Pastor’s Word

by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life

In a country where we have declared to be created with inalienable rights to choose life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness it is remarkable that we should need to talk about the limits of those freedoms. Yet, here we are in the course of human events where we, as a church community, must decide where we stand.

I have made clear from the pulpit that I will not preach or share political viewpoints. I will not express public support for a particular party or person, nor will I publicly condemn any. However, as a member church of the United Church of Christ we are in covenant with our God, our neighbors, and our siblings in Christ. And, sometimes, that calls us toward difficult conversations around issues of social and human justice. And, sometimes, we disagree.

Barrington Congregational Church, UCC is an Open and Affirming Church. We share a visible sign of our [hopefully] visible grace that we are a safe place for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our rainbow-colored doors stand as a marquee toward that grace as we stand in covenantal inclusiveness together with those often and recently targeted. If our doors symbolize our commitment toward welcoming ALL PEOPLE and not merely social virtue signaling, then we truly need to commit to our hospitality. How we welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the sick are our mandate and ministry.

I was asked, this week, “What do we do if ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) comes to our church?” The Southern New England Conference offers these guidelines Resources for Churches Regarding Immigration Enforcement – Southern New England Conference of the UCC .The church is considered a public property and is subject to search by ICE personnel. There is an exception for the private spaces of the church such as private offices. However, the distinction between public and private space is to be litigated after the fact and NOT in the moment of an ICE search. Churches can no longer state that we are private property and not subject to search and I would not expect a church member or worship service volunteer to bear the responsibility to keep armed ICE personnel out of certain spaces.

It is the responsibility of each congregation to have conversations NOW and to create response plans before we face any future visits. I feel it is a good idea for BCCUCC to begin conversations and create our own personal response plan around the limits and openness of our hospitality. How will we live our BCCUCC Covenant around welcoming those who are being persecuted?

Before God and these witnesses present, we covenant with God and each other. We dedicate our faith, thought, and actions to love God with all that we are and our neighbors as ourselves. Relying on the help of God, the unfolding reconciling Word, and the Holy Spirit, we join ourselves to this church to take part in its worship and activities, and to strive earnestly for its peace and enlightenment. We covenant and agree to devote ourselves to this faith community that worships God, embraces all people, ministers to one another, works for justice and peace, and renders loving service to God’s world.

Indeed, many of our members are directly affected by current events and many of our wider community will be as well. Thomas Paine said, “These are the times that try men’s souls”. Indeed, even this conversation is trying! And yet as a nation we have the promise on our shores to be a land flowing with milk and honey where generations have entered and read The New Colossus by American poet Emma Lazarus (1849–1887) inscribed under the feet of The Statue of Liberty.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

As we navigate the times in which we live, the transitions within our own congregation, and our role in the community, I pray that we have the patience and grace to have these conversations with love and respect for differing viewpoints. I pray that we continue to be a beacon of welcome and hope for those who are yearning for a place to breathe free. Amen.

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

With the recent announcement of my retirement from church ministry, I thought it might be helpful to talk about how pastoral transitions typically work in congregational churches.

Now, every Christian tradition handles a change in pastors differently. In some traditions, like Roman Catholic and United Methodist, the local congregation has little to no say on who their next pastor will be. In these traditions clergy are appointed by a bishop and sent to the local church. In other denominations, like Episcopal and Presbyterian churches, the new pastoral assignment is a joint decision between the congregation, the regional judicatory body, and the individual minister. And in still other denominations, like non-denominational and congregational churches, the pastoral “call” is an independent agreement between the local church and incoming minister. The judicatory body has no formal say in the hiring process. As a member of the United Church of Christ (UCC), BCCUCC is a congregational style church, and therefore makes a hire independent of the larger denomination.

This is not to say that the denomination, or conference, has no role in the selection of BCCUCC’s next pastor. One of the benefits of being in a denomination (a gathering of affiliated congregations) is that the  denomination has resources to help the local church. One of the most important resources a UCC conference provides is assistance in the “search and call” process. The denomination credentials and vets (i.e. “authorizes”) candidates for ministry. The national offices provides portals for “authorized” minsters and member local churches to find one another. And finally, the regional conference also provides staff to assist the local church through the sometimes overwhelming process of selecting a new minister. Saying that, in our tradition, the final decision on hiring (or “calling”) a new minister is made solely by the local church.

So what does this process look like?

