Central News
March 2025 | Vol. 33, No. 7
Join Us For Sunday Worship at 10:30 am!
Download a PDF copy of the March Newsletter
A Good Word From Patrick
Hey folks! The season of Lent is set apart as an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. The foundational truth of our faith is that God loves the world (and everyone in it) so much that God came near to us to remind us all how innately valuable we are. Of course, there is a tension within this good news: God shows up with us, in part because we struggle to trust in the innate value of one another. Without taking a moment to pause, pray, assess, and set intentions, I find that I am pulled too easily by the tides of social anxiety to see my neighbor as an enemy, to interact with my community through a lens of resentment or cynicism, and to feel like every challenge is mine alone to fix and therefore insurmountable. This perspective can easily lead to burnout and isolation.
But Lent offers us a different way – an invitation to engage the world from a place that is grounded in something bigger than our own anxieties and limitations. If we participate in the challenge Lent offers us, we may find that we can engage in the chaos of the world from a place of stability and hope. That is what God does – when nothing existed but chaos, God spoke stabilizing words of light, land, life, and purpose into existence. When the beloved people of God were held in slavery, God dismantled the powers of oppression to bring freedom. When religious conviction started to become a new tool for oppression, God stepped into an embodied life to offer a new perspective of grace and compassion.
Lent offers us an opportunity to attune ourselves to this life-bringing, power-upending, gracious God to establish faithful resilience in the chaos of our current moment. It is essential for us to faithfully commit to the values of our church, honoring the sacred spectrum of gender and sexuality, advocating with unhoused members of our community, celebrating the presence of immigrants, migrants, and refugees in our community, working towards diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our lives. This has been our work, and it will continue to be our work. But, if we are not grounded in God’s grace, compassion, humility, and love, we will inevitably lose our capacity for earnest dialogue.
So, how will you spend your Lenten season? We have 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter (minus Sundays) to reestablish our relationship with God. You might begin a new habit that draws you closer to God – prayer, reading scripture, meditation, spending time outside, or exercising. Or maybe you’ll give up something that gets in the way of your relationship with God, like social media, particular kinds of news, or alcohol. What might you do to refocus on the good news of God’s loving presence in your life? If you’d like some company, let me know. Of course, I am here for you! Be well, friends – Patrick
Toward Better Christian Politics 2025
Central’s “Christian politics” discussion group – inspired by last year’s Darrell West Lecturer, New York Times columnist David French – is continuing with a new focus: “We are Called to be a Movement” and “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths about Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy,” by the Rev. William Barber II, who was to speak at Central’s 2025 Darrell West Lecture. Unfortunately, Bishop Barber had to cancel his appearance at the last minute for personal reasons.
The group first met on Feb. 27. But due to the cancelled lecture, at press time it was uncertain if a second meeting would take place Sunday, March 16, at 12 noon, in the Fireplace Room. Please contact Paul Armstrong or Beverly Haviland to confirm.
The Deacon’s Bench
I admit that when I received an email about the deadline for The Deacon’s Bench submission, I felt panicked. I am likely not alone in feeling a bit overwhelmed with the news of the day. There is a lot happening in our world that I personally struggle with, and I feel a bit lost. So, thinking that I needed to submit something for the Deacon’s Bench and wanting to be uplifting and hopeful, my first reaction to the deadline was indeed panic.
With that, I am reminded of how I responded to the question at the beginning of the year: “What is your New Year’s resolution?” My response, “grace.” My intention was to lead with grace at a time when division and debate often overtake many conversations. It seems that in a world that feels out of control, focusing on what I can control helps.
As Christians, my thought is we are called to dig a little deeper. Kindness and grace feel like the right approach at a time when the world feels a bit short on both. I think of kindness as requiring me to lead with compassion and generosity. Most importantly, kindness requires me to be more patient and understanding. Grace calls us to assume the best in people and readily forgive each other. To extend grace, we are not required to excuse wrongs, but rather to respond to imperfection with love and understanding.
