CentralNEWS/March 2010

VOLUME 18 NUMBER 3

296 Angell Street  Providence  RI 02906   401-331-1960

From Your Senior Minister

Dear Friends,

With Ash Wednesday just last week, we are now in the beginning of the days of Lent, and I am reminded of the cycle of life…..Lent offers us a time to reflect, and to focus on how we have strayed from the people we want to be…created in the image of God. Lent nudges us to own up to our sorrows and regrets, to shame and confession, apology, remorse and atonement….

It is no secret that our Good Friday service is a lot smaller than Easter Sunday.  It is a sad, introspective time. But I always feel a little sorry for those who only are present at Easter… For encompassing the cross into our Easter celebration makes our joy ever so much more profound.  Easter is not just a miracle story with a very happy ending… We know only too well that suffering exists. That bad things happen to good people. That loss happens and that evil is real.

The angel’s announcement, “He is not here.  He has risen.”  is simply less real and much less powerful if you haven’t asked yourself, “Was I there when they crucified my Lord?”

Jesus of Nazareth suffered horribly.  Not just the physical pain of his death on the cross.  His feelings of abandonment, betrayal, loneliness must also have been present to him.  And if we are truly honest, don’t we need to ask ourselves….“might I have been among those who betrayed him or at least abandoned him?”

The grace of God made so clear to us in the Easter miracle is so much more real if we acknowledge our own imperfections in not being there when Jesus needed us. And so, I ask you to move through the days of Lent thoughtfully and prayerfully.  Come to the Wednesday meditations and share in the spiritual journeys of your fellow members.  Think about your stewardship of your time and talents and resources.  Come to Bible Studies and ask yourself….where have I fallen short in my journey?  And let us prepare together for the greatest celebration of all when we sing together on Easter morning, “Jesus Christ is Risen.”

Yours in Christ,

Rebecca Spencer

Easter SCHEDULE

Wednesday Meditation 5:30 – 6:00 pm

March 3               May Grant

March 10               The Rev. Kat Townes

March 17            Steve Calvert

March 24            Beth Taylor

Mini Retreat 6:00-8:30 pm

Wednesday, March 10

Refections & Response

Palm Sunday, March 28

Worship Service   10:30 am

Preceded by the outdoor procession with Jasper (the donkey), palms, choir, & children at 10:10

Maundy Thursday

April 1 7:30pm

Service of Tenebrae and Communion

Preceding worship, our Deacons invite you to a potluck supper in Chapel Hall.

Tenebrae, Latin for Shadows, is a service of lessons and is accompanied by the gradual extinguishing of light, The readings, preceded by Communion, commemorate the events of Holy Week: Jesus’ betrayal & arrest, His passion, trial & death on the cross. This is a moving & important service that allows us to walk with Jesus in those last days & hours of His life. It prepares us to celebrate the glory & the light of the Resurrection on Easter.

Good Friday

April 2 12 noon

Our adult choir sings the Faure Requiem

Easter Vigil Service

April 3 8 – 9 pm

Wilson Chapel

Easter

April 4

Ecumenical Sunrise Service 6:30 am at Swan Point Cemetery

Easter Breakfast 9:00 am

Children’s Egg Hunt   9:45 am

Festival Service of Worship 10:30 am with, organ, brass and timpani

Preludes begin at 10:10 am

Baptism

The Sacrament of Baptism will be celebrated on Sunday, April 18. A pastor/parent meeting will be held at 9 am on Saturday, April 10 in the Fireplace Room.  Please call The Rev. Rebecca Spencer, 331-1960, if you wish to participate in this Baptism.

From Claudia

I like to enter the season of Lent using a metaphor of being on a journey—a spiritual journey—during this season.  Now, that doesn’t mean that I am not on a spiritual journey during all the seasons of the church year, but this part of the journey always has a different feel to it for me.  And this particular year as I enter a more interior journey, I am also preparing for a physical journey, which will start two days after Easter.

On April 6 I will join a group that is traveling to the Middle East for sixteen days.  We will visit five countries: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Israel (including the Palestinian West Bank).  For me, it will be the trip of my lifetime!  Frances Munro from Central will also be taking this trip and we’ll look forward to sharing what we learn with all of you.  Some of this group of twenty people I’ve known for a long time, some for a shorter time, some not at all, but I dare say that we will know one another very, very well by the time this trip is over!