(Actually, before I get into what BCCUCC’s process may look like, I need to be clear about something. My role in this process, as the outgoing minister, is very limited. In short, I have no official role in the selection of a new minister and my main responsibility is to “butt out” and allow the church, with support from the denomination, to take the lead in moving forward. So my goal in this blog is to lay out a typical process for transition and how BCCUCC’s by-laws further clarify that process. The Governing Board and Deacons have already begun conversations defining the specifics of BCCUCC’s process and will share more details in the coming weeks and months. They intend to be as transparent as possible about the church’s process and are aware that I am writing this blog as a foundation for their later reporting.)

It is important to first recognize that because we are a congregational style church, the process can be a bit different from one church to the next. This is because each church is governed by their own set of by-laws which governs the process. However, while each church can have differences in their process, there is a common pattern that our churches follow.

In our tradition, it is extremely common, almost universal, that each “settled” pastorate is followed by an “interim” period. An interim pastor typically serves for 1-3 years guiding the church through the process of selecting a new settled minister. The interim minister is often responsible for guiding the local church through a period of discernment and evaluation. The interim will help the church explore questions such as, “Who are we?”, “What is important to us?”, “Who do we want to be?”, “What do we need to change in order to get there?”, and finally, “What are we looking for in a new pastor?” The interim’s job is to come into the church, help the members develop a roadmap for the future, and then step away, allowing the new settled minister to live into that vision with the congregation.

In Article IV.D.3., the BCCUCC by-laws state that in the event of a pastoral vacancy, “[t]he Deacons shall ensure that pastoral care and preaching is provided until a successor is called…” This means that in the event of short term vacancies, the Deacons are responsible to find pulpit supply and pastoral care support. In permanent vacancies, such as when I leave, this indicates that the Deacons are responsible for working with the conference to find a suitable interim minister to guide the congregation until a settled pastor is called.

Once an interim pastor is in place, and the congregation feels it is ready to begin the search for the new settled pastor, a search committee is formed. Search committees are unique to each individual church, but often try to represent a cross-section of the congregation’s membership. The search committee works with the regional conference leadership to move through the search and call process. This process begins the with the writing of a “church profile” and culminates with a formal call to a new minster. The entire process often takes 12-18 months. In some instances it can take longer.

In our by-laws, Article IV.D.2.a. states that the Deacons are largely responsible for selecting the search committee. The qualifications of the members of the committee are also laid out in this paragraph as well as a note that the search committee members must be approved by a congregation-wide vote before their work can begin.

Writing a church profile is a time consuming process. The search committee tries to condense the entire history and present reality of the church in a 20-30 page document. The document covers past/present conflicts, recent successes, financial and demographic details, as well as the hopes, dreams, and faith of the congregation. It is not an easy task and takes many hands and brains to make it work.

When the profile is complete, it is uploaded to the denominational portal and pastors are invited to apply. The search committee then sifts through all the applicants and begins the interview process. This process can take months as there are normally a series of interviews, beginning remotely and later moving to in-person interviews. There are a lot of schedules to juggle and travel arrangements to make, so this process often moves much slower than everyone would appreciate. However, this can actually be a blessing as it can be difficult for the search committee members to come to consensus on a candidate, and time, conversation, and give-and-take are often required.

Once a final candidate is selected by the search committee, they arrange for what is called a “candidating weekend.” This is a time where the chosen candidate comes and stays locally with the church for an entire weekend meeting various leaders and constituents of the church and learning more about the community. The weekend culminates on Sunday morning when the candidate leads worship and preaches. This service is immediately followed by a congregational meeting in which the congregation votes whether or not to accept the candidate and “call” them to be the next settle minister. This sounds bizarrely public to many people and can also be a wildly stressful experience for everyone involved. However, the hope is that if the search committee and candidate have done their work well leading up to the vote, there are no surprises. Although it does happen, rarely.

This vote is authorized in Articles III.A. and IV.D.3. in BCCUCC’s by-laws.

This rather long blog, is just a quick snapshot of what the typical search and call process looks like. AS I stated above, the process the BCCUCC will eventually take, may ultimately be different than this. However, this should give everyone a basic understanding of the months to come. The Governing Board and Deacons are hard at work planning for that future, and look forward to sharing with you more information as I becomes available. In the meantime, Laura Ward (Governing Board Chair), Pat Stoddard (Deacon Chair) as well as all other members of their groups, are available to talk and answer any questions you may have.

by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life

Happy New Year! The change of the calendar and the change in the weather bring also remembrances and renewals. Many of us review the previous year and resolve to make changes in the coming year. Some may choose to release actions that are not beneficial. And some may choose to add aspirational activities. I tend to ‘reset’ toward a simpler time.