No sweat, right? In a book I read recently, the author noted that grace was a bit like an antigravitational force. As humans, we often react and judge swiftly in the face of a perceived wrong. My aim this year – realizing I will fall short at times – will be to try to take pause and lead with kindness and grace. Any good New Year’s resolution is susceptible to abandonment. I have been sharing this freely with the people around me – coworkers, friends, family – and have asked them to help keep me on track. I do believe this might take a village. – Mary Marran
Lent Begins
Ash Wednesday: Central’s Ash Wednesday worship service is a time for quiet contemplation. On this the first day of Lent, we share in communion, and those who wish receive ashes – an ancient custom that not only marks the beginning of Lent, but also represents a time of repentance and reflection. Wednesday, March 5, 7 pm, in the Sanctuary
Lenten Meditations: Lent is a time for self-reflection and prayer, a chance to draw closer to God. This is the goal of our Lenten Meditations, held every Wednesday in the weeks leading up to Palm Sunday. Each week, a member of Central will share his or her journey of faith. These brief, meditative services let us contemplate our spiritual paths, share in another’s journey, and find connections in common ideas, concerns, questions, and experiences. And, we come to know one another in thoughtful and faith-filled ways. Wednesdays, March 12, 19, 26 and April 2, 9 – 6 pm, in Wilson Chapel
Lenten Mission Suppers: Every Wednesday, please stay after the Lenten Meditations services for a simple supper provided by the Mission & Action Committee and a short presentation from a local organization. This year’s theme is “justice.”
- March 12: Immigration Justice – Kathy Cloutier, Executive Director of Dorcas International
- March 19: LGBTQ Justice – Rush Frazier, Executive Director of Youth Pride RI
- March 26: Economic Justice in the Ocean State – Alan Krinsky, Director of Research & Fiscal Policy at The Economic Progress Institute
- April 2: Arts Justice – Todd Trebour, Executive Director for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
- April 9: Climate Action / Climate Justice – Kevin Proft, Deputy Director of Sustainability for the City of Providence
Wednesdays, March 12, 19, 26 and April 2 and 9 – 6:30 pm, Fireplace Room
Pick Up Your Lenten Devotional!
Walk with beloved writer C.S. Lewis on his inspiring journey to faith, leaning into the power of literature to provoke thought and inspire action. In “C.S. Lewis and the Delightful, Diabolical Daring of Lent,” Lewis explores an array of familiar, everyday struggles with humor, wit, and imagination. Pick up your free copy at the Welcome Table in Chapel Hall or see Claudia.
Poetry Corner: Lenten Jigsaw
This Lent, reclaim lost pieces of Soul;
no need to hurry – six weeks lie before you.
Begin with a corner, a sacred space,
then the borders, your goals.
Note how each piece is unique,
how it connects with the others.
Move slowly to Center –
the Christ-Piece always
completes the whole.
– Ginny Bradley
Seeking a Church Home?
If you are looking for a church – or know someone who is – we would love to talk with you about it at our Inquirers’ Meeting. It’s very informal. You’ll meet with our senior minister, Patrick Faulhaber, and others like you who think Central may be the right church home. No commitment necessary. To join us, fill out a pew card during Sunday Worship or call the Church Office at 401-331-1960, and Patrick will get in touch.
Inquirers’ Meeting: Sunday, April 27, 11:30 am
New Member Sunday: Sunday, May 3, 10:30 am
Your Neighborhood Food Pantry
Every week during Sunday Worship, Central collects non-perishable food items for Your Neighborhood Food Pantry, a local organization that serves Providence neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Please place donations in the baskets at the front of the church during the second verse of the first hymn. Thanks!
Amos House Breakfast Volunteers
Please join Central’s Amos House Breakfast Volunteers as they assemble pre-packaged breakfasts. (Amos House serves 400 every day!) Even if you can only come occasionally, we welcome every extra set of hands. Questions? Contact Tracy Baran. Wednesdays, 6:30 am, in the Amos House Kitchen (460 Pine Street, Providence)
Called To Care Seminar
Learn how to share God’s love and comfort with others while honoring their unique life experiences and perspectives. Save the date: Sunday, May 18, 12 noon to 4 pm, in the Fireplace Room
In Memoriam
Our prayers and sympathy are with the family and friends of Donna Wulff. Requiescat in pace
From Claudia
In late 2023 into early 2024, our Adult Sunday School explored the life and thoughts of C.S. Lewis. As we learned more about Lewis’ life and theology, what was supposed to be a six-week session turned into much more.
Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was a prolific writer, publishing more than 30 books in his lifetime. Some you will no doubt recognize: “Mere Christianity,” “The Great Divorce,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “The Screwtape Letters.”
This Lent, “C.S. Lewis and the Delightful, Diabolical Daring of Lent,” a companion devotional to “The Screwtape Letters,” will be available on the Welcome Table in Chapel Hall. If you’ve never read “The Screwtape Letters,” you might find doing so helpful during this season. The devotional booklet starts on Ash Wednesday, continues on each Sunday during Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and ends on Easter Sunday. Each page has a reflection, some practices, journal ideas, and a prayer.
To help us all get started on our Lenten journeys, here is the prayer for Ash Wednesday:
God of love and grace, make us more loving, more graceful, more reflective of you, in whose image you have lovingly, gracefully made us. When we give, let us do so generously, for the sake of giving, not receiving. When we pray, let us do so genuinely, for the sake of connecting and communing with you. Give us the gift of humility, so we may humbly walk with you and with our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”
May God bless our Lenten journeys! May your reflections be deep and meaningful. – Claudia
A Message From Your Senior Minister Emerita
In 1930, Albert Einstein wrote in a letter to his son, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” As we look toward Lent and past Lent to the splendid day of Easter, his words stay with me. Life – whether it be our personal lives, our communities, our country – is never static. Over these past few months, I’ve noticed how the cows have adapted to shorter days and intense cold … the mothers more attentive, the calves still frisky, but staying close for warmth and milk. Soon, they will be eating hay and feeling more independent. They keep moving.
You and I can learn from their examples. I believe that Jesus pushes us to grow, to give to others, to be mindful of the neighbor and the stranger, to do what we can to be merciful, to stretch ourselves beyond what might seem comfortable or necessary … to forgive … and to keep moving.
Is there anyone who doesn’t remember the first time you rode a bike? That feeling of freedom when you finally caught your balance? That is what God intends for us.
Whether that balance is quick and fleeting, inspiring and exhilarating, or slow and more soberly grounding, giving us courage and strength for the journey – keeping on moving as followers of Jesus enables us to keep our balance.
For us as Christians, trying each day to live a spirit-filled life – what a gift we have in the example of Jesus Christ. His power enables us to keep the vision of a life balanced in love for others, understanding the power of forgiveness, and always, always pedaling with hope.
Now, we all know that rough times will happen. We will fall. We will not want to keep moving. An illness threatens a dear friend. A loved one dies. A tragedy comes upon us. Each of us has known loss. Each of us has lived through disappointments.
But we keep moving onward. Because each of us also has longings and dreams. We can keep our balance because we are assured of that divine love that surrounds us. May God’s love and forgiveness abide in you and may that hope always be with each of us.
Remember, dear Central friends, “Life is short. And we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who travel this journey with us. So make haste to be kind, be swift to love.” – Rebecca L. Spencer
Adult Sunday School
In March, Adult Sunday School will continue to explore “From Jesus to Christ,” learning the story of the first Christians as their new movement dramatically changed the Roman Empire in 300 years. Questions? Ask Claudia. Sundays, March 2, 9, and 30, 9 am, in the Fireplace Room
Sewing Circle
Central’s new sewing circle repairs, upcycles, and repurposes items – for ourselves and charity. We have mending projects, sewing machines, ironing board, and supplies – or bring your own. All skill levels welcome. A skilled seamstress is on hand to help. Contact Amy Hebb or Carolyn Kolesar. Saturday, March 8, 10 am, in Chapel Hall
Women Gather
Last month’s meeting was cancelled due to weather, so our women’s fellowship has rescheduled its winter lunch and movie. On the menu: a simple soup-and-bread lunch and “A Man Called Otto.” Sunday, March 9, 12 noon, Fireplace Room
Food For Thought Book Group
Claudia’s book group will discuss “The Love Story of Missy Carmichael,” by Beth Morrey. This life-affirming, “coming-of-old” story is a celebration of how ordinary days are made extraordinary through friendship, family, and the power of forgiving yourself. Thursday, March 13, 7 pm, in the Fireplace Room. Coming up on April 10: “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride.
