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Registration is Now Open for the Spring Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for the Rhode Island Conference Spring Annual Meeting being held Saturday, April 27, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, at the Edgewood Congregational Church UCC in Cranston.

The Preacher for this meeting will be The Rev. David Pierce, Pastor of the Four Corners Chapel in Cumberland, RI (top). The main meeting speaker will be The Rev. Don Remick, Transitional Conference Minister of the Massachusetts Conference, UCC. 

The day will start with a Continental Breakfast at 8:30 followed by the worship, meeting and communion beginning at 9:00 AM.

Registration is $10.  Read more and register


 

Together As One: Catching a Breath and Watching the Winds Blow

By The Rev. Don Remick, Transitional Interim Conference Minister for the Massachusetts Conference, UCC

In the midst of this season of Lent there is a calling to pause, listen and watch for the movement of the Spirit and breathe deeply the presence of God. 

In those moments my reflections wander to the movement of God’s Spirit in the last weeks and months. 

When I visited each Association Fall Meeting I talked about the current moment in the evolution and journey towards coming together into a new Conference: Together As One (TA1).   I spoke of the need in this early phase to build relationships that are based in trust and vulnerability.  And I spoke of the importance of sharing information that offers clarity and transparency around our priorities and philosophies and approaches.  And I spoke of our focus of deepening our connection to the God given vision that gives us collective identity and purpose. It is crucial to build this foundation before we step into the work of determining structures, and strategies and programs and staffing. 

That work continues.  And so much more has begun to emerge on that foundation in the last few months.

Read more


The Clergy Housing Allowance Continues

In a much-anticipated decision, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals delivered welcome news to clergy: the clergy housing allowance is constitutional. The decision reversed the ruling of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, which ruled in 2016 the clergy housing violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. 

In a 3-0 decision, the Seventh Circuit agreed with the Treasury Department’s arguments that the clergy housing allowance is constitutional because it puts ministers on equal footing with secular employees receiving the same benefits.

Read more from UCC General Counsel Heather Kimmel

 

Many Voices One Mission: Cultivating Connections

By Pam Arifian, Director of UCC Northeast Environmental Justice Center

The ministry of the UCC Northeast Environmental Justice Center (EJC) is all about helping people to make and cultivate connections. Through educational and advocacy programs, we help folks connect their decisions and actions with the impacts of those actions on larger environmental and social justice issues, and how we are called by God to be responsible caretakers of Creation. 
 
One of the activities that I enjoy facilitating with summer campers is called the “Web of Creation” and involves participants claiming roles of various species in an ecosystem, from fungus and worm to bee and flowers to fox and hawk. 

Read more

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

Upcoming Events

Racial Justice Trainings
The Rhode Island State Council of Churches is facilitating these trainings, which meet the training requirement for clergy .

  • Tuesdays, May 7 - June 4, 10 AM to Noon
    Peace Dale Congregational Church< peace Dale, RI
  • Thursdays, May 2 - 30, 7 to 9 PM
    Chapel Street Congregational Church, Lincoln, RI
  • Friday and Saturday, May 17 - 18 plus one other Saturday morning, June 1 or June 8
    Beneficent Congregational Church, Providence, RI

Registration and details are here.

 


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! 

CTUCC Spring Boundary Training
May 7, 2019 at 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Church of Christ, Congregational in Newington, CT

Morning Plenary with Rev. Ron Brown. Basic and Advanced Training for Clergy.

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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Visit our Helpful Links Page

 
 
Rhode Island Conference, United Church of Christ
c/o Edgewood Congregational Church 1788 Broad St Cranston, RI 02905
(401) 724-7700
ricucc.org