Our family celebrates New Years Day with a simple meal of baked beans and brown bread. Years ago, (when we lived out of state) I would mail order Kenyon’s Corn Meal for Johnny Cakes for Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras). I baked Indian Pudding in a pumpkin shell for harvest dinner. Now, we grow pumpkins, corn, beans, and brew maple syrup in our own backyard. These old traditional recipes were the topic at a recent Coffee Chat where church members gather for tea, coffee and conversation.

After the recent culinary heaviness of the harvest and nativity holidays. I’m ready for new fare filled with old traditions. The cod fish and clam chowders, Johnny Cakes, corn bread, baked beans, Indian Pudding, roasted winter squashes, and hearty soups of New England history beckon from my antique recipe books. These old recipes are also economical, [mostly] plant-based, and locally sourced. Many of the ingredients are on hand from our garden harvest! My go-to cookbooks this time of year are The New England Butt’ry Shelf Almanac by Mary Mason Campbell, Olde New England’s Sugar and Spice and Everything by Robert Ellis Cahill, and The Tasha Tudor Family Cookbook by Winslow Tudor.

When I was young, a neighbor would invite me to visit after school. Mrs. [Natalie or Nan] Harris was a kind, older woman who was once a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. She had knee length grey hair that she wove in an Irish knot at the nape of her head and held it in place with hair pins. Her husband, Mr. [Bill] Harris had once played for Arthur Feidler in the Boston Pops and could play any instrument in the orchestra – and had one of each instrument in their house. Mrs. Harris taught me how to cook.

Mrs. Harris’ Cod Chowder

2lbs fresh cod fish cut into big chunks

1/2C finely chopped salt pork

1 stick of butter* dived in half (or dairy free of your choice)

1 large onion minced

6 celery stalks chopped

4 potatoes cubed

2 C broth (clam, fish, or if necessary chicken)

4 C milk (or cream*, half n half, or plain dairy free of your choice)

1 tsp each salt and pepper

*Nan had her dairy delivered and used fresh butter and milk for this recipe.

In a large soup pot saute the salt pork until crispy and brown. Remove the meat bits onto a paper towel covered plate and set aside. Add one half of the butter to the hot pan combining with the oil from the salt pork. Add onions and saute until translucent. Add the celery and saute until bright green. Add the potatoes. Add the broth and simmer until celery and potatoes are soft. Add the fish. Add the milk and salt and pepper and the remaining butter. Serve steaming hot in warm bowls with crispy salt pork bits sprinkled on top. (Nan would make sure each bowl also had a pad of fresh butter on top)

Johnny Cakes – thick or thin*

2 C Kenyon’s Corn Meal** (fine ground white flint corn)

2 C boiling water

1 tsp salt

Warm milk to thin the batter if needed

Heat a griddle to 380 degrees. In a large heat proof bowl combine the corn meal with boiling water and salt let stand for 5 minutes to soften the cornmeal. Add warm milk until the batter is to your desired consistency. Butter the griddle and scoop large spoonfuls of batter onto the griddle (like pancakes). Do not squish! Do not flip or peak for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes flip the Johnny cakes for another 6 minutes until golden brown. Serve with butter and maple syrup.

*Rhode Islanders are divided on this issue. Some prefer thin cakes (add more milk). Some prefer thick cakes (add less milk).

**Kenyon’s https://www.kenyonsgristmill.com/home.html is a RI historic mill and brand which was once ubiquitous but is now hard to find. It is still a working mill in Usquepaugh RI and is also available at Peter Potts Pottery https://www.peterpots.com/ . White flint corn is a variety indigenous to this area.

This is the time of year for warmth and health. For me, this means warm dinners and a wood fire crackling in the living room; a brisk walk outside in the warmest and sunniest part of the winter afternoon; and plenty of rest, nutrition, and hydration.  And, as the calendar and season turns to new I am warmed by the old and healthy traditional recipes of olde New England.

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

Almost all of us in the church office are sick or have recently been sick.

That’s strange…although perhaps not unexpected.

What’s interesting is that none of us have the same thing, meaning we didn’t all give it to one another. That would be explainable. But each of us, in our own personal way, has been ill recently.

I say this is not unexpected because it is easy to get run down. We are currently in the midst of one of the busiest, most demanding, times of the year. The months from the end of October through the start of January sees four pretty major holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Heaven forbid any of you also have birthdays, family anniversaries, of other celebrations like Hannukah to add to the mix. There is so much going on and so many expectations placed on many of us that it is easy to get overbooked, overworked, and overtired. It’s also a highly emotional time of either great joy, great sorrow, or great stress! All this creates the perfect climate for getting sick.