Central Men’s Group
Open to all ages, Central Men’s Group is a monthly breakfast gathering – held on the third Thursday of each month – for fellowship and spirited conversation on topics ranging from current events and ethics to trends and shared experiences. If you have questions, contact John Trevor. Thursday, March 20, 7:30 am, in the Fireplace Room
Fourth Thursday Book Group
This month, the Fourth Thursday Book Group will delve into “In the Garden of Beasts,” by Eric Larson. This is the true story of William E. Dodd – America’s first ambassador to Hitler’s Germany – and his family in 1933, a year that proved to be a turning point in history. Email Ann Scott for a Zoom invitation. Thursday, March 27, 12:30 pm, via Zoom. Coming up April 24: “The Art Thief,” by Michael Finkel
Not Just Supper
Next month, Central’s singles group hopes to attend Empty Bowls, a Rhode Island Food Bank fundraiser. Enjoy tastings from Rhode Island restaurants and take home an artisanal bowl to remind you of the empty bowls in our community. RSVP to Cheryl Ludwig, and log onto Empty Bowls to purchase tickets. Wednesday, April 2, 5:30 pm, at WaterFire Arts Center (475 Valley Street, Providence)
You’re Invited!
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner – Sunday, March 16, 6 pm
REally
Dear Friends, in this wild time we are living through, I keep thinking of a question: “How is it with your soul?” It is a question attributed to John Wesley, founder of Methodism, when he was at Oxford University in the 1700s. I have no idea how historically accurate it is. What I can tell you is that this question is fully embedded into the southern Methodist culture I grew up in. It is a question often asked among church friends and is a way of asking, “How are you doing … really?”
For many of us, “how are you?” is cursory conversational white noise. Yet I recently noticed that people at Central are pausing and checking on each other more often. While this may be motivated by the seemingly constant reel of alarming news in our nation and world, I also know that it is motivated by care for one another. This community cares – not just about your day, but also about the state of your heart, mind, and spirit. So even while under stress, we are turning toward one another.
When we ask, “How are you … really?” or “How is it with your soul?” we get beyond to-do lists and pleasantries. These questions go below the surface, scanning our inner world like radar for invisible currents, hidden life forms, submerged ruins, sunken wreckage, and buried treasure. I am grateful that we are asking about each other in this way. And I am particularly grateful that every child and teen at Central stands a chance of encountering this kind of attentiveness and connection, especially in a changing world.
I encourage you to notice and check in on the kids and teens around you – whether at church or not. I know they may hide behind screens, roll their eyes, or look away if you ask how they are. Ask anyway. Young people have a lot going on in their worlds, too.
It is an act of compassion to check in on someone of any age. But with young people, it is something extra. It is modeling. Think about it. We often ask kids, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” So kids are often watching to see what their options are. When we model emotional maturity, we show them that one option is to be kind and curious. It is a demonstration of what a beloved community can be. You don’t need to word it in an antiquated, Methodist-y way either. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend it! – Susannah
Help Shape Church School’s Future
The Religious Education Committee is revisiting the timing and structure of Central’s Church School to ensure it is serving our community needs as best as possible. The goal is to gather information that can be shared with the new Director of Religious Education once they arrive. To that end, the committee has created an informational survey that will run throughout March. Take the survey online.
We need and value your input! This short survey will help the committee get a sense of what is the best time for Church School and the age groups the program should serve. Your feedback will guide them in creating a meaningful and enriching experience for our children while ensuring a smooth transition into the main Sunday Worship service. Please share your thoughts. We appreciate your participation in shaping the future of Central’s children’s ministry!
BLS/AED Certification Class
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification teaches how to recognize and respond to emergency situations, including performing CPR and using an AED (automated external defibrillator). This course is free to all Central youth and children volunteers. However, others are welcome to join; the cost is $50, payable the day of the event. The class is Tuesday, April 8, 5 to 7 pm, in Chapel Hall. RSVP to Susannah no later than March 24.
