This year’s Stewardship theme is “Because of You, Our Church Changes Lives.” It speaks directly to the transformational power of God’s Love when it is put into practice by the people of God. As we welcome a new pastor, it feels like a new beginning. Perhaps this is an opportunity to dream some new dreams, have some new visions of how our church might change more lives if we are able to more fully embrace the power of God’s love.
“Stewardship” is often approached as a duty to care. Might it not also be tied to the joy we feel when we see that through our efforts and our giving we are able to lessen isolation, lighten people’s burdens, bring comfort, bring greater justice and equality, care for the planet?
By accepting each person as a child of God, by helping each to receive God’s love through our hospitality and meeting each other’s needs, OUR CHURCH CHANGES LIVES. Because of you, lives are transformed – and the life that will be most transformed will be your own.
God’s loving Kingdom is possible on Earth. We ask you to prayerfully make a pledge toward the church’s 2024 budget with a vision to the future. Kindly bring your pledge card to church on Stewardship Sunday, November 13, 2022 or drop it off at the Church Office.
A dozen women came together from September 22-24 at Irons Homestead, the Rhode Island UCC Camp and Retreat Center. Irons Homestead is described as “A sacred space that enables lives to change through encounters with God, nature and others.” The group experience was led by Valerie Tutson, a graduate of Brown University with a self-designed major, Storytelling As a Communication’s Art. A life-long member of the UCC (United Church of Christ) Valerie works ecumenically, sharing her gifts and helping others to tell the stories of their faith.
One of the first experiences we shared was learning a song from Malawi, sung in Chechewa. Valerie taught it to us, just as it had been taught to her by Masankho Banda. Translated, it said: “I see you with my eyes. I see you with my heart. I see you, fellow human, in front of me, and greet you with respect.” Throughout the retreat, we sang this song, repeatedly recognizing the innate value of every person as a beloved child of God, a valued member of God’s family.
At another gathering, we sang songs from our childhood, some learned in church school or camp. Valerie inspired us to think about how we see ourselves in relation to the name our parents had given us and how we perceive the journey each of us has taken in her life — the points of decision-making that we have navigated, the many women and men who have played a part in shaping us, the many roles we have played during our lives.
After supper on Saturday evening, we carried out a ritual called the Despacho Ceremony that is part of the spiritual traditions of the Andes mountains that Valerie had learned from her teachers in Peru. We were to make a Prayer Bundle, a collective offering that provides a way to give thanks or to release what needs letting go, a way to call in or ask for what we and the world need.
First, Valerie laid the fire. Then, starting with a clean white cloth, she laid out large sheets of white tissue paper, and in the center a large clam shell was placed. A symbol for the world? Small gummy creatures — Adam and Eve? — were placed in the shell. Special leaf bundles were placed at the four compass points. Then our hands went around and around, layering the offerings — bay leaves, special beans, rice grains, herbs, other grains, spices — around and around, each person adding her contribution to the layer, each ingredient symbolizing a different element of life, the hopes, the regrets, the ancestors, the children born, the children yet to be born. Pink flowers, white flowers — around and around.
Then the “good” stuff, the “fun” stuff we were offering up — the ginger snaps, the gummy bears, the chocolate drops — the sparkly ribbon, the brightly colored beads, the pink and blue cotton candy.
The bundle was prayed over as all hands and hearts embraced it. As the final act of this ritual, Valerie wrapped the bundle up tight, lit the fire and gently placed the bundle on the burning logs. Within seconds, the bundle felt the heat and opened up to the flames, releasing all of the prayers up into the heavens, crackling and snapping as we watched the Despacho bundle burn up, rise and disappear.
Looking back at the Women’s Retreat, Valerie said that her intention for our time together was to create and hold space for us to connect more deeply with our selves, with one another and with God and the presence of the Holy Spirit…through sharing our stories, singing and sacred ritual…and have it be a joy/full and nourishing experience, so that we could return home feeling good and energized and inspired in our day to day lives.
One participant looked back at her Retreat experience and felt “Grateful to have spent this past weekend making peace with all the women I once was. Grateful for the women who were by my side.”
We love the children in our church and everyone at FCC Bristol is so happy to be welcoming Lindsey and Doug Harrington’s new baby. She will join her brother Raymond who has been delighting us all for more than two years.