Now, I can blame my COVID on travel. And other staff members can blame their ailments on hereditary or chronic health issues. That is all likely true. But being in the middle of this crazy season seems to fling open the doors of our immune systems and let every malady take root.

We need to protect ourselves.

We need to find ways of taking care of ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Years ago, in one of my prior churches, I received a newsletter from the Parish Nurse/Health Ministry Network of the local hospital. The newsletter included a list of helpful tips for remaining healthy through the holidays. The tips may seem obvious and simplistic, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t relevant. Read through this list and see if there is anything within that you might find helpful during these last few weeks before Christmas.

Stress-less tips for Surviving Christmas

Take care of your body. Exercise. Stop eating when you’re full. Get plenty of sleep. Limit alcohol consumption. Don’t drink and drive…and fasten your seatbelt.

Take care of your spirit. Give yourself at least a couple of days to do what you want to do. Take time for worship and prayer. Make a list of the things you and your family enjoy about the holidays. Build traditions around those you enjoy most.

Realize that you are not solely responsible for making Christmas special for everyone else.

Don’t accept every invitation you receive. You can’t be everywhere!

If this is the first holiday after a divorce, death or end of a relationship, remove yourself from some of the reminders of the past. Do something you’ve never done before.

Give time and friendship rather than presents. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Drive a homebound friend or neighbor around to see the holiday decorations.

Keep your sense of humor and count your blessings!

As we journey through this Christmas Season, it is important to remain physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy. This provides us with the best opportunity for a meaningful and spirit-filled celebration of the coming of Christ and the promise of new life. If Christ is to be born in us this Christmas, let us strive to make ourselves a healthy habitation for him.

by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.~ Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:16

Behold. Behold, beloved, is a term often used in the scripture to announce the presence of the Divine or the work or word of the Divine. ‘Behold’ informs the biblical reader that God’s revelation, or Theophany, is at hand. For example, “Behold, I am sending a messenger…” (Malachi 3:1), “Behold, a virgin shall conceive…” (Isaiah 7:4), or “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people…” (Luke 2:10).  Behold, beloved, God is with us.

These are the darkest days of the year. And for many of us the dwindling daylight is keenly felt in our psyche. I am a person who is very regulated around waking up at 5am and going to bed at 8pm (except for the occasional evening event or meeting!). And in the darkest days of the year, I’m ready to turn in even earlier! For some, the decrease in sunshine leads to seasonal affective disorder and even depression. Between now and January 8, 2025 the sun will rise a minute or two later each day. On the morning of January 9, 2025 the morning will begin to lengthen slightly each day until June. The afternoons with also shorten from now until December 12^th. And the afternoons will begin to lengthen on December 13^th.

I refer to the days between December 12^th and January 9^th as Halcyon Days – those days of stillness around the winter solstice. I write about this every year. Halcyon Days is a fairly amalgamous term which generally means days of nostalgia and reminiscing. It refers to the Ancient Greek tale of the Halcyon (or Kingfisher) and is referenced by Shakespeare when referring to days of remembering good times.

In our modern Christian world, these days of course are celebrated in a flurry of Advent, Christmas, and New Years activities. But, there’s an undercurrent of sparkling sunny afternoons, long and clear frosty nights, and chilly mornings. In these days, my Spirit yearns for sunshine!

In the morning, I like to sit in my favorite chair as the sun beams break over the horizon and through the old glass panes of the front door, across the living room and into my eyes. At breakfast, the sunshine hits my dining room window and I like to sit in the sunny spot while I eat and sip coffee. In the afternoon, the sun radiates through the picture window and onto my favorite ‘napping chair’, warming my feet and face. These are the days when there is a short window of opportunity in the afternoon for a walk – the warmest part of the day but before the early sunset and returning evening chill.

This year, I feel the compounding darkness of the season and the collective community response to the election. A group of inter-faith community members joined the Barrington Interfaith Partners in the BCCUCC library on the Monday evening before election day. Each person present was asked to share their name and one word that they were holding in their hearts. The collective majority said the word ‘hope’.

I think it is important to remember that even if many of those present did not hear the results they were expecting, their ‘hope’ is still present.The text quoted above from Isaiah and Matthew is the opening to the story of Jesus. It continues:

For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders,
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Great will be his authority,[a]
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Behold, beloved, light breaks forth in the darkness as the morning sunshine breaks forth over the horizon. Hope is present just as the sparkling afternoon sunshine twinkles on the ponds and rivers around town. The Great Light that shines upon us, among us, in us, and through us is the presence of God. And, even in the shortest days of the year, there is much to celebrate, observe, and find hope therein. Behold, Beloved, Behold.

