Central News
March 2026 / Vol. 34, No. 7
HOLY WEEK BEGINS MARCH 29 • COME WORSHIP WITH US!
Download the PDF Version of the March Newsletter
A Good Word from Patrick
Hey folks! It took the plows three full days to get to the side streets around the church. I know many of you were in the same situation. It was interesting to see how different people responded to the confining reality. Some folks dutifully shoveled their sidewalks and driveways to create a narrow lane for walking and prepare for the eventual arrival of snow plows. Some extended their workload to help shovel out their neighbors. Others rested, waiting for a plow and a work team to come and clear the path.
Once the plow came through Stimson Avenue, they really just opened a single lane of shallow snow in the middle of the road. No worries, I thought – I can connect our driveway to the street. So I finished my cup of coffee and walked out to start shoveling. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw some of the folks from Wheeler drive up with a smaller plow hitched to the front of their maintenance truck. Hoping to clear the road wide enough to get students back into classes, they had just begun pushing the snow back toward the curb. I described the hour-long project I was about to start, and they insisted on helping. They turned the truck around, pushed the snow back from the driveway, and made a small clearing. What an incredible gift!
Just after they drove away, as I started clearing the lingering snow and ice, a neighbor walked up and tried to empathize: “Oh no, they covered up your sidewalks! I wish they would pay attention!” What a kind impulse. We had spent a lot of time uncovering what had just been covered again, so frustration would have been understandable.
And it made me think about how many aspects of our lives – unearned, unexpected, unaccounted for – have the potential to be received either as a blessing or a curse. The snow was simultaneously a blessed display of God’s awesome power and nature’s incredible strength, and it was a major inconvenience. It offered neighbors a chance to show up for one another or to grow frustrated with each other. It invited us to cozy up in the comforts of home, or made us feel trapped. It allowed us to slow down from the chaotic expectations of life, or kept us from doing the things we care deeply about.
As we settle into the heart of Lent, I am trying to receive this blizzard not as interruption, but as invitation. An invitation to notice what rises up in me when my plans are disrupted. An invitation to pay attention to whether I instinctively reach for frustration or gratitude. An invitation to accept help when it comes, even when I’m prepared to do the work alone. Lent is, in many ways, a season of holy interruption. We loosen our control just enough to see what God might be clearing, uncovering, or reshaping beneath the surface.
Be well, friends – Patrick
Special Service of Music Rescheduled!
After a delay due to snow, the Central Congregational Church Choir will finally present “Litaniae de venerabili altaris Sacramento,” written in 1776 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – featuring soloists and orchestra. The program also includes the opening movement of Bach’s “St. John Passion.” Please stay after for a wine and bread reception in Chapel Hall. Sunday, Mar. 15, 4 pm, in the Sanctuary.
Unpacking Christian Nationalism
Central’s second Community Care Conversation is an ideal follow-up to the 2026 Darrell West Lecture featuring Kristin Kobes Du Mez, best-selling author of “Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.” Attorney Kristin DeKuiper will discuss the politics and policy of Christian nationalism from its historical roots to evangelical Christian nationalists’ current intentions for the U.S. Bill Kole, Axios contributor and author of “In Guns We Trust,” will explore the relationship between white evangelicals, politics, and guns in America. Central senior minister Patrick Faulhaber will lead table discussions about the messy intersection of practicing faith and loving our country – and the complicated dynamic in advocating for diversity. Please RSVP to the Church Office, so we have adequate food and seating. Monday, Mar. 2, 6 pm, in Chapel Hall
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, May 17, 11:30 am
- New Member Sunday: Sunday, May 24, 10:30 am
The Deacon’s Bench
If you had ever had the singular experience of traveling with my dad, you would have returned home exhausted. An endlessly curious professor, he wanted to see everything. As a travel companion, he was merciless. We’d have to wake up early, cover a minimum of ten miles a day, and pack in endless museum visits.
His one non-negotiable: always enter every church you pass. I think he thought that when you experience places of worship in another culture, you gain a deeper understanding for their history and traditions. But they’re seldom practical undertakings from a modern standpoint. Many took generations to build, and one cathedral was so tall that part of it had collapsed.
But for those of us lucky enough to gather at Central, you start to appreciate the way church buildings can capture your imagination and your senses. Each time we enter our church, the sanctuary transforms the light around us and bends it into something sacred. The sounds around us – from the occasional baby’s voice to a soaring chord from the choir loft – reverberate differently.
