Central News
Feb 2021 Vol. 29, No. 6
From Rebecca
Dear Friends, One of my new year’s resolutions, (Every year, this is a resolution, actually!), is going through papers I’ve saved because they spoke to me at the time I read them. One of these is the poem, “To the New Year,” by W. S. Merwin, U.S. Poet Laureate 2010-2011. I share it with you in this new year of 2021.
With what stillness at last you appear in the valley your first sunlight reaching down … to the hush of the morning so this is the sound of you here and now whether or not anyone hears it this is where we have come with our age our knowledge such as it is and our hopes such as they are invisible before us untouched and still possible.
Merwin, who died just last March at the age of 91, was once asked what social role a poet plays – if any – in America. He commented, “I think there’s a kind of desperate hope built into poetry now that one really wants, hopelessly, to save the world. One is trying to say everything that can be said for the things that one loves while there’s still time. I think that’s a social role, don’t you? … We keep expressing our anger and our love, and we hope, hopelessly perhaps, that it will have some effect. But I certainly have moved beyond the despair, or the searing, dumb vision that I [have] felt … ; one can’t live only in despair and anger without eventually destroying the thing one is angry in defense of. The world is still here, and there are aspects of human life that are not purely destructive, and there is a need to pay attention to the things around us while they are still around us. And you know, in a way, if you don’t pay that attention, the anger is just bitterness.”
His words, both that quote speaking of our anger and our love and our hope, and certainly the poem’s closing words – “our hopes such as they are invisible before us untouched and still possible” – speak to all of us in this dawning of a new year. We have been through much in the past year, and yet a new morning dawns, present before us. May each of us meet this new morning with strong faith, the wisdom of experience, resilient hope, an earnest willingness to work together and lots of poetry!
Yours – Rebecca
Buy Nothing Day: Sock Drive
Albus Dumbledore once told Harry Potter that when he looked in the Mirror of Erised, he saw himself holding a thick pair of socks. “One can never have enough socks.… People will insist on giving me books.”
He’s not alone. Socks are among the most sought-after items in local shelters. So this year, instead of coats, Buy Nothing Day is having a Sock Drive. Please donate new pairs of warm socks, for adults or children, in unopened packaging, and place them in the box in Central’s Diman Place entry hall. They will be collected on Monday, Mar. 15, and distributed through local shelters.
If shopping for socks or dropping them off is an issue in this COVID-19 world, you can donate to Buy Nothing Day on its GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/bnd-rhode-island-coat-drive/donate.
Seeking a Church Home?
If you’re looking for a church – or know someone who is – we’d love to talk with you about it at our Inquirers’ Meeting. It’s very informal. You’ll meet with our senior minister, Rebecca Spencer, and others like you who think Central may be the right church home. No commitment is necessary. To join us, fill out a pew card during Sunday Worship or phone the Office at 401-331-1960 and Rebecca will get in touch.
Inquirers’ Meeting: Wednesday, April 22, 7 pm
Faith Exploration: Tuesday, April 27, 7 pm
New Member Sunday: May 2
The Deacon’s Bench
I spent the past six days quarantining due to close contact exposure to COVID-19. Despite being diligent about social distancing and mask wearing, I was stuck inside, worried about my health because someone blatantly ignored the health guidelines and put me and others who are more vulnerable at risk.
When I first received the call, I was angry. How could someone be so careless, so selfish? I let that anger take hold, and fostered its growth by adding the other indignities of the past year. By the third day of seething and not sleeping, I realized I had to figure out a way to let go of my fury.
I prayed, read, and did yoga, hoping to find some peace. I calmed my mind enough to accept that the person made a terrible decision, but did not intend harm. I also realized that I needed to work harder to rid myself of a constant gnawing anger that had been present for too long.
It is not easy work, letting go of rage. It is hard to recognize all the injustice in the world, and not be angry. But I am trying to find the hope that it will change. That all this collective rage will turn into progress. Luckily today, the sixth day of my quarantine, is also inauguration day. And poet Amanda Gorman, a self-described skinny black girl descended from slaves, spoke so eloquently about what I have been struggling with.
When day comes we step out of the shade / aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it / For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it / If only we’re brave enough to be it
if only we’re brave enough to see it
Thank you Ms. Gorman; I will work hard to be the light. – Beth Cotter
In Memoriam
Our prayers and sympathy are with Kwaku Annan and his family on the death of his mother, Theresa Annan. The funeral will be held in Ghana at a later date. Requiescat in pace.
New Website
The URL is the same – centralchurch.us – but the look is completely different. If you haven’t checked out Central’s new website, which launched on New Year’s Eve to help welcome a better and brighter 2021, you should.