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

Dear friends and members of BCCUCC,

Did you hear Kim Fernandez share in church on Sunday? She did a wonderful job talking about the IMPACT BCCUCC has had on her and her family. From growing up in the church singing in the children’s choir, to attending mission trips with the youth group, to the tremendous support her family received following the death of her sister, and now to raising her own kids in the church, BCCUCC has had a deep impact on Kim’s life. And do you know who made that impact? YOU!

(If you missed Kim, you can watch her here. Her talk begins at the 50:00 mark.)

Because you and others are engaged in the church, you have had an incalculable impact on people’s lives.

When Elizabeth and I consider all that we give to the church, our gift grows from our appreciation for the impact our church on our members, throughout the community, and around the world. Our generosity, in all its forms, comes from our expressions of gratitude for this ministry. I hope you will consider joining us, Kim, and so many others in making a commitment to be engaged in our church this coming year.

This year, our annual stewardship campaign is focusing not only on the financial gifts we offer, but on all the different ways we give. If we are to continue making an impact on people like Kim and her family, then it takes a commitment from all of us to give of our time, our talents, and our treasure.

Over the next few weeks in church, you’ll hear people like Kim encourage us to consider all the ways in which we give. We will imagine what more our church could do if we could break free of the shackles of scarcity of time and money. We will hold a ministry fair, Ye Olde Ministry Faire, highlighting all the way you can get involved in our ministry. And we’ll challenge one another to consider how we can each be more engaged over the year to come.

All of this will conclude on November 17, when we celebrate Consecration Sunday. On that day we will take time in worship to consecrate all our gifts (time, talent, and treasure) with a special liturgy. Then, following worship, everyone is invited to join us for a congregation-wide lunch, catered by Blue Kangaroo.

God has made, and continues to make, a remarkable IMPACT on the lives of our members and community. Your engagement in our congregation makes this possible. I hope you will join me in turning in a commitment card on Consecration Sunday, celebrating all the ways you plan to ENGAGE with our ministries over the coming year.  

Thank you for joining me in being a part of Barrington Congregational Church, UCC.

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo
Sr. Minister, BCCUCC

by Rev. Racquel Ray,

Associate Minister of Congregational Life

Are you feeling particularly uneasy these past few years? We are in unstable and sometimes scary times. When we watch the news, we see images of natural disasters, violence, political discord, pandemic, and war. We are conditioned to be afraid of pending tragedy with commercials for life insurance, car insurance, home title insurance, and even insurance for our handheld tech. We are bombarded with offers for the latest medications which might ease our various discomforts and illnesses as though comfort and ease are perpetually possible as promised. Our times can often feel Biblical and apocalyptic – especially as we watch news from the Middle East. And, as we have come through the Covid pandemic, we are all still seeking post-traumatic resiliency from the tragic losses we all suffered. Is it any wonder we are uneasy?!

I have often found comfort in the 23rd Psalm. It was a comfort to me throughout the pandemic as I presided over so many funerals and it is a comfort as we wade through our challenges now. This version is from The Message version of the Bible: 

God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.

The Psalm is dichotomously comforting and disquieting. We remember it from so many funerals and times of grief. And, yet, we are soothed by the imagery of God as a shepherd whose love will never leave us isolated. But, many of us are still feeling lonely and isolated.

In fact, our uneasiness – or dis-ease – has become a secondary epidemic. In 2023, the US Surgeon General published a report on the Loneliness Epidemic;  Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation 2023 The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the  Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community.¹  The report details the social connections which are necessary for our flourishing and the harm caused by their absence. People flourish with strong social infrastructure in their local communities. We thrive with connections, access to healthcare, healthy digital environments, and communities. The connections we make and the ministries we share at church are major factors in our mental wellness.

Here, we find rest for our weary [news worn] souls. We find support for our grief. We find connections with people, creativity, art, music, and the Spirit. We find worship and bereavement. We share fellowship and fun. We laugh, cry, sing, and pray together. Our congregation is one antidote to the loneliness and isolation that many of us are feeling. In addition to isolation and loneliness many of us are also challenged by: Grief, Serious mental illness diagnosis, Caregivers of those with mental health challenges, Major depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Eating disorders, PTSD, Anxiety, Substance Abuse, Addictions.²  Many are also impacted by neuro-differences and LGBTQIA+ realities.