We come to church, into worship, much like tired travelers, wandering through a transactional world that sees us as employees, consumers, caregivers, or colleagues. Our faith has the power to transform space around us and connect us to what is sacred in each other. In a world of distractions, our faith demands presence. In a world where we see violence and injustice, our faith demands that we act with love. Our world is driven by logic and data, but our faith calls us to build something enduring and transformative, brick by brick. – Laurel McLaughlin
MissionWorks
Central’s 2025/26 benevolences have been determined and gifts distributed to Amenity Aid, Amos House, Better Lives Rhode Island, Church Beyond the Walls, Crossroads Rhode Island, Dorcas International, Edesia, Haiti Task Force, Loaves & Fishes Rhode Island, Mt. Hope Learning Center, Non-Violence Institute, Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Sojourner House, Your Neighborhood Food Pantry, and Youth Pride Inc.
In addition, the Mission & Action committee recently allocated funds to Community Libraries of Providence to purchase refrigeration for their growing food pantry needs. And, please mark your calendar for our Annual Week of Service: May 11 to 17. Sign-up opportunities will be available in early April.
New Church Software
Central has launched its new online membership directory and mobile phone application! Instructions on how to set up your password and download the app were emailed to you in February.
Throughout March, we will be adding more information to the church website, including instructions for managing your profile and setting up online giving. As a Central member, your profile is already in the system, so do not use the “create account” feature. Instead, please request an email invitation from the Church Office. If you need a copy of the onboarding instructions, you can find them here.
Dedication Sunday: March 22
As we are now fully rejoicing in the Holy Season, Central members and friends are not only looking forward to Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, but also to Dedication Sunday, the day we dedicate and celebrate our 2026/27 pledges.
Your annual pledge supports everything we do at Central: our mission and ministries at home and abroad, upkeep of our historic church building, the hands-on experiences – and so much more – that bring our Children’s Church to life, and salaries of our ministers and staff. Moreover, your gifts keep our beautiful sanctuary alive with worship, music, and fellowship.
Please prayerfully consider what you can give financially for the coming fiscal year, and make your pledge to Central on or before Dedication Sunday. Then, following Worship on Mar. 22, join the Stewardship Committee in Chapel Hall for a celebratory luncheon, catered by Amos House. Thank you in advance for helping Central grow into the future!
Adult Sunday School
In March, Adult Sunday School begins a new study of “Roger Williams and Religious Freedom,” discussing how people of faith relate to governance. Puritan Roger Williams struggled to define “soul liberty” and created the concept of separation of church and state here in Rhode Island – a unique and revolutionary idea for the world. Questions? Ask Claudia. Sundays in March, 9 am, in the Fireplace Room
Support Rhode Island Refugees
Central is working with Dorcas International to create Refugee Restart Kits that help refugees start new lives in Rhode Island. The needed items – all new, please – include home and school supplies. Click for details. Or check out the sign-up sheet in Chapel Hall. Monetary contributions are also welcome. The deadline for contributions is Sunday, Mar. 8.
Amos House Breakfast Volunteers
Join Central’s Amos House Breakfast Volunteers as they assemble pre-packaged breakfasts. 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)
Your Neighborhood Food Pantry
Every Sunday during Worship, Central collects non-perishable food items for Your Neighborhood Food Pantry, a local organization that serves Providence neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Please place your donations in the baskets at the front of the church during the second verse of the first hymn.
Palm Sunday
To remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the children of the church – with palm fronds in hand – will lead the congregation on a joyous procession around the block. We will enter the church for Worship at approximately 10:30 am, accompanied by Central’s magnificent organ and choir. Meet us Sunday, March 29, 10:10 am, outside on Diman Place.
From Claudia
It is only a few days after Ash Wednesday as I write this. Most of you know that one of my practices is to read a daily devotional during Advent and Lent. This year, I looked in my shelves and picked out not one, but three books! So, my early morning practice this season is to contemplate Pádraig Ó Tuama’s Lenten prayers of meditation, Sister Wendy Beckett’s pairings of great works of art with reflections, and ending with Jan Richardson’s blessings for Lent. I’ve read all of these books before, but I thought it might be helpful to use them together. So far, so good!
