Our Prayers Are With the Latest Mission Trip to Haiti

By The Rev. Barbara Libby
Interim Conference Minister

The RICUCC Haiti Task Force was founded 28 years ago when now retired Conference Minister The Rev. Dr. H. Daehler Hayes partnered with the Rev. Jean Dorisca, the founder of the Mission Evangelique Baptitise Bethesda (MEBB) churches.

The latest Mission group to travel to Haiti departed early on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and will return after a week of service, on Jan. 23. The group included the following persons from three of the RI Conference UCC churches:

From Seekonk Congregational Church: Rev. Dr. H. Daehler Hayes, Linda Sable, Lori Ferreira, Lena Correa & her daughter, Mark Johnson, Fred Thorne, Ruth Graham
From Peace Dale Congregational Church: Patricia and Barry Gross
From Newman Congregational Church: Paul and Suzanne Swanson

Read more about the Rhode Island Conference's engagement with Haiti

Focus Groups Begin Thursday

A series of 11 focus groups being held across Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts begin this Thursday, Jan. 18, in North Smithfield and continue through next Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Everyone is invited to attend a group to give their input on what a new, unified conference might look like. The groups are being facilitated by Jim Schnurbusch, of the St. Louis firm OrgStory, who has been engaged as a consultant for this process.

See the schedule and sign up for a group

Upcoming Events

RI Ministers Association
Jan. 18, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Women and Infants Hospital, Providence

Sky Zone / Faith Zone
Jan. 21, 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Newman Congregational Church, Rumford
For 3rd-8th grade youth: an afternoon of faith and fun starting at Newman Congregational Church including snacks and a youth program followed by an outing at the Sky Zone trampoline park.

Ecclesiastical Council for Helen Bodell
Jan. 21, 3:00 PM
Newman Congregational Church, Rumford, RI

Racial Justice Awareness Confirmation Event
Jan. 28, 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Seekonk Congregational Church
A gathering of confirmands from our RI churches for an afternoon program with trained Racial Justice Awareness facilitators. All 8th grade -12th graders welcome.

Sliding with Faith
Feb. 4, 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Peace Dale Congregational Church,
South Kingstown
6th-12th graders are invited to gather at Peace Dale Congregational Church for a youth program including a snack, followed by an outing to Yawgoo Valley for tubing.

Maple Sugar Camp
March 16 - 17
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
For High School and Middle School Youth including supper, sliding and outdoor fire and making of maple candy, maple syrup and sugar on snow.

Super Saturday
March 17, 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM
Minnechaug Regional High School, Wilbraham, MA
A day of worship, workshops and networking - registration is now open!

Ordination for Shelly Moses
April 29, 2018
Peace Dale Congregational UCC
Details TBA

Eastern Regional Youth Event
July 19 - 22, 2018
California University of Pennsylvania, California, PA
The Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island Conferences are collaborating to provide bus service to the event, for youth who have completed 6th grade up to 2018 graduates of 12th grade.

Other Events of Interest

Suicide: Screening, Prevention and Response
Feb. 7, 12:00 to 3:00 PM
Bradley Learning Exchange, East Providence, RI
Part of a Mental Health Education Series for Faith Community Leaders and Members

Leadership and Anxiety in the Church
March 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT
This event, sponsored by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, is designed to be beneficial for clergy members and laypersons who seek to understand congregational dynamics better and to learn ways to calm anxiety and heal broken relationships.

UCC New England Women's (X) Celebration
April 6 - 8
Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, ME
A celebration to reach women in the pews and to involve them in learning and sharing their faith beyond the local church and Conference setting.

Links

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