The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ (SNEUCC) voted at its annual meeting in the summer of 2024 to become a W.I.S.E. (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged) Conference. Members of the SNEC Health and Wellness Ministry has begun the process of becoming designated as a W.I.S.E. Conference by the UCC Mental Health Network. Recognition of the SNEUCC efforts is seen here: https://vimeo.com/989159593. The UCC Mental Health Network W.I.S.E. program encourages congregations and conferences along a path of exploration, conversation, and education to increase awareness and reduce the stigma of mental illness. Discussing issues of mental health challenges opens the door to acceptance and healing.³  Do we want to explore becoming a W.I.S.E. certified church here at BCCUCC?

This Sunday, October 6th, 2024, we will be supporting the Neighbors in Need special offering which this year is directed toward Mental Health Justice. October 10th is Mental Health Day. Our worship service on Sunday will include prayers and preaching on the realities of our collective Mental Wellness challenges. Let us continue the work of wellness and justice.

Works Cited

¹  Vivek H. Murthy, M. M. (2023). O ur Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation 2023 The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. Washington DC: US Department of Health and Human Services.

²  SNEUCC Health Ministry. (2024, July). Being Wise. Retrieved from Southern New England Conference United Church of Christ: https://www.sneucc.org/WISE

³  Deborah Ringen, C. s. (2022, August 23). Blogs. Retrieved from Southern New England Conference United Church of Christ: https://www.sneucc.org/blogdetail/snec-to-become-a-w-i-s-e-conference-16610483

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

“Come home, come home.
     You who are weary, come home.”
Will L. Thompson

Come Home

September 8 is Open Doors Sunday. As many of you know, that is the official kickoff of our 2024-2025 program year. It comes at a time that our kids have gone back to school, our boaters lament the passing of summer, and our staff and lay leaders get busy. It is a really fun day in the life of the church, and recently we’ve celebrated that day with a fun, full worship service followed by a cookout and party after church.

I want to invite you to join us for this special Sunday and come back home to church. We have so much planned for you. In worship we have the dedication of our volunteers for children’s ministries, a baptism of the cutest little boy since the last one, a great sermon by Racquel, and a special musical guest. And if that isn’t enough, afterward we’ll have hot dogs, an ice cream truck, activities for the kids, and fellowship.

But not only that, we have so much planned for this fall that you will definitely want to be a part of!

Your sermons

This summer Racquel and I preached a season of grab-bag sermons! We didn’t know what our sermon topic would be until we pulled your suggestions out of a bag. And it was wild! However, there were dozens of sermon suggestions we didn’t get to. And they were great! So, Racquel and I decided to use those suggestions to populate our sermon schedule for this fall. The best part is we get to plan ahead, this time! So this fall we will be preaching your special requests from the summer with topics like:

What is prayer and what does it accomplish?
With so many religions, who is the real God?
What are heaven and hell really like?
How do we coexist with those we disagree with?
Did God stop talking?
The challenge of forgiveness.

It’s likely we’ll publish the list along with anticipated dates later so you won’t miss the sermons that really peek your interest. So, come home and listen to your sermons!

Your family

Whether you attend by yourself, with friends, or with your kids/parents, your family will be at church! Who is your family? Everyone who attends! We talk about church being a family more than a group of friends for a variety of reasons. First, you don’t get to choose your family and you don’t get to choose who comes to church. Like our families of origin, we don’t control who comes through the doors, yet we hold many shared experiences in common. Also like your family, there are probably those you get along with a whole lot better than others! (Aint that the truth!)

However, also like family we are here for you when you need us most. We may not agree on everything and we may upset one another at times, but we are called to truly care for one another, to love one another. Where else can you find that? Where do you find it in your life? We pray together. We live together. We laugh together. We cry together. We grow together. That is family, and you are welcome here! Come home and see your family!

Your faith

One of the most common statements I’ve heard from congregation members over the past few years is, “I have nowhere else in my life where I can talk about my faith like this. I can’t talk with my spouse, my friends, and certainly not my coworkers. This is the only place I can discuss what really matters to me.” Whether it is in worship, or Bible study, or a fellowship group, church is one of the VERY few places in our lives where people feel they can discuss God and ask their questions freely. What a gift that is! Do you have questions about  the meaning of life, God, what happens after we die, or even what it is you believe? Then this place is for you. Come home and explore your faith!

Your ministry

How do you live out your faith? What do you do in your life that God would look upon and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant?” There are so many ministry opportunities here at your church. Just go to our web page and explore our Ministries tab or take a look at our list of current ministry teams. There are so many to choose from. And what’s even better is if you don’t see one that interests you there, you can always start a new one. Our vision for ministry at BCCUCC is that every member, no matter how old or young, skilled or unskilled, faithful or doubting, should have a place to be in ministry. Church isn’t just a place to come and learn and find connection, it’s also a place to make a difference. Come home and get involved in your ministry!

