Conference Holds Service of Welcomes

Representatives from a variety of Rhode Island Conference churches welcomed Transitional Conference Minister The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix into the fold at a special service on Sunday - and they were, in turn, welcomed into the new Conference office at Edgewood Congregational Church in Cranston.

"As your Conference Minister, I like to think of all of you as members of one church," Kendrix told those assembled. "I don't think about my ministry as to 30 churches. No, I think of us all together, a congregation together, one church, the body of Christ. Because I think that together we can find new ways to serve god by loving one another."

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View a photo album from the day

Many Voices One Mission: Called and Sent

By The Rev. Dr. Michael Ciba, Senior Regional Minister for the CT Conference, UCC

One of my favorite passages of scripture is the story of Jesus sending the disciples out to share the good news in the villages of the countryside in Matthew 10: 1-15. Jesus gives the disciples authority to confront evil and then sends them out to do what he says. He identifies who should go, where they should go, what they should say and do. He advises them how to take care of themselves while they are doing the work he wants them to do. He tells them how they should respond if things work out and how they should respond if they don’t.

This is one of the few places in the gospels where Jesus acts like the leader of an institution: articulating a vision, recruiting staff, telling them how to do the job, cautioning them about risks and pitfalls, and letting them know what to expect.

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Many Voices, One Mission is a regular series highlighting the ministries of the CT, MA, and RI Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Upcoming Conference Events

Boundary Training
Oct. 11, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Seekonk Congregational UCC, Seekonk, RI
Authorized clergy of the Rhode Island Conference are required to attend Boundary Training every three years in order to maintain their standing.

Autumn Youth Event: Music & More!
Oct. 12, 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Seekonk Congregational UCC, Seekonk, RI
Youth (6th-12th grade) are invited to an evening of Faith, Food, Fun and Friends! There will be pizza, a pumpkin project, a youth concert and a special guest speaker on teen anxiety & stress, Fee $5

Retired Ministers Luncheon and the Ministerial Assistance Fund Trustees meeting
Oct. 17, 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Newman Congregational Church, Rumford, RI

Super Saturday
Oct. 20, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Keefe Regional Technical High School, Framingham, MA
Join us for a full day of worship, workshops and networking. Keynote address by Dr. David M. Csinos, who writes widely about faith formation, children's ministry, youth ministry, and culture.

Rhode Island Conference Autumnal Meeting 2018
Nov. 3, 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
First Congregational Church UCC, Bristol, RI

Bus Trip to Visit 2 Rhode Island Churches
Nov. 8, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Join the Seekonk Congregational Church, UCC Woman's Group and the Rev. Dr. H. Daehler Hayes, RI Conference Minister Emeritus, to visit Central Congregational UCC in Providence and Slatersville Congregational UCC with a stop at Wright's Farm for lunch.

Classifieds

Free Choir Music - Cranston

ricucc.org/classifieds

Other Events Of Interest

Reviving Justice: Inspire / Connect / Act
Oct. 27, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
First Church of Christ in Simsbury, CT
Gather for worship, networking, and workshops. Connect with faith and community leaders who are working for environmental, economic, and racial justice. With preaching by The Rev. Dr. Damaris D. Whittaker.

Visit with Rev. Dr. Gordon Ellis
Oct. 13 & 14
Seekonk Congregational Church
Join the church for a special Dinner and Spiritual Concert by The Rev. Dr. Gordon Ellis on Saturday evening, Oct. 13th and for his preaching on Sunday morning, October 14th at 9:00 and 10:30 AM.

Beneficent Congregational Church 275th Anniversary Celebration
Oct. 20, 7:00 PM: Gala Anniversary Concert
Oct. 21, 10:00 AM: Home Coming Worship Service
Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence
Both will include special music by guests such as RPM Voices and the Providence Gay Men's Chorus.

Widening the Welcome
Nov. 1-3
Niagara Falls Convention Center, Niagara, NY
Workshops and panels; invited speakers include Traci Blackmon, Sarah Lund, Jennifer Brownell, and keynote speaker John C. Dorhauer, UCC General Minister and President.

Tending the Fire
Nov. 6-8; Jan. 8-10; March 12-14
Framingham, MA & Sharon, CT
This series of retreats helps clergy “think systems” in their congregations and their personal lives, so they can lead change that lasts.

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