Our goal was to build a website that will appeal to people seeking a church home. We not only wanted to present Central Congregational Church as the place to begin or continue your faith journey, but also to showcase Central’s vibrant church community, feature our events and programs, and demonstrate that Central is part of a larger community that makes a difference.
And it’s not done yet. A website is always a work in progress. We are planning to regularly update photography, add a section about our building’s spectacular architecture and, once the pandemic is over, create a page where users can Meet Our Members – a few of them, at least.
Thanks to Tom Viall and Ellen Miller for spearheading this project.
Central is Giving
As Central heads into pledge season – culminating with Dedication Sunday on Feb. 28, when we submit our pledges – the Stewardship Committee has exciting events in store!
Stewardship Family Trivia Day: Kick off Super Bowl Sunday with a virtual, fun-filled hour of questions, answers, and community. Eight teams duked it out last fall. Let’s create even more playful competition this winter! RSVP to Jeff Baran, Stewardship Committee co-chair, at jeff@wakefieldliquors.com. Sunday, Feb. 7, 12 noon
Sip and ’Ship: we are unable to meet in-person for our annual Community Dinners, we will take our evening of fellowship virtual via Zoom – for an evening of camaraderie, games, and stewardship. We will see how our annual pledges are used to create ministry for Central members and mission for our neighbors. We will toast to the end of 2020 and to the hope and promise of a new year. Details to come! Saturday, Feb., 6 pm
2020 was a challenging year for everyone. Yet Central was there through it all – and continues to be there – providing ministry, mission, and support. We have received so much during these difficult times, it is more important than ever to pledge and invest in Central’s present and future. And, please remember: Giving is Central. Central is Giving.
Nominate
This February, the Nominating Committee – Barry Bayon, Judy Jamieson, and Carol Terry, assisted by representatives of the Board of Deacons and Prudential Committee – will start staffing Central committees for 2021/22. They will contact current committee members and chairs about continuing on their respective committees for an additional term, and they will seek out other church members who are interested in contributing their talents and energy. The new term starts in June.
Please contact Nominating Committee chair Barry Bayon with your interest, questions, or recommendations. The committee will meet Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30 pm, via Zoom and telephone.
Spiritual Companionship Group
Where is God in your life? Discover how the ancient tradition of spiritual companionship with others will help you listen for God in day-to-day living, encounter your own inner wisdom, and find new possibilities in both your spiritual and secular lives. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 6 to 7 pm
Women’s Retreat Group
The women of Central are invited to gather in solidarity to pray and check in every Saturday – until we no longer need to meet like this! Saturdays throughout February, 7 to 8 pm
Food for Thought Book Group
Join Claudia for a lively discussion of “American Dirt,” a 2020 novel by Jeanine Cummins. You’ll live and breathe this refugee story of a Mexican woman who leaves behind her life and escapes as an un-documented immigrant to the U.S. with her son. Thursday, Feb. 11, 7 to 8:30 pm
Adult Sunday School
The Sermon on the Mount – also known as The Beatitudes – in Matthew 5-7 is Jesus’ beginner’s guide to the kingdom of heaven. This Lent, join Claudia for six sessions exploring the most popular sermon ever delivered. Sundays, Feb. 14 through Mar. 21, 6 to 7 pm
Caring & Sharing
Join women of all ages as we come together virtually in supportive fellowship to share where we are in our lives. Thursday, Feb. 18, 7 to 8:30 pm
Rebecca’s Book Group
We’ll discuss “The Last Kings of Shanghai: The Rival Jewish Dynasties that Helped Create Modern China,” by Jonathan Kaufman – a fascinating story of wealth, family intrigue, and political strategy on the world stage from colonialism to communism to globalized capitalism. Thursday, Feb. 25, 12:30 pm
From Claudia
Lent is almost here as I write this column. I’ve been studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, often called the Beatitudes, in preparation for our Lenten study starting this month. These pithy sermonettes tell Jesus’ listeners what it means to be children of God who look to the kingdom of heaven as they go about their daily lives. Amy-Jill Levine, professor at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, says that Matthew 5-7 could easily be called “A Sampling of Jesus’ Greatest Teachings.”
Like our Jewish friends, we believe the divine image is in each of us. Everyone. You, me, the neighbor down the street, the people we love, the people we dislike. Everyone. In her book, Levine calls Matthew 5-7 “a theological pep talk.” She continues, “Good pep talks, or revivals, don’t just make us feel better about ourselves. They inspire us not just to feel better but to do better: try harder, dig more deeply, find the resources needed for living the life to which God is calling us. Let that light shine so that others can see, even amid your struggles, that you have spiritual resources, and the covenant community, to persevere.”
