 am and 5 pm.  Lifeguards will be on duty from noon to 6 pm.   Please bring your own food, dishes and anything you would like to share. Grills will be available. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the waterfront, swimming, boating, playing in the sand; playing a huge variety of games on the soccer and ball fields; pitching horseshoes, throwing rocks; relaxing in the shade of our new waterfront pavilion - something for all ages.  If you have questions, need the address or a map click on this link.   Questions? Contact Rev. Jennifer Geary at  [email protected] or (401) 710-9478.  Irons Homestead is located at 688 Snake Hill Road, Glocester RI 02857    Map

Our very own Dale Azevedo has registered to raise money for Autism awareness and support by riding in the “Bike to the Beach Century Ride.” On Saturday, September 2nd, Dale will be joining approximately 150 other riders to make the trek from Boston to Newport (total of about 102 miles). The best part of this ride is that Dale, and the other riders, will be pedaling right through Barrington on their way south! You can support Dale by making a donation toward his fundraising goal or cheering him on as he comes down along the East Bay Bike Path. For more information on Bike to the Beach or to donate money to Dale’s efforts check our his fundraising page: https://my.biketothebeach.org/RevDale. Wish him Godspeed!
Unfortunately, Dale broke his collarbone playing softball so at this time is uncertain if he'll be able to do the ride, but is hopeful that he still can. We'll keep you posted!

As part of their outreach ministry to those in need, Riverside Congregational Church, UCC, holds a breakfast every week followed by a Bible Study.  In the last few months they have given away about 100 Bibles so are in continuous need for more!  A collection bin is at the back of Fellowship Hall.  Questions? Contact Cheryl Muth [email protected]

St Luke's Church in Barrington is collecting new or gently used stuffed animals to send to Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica - a place they've worked with on mission trips for over 10 years.  Their goal is to collect 5,000 stuffed toys by early September and they can only do this with the help of others in the community.  Learn more.  A collection bin is at the back of Fellowship Hall.  Thank you.  

Christine will be out of the office from Wednesday, August 23rd - September 1st.  During her absence the church office will be open from 9:30 am - 1 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays only, and closed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  

The clergy and other staff will still be in the office as usual so if you plan to stop by, you might want to call ahead to make sure that someone is there.  

As you may have read previously in this eBridge, Rev. Dale Azevedo broke his clavicle (collarbone) playing softball for the church on August 8th.  No surgery is necessary, but he will be in a sling for a while as it heals - so don't expect any long emails as he has to type with his left hand!  Please keep him in your prayers for a speedy recovery.
 

Rev. Brendan Curran is on vacation through August 20th and should be back in the office on Monday 21st. 

Dale's day off is now Monday, and Brendan's day off is Friday.

The staff have been working on the 2017-2018 Church Calendar and you can take a look at it at http://bccucc.view-events.com    If you have any meetings or activities planned, please send them to [email protected] so that they can be added to the calendar.  Also please notify the office or any errors or changes.  Thank you.   

** Because the walkway will go through the playground and involves moving earth and regrading, it has to happen in the summer while Tot's Preschool is not in session.

Brendan will be back on Monday, August 21st and will resume his Community Office Hours on Thursdays from 3 - 5 pm at The Coffee Depot, 501 Main Street, Warren, beginning Thursday, August 24th.   In the meantime we invite you to stop by Dale's Community Office Hours on Wednesday mornings from 8 - 10 am at the same location.

Next meets Tuesday, August 29th at 7 pm in the church library to discuss  The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothchild: “Irreverent, witty, bittersweet, The Improbability of Love draws an unforgettable portrait of the London art scene, but it is also an exuberant and unexpected journey through life's highs and lows and the complexities of love and loss.” (From the publisher). 

For more information about the group, contact Helen Schall at [email protected] or 245-4724.  All are welcome.  

On Sunday, September 24th at 4 pm. Elisabeth von Trapp will give a concert in our sanctuary.  Elisabeth is the granddaughter of Maria and Baron von Trapp of 'Sound of Music' fame.  Hosted by our church's Historical Group, this will be the last concert in our 300th Anniversary series.  Mark your calendar and plan to be there!   Details to follow.

After the stormy period of the church from 1728-1741 led by Rev. Peleg Heath, there were 55 years of peace, tranquility and growth in the church led by the Rev. Solomon Townsend.  Not much was written about him except that he was called Father Townsend and was loved by all.  Samuel Watson then served the church for 18 years, during which time he established the Barrington Library – which was kept in his home.  Luther Wright’s ministry in 1817 began the Sunday School (as was mentioned in a previous column), and also the singing of hymns during the church service.  Previous to that the minister or a chorister from the congregation would read through the hymn and then sing two lines which the congregation would repeat, then sing to the end, much as we did with Brendan on July 16th.  Isn’t it great to have hymnbooks and be able to sing the entire hymn with the accompaniment of the piano or organ? 

Ah!! The organ….. a brief history of which will come soon. 

The 'Did you know...' articles are researched and brought to you by Liz Rosenholm of the church's Historical Group.  

During the summer while the choir is on hiatus, there is an opportunity each week for members of the congregation to share their musical talents during worship.  If you play an instrument or sing and are interested in providing music during the offertory, please contact our organist/choir director Marina Zabinksi at 726-5118 or [email protected].  She is available to accompany you as needed.  Marina has posted a signup calendar in the vestry so check out available dates, then be sure to contact her once you sign up.  

Don't forget to come to church at 9:30 am during the summer months (thru September 3rd).   We're taking advantage of the coolness of the sanctuary earlier in the day, which also allows more time for everyone to go out and enjoy the summer weather for the rest of the day.   We hope you will join us as you are able.  

The Bereavement Group is taking a break over the summer and will resume meeting in September.  However, if anyone has any questions or concerns during the break they may contact Betsy Brenner at [email protected] or 245-8031.  

With shorter office hours and less activity, the eBridge and the Sunday Announcements will each be produced every other week on alternating weeks.  Please take this into consideration when submitting items for inclusion to [email protected].  Also over the summer, the weekly deadline is Tuesdays at Noon.

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/