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Making God’s Love and Justice Real at Lighthouse Shops
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By The Rev. Marilyn Kendrix, Transitional Conference Minister, Rhode Island Conference, UCC
Since coming to the Rhode Island Conference in July, I have traveled around the state, visiting with RICUCC churches, meeting folks and sometimes preaching the Word. Honestly, this is my favorite part of this call as Rhode Island’s Transitional Conference Minister. And of course, I spend a good deal of time talking about our new Together, As One Conference because this is also work that I am passionate about. That we are in the midst of birthing a new conference is both exciting and daunting work but it is work that is well worth all of the hours that many folks are pouring into it.
One of the most frequent questions that I get from folks who are curious about our joining with Connecticut and Massachusetts is “Why?” And my answer is always the same one you will hear from all of us who are working to make this new conference a reality: “We seek to be a conference in which local churches make disciples, live the love and justice of Jesus, embrace adaptive change, and build covenant partnerships with those who work for the common good.”
We are putting into place structures and processes to accomplish this vision at the conference level, but the real dream is for this to become the way that all our churches do church in the years to come. And I know that it is possible because on one of my visits to a Rhode Island church, I saw this vision in action at the Riverside Congregational Church in Riverside, RI.
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You Can Make a Difference: Drug Take-Back Day
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By Peggy Matteson, UCC-RI Health Ministry Consultant.
Is your medicine cabinet full of expired drugs or medications you no longer use? Your medicine is for you. What’s safe for you might be harmful for someone else.
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
To prevent this from happening you can safely dispose of your expired, unwanted, or unused medicines through a drug take back program.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 27th
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue by providing a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs.
The last Take-Back Day brought in more than 900,000 pounds of unused or expired prescription medication. This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 10,878,950 pounds.
You can learn more about this effort at National Take Back Day
Click on this link to locate a drop off site near you: takebackday.dea.gov
If you have any questions please contact Peggy Matteson at pmatteson@ricucc.org.
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Registration Open for Spring Annual Meeting
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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
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Many Voices One Mission: Legacy Beneficiaries
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By The Rev. Dr. Jonathan New, Associate Conference Minister for Stewardship & Financial Development for the Massachusetts Conference
Congratulations – if you’re reading this you’re a legacy beneficiary!
I realized my own legacy recipient status reading CT Conference Minster Kent Siladi’s story of the closing of First Congregational Church of Stamford, CT – the church of his baptism, confirmation, and ordination – and its intention to be reborn as a new church in a different location. I thought of the church that nurtured my growing up and into ministry – Trinity Church, Shelburne Falls, MA. I also remembered First Congregational Church of Waverly, Belmont, MA, which merged with Senuri Korean Church just five years after hosting my ordination, then closed ten years later.
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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. |
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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 13
North Scituate Public Library, North Scituate, RI
Join in opposition to bills that would privatize the ownership of water in Rhode Island.
Passion of Christ Retreat
April 14 - 16
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
For high school youth
Passion of Christ Retreat
April 18 - 20
Irons Homestead, Glocester, RI
Experiential retreat for all.
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
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Classifieds
Director of Faith Formation - Mystic, CT
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.
Facing Your Church's Uncertain Future Webinar
May 2, 3:30 PM to 4:50 PM
Facing Your Church’s Uncertain Future is a NEW resource that offers good practices for discerning, discussing, and making decisions that concern a church’s future. Pastors and congregational leaders are invited to join this online Zoom webinar presenting theological, liturgical and helpful insights for discussing future options, including closure and legacy.
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.
Confidentiality & Mandatory Reporting/ Lightening the Load
May 23, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM
First Congregational Church of Brimfield, MA
Two Workshops: Attend one or both
UCC Musicians Association National Conference
June 25 - 28
First Congregational UCC, Madison, WI
Three days of worship, workshops, marketplace, and networking.
Links
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