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

A few weeks ago, during our first grab-bag sermon, I referred to Christian Nationalists adding the commentary that their ideals aren’t particularly Christian or patriotic. This was my sermon on kindness and humility where I discussed the “fruits of the Spirit” (June 23) as the Biblical test of true faithfulness. Following that sermon, one of our members approached me and asked if I could clarify what I meant by Christian Nationalism and who might fall into that category. I happily agreed to do so. However, as I began to put my thoughts together, I realized that it might make for a relevant blog instead of a one off response to an individual’s question. So here goes:

What is Christian Nationalism and why does it matter?

To understand Christian Nationalism, we must first understand nationalism and what is meant by the term. Nationalism is not patriotism.¹ Patriotism is a love of one’s country and a celebration of all this is good about it. Nationalism, instead, is a belief that people can be easily categorized by one’s nation of origin and that one’s personal identity is defined by the general characteristics and moral code of that nation. For example, an American can be easily defined by a core set of values present in the larger culture and that they are distinctly different from an Iranian, a Pole, or a Brazilian. Often accompanied with this understanding is a belief that one’s own nationalism is inherently better than another’s and that it must be protected or it, along with its advantages, will be lost.² We have witnessed a rise in nationalism in politics throughout the world in recent years.

So, what is Christian Nationalism?

Christian nationalism is a particular brand of nationalism that sees Christian faith as the primary characteristic that defines American identity. It states that American morals and culture are defined by our Christian roots and that those morals and values must be protected or America, as it has been, will cease to exist. Christian nationalism is one of the forces at the forefront of what many are calling our current culture war, and it has been becoming increasingly mainstream in American politics.

Why is it a problem?

Many would argue that our politics and social views ought to be informed by our religious faith. I would be one of these. Our faith should influence who we vote for, what laws we support, and what values we hold dear. If it doesn’t, then what purpose does our faith have? However, Christian nationalism isn’t just about encouraging people to vote according to their beliefs. It is about using the political system to enshrine one set of religious beliefs as law for all. It is about diluting or ending the separation of church and state by using the government’s power to give primacy to one interpretation of faith over any other.³ This is a threat to all Americans (Christian and non-Christian) whose views do not directly align with those in power.

How is it becoming mainstream?

In the past, Christian Nationalism has been characterized by those living on the extremes: white nationalists, white supremacists, and others often characterized as hate groups. However, over the past year we have seen an increasing number of examples of Christian nationalism in mainstream politics.

Louisiana: In June, Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill that required state’s public schools, colleges, and universities to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The Ten Commandments have long been a lightning rod for political discourse. Many argue that they are the basis of our legal system and ought to be seen as a public document rather than a religious one. However, we cannot divorce the religious aspects of the Ten Commandments from the legal. They are, and always have been, a religious document. And as such, we have to ask ourselves which version of the Ten Commandments will be displayed and who will describe them to the students when questions are raised? Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Jews all have different versions of the Ten Commandments. We number them differently. We write them in different languages. And we interpret them very differently. Who determines which version is the legal version and which interpretation is allowed (and which is not!). This seems like a thinly veiled attempt to have the state give privilege to one faith, and one interpretation of that faith, over all others.

Oklahoma: Later in June, the state of Oklahoma went even farther than Louisiana when state school superintendent mandated Biblical education in all public schools for grades 5-12. This is both a violation of the authority granted to local school districts in Oklahoma to determine their own curriculum as well as a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution which forbids government establishment of any religion. Again, it raises the great question of whose Biblical interpretation will be taught in the public schools? And can the Bible be taught as myth or folklore, or will it be taught as truth? And if so, who’s truth? This mandate is a clear example of Christian nationalism as it is intended to indoctrinate the children of Oklahoma into one state-sponsored faith and value system, even rejecting the diversity present in modern Christianity.

US House of Representatives: The US House of Representatives has always been characterized as the more rambunctious house of legislation and often had its share of political radicals. Currently we have members such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as well as Marjory Taylor Green and Matt Gaetz sharing more extreme positions on the left and right respectively. This is nothing new. However, Mike Johnson, who is the current Speaker of the House, ideally a more moderate and powerful position, has openly embraced Christian nationalistic ideals. While he has refrained from calling himself a Christian nationalist, as other congress members have recently done,⁴ his talking points are not far from theirs. In a 2016 interview he was quoted as saying, “Over the last 60 or 70 years our generation has been convinced that there is a separation of church and state . . . most people think that is part of the Constitution, but it’s not.”  And more recently, “The founders wanted to protect the church from an encroaching state, not the other way around.”⁵ All of this is intended to erode the long held American ideal of the separation of Church in state in favor of establishing one set of beliefs, a conservative Christian one, as the de facto rule of law in the U.S.

