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. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted.’ When God gives acceptance, that is grace, but when we receive it and accept it, that is joy!”
So writes Paul Tillich. And so don’t you feel also, in these brilliant days of fall? I think of the creatures of the field and the birds of the air — all enjoying the moment and also preparing for the cold that will be coming. Accepting, expecting. Even the bees seem particularly busy now….gathering in their stores of food for the cold winter days, even as they appreciate the slanting sunshine. And I put away the lawn chairs, thinking of the times we have enjoyed sitting in them, drinking a glass of lemonade in the shade of a summer’s day. So the chairs will rest in the small shed, waiting for the spring. And the tender flowering plants will soon find their place inside a sunny window, resting for the future.
There is a little chipmunk scurrying below the leaves right outside my window now. I hope s/he finds better shelter soon. We have been so besieged by the coronavirus and all its consequences, by the constant battering of the news cycles, we must all, large and small, 2 legged, 4 legged, winged or furred, take a moment to enjoy God’s light. To accept the fact that we are accepted. To be fully in this moment even as we anticipate tomorrow and what it may bring.
And you? May that wave of light surround you with a voice offering you grace. May you accept God’s acceptance and grace and find joy…in large and small things, in the cycle of life that we share with all God’s creation.
In faith, hope and love, Rebecca
Central is Giving, Giving is Central
As the holidays approach, Autumn is in full swing! We continue to manage our lives a bit differently these days, but Central Church members have much to be thankful for: inperson and virtual church service offers flexibility to worship, our children have regathered for religious education and Central continues its mission both abroad and locally including support for Amos House, which is serving those who need it more than ever.
Because Giving is Central to our mission your continued faith and contribution to the church ensures Central is Giving to those causes which matter most to us. Prayers for a safe, happy and faith-filled holiday season.
– The Prudential Committee
The Deacon’s Bench
It was the early 1990’s, and I was a young naval officer. We had just finished a stressful time in the Persian Gulf and were cruising in the Indian Ocean. The return to normal peacetime operations had brought with it combat action drills. At the end of one drill I was alone with an old senior chief who had been on active duty since the Vietnam War.
“Sir, sometime when I look up I can still see the fire.” The old Senior Chief looked scared and bewildered. “It happened a couple of days ago. It’s like I was back there, and it was still burning. I could look up and see the fire.”
“What fire?”
He told me something about fire, men, and horrible sounds they made. What he was describing was like nothing we had done or seen. After a while I realized he was talking about something that had happened in South East Asia more than 20 years before.
Sometime later the old Senior Chief was leaving our command to check into a hospital. By chance I was the duty officer, so I was there to show him the appropriate honors and wish him God’s speed. He clearly appreciated it, but he looked lost and forlorn. In the eyes of the world he was a failure. He probably wished more than once that he had found an honorable grave somewhere along the way. I pray he received the help he needed and has found peace in this world.
When our nation sends young men and woman off to war we expect some will not come back. We understand that some will come back missing limbs or with other visible wounds. What is harder to understand is that many others come back with wounds not easily seen. These wounds are invisible to a casual passerby, but those close to them see the wounds all too clearly. For these brave souls the things they have seen will always be with them. They and their families pay a price for life. So please join me in honoring those who have given so much for us. Let us pray that our leaders understand the horrible price of war and choose wisely when considering matters of war and peace.
– Michael Hopkins
Musical Notes
On Sunday, November 22, we celebrate our annual Thanksgiving Festival Worship!
We traditionally hear the Peter Wilhousky arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” at Thanksgiving services here at Central in recognition of the events happening during the era of its composition. This year we feature hybrid music with a virtual recorded choir, accompanied by our usual brass, organ, and timpani. We will sing our favorites including Central’s own Anniversary Hymn, “Thanks We Bring” by Patrick Aiken and of course, the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Come and share in a Thanksgiving Tradition at Central. As we give thanks for the many gifts from God, may we pray also for the grace to follow in the steps of Jesus who sought to bring deliverance to the captives, and who himself lived a life of servitude, even unto death on a cross so that we might live freely. Glory, Hallelujah!