Our itinerary will begin in Beirut where we will visit Harissa Church a.k.a. “The Lady of Lebanon,” the National Museum, Pigeon Rock and the Jeita Caves.  From there we travel to Palmyra to see the Temple of Bel, and Damascus to the Saladin mausoleum, Kawkab, and the Umayyad Mosque.  In Bosra-Amman we will tour a Nabatean city and a Roman theater.  The day we visit Bethany we will see the “City of Mosaics,” Mt. Nebo, and Jesus’ baptismal site.  From there, we will visit Wadi Rum Desert and stay overnight in a traditional Bedoin camp.

The next day it’s on to Petra, which we will reach on horseback.  After Petra we will travel to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, and the Garden of Gethsemane.  The next day we will be in Jerusalem’s Old City visiting the Dung Gate, the Western Wall, the Pools of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, Antonia Fortress, and the Israel Museum.  Traveling to Nazareth we’ll visit Cana, Mary’s well, Joseph’s workshop (okay, okay, I know it’s not the REAL one!) before flying to Cairo.  In Cairo we’ll visit some Coptic churches on arriving.  In the following days we’ll go to the Giza Plateau, the Egyptian Museum, the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, and see the Colossi of Memnon.

Are you tired, yet?  And, this is only a preliminary itinerary!  As you read this schedule I’m sure that you’ve noticed that this journey will encompass historical as well as devotional sites which relate to the three Abrahamic faiths—Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.  It will truly be a trip of a lifetime, but if I look tired when I return, you’ll know why!

Yours on the journey,

Claudia

From Kat

As we were about to launch our inner tubes down the tubing lanes in Mt. Snow, VT, I asked Patty and Anna Tanalski if they had any tips for us first-time riders. Patty responded, “Just know you’ll be totally out of control. So just hold on and enjoy the ride…” I thought. Easier said than done!

Throughout the weekend, many of us struggled with the challenge of letting go. Whether it was gathering the courage to step off the chair lift on a snowboard; trusting another parent to shepherd our child down the slopes; letting go of our frustration with lines and traffic; releasing ourselves from the need to protect others from our children’s difficult behavior; or having faith that the trail would eventually lead to safety; we were all pushed to loosen our grip on our illusion of control.

As terrifying as these wilderness experiences can be, they are also liberating! Our family spent the afternoon cross-country skiing, something my husband and kids had never done before. I was amazed to watch my son, Royce, as he navigated difficult, hilly sections of trail, only to wipe out dramatically on smooth, flat areas. I finally asked him if his snow dives were intentional.  “Well yeah,” he said. “I’m practicing falling.”

As the day went on, Roycie seemed more and more fearless. He did not become an expert at falling; rather he became a pro at knowing the world would not end if he slipped.

Letting go and trusting God does not give us a guarantee that “everything will be okay” or that we will not experience pain. But it does release us from the unfair pressure and responsibility we put on ourselves to keep everything and everyone on solid ground (that’s God’s job!).

May God grant us the courage to journey through Lent as Roycie journeys through the snow—without fear, trusting that God and our community will accompany us and show us grace, even when we fall.

REFLECTIONS AND RESPONSE

A Lenten Mini-Retreat

Wednesday, March 10

6:00-8:30 p.m. in the Deacon’s Room

Mark your calendars for a Lenten mini-retreat!  Immediately following the Lenten Service we will gather together for a quiet retreat.  At 6:00 we will enjoy a soup and bread supper as together we begin to explore our reflections and responses to Lent and Holy Week.  After supper we will find a quiet place in the church to observe contemplative quiet.  At 8:15 we’ll gather together again for a time of sharing and prayer.  Please R.S.V.P. to Claudia (331-1960).

From Our Treasures

What a wonderful celebration we had for Don MacIntosh’s 100th birthday in February! In honor of Don, four of our Church members have given gifts to our Church totaling over $400! Thank you to these members for their thoughtfulness and all best wishes to Don for a loving and faithful witness for us all!

-John P. Boyce

Easter Breakfast

Please join us for our festive Easter breakfast. It’s an easy, delicious and wonderful way to start your Easter morning. Our youth groups will be serving and all proceeds will help to sponsor their Mission trip to Philadelphia in June.

