Three Opportunities Scheduled for Required Racial Justice Training

The Rhode Island State Council of Churches will be facilitating three separate opportunities for clergy to take part in racial justice training, as is now required.

Annual Meeting voters last June called on the Conference to require all Authorized Ministers to participate in racial justice training every three years. These trainings, based on the United Church of Christ curriculum, will fulfill that requirement.

Merciful Conversations on Race: Let's Talk About White Privilege is a five-session course. It is being offered on the following schedule:

Five consecutive Tuesday mornings from 10 AM to Noon beginning May 7th and ending June 4th, held at Peace Dale Congregational Church in Peace Dale. Register by clicking here and using the password Justice.
Five consecutive Thursday nights from 7 to 9 PM beginning May 2nd and ending May 30th, held at Chapel Street Congregational Church, Lincoln. Register by clicking here and using the password Justice.
One Friday evening, May 17th, from 4:00 - 8:00 PM, combined with Saturday morning, May 18th, 9:00 - 1:00, and one other Saturday morning, 10:00 -12:00, either June 1st OR June 8th (participants can choose). These are at Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence. Register by clicking here and using the password Justice.

Find this information online here

Responding to the R.I. Opioid Crisis with Hope and Healing - Part 2

Second in a series from Peggy Matteson, UCC-RI Health Ministry Consultant

Open Your Doors
Addition is a treatable, chronic medical condition. Churches can give voice to this medical fact, provide information about where treatment is available, and support individuals and their loved ones as they battle this disease.

Finding a supportive community and building strong relationships are two essential elements that foster ongoing recovery. Many of our churches host AA, NA and other support groups. These programs assist those with these substance use disorders and their families to feel less alone by connecting them to others.

What can your church do?

When praying for the sick include prayers for people who are suffering from opioid and other substance use disorders.
Connect individuals to recovery programs and support groups. Connect family and friends to support groups. Information is available at:
- Anchor Recovery Community Center (Warwick and Providence)
- East Bay Recovery Center (St. Michael’s Parish) (Bristol)
- Parent Support Network (PSN) Hope Recovery Center of Newport County (Newport)
- R.E.S.T. – Empowering families through Resources, Education, Support, Together (Bristol, Warwick)
- RI Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder Services – (East Providence and 24 hour Call-Center)
- RI Cares (Providence)
- The Serenity Center (Woonsocket)
- Find local meetings of Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and/or Celebrate Recovery.

Advertise local meetings in your newsletter, calendars, and website.

Offer assistance with transportation to treatment services and/or recovery support programs

If your church is already hosting a support group or you are aware of one that is not listed please share the information and I will spread the word. If at any time you have questions or need assistance seeking a resource please contact me by e-mail pmatteson@ricucc.org or if more urgent by text at 401-965-3272.

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Many Voices One Mission:
Justice Is Local

By The Rev. Wendy Vander Hart, Associate Conference Minister for the MA Conference, UCC

I am running for office in my residential town of Arlington, Massachusetts. “Wendy Vander Hart – a ♥ for Arlington” is my campaign slogan (That's a heart emoji, in case it doesn't show in your browser.)

The position is humble Town Meeting Member. Fortunately, this does not require raising money for a campaign! I understand it as part of my personal declaration to embody our new Conference shared mission/purpose “Living the love and justice of Jesus.”

My home in Arlington has more than doubled in value in the eighteen years I have lived there. The tree canopy is shrinking in our town. Developers are squeezing in more units including less affordable ones. Traffic adds to our collective carbon footprint. The brand new neighborhood school was quickly over-subscribed because of poor planning and a significant addition was required three years into its existence.

Read the full post

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

A Message from the Together As One Conference Ministers

The following letter was released on Friday, March 15:

Today we stand with our Muslim siblings who have experienced unspeakable violence at the attacks in Christchurch New Zealand. Our hearts break as innocent lives are taken at prayer. Lamentation and grief surround those whose lives will never be the same. We are once again reminded that hatred and evil are with us in this life and we cannot stand idly by and accept terror as the way things are in our time.

We invite your prayers for those who have died. We invite your prayers for those who witnessed this horrible violence and those who responded. We invite your prayers of solidarity with our Muslim siblings who gather at mosques across the world today to mourn those who were killed.

Let us be resolute in exercising God’s love and compassion to all of God’s children. Let us be beacons of light and hope and compassion. Let us live the love and justice of Jesus.

The Rev. Kent Siladi
Connecticut Conference Minister

The Rev. Don Remick
Massachusetts Interim Transitional Conference Minister

The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix
Rhode Island Transitional Conference Minister

Find this online, with resources from the Dept. of Homeland Security

Upcoming Events

Water is Life Vigil
March 21, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Nathanael Greene Middle School, Providence, RI
Join in opposition to bills that would privatize the ownership of water in Rhode Island. Gather under the blue flags that say, “water is life,” as we bear witness to the water as God’s sacred gift and remind those who would sell our shared gift that water is a human right!

Youth Development Training
March 22 - 24
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
A training program for youth workers to provide quality staff for Irons programs and also to help churches and other organizations with their volunteer training.

Water is Life Vigil
April 6 & 13
North Scituate Public Library, North Scituate, RI
Join in opposition to bills that would privatize the ownership of water in Rhode Island.

NEAUCE 2019
April 30 - May 2
Pilgrim Pines Retreat Center, Swanzey, NH
The New England Association Of United Church Educators (NEAUCE) is inviting all Christian Educators and pastors to a 3 day retreat with workshops to relax and renew.

Shine- Youth at Synod 2019
June 21 - 25
Milwaukee, WI
Youth at Synod is for young leaders ages 13 to 18 who want to experience the vibrant diversity of the wider church.

Save the Date: The first Annual Meeting of the new Together, As One Conference will be Nov. 1 - 2, 2019, in Worcester, MA

Classifieds

More: ricucc.org/classifieds

Other Events of Interest

"Generosity Transformed" Conference
April 30 - May 3
Indianapolis, IN
Need to energize and revitalize your church’s strategies for faithful generosity? Does your church find it hard to talk about money? UCC Church Building & Loan Fund would like to make you aware of this ecumenical stewardship conference.

9th Annual CTUCC Youth Revival
May 5, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
First Congregational Church in Bloomfield, CT
All youth in grades 5 and up and their pastors, parents, or adult leaders are invited to this dynamic worship service that will your renew your spirit. Come and lift your praises, celebrate vitality, and embrace diversity!

Environmental Justice for All! Retreat
May 17 - 19
Silver Lake Conference Center, Sharon CT
For youth in grades 8 - 12 to explore how faith and justice intersect, learn about current issues in environmental justice and find their talents to make change.

Links

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