Service Trip Information Session
Susannah will host another information session for all interested kids and youth (sixth graders and older), along with their parents. Come learn more about the trip and how you and your friends can be part of it. We’ll discuss everything from project details to logistics – and answer any questions you may have. Sunday, March 30, 11:30 am, in the Youth Room
CCC Kids & Youth: TopGolf
Whether you’re an aspiring golf pro or picking up a club for the first time, TopGolf is fun for all ages. Giant targets and fancy golf balls keep score, so CCC Kids and Youth can focus on having fun. Tickets are $20 each / $30 per family. RSVP to Susannah no later than Friday, March 21. Sunday, March 30, 2 to 4 pm, at TopGolf Rhode Island (120 Sockanosset Cross Rd., Cranston, 401-537-5140)
Friday Film Fare
In “Living” (2022), Rodney Williams – played by Bill Nighy – is a senior London City Council bureaucrat, supervising a board of other, younger bureaucrats, endlessly shuffling paperwork. When a medical diagnosis tells Williams his time is short, he decides it’s time to take stock. How can a simple, ordinary man, leading a simple, ordinary – okay, monotonous, boring – life leave a legacy? Kings leave palaces; pharaohs leave pyramids. Perhaps Williams can leave … a children’s playground?
With a screenplay by Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro and a flawless performance by Nighy, “Living,” like its protagonist, will quietly, but relentlessly haunt you. [102 minutes; color; rated PG-13] Join host Jim Silverthorn on Friday, March 14, at 7:30 pm, in the Fireplace Room.
In The Gallery
This March, the Gallery at Central presents “Portraits,” drawings and sculptures by Victoria Guerina.
Guerina’s busts, in bronze and resin, primarily depict historical women whose work contributed to the rights and freedoms women enjoy today. Most of her drawings were created at Pawtucket Arts Collaborative’s portrait sessions. They depict “regular people” of different ages and ethnicities. Guerina likes to concentrate on form and how light and shadow define it. Each individual’s personality often comes through before she’s aware of it.
Guerina’s work demonstrates her understanding of anatomy, learned studying veterinary medicine, biology, and chemistry at Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh. She returned to her artistic dreams with her husband’s encouragement, earning an MFA in Boston University’s rigorous figurative art program. Guerina exhibits locally and nationally – and has won numerous awards. She has created several public sculptures and co-curated a national exhibition at the Warwick Center for the Arts. Her studio is in Pawtucket.
Come, meet the artist on Friday, March 14, from 5 to 7 pm.
Save the Date
Friday, April 18, at 12 noon, is Central’s Good Friday Service of Music. The Central Congregational Church Choir will perform “Requiem” by Gabriel Fauré.
Events
| 2 | Adult Sunday School | 9 am |
| Stewardship Committee | 9:15 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Church School | 10:30 am | |
| 5 | Amos House Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Gallery Committee | 9:30 am | |
| Ash Wednesday Service | 7 pm | |
| 6 | Board of Deacons | 5:45 pm |
| Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 8 | Sewing Circle | 10 am |
| 9 | Adult Sunday School | 9 am |
| Cherub Choir Rehearsal | 10 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Church School | 10:30 am | |
| Women Gather | 12 noon | |
| 12 | Amos House Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 6:30 pm | |
| 13 | Food for Thought Book Group | 7 pm |
| Adult Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 14 | Gallery Opening | 5 pm |
| Friday Film Fare | 7:30 pm | |
| 16 | Cherub Choir Rehearsal | 10 am |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Church School | 10:30 am | |
| Toward Better Christian Politics | 12 noon | |
| 17 | Technology Committee | 7 pm |
| 18 | Plant & Properties Committee | 5:45 pm |
| Prudential Committee | 7 pm | |
| 19 | Amos House Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 6:30 pm | |
| 20 | Central Men’s Group | 7:30 am |
| Newsletter Deadline | 3:30 pm | |
| Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 23 | Cherub Choir Rehearsal | 10 am |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Church School | 10:30 am | |
| 26 | Amos House Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 6:30 pm | |
| 27 | Fourth Thursday Book Group | 12:30 pm |
| Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 30 | Adult Sunday School | 9 am |
| Cherub Choir Rehearsal | 10 am | |
| Worship / Dedication Sunday | 10:30 am | |
| Church School | 10:30 am | |
| Mission Lunch | 11:30 am | |
| Service Trip Informational Meeting | 11:30 am | |
| Membership Committee | 12 noon | |
| CCC Kids & Youth: TopGolf | 2 pm |