Easter Breakfast

Chapel Hall

April 4 9:00 am

$10 Adults

$5 Children

Children under 3 free

$25 per family

New Member Orientation*

Wednesday, April 21

Faith Exploration*

Tuesday, April 27

New Member Sunday

May 2

*These meetings are held at the home of the Rev. Rebecca Spencer 15 Taber Ave at 7 pm.

Early Spring Sale

The Bursting Pomegranate Shop

Early Spring Sale — Sunday March 28

Stop by Chapel Hall after church on Palm Sunday to see the cheery new Easter and spring items!

All purchases support artisans & craftspeople in developing countries around the globe, a mission outreach of our Church.

STEWARDSHIP

The 2010 co-chairs Mary Hazeltine and Ann Scott kicked off Stewardship Campaign on Sunday, February 14th.  All members should have received a letter with their pledge card during the week of February 15th.  There will be Stewardship Moments during the service on Sundays 2/21, 2/28, 3/7, and 3/14.  Dedication Sunday will be on March 21, when members in attendance are requested to submit their pledges during the worship.  Following the service on March 21 there will be a Celebratory Lunch.  If you cannot attend on March 21, please help us by sending in your pledges in advance.  Pledges are important because they enable us to review our projected budget and to plan our programs and outreach.  Thank you in advance.

-Mary, Ann & the Stewardship Committee.

ARK Group

(Acts of Random Kindness)

This wonderful group is available to those who may have a need in our faith community.  It maintains a list of individuals willing to provide meals, rides, etc. for you on an as-needed basis.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact a coordinator: Jane O’Farrell (rsher02906@cox.net) or Gretchen Yealey (Gretchen_Yealy@brown.edu) or Claudia (331-1960).  If you have a need for some help or know of someone who does, please let Claudia know!  Volunteers are standing by!!!

LIBRARY NEWS

Have you wondered what to make for the next potluck meal at church? The church library (off the Fireplace Room) has the answer: a new book for you to borrow, The Church Supper Cookbook, Dewey number 641.5973 on the library shelf.

Salad? How about Spicy Peach Salad, made with canned peaches and gelatin? Sounds easy! Page 160.

Dessert? Have fun with the ingredients mentioned in the Bible, for Scripture Cake, page 212.

The book has full pages of delicious-looking color photos that make you want to start cooking at once, or at least plan your next contribution.

-Jean Edwards

Welcome!

Congratulations to Derek and Carolyn White, Their son, Silas, was born in February.

FROM THE DEACON’S BENCH

The season of Lent was for me, and for a long time, the least well understood time of the Church year. It was never clear to me what giving up chocolate, desserts, or other pleasures—as  some friends did—had to do with the “preparation” for Easter. Several years of living in New Orleans, with its months long Carnival activities (read: nonstop partying!) followed on Ash Wednesday by relative calm and “business as usual” didn’t help!

In recent years, and largely inspired by being a part of the Central family, I have found a new understanding of Lent. I have discovered it is a season rich with meaning and possibilities. It is a time set aside for reflection and of introspection. And it recalls the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness. His time of contemplation sets before us a challenge and an example for us to look deeply at our own lives. Giving up some small pleasure, or making some conscious change in our lives during Lent, allows us to focus and concentrate more clearly. With meditation, prayer and scripture reading, we can focus more clearly on the meaning of our Christian lives, our sinfulness and our need for forgiveness. It is a self-imposed discipline to make us more aware spiritually, and open pathways in our preparation for Easter.

A passage from Bread and Wine—Readings for Lent and Easter summarizes it nicely for me. “First popularized in the 4th Century, Lent (literally “springtime”) is traditionally associated with penitence, fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. It is a time for “giving things up” balanced by “giving to” those in need. Yet whatever else it may be, Lent should never be morose—an annual ordeal during which we begrudgingly forgo a handful of pleasures. Instead, we ought to approach Lent as an opportunity, not a requirement. After all, it is meant to be the Church’s springtime, a time when, out of the darkness of sin’s winter, a repentant, empowered people emerges.” (published by The Plough Publishing House of the Bruderhof Foundation, Farmington, PA copyright 2003)

-John Peters

House & Garden Tour

Saturday, May 22, 2010,

12 noon to 5pm

(tickets on sale April 1)

