BCCUCC News
Politics in Peculiar Times
By Rev. Joe Zarro, Interim Senior Minister Like a lot of pastors right now, especially in the UCC, I struggle with how “political” prayers and preaching should be these days. We are trying to balance sanctuary and rest with civic engagement and social justice. It also feels absurd to ignore, or be silent about, the new levels of corruption, degeneracy and violence in our current American leadership. But while this milieu of social media, religious nationalism, and “post-truth” confusion is...
It’s Still Easter
By Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister The season of Easter, or Eastertide, lasts for fifty days – until Pentecost Sunday. This is where the name for Pentecost Sunday comes from, the fifty days of Eastertide. Therefore, it’s still Easter! If you missed any of the Easter services here at Barrington Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, I am sorry. We had a robust Holy Week and Easter indeed! The church was crowded on both Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, and the Sunrise service at...
Violence or Vote
By Rev. Racquel R. Ray Watching. Waves of worry wash over us. That will never happen here...Right?? Lurking, lingering… Stirring, recalling… hasn’t history seen this before? Why does this look familiar? Why does it look new? Brown bodies know, they carry the violent history in their DNA. Indigenous bodies know. Jewish bodies know. Veterans bodies know. There was a day when white bodies weren’t harmed. Women’s bodies know. ...
Weather Alert: 1/25/26
There is a significant winter storm watch in effect for our area this weekend. With the safety of our congregation and visitors in mind, we have decided to cancel the morning worship service and all other activities at BCCUCC scheduled for Sunday, January 25, 2026. The Winter Congregational Meeting will be postponed and will be held immediately following morning worship in the sanctuary on Sunday, February 1, 2026. We look forward to seeing you next Sunday, February 1st at 10 am for our...
Minneapolis MARCH
By Rev. Joe Zarro, Interim Sr. Minister In worship the past 2 weeks, I’ve been asking for prayers for a dear friend of mine, Rev. Susan Hayward. Susie and I met at Harvard Divinity School, and not only did she invite me to parties and trips, she also invited me to church – First Church Somerville became the church I regularly attended then served as student minister thanks to that invitation. We have stayed in touch for the past 17 years. Initially, she worked in Washington DC at the US...
Teamwork: Get into the Game
By Rev. Joe Zarro, Interim Senior Minister In this year’s Stewardship Campaign, we are going to celebrate the best aspect of team sports: community and shared purpose. Our theme “One Team, One Goal” highlights both our unity and diversity, how we are all have different parts to play but are one team working toward the same goal: faithfulness to God. We all want what is best for our church, our communities, our world. We know it’s God’s will to love and serve our neighbors, to do justice and...
An Essay of Our History
An essay by Rev. Racquel Ray submitted for Doctor of Ministry work at Boston University, September 2025 The land upon which the [Barrington Congregational Church] church is built has a long and poetic history. “As the first leaves of sassafras and strawberry emerged in the Wampanoag country during the spring of 1623, a leader stepped forth to confront Plymouth colonist Edward Winslow...all were preoccupied with the illness that had overcome a beloved man, Ousamequin, or Massasoit (his title) -...
Be Careful Who You Hate, It Could Be Someone You Love
By Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life You may have heard this truism before. The United Church of Christ sells shirts with this on it on their webpage here. In the letter to the ecclesia in Ephesus 6:10-20, we read that conflict within the church is nothing new: Finally, be strengthened in the Redeemer and in the strength of God’s power. Put on the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against blood and...