This season gives us time to slow down and take a step back from the clamor of this world. There’s good reason why our ancestors in faith came up with the liturgical cycle. It grounds us in a world that can seem to stand on shifting sand at times. The 40 days of Lent give us a chance to breathe, reflect, take in the world around us, and deepen our faith.
Part of Ó Tuama’s first prayer reminds us to “embrace possibility, respond graciously to disappointment, and hold tenderly those we encounter – and to be fully present to the day.” Beckett’s first reflection – on “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa” by Katsushika Hokusai – captures how uncertain life can be. The stylized wave curls over three small boats. Do they survive or not? Richardson reminds us that though we may “feel like dust,” don’t we “know what the Holy One can do with dust?” Lent is the time to contemplate our mortal existence and to recommit ourselves to becoming the people God calls us to be. To show forth “what God can do within the dirt, within the stuff of which the world is made … and the galaxies that spiral inside the smudge we bear.”
May God bless our Lenten journeys! And, may our reflections be deep and our contemplations be nourishing. – Claudia
Lenten Speaker Series
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 days 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, Mar. 4, 11, 18, and 25 – 6 pm, in Wilson Chapel
Lenten Mission Suppers: Please stay after the Lenten Meditations for a simple soup-and-bread supper in Chapel Hall and our Lenten Speaker Series:
- 4: Gun Violence – Representative Jason Knight
- 11: Food Insecurity – Melissa Cherney, chief executive officer, Rhode Island Community Food Bank
- 18: Gaps at Hope High School – Lucia Gill-Case, Founder, Hope Circle
- 25: Environmental Action – Tina Munter, Rhode Island Policy Advocate, Green Energy Consumer Alliance
The series – which was to launch on Feb. 25 with Teddi Jallow, Executive Director of Refugee Dream Center, speaking about immigration and resettlement – was canceled due to snow. We hope to reschedule.
Interfaith Gatherings
Central Congregational Church is invited to a Ramadan Interfaith Iftar celebration. Come and join our Muslim friends and neighbors in breaking the fast as a com-munity – and get an inside look at one of Islam’s richest socio-cultural traditions. Please RSVP to Saira Hussain 401-405-6482 by Mar. 1. Sunday, Mar. 8, 5:30 pm, in Chapel Hall
In addition, seven Providence congregations will come together for Off of Hope: A Gathering of Interfaith Partners – a special event designed to build community with care and compassion. Courtney Nicolato, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Rhode Island, will be the guest speaker.
The event is sponsored by Central Congregational Church, Community Church of Providence, Congregation Beth Sholom, First Baptist Church in America, First Unitarian Church of Providence, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, and Temple Beth-El. Monday, Mar. 9, 7 pm, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (50 Orchard Avenue, Providence).
Save the Day
Please mark your calendar for Central’s Good Friday Service of Music: Friday, April 3, 12 noon, in the Sanctuary. The Central Congregational Church Choir will perform “Requiem” by Maurice Duruflé (1947).
Tuesdays With Scripture
Our early morning community devotional continues! Each week, we’ll discuss a short Bible passage. The session is self-contained. Come to one, or come to all of them! Contact Claudia for a Zoom invitation. She’ll also send you the reading and questions to consider ahead of time. Tuesdays, Mar. 3 and 10, 8 am, via Zoom
Art as Sanctuary
Central’s newest group, led by artist Robert Ramspott, tested the waters in February and now will become a weekly get-together for people of all skill levels. Every Saturday, you will be invited to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with your inner life by creating art – without judgement or pressure – so creativity can become an act of faith, presence, and shared humanity. Saturdays, 10 am to 12 noon, in the Education Wing
Sewing Circle
Central’s sewing circle repairs, upcycles, and repurposes items – for themselves and charity. There are mending projects, sewing machines, ironing board, and supplies – or bring your own. All skill levels welcome. A seamstress is on hand to help. Questions? Contact Amy Hebb. Saturday, Mar. 7, 10 am, in the Fireplace Room
Women Gather
Do you have a favorite book? One that lifts your spirits, makes you laugh, or inspires you? Grab a cup of coffee and join Central’s women’s fellowship in the conversation! Questions? Ask Claudia. Sunday, Mar. 8, 12 noon, in the Fireplace Room
Food For Thought Book Group
This month, Claudia’s book group will discuss “James: A Novel” by Percival Everett, the 2025 Pulitzer prizewinner for fiction. It reimagines Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the enslaved character Jim – here called James. Thursday, Mar. 12, 7 pm, in the Fireplace Room. Coming up Apr. 9: “Beneath the Poet’s House” by Christa Carmen
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, Mar. 19, 7:30 am, in the Fireplace Room
Fourth Thursday Book Group
This month, the Fourth Thursday Book Group will discuss “The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA” by bestselling author Liza Mundy. This thrilling new history of the CIA reveals how women have always played crucial, often unacknowledged roles in American spycraft. Email Ann Scott for a Zoom invitation. Thursday, Mar. 26, 12:30 pm, via Zoom. Coming up Apr. 23: “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell
Toward Better Christian Politics
Central’s popular discussion group not only explores the Christian response to political polarization in America, but also how we can turn Christian views into action. Questions? Contact Paul Armstrong or Kristin DeKuiper. Sunday, Mar. 29, 12:15 pm, in the Fireplace Room
REturn
Lent is a season that invites us to return. For families, life moves quickly: school, activities, work, practices, and endless to-do lists. In the middle of all the busyness, it’s easy for our attention to drift and for our faith to take a quiet place in the background. Lent gives us a gentle opportunity to slow down and come back to what matters most.