House & Garden Tour

Sponsored by the Prudential and

Mission & Action Committees

The day will start with an organ concert by Patrick Aiken

at Central at  12 noon

Optional lunch at Hamilton House

from 11:30am – 1pm

THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM IN RHODE ISLAND

Temple Beth-El 70 Orchard Avenue

Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 pm

Panel:

Deborah Gist – RI Commissioner of Education

Dr. Warren Simmons – Director, Annenberg Inst. School Reform

Brown University

Michael Lazzareschi – Principal, Nathan Bishop Middle School

Moderator:

Elizabeth Burke Bryant, JD – Executive Director, Rhode Island Kids Count

Please mark your calendars, save the date, and join us for this exciting and informative event that is being co- sponsored by Central Church, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church & Temple Beth-El.

One Great Hour of Sharing

Stories from your neighbors around the world.

Haiti: working with the Haitian task force, the UCC has established an emergency relief fund for immediate support as well as longer-term work projects.

Hurricane ravaged communities along the US Gulf Coast continue to rebuild. One  person, one house at a time, volunteers and your donations are helping uprooted families return home.

In the Dominican Republic, with support from OGHS, families are learning how to best grow and sell the fruits of their labor. They are using what they earn to buy school materials for the children, medicine and basic health supplies.

For generations, the indigenous peoples of the Chaco region of South America have faced discrimination and exclusion. This offering, helps improve their well being, livelihoods, and food supply.

Zimbabwe: to fight a food emergency brought on by a complex humanitarian crisis, OGHS assists in building up food security to provide emergency aid and the tools to better grow food. By learning conservation techniques and how best to adapt to climate change, local farmers are taking the future of their country back into their own hands.

Central will receive the One Great Hour of Sharing offering on Palm Sunday, March 28.

The First Christians

From Jesus to Christ:

The First Christians

Sunday mornings on 3/7, 3/21 & 3/28

9:00 a.m.

Fireplace Room

This extraordinary series continues to explore the life of Jesus and the movement that he started, challenging familiar assumptions about the origins of Christianity.  Go back in time 2000 years to the place where Jesus once lived and preached.  Experience Jesus’ life and the lives of his first followers, the men and women whose belief, conviction, and martyrdom created a major movement that transformed the mighty Roman Empire in only 300 years!

Step Forward! Campaign

It is very gratifying to receive donations to the Step Forward ! Campaign from Central members who have relocated to other parts of the country—but still love our Church and want to participate in its restoration with a gift.

One such individual, now a member of a Church in another state sent a donation to Step Forward! and writes, “I do feel that this is what I can afford…I am living very modestly. Thank you for thinking of me as a continuing member of Central it is definitely a leader in faith, care and concern for the future of all.”

Thanks to the gifts of many members and friends of Central, we have achieved sixty percent of our goal of $3,000,000. We hope to hear soon from those who have not yet pledged a gift, or who wish to make an additional gift.

Spring Cleaning

Saturday, March 27 is our Fall Church Clean-up Day

Please help clean the church building and grounds Saturday, March 27 from 9 am to 12 noon.  We need expert or not so expert help cleaning, dusting, washing windows, raking, weeding…you will surely find an area of interest.  A list of jobs is available. Coffee, doughnuts, and good company abound!  Call Wes Yando at 722-2357 with questions.

New Book Group!!

Monday, March 8

7:00-8:30 p.m. in Hamilton House Parlor

All are welcome!  Get in on the ground floor!  This group is so new that it doesn’t even have a name, yet!  At this year’s women’s retreat interest was expressed in a group that might read books that have a spiritual focus.  For our first book we will read and discuss When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd.  Questions?  Call Claudia.

Knitting Group

Angellic Knitters

Sunday, March 14

12-1:30 pm Deacon’s room

All are welcome: knitters, those who aspire to knit, and those who just want to experience fellowship and participate in the blessing of the prayer shawls that are lovingly made for others!  As an added bonus, if you’ve always wanted to learn how to knit we’ll teach you!  Questions?  Call Janice Libby or Claudia.

Food for Thought

Wednesday, March 25

7:00-8:30 p.m. at Claudia’s house

Food for Thought book group will be discussing The Seven Deadly Sins Sampler.  This collection of short stories by the likes of D.H. Lawrence, Flannery O’Connor, Margaret Atwood, Anton Chekhov, and others offers an interesting way to delve into the foibles of humanity and the moral implications of those foibles.  A compelling read…

Since we have been participating in the Eastside Marketplace’s Friendship Fund,

$11,127 has been received for Central’s mission outreach. Please remember to save your market receipts. A special thanks to Frannie Gross who tallies the market receipts, delivers them to Eastside Market, and to those who bring their receipts to church.

