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The bi-weekly newsletter of
Barrington Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
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Office Hours: Open Mon - Fri, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm.
Closed on Federal and State Holidays or where otherwise noted.
Sat, Feb 22
2 pm Funeral Service & Reception, Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall
Sun, Feb 23
10 am Worship Service & Church School
11 am Girl Scout Cookie Sales During Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
Mon. Feb 24
11 am Lay Visitation Meeting, Library
6 – 7 pm Youth Group, Fellowship Hall & Rm 9
Tue, Feb 25
10 am Staff Meeting, Dale's Office
Wed, Feb 26
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Vestry
Thurs, Feb 27
8:30 am Coffee Chat, Plant City in Barrington Center
Sat, Mar 1
1-4 pm Outside Use of Fellowship Hall
Sun, Mar 2
10 am Worship Service w/ Communion & Church School
11 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
5 pm Winter Potluck, Fellowship Hall
Mon, Mar 3
6 – 7 pm Youth Group, Fellowship Hall & Rm 9
Tues, Mar 4
10 am Staff Meeting, Dale's Office
6:30 pm Knitting for Others Group
Wed, Mar 5
3 pm Governing Board Meeting, Library
7 pm Ash Wednesday Service
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Vestry
For the complete church calendar visit http://bccucc.view-events.com
Send calendar information to office@bccucc.org
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Transition Plan Updates from the Governing Board and Deacons | |
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"The Governing Board met last week with Reverend Dale and will continue to meet with him until his departure (April 27th, 2025). We are committed to ensuring a meaningful send-off for Dale and a smooth transition to an Interim Senior Pastor. Pat Stoddard, Chair of the Deacons, is leading the search for the interim. Some Governing Board members and Deacons, including Pat and myself, have met with the Associate Conference Minister, Reverend Patty Kogut, who is assisting in that search. Pat and I speak and meet regularly so that the Deacons and Governing Board are working together. We understand the importance of keeping the Congregation up to date as we move forward. I also am in regular contact with Reverend Racquel who will be a mainstay of our transition. Stay tuned for more updates."
-Submitted by Laura Ward, Governing Board Chair
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"I am happy to report that we now have a subgroup of Deacons (along with Governing Board support as needed) that are actively working on plans for Temporary Ministerial Support until an Interim Senior Minister is hired. We are working closely with Rev. Racquel on worship plans after Rev. Dale retires so that we have a plan in place in advance for the weeks/months after Rev. Dale retires and an Interim Senior Minister is hired. We are also working with the Southern New England Conference and now have access to the online portal so we can complete the church profile that will be shared with interested Interim Minister applicants. We are moving forward, with God’s help."
-Submitted by Pat Stoddard, Deacons Chair
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GET YOUR COOKIES!
It is cookie time! Stop by the coffee hour this Sunday, February 23rd to stock up on some cookies and support the Girl Scouts of BCCUCC.
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Labyrinth Walk in Warren and at BCCUCC this Weekend
The Warren walking meditation labyrinth project seeks to raise public awareness of the silent emotional struggles that burden our communities and to raise town-wide interest in labyrinths as behavioral health assets. Join Blue Skies RI, a group helping folks find different ways to manage anxiety. Blue Skies RI is offering field trips to explore various labyrinths in the area. Their first field trip will be on Sunday, February 23 at 1:00 pm. We will meet at the pop-up labyrinth across from the East Bay Bike Path on Railroad Avenue in Warren, walk this one, and then go over to the labyrinth behind the Barrington Congregational Church. As a community, our willingness to install one or more public labyrinths signals our care for each other as neighbors. If you are interested in attending the outing on 2/23, you can sign up (free) here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/labyrinth-tour-tickets-1236278565469?aff=oddtdtcreator Even if you can't attend, if you sign up, you'll be on the Blue Skies RI list for future outings - planned for the 3rd Sunday of each month. You can learn more about their work on labyrinths and anxiety management here: https://www.blueskiesri.org/planning-a-walking-meditative-labyrinth-for-warren-ri/ email Rev. Racquel racquel@bccucc.org with questions.
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Ash Wednesday & Lent
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Ash Wednesday Service will be held on Wednesday March 5th at 7pm in the Sanctuary.
- Join Rev. Dale and Rev. Racquel throughout the Sundays of Lent as we mark the season with a theological inquiry into God’s Covenantal relationship with the church, with the congregation, how that may inform our time of transition, and our hopes for the future. There will be an interactive time of contemplation and action in response to the reflection as we live through the liminal time of Lent in remembrance of the past, awareness of the present, and vision for the future!