Fulfill Your Pledge
Please remember there are several ways to fulfill your pledge to Central:
• Place your pledge envelope in the offering plate on Sunday mornings.
• Set up online banking payments.
• Use Tithe.ly or Text to Give for electronic giving. (Central incurs nominal fees for most electronic donations.)
• Allow the church to set up automatic withdrawals from your bank account.
Thanks for supporting Central!
New Member Zoom Reception
Please join us for a special online event to honor Central’s new members joining Central! The Membership Committee will be hosting our very first virtual reception. Please plan to prepare and enjoy an appetizer or dessert during fellowship together. We encourage guests to choose a recipe from the Central cookbook for our virtual gathering. RSVP kindly requested to Lorraine Lalli, llalli@rwu.edu or (401)533-8456. Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 pm via Zoom.
Interfaith Thanksgiving
Join us for St. Martin’s Church Annual interfaith Thanksgiving Service: A Celebration of Gratitude in Challenging Times with special guest speaker Patrick Westfall, Co-Executive Director of OpenDoorsRI. This very special service will be streamed on St. Martin’s YouTube and Facebook page. Please visit StMartinsProv.org for further information. Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7 pm.
Amos House Seeks Donations
Amos House is asking that you keep their Women’s Shelter in mind this holiday season if you are replacing gently used household items. Amos House is a leading social service agency that also manages the largest soup kitchen in Rhode Island. please contact Amos House directly at 401-272-0220.
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. 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.
New Member Sunday: November 1
Inquirers’ Meeting*: Thursday, January 19, 7 pm
Faith Exploration*: Wednesday, January 27, 7 pm
New Member Sunday: January 31
*These meetings will be held in the Fireplace Room
From Claudia
If you will indulge me for a moment I want to talk about resurrection. I know. With all of our gardens around us dying back it seems an unlike topic for November, doesn’t it? After all, the leaves are falling and many of the birds have gone south, while other creatures are preparing themselves for a long winter’s rest.
But, that’s precisely why I’m thinking about resurrection. In the natural cycle we know that even though the plants and the animals are hunkering in for the winter that will not be the end. Instead, it is only a beginning point. What appears to have no life in the dead of winter, is only dormant and biding its time till the glorious days of spring ahead. However, there is a waiting time before that will happen.
And, in that time of waiting we watch and we prepare ourselves for all that is to come. The poet Wendell Berry calls this “practicing resurrection.” We do not know what is to come, but we do know that we have the certainty that life is there in the midst of what is dormant for the time being.
In some ways this is analogous to the concerns of people around our world who are waiting to see what the virus will do in the next months. Will we experience a big surge? Will there be a vaccine? What will happen? The truth is that we just don’t know. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Covid-19 went dormant…not just for a season, but forever? But, we don’t know.
However, in the meantime we could be practicing resurrection in the sense of looking for moments of hope in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. We could practice noticing those resurrection moments that are all around us and that are easy to overlook. We could celebrate and affirm that resurrections take place in the things that affirm life in small and in large ways. And, while we are “practicing resurrection” we look to hope for ourselves, our loved ones and our world.
As a musician, each time I practice a piece of music I find something in it that I might have missed if I hadn’t been so immersed in it. Practicing is good for learning notes, but it is also good for learning new ways of interpretation. Just so when we practice resurrection we are learning new ways of seeing the life-giving hope that is all around us.
Yours in resurrection hope! Claudia
Give Thanks
It’s that time of year again! Each year, Central’s congregation donates Thanksgiving staples to help Camp Street Community Ministries, which provides the fixings of a Thanksgiving dinner to more than 400 Providence families with limited financial means.