The word “return” means coming back, to God, to our faith, and to the simple practices that help us notice God’s love in our everyday lives. The good news is that God is always ready to welcome us. No matter how busy, distracted, or overwhelmed we feel, God’s love never moves away from us.
This month, families might practice returning together in small ways. You might share one thing you’re grateful for at dinner, say a short prayer before bedtime, read a simple Bible story, or look for ways to show kindness to a neighbor, classmate, or someone who needs encouragement. These small moments help children and adults alike remember that God is present in ordinary life. Email me for a weekly guide of small things you and your family can do to return to God together this season.
Lent is not about being perfect or adding more pressure to already full days. It’s about making space – space to pause, to notice, and to reconnect with God and with one another. As the signs of spring begin to appear, may this season be a time for your family to return, to love, to hope, to gratitude, and to the steady reminder that wherever we go, God is always with us, ready to welcome us home. – Cristina
Maker’s Day
The children of Central are asking the entire congregation to join them for Makers’ Day, which launches their newest charitable endeavor. They’ll be making bookmarks and friendship bracelets in Chapel Hall – and sweet treats in the church kitchen. All supplies will be provided. The kids just need more “human resources” to get the job done properly. Ultimately, they will be selling all of these handmade goodies to benefit a charity of their choosing. Please come and lend a hand! Sunday, Mar. 1, 2 to 4 pm, in Chapel Hall
Curling … and Youth Lunch Out!
The sport of curling has exploded in popularity in recent years, so we’ve reserved two lanes downtown. If you’re not familiar, curling is a blend of shuffleboard and bowling … on ice. Plus it’s fun, social, and accessible to all. So bring your friends! We’ll meet at Track 15 and afterwards enjoy a meal together at the new food hall. Check out menus at track15ri.com. Please RSVP to Cristina. Sunday, Mar. 8, 12:45 pm, in front of Track 15 (1 Union Station, Providence)
Easter Egg Decorating
Let’s hang out together and decorate Easter Eggs! Just bring some eggs – regular or blown-out – though we’ll also have some on hand. We’ll provide all the supplies, so everyone can have fun and paint up a storm. This lovely event is in memory of Ann Bliven, a 50-year Central member, whose technique makes blown-out Easter eggs durable enough to use year after year. Sunday, Mar. 29, 11:30 am in Chapel Hall
Poetry Corner: “March”
Outside Rick’s Roadhouse
four birds in a wheel well
dodge the cold rain.
– Jon Wolston
Friday Film Fare
In the desolate landscape of 1925 Montana, sensitive widow Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and her quietly devoted teenaged son Peter (Kody Smit-McPhee) move to a ranch co-owned by her gentle, new husband (Jesse Plemons) and his brother Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch). A tense battle of wills erupts between the new family members and the brutish Phil, whose volatility and coarseness stem from deep torment and repressed desire. Based on Thomas Savage’s enigmatic novel, The Power of the Dog (2021) is subtle but unrelenting in exploring the motives and depth of the male psyche and how one might “deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog” (Psalm 22:20). [126 minutes; color; rated R] Join host Jim Silverthorn on Friday, Mar. 13, 7:30 pm, in the Fireplace Room.
