Pastor’s Word

by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life

There’s a garden just outside the window of my church office which is sheltered from the harshest weather. The spot is warm and sunny and gets enough morning sunshine to interrupt the slow, gradual spring. The daffodils are defying their cousins around town and are in riotous full bloom!

These glowing yellow blossoms remind me to NOT lose hope! I recently heard a friend say, “I’m so depressed!” with all of the news, politics, gloomy weather, and general ‘unknowing’ that many of us are experiencing. Everywhere I go, no matter what the event or conversation is supposed to be about, it inevitably turns to politics. People are really worried!

It seems to me that the church has a role to play here in our current society and our collective anxiety. We can be the voice of the prophetic. We can have a voice at Town Hall meetings, School Board meetings, Library Board meetings, the RI State House, and the national dialogue. My voice may be singular but OUR voice is hundreds! Our church may be singular but OUR CHURCHES are many. Our Association may be small but our Conference is 600 churches! What does it look like when 600 churches organize and take action?!

I am reminded that there is ALWAYS something that the church can do! We are the house of HOPE! Like the life-giving symbolism of my office daffodils, there is new life out there. If you are out there fighting for the marginalized – come to church for rest and renewal. If you are looking for a way to help – come to church for inspiration. Bring your friends. Bring your neighbors. Organize. Act.

Some may say, they are not anxious; everything is going just as they expected and wanted. Great! Those folks can stop reading here and contentedly pray for the rest of us who are struggling!

Some of us are anxious about the current administration and efforts to reduce spending while cutting vital programs. Some of us work in the non-profit sector where grants are no longer available. Some are connected to the federal government and are losing co-workers and questioning directives. Some are worried about social security and the future of our income.

As a church, we can organize. Following the example of those who lead change during the Civil Rights Movement. We also can impact our community through peaceful protest, boycott, and advocacy at every level. Using the God-given gifts that we have, we can make a difference. There is a correlation between anxiety and action. When we act, our anxiety decreases and conversely anxiety can call us to action! Consider your gifts and put them to good use?

The Rhode Island State Council of Churches https://www.councilofchurchesri.org/ is beginning the work too. Last week, I attended a large event organized by the RISCC. Stay tuned for upcoming and ongoing events and opportunities to get involved, take action, join a larger collective voice, and be heard!

I have been invited to help with the UCC Disaster Ministries, Emotional and Spiritual Care Response Team. The ESCR joins in our denomination’s efforts “Responding to the call of our faith, UCC Disaster Ministries supports holistic community recovery, by engaging supporters, volunteers and partners to focus on preparedness, emergency relief and long-term recovery.” Disaster Ministries Contact List – United Church of Christ

When a disaster occurs, the ESCR activates a response team to be present with survivors to rebuild communities. We are caregivers to caregivers and provide ongoing support as those communities restore themselves to wellness and wholeness. The commitment may be a few days per year or a few hours per month but will allow me to use my gifts as a veteran, chaplain, and pastor to have a positive impact in our larger world. It also adds BCCUCC to the larger national community of the UCC connecting our ministries. You will hear more about UCC Disaster Ministries as we take a Moment for Mission on Sunday March 30^th while considering a collection for One Great Hour of Sharing.

Think National (or Global). Act Local. Get involved in the solutions around the local community. Share your gifts, be bold, speak up. Then, come to church for renewal and strength – and HOPE. See you in Church!

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

So, Dale, what happens next?

I’ve been asked this question (in various forms) a lot over the past few weeks. It made me realize that no one really knows what my plans are post BCCUCC. A lot has evolved since I announced my retirement in January, and this week’s blog seems like a great place to share the latest news.

Where are you moving to?

Many of you already know that Elizabeth moved away at the end of January. She was offered a wonderful job in the Norwich Public Schools and is now teaching preschool as an early-learning educator. Six weeks in and she’s still alive! Each day is challenging (as only 3 to 4 year-olds can be!) but she has seen a number of successes as well.

With that in mind, Elizabeth and I purchased a home in Lisbon, CT. This is a good location for us as it is a lot closer to my mother, which was a large part of our reasoning for the move at this time. Our home is a small little ranch house located on a dead-end street. We have a little over an acre of fenced-in open space for a back yard and are situated across the street from an animal farm (predominately horses, but we’ve seen goats and a cow too!). We are also just down the street from an orchard and berry farm. This is all good as we love animals and the outdoors.