Two specific Items are requested to simplify donations: stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Cash donations to buy needed items are also welcome. Please bring your donations to the church by Sunday, November 15, or call Mary Francis Bishop if you prefer to have them picked-up at (401)302-3973.
Camp Street Community Ministries is a partner with the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and distributes to neighbors in need in Providence’s Mount Hope neighborhoods. Please help us brighten the holiday for our neighbors! We are grateful for your help.
SAVE THE DATE
Interfaith Thanksgiving
Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7 pm
A celebration of gratitude in challenging times streamed on YouTube and Facebook
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 Claudia.
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 November, 7 pm.
Poetry and Inner Life
Join a contemplative conversation together about what speaks to the spiritual depth of our beings through poetry during this time. Ask Claudia for the Zoom link. Sunday, Nov. 8 at 6 pm.
Food for Thought
Discussion of Olive, Again by Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout. The sequel to New-York bestselling Olive Kitteridge, where the iconic Olive struggles to understand not only herself and her own life but the lives of those around her in the town of Crosby, Maine. All are welcome. Ask Claudia for the Zoom link. Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 pm. Looking ahead: December 12— Christmas Gathering via Zoom
Caring and Sharing
Join women of all ages who come together in supportive fellowship and activities. This month, we’ll connect virtually and share where we are in our lives. Thursday, Nov. 19, 7 pm.
Adult Sunday School
Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas Incarnation comes from the Latin for embodiment/become flesh. We will explore the why and what of the meaning of incarnation. Most importantly, we will think about the how–how we respond to what incarnation means for us as Christians in these days. Based on the book by Adam Hamilton this study will meet 5 times—on the 4 Sundays of Advent plus Epiphany Sunday. Ask Claudia for the Zoom link. Sundays Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Dec. 20 & Jan. 3 at 6 pm.
Rebecca’s Book Group
This month’s book is to be announced. Our next discussion will be held on Thursday, Dec 3 at 12:30 pm.
Southern New England Conference
The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, of which Central is a member, held its first annual meeting virtually on Saturday, September 26, 2020. The Conference is the newly created body formed from the merger of the three historic UCC conferences in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Nearly 600 clergy, delegates and visitors from all three Southern New England states participated via Zoom in the four hour meeting. Central is represented by 12 delegates, and Claudia Demick served as chair of the Planning Committee for the event.
Morning worship included several musical presentations in different styles and short meditations interspersed among other agenda items – a different approach that seemed well suited to the Zoom format.
The treasurer presented a financial report. A slate of officers and Board of Directors members for the coming year were presented and voted on. The newly elected Board members include two from Central, Frances Munro and Larry Kellam. Another indirect Central connection is the current Board President, Jocelyn Gardner Spencer (a Pastor from Connecticut), who is married to Matt Spencer who sang in Central’s choir while a student at Brown.
Over the last several months the Conference has undertaken an extensive search process to identify a candidate for the position of Executive Conference Minister. The Rev. Darrell Goodwin was presented as the Search Committee’s unanimous choice. Rev. Goodwin offered comments on his background in ministry and higher education, sense of call to the position, views on the job of Executive Conference Minister, and thoughts on new directions for the Conference. Following a period of questions and answers, Conference attendees voted unanimously to call Rev. Goodwin to the position effective January 1, 2021. Central’s delegates and others will be able to hear him speak at the Rhode Island Association meeting on October 28, 2020. Look for more on this in next month’s newsletter.
– John Peters, Central Delegate
Re-Imagining… The Gallery
With colder weather approaching and COVID looming large in our lives, it is a bit challenging to look ahead to the future. But brighter days do lie ahead. For the Gallery Committee, one brighter day is the renovation plan for the Gallery. The drawings shared at the October annual meeting showed a revitalized space with a clean, warm, and modern aesthetic to welcome church members, artists, art patrons, and the community at large.