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Winter Pot Luck
Come warm yourselves with fellowship and food on Sunday, March 2nd at 5pm for our seasonal pot luck get together! Our winter potluck is a few days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, so bring your appetite along with your favorite dish, side or dessert to share. All are welcome! Bring your family and friends to enjoy an evening of great food and fellowship. Questions? Contact Rev. Racquel Ray at racquel@bccucc.org.
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'From the River's Edge' with Dale
Don't miss the latest Pastors' blog, "Love is a Verb", by Rev. Dale Azevedo!
Years ago, the church I was serving had a guest speaker on Laity Sunday. It was one of our lay leaders and Church School teachers. The premise and title of his sermon was pretty simple:
“Love is a verb.”
I’m not quite sure why I had never really heard that sentiment before. On the surface, it seems pretty simple and obvious. But there was something about the way Ed delivered it that made me really stop and think. Love truly is a verb.
Now, literally, “love” is regularly defined in our dictionaries as having both verb and noun uses. Love is defined as either “an intense feeling of deep affection” (noun) or “to feel deep affection” (verb). But these literal definitions from the dictionary miss the point of Ed’s sermon…and frankly miss the Christian understanding of the word entirely. Read More
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Park Place Church Presents...
The Song Stylings of Wayne Patenaude & Jane Bedia on Keyboard on March 1, 2025 at 71 Park Place in Pawtucket, RI. Doors open at 6 pm followed by dinner 6:30 with sandwiches and picky foods along with dessert.
$20 pp. donation.
Reservations happily accepted until February 28, 2025.
Call 401-726-2800 or email office@ppucc.neocoxmail.com
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SNEUCC Partners Sue Over Immigration Enforcement Policy
The Massachusetts and Rhode Island State Councils of Churches have joined over two dozen Christian and Jewish institutions in a suit, filed by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, opposing the federal government’s rescission of a policy which had restricted officials from conducting immigration raids, arrests, and other enforcement actions at houses of worship... READ MORE
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Take Action
The Southern New England Conference website now features a Take Action page, where users can contact legislators, get updates on current issues, find prayers for congregational use, access resources on various issues, and connect with local partners for working on witness and care. The page can be accessed at https://www.sneucc.org/takeaction.
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SNEUCC Super Saturday
SNEUCC Super Saturday is on Saturday, March 8th from 9 am – 4 pm and features a full day of worship, fellowship, and learning. You can register on your own to stream Super Saturday online (deadline is February 24th) by visiting https://www.sneucc.org/eventdetail/18794786?month=3&year=2025&day=1&display=m. All are also welcome to gather in the church library on Saturday from 9 am – 11 am where the opening remarks and Rev. Barber's keynote speech will be streamed on the TV. Helen, Nancy, and Trinki will also provide tea, coffee and pastries, but donations toward this are welcome. For more information and to let us know you're coming, contact Trinki at 401 447 4742, Nancy at 401 408 4417, or Helen at 401 573 9820.
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Rev. William J. Barber II in Providence & Livestream
SNEUCC, The RI Council of Churches, Central Congregational Church cordially invites you to witness the prophetic voice of Rev. William J. Barber II on Saturday March 1st, 2025 at 6:30pm. This event is free and open to all on-site at Central Congregational Church , 296 Angell St., Providence RI or livestream at https://www.youtube.com/@CentralChurchProvidence/streams.
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5 Things to Know and Share
Keep up with our Conference (the Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ), you can read the latest edition of the newsletter "5 Things to Know and Share" and sign up to have future editions sent right 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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Get Involved & Give Thanks | |
Coffee for Crossroads RI
Giving up coffee for Lent?! Adding a Lenten spiritual practice this year rather than giving something up? Join us once again to support our friends at Crossroads RI to fill the pantry shelves! With great thanks to all of you, our BCCUCC family have provided "Welcome Home" baskets, spice kits and various other highly needed donations for Crossroads in past years. This year, we're partnering with Crossroads again to aid in "Coffee for Crossroads". As we begin the Lenten season, we invite you to bring your coffee offering to church: Coffee makers, Cans of Coffee, K-Cups, Bags of Coffee, filters, new cups, or even tea! We will be collecting these caffeinated (and decaffeinated) offerings on March 2nd, March 9th and March 16th during the Sunday morning worship service or during our coffee hour that follows. Donations may also be dropped off at the church office from 9:30am - 1:30 pm (M-F). What better way to show love for our Rhode Island neighbors than by sharing our blessed beans and brew-able blessings!