These days have been deeply trying. We need to hang on to the blessings of God now more than ever. The blessings in Matthew are part of Israel’s scriptural traditions of needing comfort, peace, justice, righteousness, and blessing. “Blessed are those who trust in God,” says the Prophet Jeremiah. Why trust in God? Because then we shall be like trees rooted by water, with no fear in a drought because our leaves remain green, and we continually bear fruit.
Blessed are you who let your light shine because your roots run deep. Blessed are you who call on God in the many struggles of life. Blessed are you who wait on God’s mercy, strength, and righteousness. Blessed are you who navigate the depth of virtual classrooms as students, teachers, and parents. Blessed are you who have endured an unimagined pandemic. Blessed are all of us as we journey into Lent.
Love and blessings to each of you – Claudia
Church School News
The church school continues to meet virtually via Zoom. But in order to better meet the needs of our learners, we’ve divided church school into two groups, each meeting at a separate time. The first group is for children up through the fifth grade; the second is for middle school youth (grades six through eight). This month, the younger group will explore what it means to follow Jesus as we look to stories of Jesus in the gospel of Mark. Then, as we enter the season of Lent, we will learn about promises God made to all people in the book of Genesis.
The older group will explore what Jesus teaches about God. We will look at Jesus’ parables and relate them to present-day life and our own experiences, so the middle schoolers can discover new ways to approach and relate to the divine.
Of course, separate meeting times won’t be necessary once we return to in-person church school on Sunday mornings. When that time comes, we’ll take steps to ensure both children and adults are safe from COVID-19. Everybody will be wearing masks. There will be plenty of hand sanitizer. We will make sure there is good ventilation by keeping windows or doors open. We will also social distance with only siblings permitted to sit together. And, each child will have his or her own bag of supplies to use.
Finally, if you have children in church school or WORD and NEOS and are not receiving emails regarding these programs, please see if they’re in your spam folder. You can usually fix this by adding my email – judy@centralchurch.us – to your address book. If you’re not receiving my emails at all, send me your preferred email address, and I’ll make sure you’re on the list.
Blessings – Judy
Confirmation
Each confirmation class focuses on a particular topic designed to engage our group of confirmands. Our deacon mentors deserve much credit; it is especially difficult to build strong connections with contact so limited due to the pandemic. In the coming weeks, the class will be exploring prayer, different beliefs around death, and the problem of evil. Sundays, Feb. 7 and 21, 11 am
Family Trivia Day
Kick off Super Bowl Sunday with a virtual, fun-filled hour of questions, answers, and community. RSVP to Jeff Baran at jeff@wakefieldliquors.com. Sunday, Feb. 7, 12 noon
NEOS
NEOS, Central’s fellowship for middle school youth, is in the process of discovering what programming and activities work best. So it’s essential for sixth through eighth graders to attend our Zoom meetings and help turn NEOS into the fun and valuable group it can be. Upcoming meetings: Sundays, Feb. 14 and 28, 2 pm
WORD
Central’s WORD Fellowship (for ninth to twelfth graders) has been busy meeting via Zoom, brainstorming a myriad of ideas, playing games, cooking together, creating a digital patchwork with everyone contributing images, and even experiencing a virtual escape room. We are also looking at mission possibilities. Right now, the youth mission trip is scheduled for the middle of July. However, we are also exploring alternative mission projects should the pandemic not be under control by then. More information to come! Upcoming meetings: Sundays, Feb. 14 and 28, 4 pm
Parents’ Zoom
Last month we held our first Zoom meeting for parents, focusing on life during the pandemic. This month we will discuss difficult questions of faith, as well as any other pressing topics. Tuesday, Feb. 23, 6:30 pm
Mission Speakers
A food bank volunteer recently made an eye-opening internet post, noting that donors who generously contribute boxed and canned goods often forget the other foods needed to prepare them. For example: Kraft Mac & Cheese requires milk and butter; Stove Top Stuffing (a food bank favorite) and Rice A Roni need cooking oil or butter. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef. Cereal, found in abundance at food banks, makes a dry breakfast without milk. And, peanut butter and jelly require sandwich bread.
Here are items food banks consider “real treats”: Eggs, butter, boxed milk, fresh meat, fresh produce (from farms and grocery stores), canned tuna, sandwich bread, crackers, salt and pepper, spices, sugar, flour, and vegetable oil.
Food banks also welcome seeds in the spring and summer, so people who wish can grow their own food. Cake mixes and frosting make it possible to bake children’s birthday cakes. Dishwashing detergent is expensive and always appreciated. Feminine hygiene products are such luxuries that some women cry when they find them. And, food banks always prefer canned goods with pop-tops. Or, you could donate some can openers!