So far, we have repainted three rooms, rebuilt the kitchen from scratch, and replumbed 75% of the house. We have yet to remodel the bathroom (we’re getting help on that one), paint the common rooms, and figure out how to bring heat into the basement. This isn’t even addressing nearly everything that needs help outside! It’s a good thing we are handy, enjoy projects, and generally work really well together (even if we need to engage in a lot of compromise through the process!)

What are you doing for work?

I am excited to share that I received a job offer to do exactly what I wanted to be doing. On April 28, I will begin work as the Fund Development Specialist for the Access Community Action Agency in Willimantic, CT. As the development specialist I will work closely with donors, partner organizations, and local municipalities to procure the support and funding the agency needs to do its outreach.

Access is a sister agency to the East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) here in the Riverside. It is smaller than EBCAP and focuses primarily on helping families dealing housing and food insecurity. It offers walk-in and mobile food pantries, helps with rental and utility assistance, provides affordable senior housing, and works to educate families on personal and home finances. It has an annual budget of roughly $14M (nearly all of it pass-through).

And, yes, we are concerned that the freezes enacted by the federal government threaten many of the agency’s programs. However, the need is great, and even if Access loses all its funding, it’ll have an even greater need for a Fund Development Specialist, right? Right?

What about church?

First, I’m going to breathe. Then Elizabeth and I will find a church family. There are a number of UCC churches throughout the region, each with their own personality. One of the more important decisions we’ll need to make is whether we want to join a church in our immediate community, or one that is a bit larger and more active in justice issues but further away. Fortunately, there seems to be one pretty close that may check both boxes. We’ll see!

I will need to join a church because being a member of a UCC church is a requirement to maintain standing as an authorized minister in the denomination. Although I am retiring, I would still like to keep my standing. Who knows what God has in store years down the line!

Eventually, once Elizabeth and I get settled in our home and in our new church, I will probably take on some pulpit supply, preaching for other ministers while they are on vacation or away for other reasons. I think that would be fun and keep me in the practice. You know I love to tell a good story!

Anyway, that’s my plan for the future. Right now, I still have seven weeks to enjoy with you.

by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life

The season of Lent draws us into six weeks of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter. Within the six weeks, the Lectionary guides us through the Old Testament readings on God’s Covenants and Promises with and to Israel. We read about the prophetic future of a Messiah and the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, torture, and death. In the background of the deep dive into the scriptural past and present, we are always awaiting the future and what the Kingdom of God may reveal in the Good News of the Gospel and the Resurrection of the Savior.

This year, as we proceed through the weeks of Lent, we are also preparing to say good-bye to a beloved minister. Rev. Dale Azevedo came to the congregation at Barrington Congregational Church in a time of renewal and hope. With years of pastoral experience, creative ministry ideas, and a deep connection to the care and keeping of the congregation, Dale began to implement the pathway towards church growth and vitality. The church began to vision its future, reimagine the team structure, and build an endowment legacy. The buildings and grounds were regenerating and so was the worship and liturgy.

Half-way through Dale’s ministry at BCCUCC, the Covid-19 pandemic came to our doors, and everyone else’s. The dreams we had and the foundational work we did was put on hold. As the pandemic spread, illness and some division came to the congregation. We lost much loved members who were carriers of traditions and histories; those who would drive decisions and support healthy change. We also lost some members who disagreed with decisions to remain closed to in-person gatherings or to mask, socially distance, or host zoom gatherings virtually.

And, throughout that time, every minister struggled with the decision fatigue that came with trying to balance the mandate of God to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments while observing the recommended protocols around federal and state driven mandates toward societal safety. Every minister struggled with the example of Jesus to touch and heal the lepers, the blind, and the infirm and the inevitable risk of harm to our congregations, our selves, and our families if we did minister in person to the sick, dying, and deceased. Many of us chose to pull back from in-person worship, visitations, and memorials. And those decisions took a toll on all of us.

The pandemic came just as Lent began in 2020 and Lent seemed to continue for years! Easter didn’t feel like a celebration in 2020, 2021, or 2022! We continued to weigh the risk to communal wellness with and without worship or illness. And we continued to find a balance between the harm done by isolation and loneliness and illness from the virus itself.

Many congregations are still closed from that Lent five years ago. Our colleagues in ministry made difficult decisions throughout the pandemic that altered the course of their churches. Many ministers succumbed to the virus and never recovered. Some congregations continued to meet in-person to great detriment and losses to the congregation. Some lost too many members to have a future. Many lost hope!

