From the River's Edge
The Pastors' Blog
PRIDE
By Rev. Racquel Ray It’s June. The month has been designated as Pride Month in observance of LGBTQ+ civil rights. The movement originally began after the 1969 Stonewall Inn incident in Manhattan NY where queer community members clashed with police. Beginning in 1970 annual observances became part of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement including parades, marches, and flag raising. Last year,...
Welcome Through Hospitality
By Rev. Racquel Ray When Jesus saw the great crowds, he had compassion on them. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and...
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...
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...
The Faith of a Donkey
By Rev. Joe Zarro, Interim Senior Minister It was great having “Liberty” the donkey (and “Miracle” the baby cow) join us for fellowship hour on Palm Sunday. Obviously, a donkey features prominently in the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, and it made our Palm Sunday that much more special to have a real life donkey. But I must confess, I missed an opportunity to share something special about...
What is Your Sabbath?
By Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life As part of my on-going course work at Boston University, this semester takes a deep look into the meaning of Sabbath across Jewish and Christian understandings. Beginning with the Genesis account of Creation and the Deity’s determination to REST on the seventh day, the Jewish Law in-turn developed around Sabbath keeping. And,...