Mission Speakers
This year, the Mission and Action Committee will once again sponsor Central’s Lenten Mission Speaker series – minus the usual soup-and-bread supper – every Wednesday during Lent. Each week will feature a representative from one of the various mission partners Central supports through its benevolence distributions. This series may be held virtually or in person. Details to come. Presentations will begin at 6 pm, following Lenten Meditations, and last no longer than one hour. Each speaker will discuss the agency’s work, as well as the challenges it has faced during the pandemic.
Our first Lenten Mission speaker will be Eileen Hayes, president and CEO of Amos House. Since 1976, Amos House has been a staple of the Rhode Island nonprofit community, serving the homeless, unemployed, and those who are living in poverty. Join us Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 6 pm. A complete schedule of presenters will be available in the coming weeks.
Lenten Meditations
Lent is an opportunity for self-reflection and prayer, a chance to draw closer to God. This is the goal of our Lenten Meditations, held every Wednesday leading up to Palm Sunday, from 5:30 to 6 pm.
Each week, a member of Central will share his or her journey of faith. These brief, meditative services let us contemplate our own spiritual paths, share in another’s journey, and find connections in common ideas, concerns, questions, and experiences. Perhaps most importantly, we come to know one another in thoughtful and faith-filled ways.
Join us for the first Lenten Meditation on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 5:30 pm, featuring speaker Lucy Hanna. Lenten Meditations may be held virtually or in person. Details to come.
In other years, we’d invite you to stay after for a simple soup Mission Supper and short presentation from one of our mission partners. Instead, please sign up for our virtual Lenten Mission Speaker series.
SAVE THE DATE
February 17, 7 pm
Ash Wednesday Worship
Those who wish may receive ashes.
Lent: Fun Facts
Lent gets its name from the word “lengthen” since it comes at the time of year when days are getting longer.
In the western church, Easter is a moveable feast based on the cycles of the moon, which is why the date can vary so much from year to year. Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. It’s unclear where this “formula” comes from. However, in the early days of Christianity, the full moon provided much needed light to those traveling for the holy day.
Most people know that the season of Lent is 40 days long, an allusion to the separation of Jesus in the desert to fast and pray. Yet Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is exactly 46 days before Easter Sunday. The reason for this discrepancy is because Sundays are not included in the 40-day count. Historically, Lent was a time of penance and sacrifice. However, Sundays are a recognition and celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Each one is a “mini-Easter” and, therefore, not considered part of Lent.
Calendar
During this time of social distancing, many Central committees and groups are meeting via Zoom or GoToMeeting. To be notified about any of the following virtual meetings, contact the church office.
| 1 | Technology Committee | 7 pm |
| 3 | Gallery Committee | 9:30 am |
| Faith Exploration | 7 pm | |
| 4 | Nominating Committee | 5:30 pm |
| 5 | Spiritual Companionship | 6 pm |
| 6 | Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm |
| 7 | Stewardship Committee | 9:15 am |
| Church School (thru gr. 5) | ||
| Church School (gr. 6-8) | 9:30 am | |
| Worship / New Members | 10:15 am | |
| Confirmation Class | 10:30 am | |
| Family Trivia Day | 11 am | |
| 9 | Board of Deacons | 12 noon |
| Zero Waste Presentation | 7 pm | |
| 11 | Food for Thought Book Group | 7 pm |
| 13 | Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm |
| 14 | Church School (thru gr. 5) | 9:30 am |
| Church School (gr. 6-8) | 10:15 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| NEOS | 2 pm | |
| WORD | 4 pm | |
| Adult Sunday School | 6 pm | |
| 16 | Plant & Properties | 5:45 pm |
| Prudential Committee | 7 pm | |
| 17 | Ash Wednesday Worship | 7 pm |
| 18 | CCC Men’s Group | 7:30 am |
| Caring and Sharing | 7 pm | |
| 20 | Sip and Ship | 6 pm |
| 21 | Church School (thru gr. 5) | 9:30 am |
| Church School (gr. 6-8) | 10:15 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| Confirmation Class | 11 am | |
| Adult Sunday School | 6 pm | |
| 23 | Parents’ Zoom | 6:30 pm |
| 24 | Lenten Meditation | 5:30 pm |
| Lenten Mission Series | 6 pm | |
| 25 | Rebecca’s Book Group | 12:30 pm |
| 27 | Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm |
| 28 | Church School (thru gr. 5) | 9:30 am |
| Church School (gr. 6-8) | 10:15 am | |
| Worship | 10:30 am | |
| NEOS | 2 pm | |
| WORD | 4 pm | |
| Adult Sunday School | 6 pm |