We continued to grow through difficult choices and challenges. Dale became adept at virtual worship and pastoral care. The Associate Ministers learned to compliment worship with virtual Confirmation classes, Bible Studies, and meetings. The congregation chose to support these ministries knowing that while it was not ideal, it was safer, and it was possible. We all learned to relate to one another in new and different ~ and virtual ways. We learned to adjust to technology. It was the Barrington Congregational Church, UCC worship services that were easily accessible to residents in skilled nursing as the virtual choir made hymns and music easy to hear, the tech team curated the visual component including easy to read lyrics, and the prayers and reflections were relevant and easy to understand. Seniors, one of the most vulnerable populations during the pandemic, were able to hear, see, understand and join in the BCCUCC worship experience even with severe hearing, vision, and cognitive difficulties. We can credit this outreach success to Dale and his ability to lead with his strengths and talents.

And, remember the Black Lives Matter gatherings during that time?! BCCUCC was the gathering place and beacon for justice and awareness. Hundreds looked to our church and people to organize and make a stand. The results changed the dialogue in our area resulting in ecumenical partnership among the Houses of Worship who now call on each other for support in difficult times.

This Lent, we will be saying good-bye to Dale whose last Sunday is April 27^th, the Sunday after Easter. The process of Leave-Taking will parallel our journey through Lent. We will remember our call and covenant with Dale and the fruit of the ministry we shared. We will acknowledge the joys and successes of our time together, including the pandemic. We will acknowledge the challenges and disagreements and how we successfully navigated them. And we will begin to envision the future of our church through a lens of dreaming of what is possible. We know that we are capable of great things, even in difficult situations.

With the Resurrection and New Life just 7 or so weeks away, BCCUCC has much to process and lots of work and decisions ahead. Pray for each other and those tasked with making choices on our behalf. Voice your opinions as the congregation is the heart of the community.

I pray that we take this time to transition and to really leap into the next chapter in the life of BCCUCC with high hopes for growth, vitality, and engagement.

AMEN

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister

Years ago, the church I was serving had a guest speaker on Laity Sunday. It was one of our lay leaders and Church School teachers. The premise and title of his sermon was pretty simple:

     “Love is a verb.”

I’m not quite sure why I had never really heard that sentiment before. On the surface, it seems pretty simple and obvious. But there was something about the way Ed delivered it that made me really stop and think. Love truly is a verb.

Now, literally, “love” is regularly defined in our dictionaries as having both verb and noun uses. Love is defined as either “an intense feeling of deep affection” (noun) or “to feel deep affection” (verb). But these literal definitions from the dictionary miss the point of Ed’s sermon…and frankly miss the Christian understanding of the word entirely.

When Ed stated that “love is a verb” he was drawing a distinction between the common cultural understanding of “love” as a feeling with the more Christ-like understanding of love as an intentional action one undertakes.

For instance, Jesus challenges us to “love [our] enemies.” (Matt 5:44) It seems quite obvious to me that Jesus isn’t asking us to have deep affection for “those who persecute” us. Instead, he is asking us to take on a specific action. He asks us to pray for them. One can also surmise that he would want us to treat them with dignity and respect. More than once he asks his followers to not follow up violence with violence. Jesus has the capacity to see the dignity and value in all people, and therefore he has compassion for them, even those who nailed his hands to the cross. (Luke 23:34)

I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to say that the Biblical understanding of love is spelled out in the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matt 7:12, Luke 6:31) Again, this defines love as an action, as a verb, “do!”

Early in my adulthood, I was encouraged to read M. Scott Peck’s book, The Road Less Traveled. In it, Peck establishes his own definition of love. One that I happen to feel aligns very closely with Jesus’ message. One that also, once again, casts love as a verb.

“I define love thus: The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” (M. Scott Peck)

For Peck, love is about extending oneself, about making oneself vulnerable. And this vulnerability has a purpose, and that is to nurture spiritual growth. Peck states that if we are to truly love someone, we will go out of our way to nurture their growth.

Notice too, that he calls us to love ourselves by nurturing our spiritual growth, as well! This also aligns with Jesus. Multiple times Jesus tells us to love others “as we love ourselves.” Even Jesus understood that the call to love as an action can be turned inward. So, if we are to love, we are challenged to perform loving actions toward our enemies, our neighbors, and ourselves.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

So, it just so happens that Valentines Day is this week. Do yourself a favor and don’t forget! Additionally, do yourself and your loved ones a favor, and follow Ed’s, Scott Peck’s, and Jesus’ advice: Find a way to live out your love in a meaningful, tangible way that pushes you to extend yourself for someone else’s growth or well-being.

And remember, Love is a Verb.

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