In the Gallery
This March, the Gallery at Central presents Robert W. Easton: Colors and Contrasts.
Robert’s photography career began in an unlikely place: the U.S. Army Signal Center & School. He was trained as a “crash damage analysis” photographer, shooting “busted-up” helicopters, ceremonies, public service projects, and visiting generals and congressmen. All the work required was clear focus and good exposure. Studies at Clark University and Worcester Art Museum added the missing ingredient of creativity, and he developed a lifelong interest in photography as an expressive medium.
After a career in education, retirement has given Robert time – and digital technology has given him the opportunity – to redevelop his creative life. Documentary street photography, portraiture, patterns, texture, and color are regular themes in his work.
Many of his photographs – characterized by rich, saturated color – are deliberately ambiguous, encouraging close scrutiny and inviting viewers to create their own narratives. Abstract color studies often feature colors and textures without identifying contexts. Architectural studies feature detailed building facades with shadows and textures that create juxtapositions and ambiguities. Visit the Virtual Gallery. Meet the artist at the opening reception on Friday, March 6, from 5 to 7 pm.
Events
| 1 | Nursery Opens | 9 am |
| Adult Sunday School | 9 am | |
| Stewardship Committee | 9:15 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Children’s Church | 10:30 am | |
| Religious Education Committee | 12 noon | |
| Makers’ Day | 2 pm | |
| 2 | Community Care Conversation | 6 pm |
| 3 | Tuesdays with Scripture | 8 am |
| 4 | Amos House Breakfast Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Gallery Committee | 9:30 am | |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| 5 | Board of Deacons | 5:45 pm |
| 6 | Gallery Opening | 5 pm |
| 7 | Sewing Circle | 10 am |
| Art as Sanctuary | 10 am | |
| Memorial Service: George Delany | 11 am | |
| 8 | Nursery Opens | 9 am |
| Adult Sunday School | 9 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Children’s Church | 10:30 am | |
| Women Gather | 12 noon | |
| CCC Kids & Youth: Curling | 12:45 pm | |
| Ramadan Interfaith Iftar | 5:30 pm | |
| 9 | Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 5 pm |
| Off of Hope: An Interfaith Gathering | 7 pm | |
| 10 | Tuesdays with Scripture | 8 am |
| 11 | Amos House Breakfast Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| 12 | Music Committee | 6:30 pm |
| Food For Thought Book Group | 7 pm | |
| Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 13 | Friday Film Fare | 7:30 pm |
| 14 | Art as Sanctuary | 10 am |
| 15 | Nursery Opens | 9 am |
| Adult Sunday School | 9 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Children’s Church | 10:30 am | |
| Flower Committee | 12 noon | |
| Special Service of Music | 4 pm | |
| 16 | Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 5 pm |
| Mission & Action Committee | 6:30 pm | |
| Technology Committee | 7 pm | |
| 17 | Plant Properties & Design Committee | 5:45 pm |
| Prudential Committee | 7 pm | |
| 18 | Amos House Breakfast Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| 19 | Central Men’s Group | 7:30 am |
| Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 20 | Newsletter Deadline | 3:30 pm |
| 21 | Art as Sanctuary | 10 am |
| Sewing Circle | 10 am | |
| 22 | Nursery Opens | 9 am |
| Adult Sunday School | 9 am | |
| Dedication Sunday | 10:30 am | |
| Children’s Church | 10:30 am | |
| Dedication Sunday Luncheon | 12 noon | |
| Membership Committee | 12 noon | |
| 23 | Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 5 pm |
| 25 | Amos House Breakfast Volunteers | 6:30 am |
| Lenten Meditation | 6 pm | |
| Lenten Mission Supper | 6:30 pm | |
| 26 | Fourth Thursday Book Group | 12:30 pm |
| Choir Rehearsal | 7:30 pm | |
| 28 | Art as Sanctuary | 10 am |
| 29 | Nursery Opens | 9 am |
| Adult Sunday School | 9 am | |
| Palm Sunday Procession | 10:10 am | |
| Palm Sunday Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Children’s Church | 10:30 am | |
| Easter Egg Decorating | 11:30 am | |
| Better Christian Politics | 12:15 pm | |
| 30 | Children’s Choir Rehearsal | 5 pm |