Following worship this past Sunday, we dedicated our Fellowship Hour to celebrating the forthcoming arrival of a new baby. After enjoying some cake and ice cream, we gathered around Lindsey, the expectant mom, to watch her opening good wishes and presents. Quite a few had been handmade by our talented parishioners. Raymond was a big help. And he was excited about the dinosaur truck he received as the designated Big Brother.
Thanks to the hardworking Deacons, FCC Bristol has both a colorful and cheerful rainbow array of flowering flowerpots, and also a sign that proclaims our church family’s core Open and Affirming belief: “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” An open-armed message of acceptance that cannot be said too often.
Sunday school is “up and running” at FCC! . Lessons focus not just on the Bible and its lessons but how they can have meaning in our everyday lives! And there is always a fun project to wrap things up!
With the return of families from summer vacations, the return of the choir to our worship, the decoration of the sanctuary with bundles of bright balloons and a special intergenerational service led by the Rev. Jack Jones, this past Sunday — Rally Day — brought a feeling of renewed purpose and strengthened ties to the congregation. Worship was dedicated to the Commissioning of our Church School, bringing the children and youth, their parents, their teachers and the entire congregation together in a covenant of gratitude and commitment to provide loving direction and educational opportunities to all who come to participate in our efforts to grow in our understanding of Christ’s Way, to bring about God’s Kingdom on earth. Through a special Litany of Prayers, the congregation prayed for all learners and leaders as they prepare to start a new year of growing in God’s grace together.
Following worship, everyone gathered in the DeWolf Room for a Rally Day luncheon of hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and ICE CREAM SUNDAES! Lots of chatter, catching up with old friends and making some new ones, making some plans, looking forward.
August 27, 2023 marked another day of transition in the 343 years of FCC Bristol’s history. Due to Rev. Deborah Tate Breault’s decision to retire, our congregation is saying Good Bye to our pastor. On this, her last Sunday preaching in Bristol, she and the congregation together spoke a Liturgy for Ending an Authorized Ministry.
On November 1, 2020, this church called Rev. Deborah Tate Breault to serve as Transitional Minister. As part of the Liturgy, words of gratitude, forgiveness and acceptance were spoken by both the minister and the members of the congregation. Through vows of Release by both parties, the congregation confirmed their focus on continuing the ministry of the church, looking forward to the congregation’s relationship with the new minister who will come to serve FCC Bristol.
Barbara Watts, who has faithfully served the church as Executive Assistant for the past 16 years, was called to the chancel during the morning’s service to recognize her contribution to the well-being and ministry of the church.
Following morning worship, the congregation joined Pastor Deborah in the Dewolf Fellowship Hall for a celebratory luncheon. Happily, many members attended in person who on other Sundays join us via LiveStream. We are thankful for the ministry of Pastor Deborah at FCC Bristol and wish her every good and joyful experience as she leaves our church.
At a joint FCC Church Council and Deacon’s meeting on Wednesday, June 22, 2023 Paul Temple (Chair), Jennifer Johnson, Ruth Fisher, Caroline Jacobus, and Ed Wiacek were appointed to a fast-track Interim Minister search team. The team met on Thursday, July 6 to begin the search process. Reverend Patty Kogut, our UCC Area Conference Minister, attended the meeting virtually and offered advice to make our search journey successful and rewarding.
The team has completed and submitted our Local Church Profile and the Interim Pastor job position has been posted nationally. We have received several qualified applicant profiles and we are pursuing the process of interviewing them. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to any members of the search team.
On Thursday July 20, Roger & Donna Dubord attended the 30th annual Rhode Island Monthly Magazine Best of Rhode Island party at the Providence Performing Arts Center. A large crowd of 1200 people were in attendance. There were 417 Best of RI winners throughout the state in various categories and the Stone Church Coffeehouse
was one of them. The Coffeehouse won for Best Music Venue – East Bay. This was the 6th time the Coffeehouse has won in this category. Each win is special because the votes come from friends and guests who attend the shows.
We wish to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to each and every person who voted for the Stone Church Coffeehouse in the Rhode Island Monthly Magazine’s Best of RI Readers Poll.
