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Central News

Jan 2021
Vol. 29, No. 5

From Rebecca

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! This is the two thousand twentieth! The three hundred and eighty-fifth for the city of Providence. The one hundred and sixty-ninth for dear Central Church! Never mind which for some of the rest of us!

Nostalgia is the risk in counting, and the boon! Your pastor remembers long ago nights staying up and watching TV to see the ball drop in Times Square…that was a big deal!! And then there were First Nights downtown with small children and then dinner parties and quiet evenings…all good…all different.… [Read More]

Click here for the PDF version of December 2020 Newsletter

Central News

December 2020
Vol 29 No 4

From Rebecca

I write this on a dark November Monday morning. Rain is coming in sheets sideways and thunder pushes poor Hedwig further into her dog nest under the table.

All of us are figuring out how to reconfigure Thanksgiving and in so doing, I think we are getting ever closer to its essence… of thanks living. That is, living each day in gratitude for life itself, for love and moments of forgiveness and grace. … [Read More]

Central News

November 2020
Vol 29 No 3

From Rebecca

“Sometimes at that moment, a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying, ‘You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for anything now; perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything.… [Read More]

Central News

September 2020
Vol 29 No 1

From Rebecca

Dear Friends,

We are living in uncertain days. It is hard to figure out what the next days or months will look like – except that things will be different. This uncertainty makes it hard to plan or anticipate events, projects, and other initiatives. It is frustrating on many levels. But we are people of hope, and daily, we must remember this gift, for it is truly life changing.

In the New York Times, Madeleine Albright recently wrote, “It might do well for us to view these abnormal days as an opportunity to ask more of ourselves, to reflect on our relations with one another, and to think critically about improving the social, economic and political structures that shape our lives.”… [Read More]

Central News

August 2020
Vol 28 No 11

From Rebecca

How I miss your presence, dear members and friends of Central! How we all miss each other’s voices, ideas, thoughts, smiles and laughter, handshakes and hugs, solidarity in days of sorrow, caring and compassion when the going gets rough. But even the COVID-19 pandemic, a pause that has changed so much of our lives as individuals and as a society, the amazing strength of the Central community is clear. You have risen to the challenges of the day with creativity, generosity, and graciousness.… [Read More]

From Rebecca

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” So we are reminded by Ecclesiastes, or the preacher.

Even the weather has been so variable this spring, hasn’t it? One day we have brilliant sunshine and put away our warm jackets; the next day we cover outdoor plants so they don’t get hit with frost.

“… A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted …” Your child or grandchild, or the neighbor’s small child has all of a sudden graduated from high school or college.… [Read More]

From Rebecca

Dear Friends

I continue to keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  I know that so many of you are concerned with your loved ones. So many are helping others who are alone, volunteering to just do what might need to be done. So many are looking ahead to how we will find new joy in some of the ordinary things of life that we have taken for granted. So many have shared incredibly moving essays and poems and insights. So many are growing in resiliency during these tough times. … [Read More]

Central News

April 2020
Vol 28 No 8

From Rebecca

Dear Friends,

I’m going to pick some daffodils today. (It is raining now as I write this, but I will wear boots and a good slicker and happily pluck them!) The little tete a` tetes have been up for awhile now, as they generally come early and ours are also nestled against a west facing wall.  One of you and I have had a long running friendly competition as to whose daffodils arrive first each spring.  We will continue our contest this year, in spite of social distancing. … [Read More]

February 2020
Vol 28 No 6

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From Rebecca

This Epiphany poem by Christine Hemp speaks to me and I hope to you also in these days of winter chill and uncertainty of all kinds in our world.

We asked for signs and followed what we saw
(Persian priest)
We found it strange the King
Was more keen about a baby
Than a star.

Before our journey to the birth, gifts once came
with their own requirements and obligations.
To give, really, was to ask.… [Read More]