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Join the Chancel Team
The Chancel Team is seeking new members! You will get to assist others in honoring loved ones with flower donations in their memory (and the time commitment is quite reasonable!). Please speak with Beth Buckley at coffee hour or call at 247-0324 if you would like to learn more about this fulfilling opportunity to serve.
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Altar Flower Donors Needed
Altar arrangement donors are needed for March 16th and March 23rd. Contact Cheryl Muth at jccbmuth@aol.com if you are interested in sponsoring an arrangement for either of those Sunday services.
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Your Donations Make a Difference
It's easy to make a donation online. Simply go to the donation page on our website at www.bccucc.org/donation/ and click on 'Donate Now' under the TIthe.ly option. Be sure to click on the drop-down box in Tithe.ly to choose where you'd like your donation to go - options include Deacons Fund, Memorial Gift, Pledge, Gift etc. Thank you for your financial support of BCCUCC!
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Upcoming BCCUCC Group Gatherings | |
Knitting for Others Group (Monthly)
The Knitting for Others Group will meet both in person and via zoom on the first Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 4th from 6:30 - 9 pm. All knitters and crocheters are invited to join in! For more information on the group or for the Zoom info to participate virtually, contact Nancy Arena at nancy.arena@outlook.com.
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Bereavement Group (Monthly)
We extend a warm and welcome invitation to anyone who has lost a loved one. This monthly support group is open to all. The next bereavement support group gathering will be on Monday, March 10th at 10 am in the church library. For more information, contact Betsy Brenner at betsybrenner3@gmail.com / 245-8031, or Aubrey Atwater at aubreyfolk@aol.com / 392-1909.
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Book Group (Monthly)
The Book Group will next meet on The Book Group will meet Tuesday, March 18th, in the Church Library at 10:30 am. We will be discussing Colored Television by Danzy Senna. All are welcome to join! For more info about the group, contact Helen Schall at helenschall@hotmail.com.
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Veterans Coffee & Conversation at Atria (Monthly)
Rev. Racquel invites you to join her for coffee and donuts with the Veterans at Atria Bay Spring Village. We meet once per month for coffee and conversation - and donuts! The stories and living history are profoundly sacred. Please email Rev. Racquel at racquel@bccucc.org or (401) 246-0111 x 104 for more information and dates for upcoming group gatherings.
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Choir Rehearsals (Weekly)
If you enjoy singing, why not join the church choir - no audition needed! Rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 - 8:30 pm in the Vestry. To learn more, pop in for a rehearsal or speak with our music director Matthew Marion after church. You can also email Matthew at mmarion1811@gmail.com.
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Coffee Chat (Weekly)
Join Rev. Racquel and friends on Thursday mornings at 8:30 am at Plant City in the Barrington Shopping Center to connect for conversation and companionship. Contact Rev. Racquel for more information at racquel@bccucc.org
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Inclement Weather Protocol Reminder
Living in New England we know that the weather can be very unpredictable. Should there be a chance bad weather or poor travel conditions leading to morning worship or church school to be cancelled, we will keep you informed via email, through the RI Broadcasters website, our Facebook page, or through the local news broadcasting stations and websites.
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Sunday morning services are available online for anyone who can't make it in person. To see our service live on Sundays at 10 am, visit our Facebook page or our YouTube channel. Recordings will also be added to our website shortly after morning service has concluded.
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2024-2025 Church Calendar
Our church calendar can be viewed at http://bccucc.view-events.com Please notify the office at office@bccucc.org or 246-0111 with any meeting/event information etc. so the calendar can be kept up to date. Thank you!
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Don't miss out!
View our latest bulletins, announcements, video streams and more through the following channels:
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Rev. Dale Azevedo Senior Minister dale@bccucc.org (401) 246-0111 x 103
Rev. Racquel Ray Associate Minister for Congregational Life racquel@bccucc.org (401) 246-0111 x 104
Sara Bagwell Office Administrator office@bccucc.org (401) 246-0111 x 101
Pat Stoddard Financial Secretary pat@bccucc.org (401) 246-0111 x 102
Andrea Bullard Faith Formation Director andrea@bccucc.org (401) 246-0111 x 107
Matthew Marion Music Director mmarion1811@gmail.com
Church Office Hours: Open Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm.
Closed on Federal and State holidays.
Building Security: The Education building remains locked at all times, even when the office is open. Please ring the bell for entry and we'll be happy to let you in - or use the code on the keypad if you have it.
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