We plan to mail our April Newsletter on March 25 so it will be delivered before Easter. Please submit your articles to the church office before March 17.

New Members

We welcome our newest members who united with us in membership on Sunday, February 7, 2010.

Paul & Beverly Armstrong

Barrington, RI 02906

The Armstrongs are both Brown University professors. They enjoy reading, films, opera and traveling. Our music, sense of community and Rebecca Spencer brought them here. They are the parents of 3 children and their son Jack is an enthusiastic member of our children’s choir.

Emily Button

Providence RI             02906

Emily is a grad student in Brown’s Anthropology PhD program. She recently moved to Providence and enjoys running, cooking, reading novels and is a member of a Creole folk singing group. She enjoys Central’s wonderful music and wants to be a part of an open and welcoming community.

Tony & Renae Gregg

Pawtucket RI 02860

Tony is a Graphic Designer with CVS and Renae is employed by Arden Jewelry. She enjoys jewelry, fashion, art and home décor and Tony’s interests include art, design, and music. They chose Central because of its warm, inviting feeling. Their first child is due in April.

Laura Kerber

Providence RI 02906

Laura is joining as an Associate member and is currently a Brown University Geological Sciences student. She enjoys writing, reading, knitting, cake decorating, fire-dancing, and drawing. She was impressed with Jasper, the donkey, on Palm Sunday and by the many opportunities for community service. She is interested in Habitat for Humanity.

Peter & Sophie Lau

Rumford RI 02916

The Laus are employed by The Wheeler School. Paul enjoys history with a focus on civil rights, African American, US politics, and tennis. Sophie’s interests include reading, tennis and cooking.  The Gross and Hebb families recommended Central’s children’s program. They have 2 young children, Emmie & Thompson.

Angela Stickle

Providence RI 02906

Angela is a Brown University Geology grad student. Her interests include fire dancing, cake decorating, knitting, photography and learning the bass guitar. She enjoyed Central’s Holy Week activities including Jasper, the donkey, and continued to attend. She is interested in Habitat for Humanity.

Book Group

Rebecca’s Noon Book Group meets in March to discuss Barbara Kingslover’s The Lacuna.

For summer reading-Empire of Liberty by Gordon Wood is the selection for Thursday, September 30.

ARE YOU A GREENIE?

DO you have environmentally sensitive talent or experiences you’d like to share with others?  Would you like to help shape the environmental practices of the church? Please let one of our ministers know of your interests”.

Celebration VIII

Together Building Bridges

March 12-14

Sheraton Hotel & Conference Center

Burlington, VT

Mark your calendars for this very special event for women!!  Celebration is a New England UCC retreat for women ages 14 and up.  This event happens every 4 years.  The first Celebration was 32 years ago.  It attracts 1000 UCC women from all over New England to share worship, workshops, music and lots more.

Claudia is on the Steering Committee for this event and would be happy to give you a brochure and answer any questions.  Registration is now open at www.uccwomenscelebration.org

Prime Parking

Each Sunday morning, we reserve 3 parking spaces at the Diman Place entrance for those who need assistance. Please feel free to use them.

From the Deacons

The Deacons welcome conversation with you!

Our Deacons are responsible for the spiritual welfare and direction of the Church. The Board of Deacons meets monthly to consider issues related to worship, use of church facilities, the response of the Church to social issues and other matters of importance at Central. Deacons serve as mentors to confirmands, sponsors for children and adults in Baptism, prepare and serve Communion, assist the Ministers in the work of the Church and serve as pastor to the Pastors. Members of the Board of Deacons at Central encourage you to seek them out after worship, in committee meetings, by telephone or email so that you can share your thoughts and concerns about life at Central. Our current Board of Deacons include: Barbara Bayon, George Delany, Steve DeWitt, Staci Fischer, Joan Harrison, Larry Kellam, Laurel McLaughlin, Sherri Nelson, John Peters, Rob Schmidt, John Trevor and Maureen Whittemore.

We look forward to hearing from you.