The Barrington Times: Finally, a very local example – many of you are undoubtedly aware of the organized campaign against our town’s appointed DEI commission. It made weekly appearances throughout the winter and spring in the opinion section of the Barrington Times with letters to the editor listed under the names of various townspeople. Of all their letters attacking these appointed volunteers, one letter is most relevant for our conversation here. It was entitled “DEI’s Godless Agenda” and was published in early weeks of May.⁶ What I find most disturbing about this hurtful letter is that many of the members of the DEI commission are either clergy or active laypeople in our local churches and synagogue. The author(s) knew this, and still chose to attack them as “godless” as a part of their political attacks. Again, this carries the strong undertones of Christian nationalism, suggesting only one interpretation of faith is “godly” and acceptable in our national discourse.

America Was Founded on Religious Pluralism.

Reading through our national history, there is no doubt that the United States has roots deeply embedded in Christianity. Our own forebearers, the founders of our church, were decedents of the Puritans, the settlers who came over on the Mayflower and founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the subsequent decades, colonists settled throughout the eastern seaboard, also bringing with them their Christian faith. The influence of these early Christian settlers on our national identity and values is undeniable. However, there was not just one understanding of Christianity in the colonies. There were different and conflicting ideas of faith between each of the colonies and each of the cultural groups that came to the continent. And many of them came here to escape government sponsored religious persecution in their home country. That is why the founders of this country were so clear in providing for religious freedoms in our national and constitutional framework. Their Christian expressions were just as diverse as ours are today.

This early understanding of religious tolerance (on a national level, not always on a local level) opened the doors for people of other faiths to come to our nation and became part of the reason it is so great today. Christian nationalism seeks to rewrite this part of American history. It seeks to recast the nation we know and love, one that has experienced religious diversity from its earliest days, as a nation of one dominant faith, espousing one set of values, and relegating all else as un-American. This reality threatens not only our neighbors of other faiths or no faith, but it threatens us, faithful Christians who may interpret our beliefs differently than those in power. As Christians, as Americans, we must fight against this trend.

Where can I learn more?

You can see the many footnotes that I included in my blog. I encourage you to read further on this issue. One of the things I found most encouraging as I wrote this blog was the number of evangelical (i.e. often more conservative or traditional) Christians who wrote about the dangers of Christian nationalism. These are not just the concerns of progressive Christians. It is a concern for all Americans who wish to practice their faith without the intrusion of governmental opposition.

Here are some of the sources I found most interesting:

• • “What Is Christian Nationalism?” by Paul D. Miller, Christianity Today, February 3, 2021
  • “What Is Christian Nationalism, Exactly?” by David French, New York Times, Feb. 25, 2024
  • “Christian Nationalism Explained: An Interview with Rutgers Professor Joseph Williams” by John Chadwick, rutgers.edu, Mar. 4, 2021
  • “Christian Nationalism Doesn’t Just Threaten Our Nation – It Threatens Our Faith” Compassionate Conservative Revival
  • “The Truth About Christian Nationalism” Evangelicals for Democracy

I hope you found this blog interesting and informative.

Blessings to you,

Dale

1. “What Is Christian Nationalism?” by Paul D. Miller, Christianity Today, February 3, 2021
2. “What Is Christian Nationalism, Exactly?” by David French, New York Times, Opinion, Feb. 25, 2024
3. “Christian Nationalism Explained: An Interview with Rutgers Professor Joseph Williams” by John Chadwick, rutgers.edu, Mar. 4, 2021
4. “Josh Hawley Doubles Down on Christian Nationalism Remarks” by Khaleda Rahman, Newsweek, Jul. 10, 2024 and “Americans are getting more accepting of Christian nationalism” by A. Shortle et. al. The Washington Post, Sept. 1, 2022
5. “The Christian Nationalism of Speaker Mike Johnson” by A. Whitehead and S. Perry, TIME, October 27, 2023
6. I recently tried to find the direct link to this letter on the Barrington Times website. Unfortunately, that letter no longer appears to be in their archive. I was only able to find follow-up letters which referenced the original letter by name. The original letter likely appeared in the May 3rd or May 10th edition of the Barrington Times.