We, on the Committee, are excited about the proposed improvements to the Gallery. We have discussed for years our hope for an improved art space. And it is now on the horizon! Light colors will replace the muted hues, new glass doors will define the area, updated lighting will highlight the art on our walls.
Before the pandemic, the Gallery hosted solo artist and multi-artist shows, as well as non-profit community support exhibits from September thru June. This amounted to over 400 paintings, photographs, and sculptures, an art opening every month, and countless patrons, both young and old, members and non-members, walking through the Gallery every year! With the unveiling of the new plans for this space, we look forward with renewed enthusiasm to opening our doors to artists and their patrons. And as always, we are eager to showcase again the paintings, photographs, and sculptures of students at our annual high school art show.
Whether entering from Diman Place or the sanctuary, the Gallery will now be an impactful physical reminder of the vitality of our church family, our commitment to community outreach, and a warm invitation to members and non-members to enter our space. With hope to seeing you all enjoy the “reimagined” Gallery in the near future.
– Jim Bush, Jim Scott, Donna Templeton, on behalf of the Gallery Committee
Meet, Judy Martowska
It is wonderful to be here at Central. Everyone has been so welcoming. I am working on learning names, but COVID-19 makes it difficult since I can only see half of people’s faces.
I want to tell you a little about myself. I live in Norwood, MA. I love sports, I lettered in three sports in high school and college and for many years coached a girls’ softball team. When I was no longer able to play as I wanted, I discovered national sports teams. I am now a big fan of the Boston teams. Go Red Sox and Patriots!
I also have a “geeky” side. I have a great curiosity and love to learn. After high school, I attended MIT. As I began to discern my call to ministry, math became a pastime; I love working on problems in my spare time.
I have a dachshund named Charleston Chew, (aka Charlie). I love his greetings each day. I also love to read, swim, bake, spend time in the outdoors, go fourwheeling with my nephews, be with friends and family, do all sorts of logic puzzles, listen to people’s life stories, learn new things, and laugh. I look forward to getting to know all of you!
Blessings, Judy
All Saints Day
It wouldn’t be All Saints Day without “When the Saints Go Marching In.” We welcome all instrumentalists to join us on Sunday, Nov. 1. Please contact Patrick Aiken and bring your instruments to the choir loft for a 10 am rehearsal!
Fall Church Cleanup
All hands are needed on deck to help get Central cleaned up and ready for winter. Call Ed Bishop or the church office with any questions. Join us Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 am to noon.
Buy Nothing Day Postponed
Central’s annual Buy Nothing Day is usually held on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving but is postponed this year. We are anticipating the postponed date after the 2021 new year. Until then, we are not accepting donations for the cause. As soon as we have the new date we will keep you posted.
November Events
Central’s virtual Worship services are broadcast on YouTube. All other meetings are held via Zoom or GoToMeeting unless otherwise indicated.
| November 1 | Stewardship Committee | 9:15 am |
| Virtual Worship* | 10:30 am | |
| New Member Reception | 2 pm | |
| November 2 | Technology Committee | 7 pm |
| November 4 | Gallery Committee | 9:30 am |
| November 7 | Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm |
| November 8 | Virtual Worship* | 10:30 am |
| Poetry and Inner Life | 6 pm | |
| November 10 | Deacons’ Meeting | 5:45 pm |
| November 12 | Food for Thought | 7 pm |
| November 14 | Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm |
| November 15 | Worship* | 10:30 am |
| November 17 | Plant & Properties | 5:45 pm |
| Prudential Committee | 7 pm | |
| November 19 | Caring & Sharing | 7 pm |
| November 21 | Fall Clean Up | 9 am |
| Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm | |
| November 22 | Festival Worship* | 10:30 am |
| November 28 | Women’s Retreat Group | 7 pm |
| November 29 | Worship * | 10:30 am |
| Adult Sunday School | 6 pm | |
* If you are unable to attend Worship in person, you can attend virtually via YouTube after 5 pm
The church office will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day, and Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, for Thanksgiving.