Category: Expired-Events

To the Members of First Congregational Church:   Due to unforeseen circumstances, two of our presenters for the August 10 Congregational Meeting about the heating/cooling system in the DeWolf complex were not able to attend church. We would like to reschedule the meeting for Sunday, August 24, following the service, and we hope that you will be able to attend. We appreciate your understanding and will look forward to our discussion about this important facilities proposal at that time.   Blessings, Rev. Nancy Soukup

The Church Council is calling for a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the DeWolf Room. The purpose of the meeting is to address a remedy for the heating system in the DeWolf Room, which will require expenditures beyond the amount budgeted for building maintenance in our 2025 budget. As required by our By-Laws such an expenditure requires a vote by the congregation.

Background: For some time, the heating in the DeWolf Room has been insufficient, especially during the coldest time of year. The problem is that the current heating configuration between the Sanctuary and the DeWolf Room is unable to deliver adequate heat to the Room, resulting in very high fuel costs as the system struggles continually to bring heat to the Room.

An additional consideration is that we do not have any space in the church that provides air conditioning. The two standing ACs currently in the DeWolf Room bring some air conditioning but not sufficient when 30 or more people are in the Room. These two units are on loan to us from two church members.

Proposed Solution: The Facilities Committee has considered a number of options to remedy both heating and cooling in the Room. After much research, the Committee recommends the installation of minisplit units in the Room, which will provide additional heat during the winter and air conditioning in the summer. Furthermore, these units offer a dehumidifying option. Three bids were obtained from reputable contractors—all of which were in line with each other (one more expensive than the other two). After meeting with representatives from each company (Queern, Gem, and Ocean Air), the Facilities Committee members were most impressed with Ocean Air, especially their professional assessment of our needs, their understanding of how our current system works, and sensible approach to the installation. The cost for installing five minisplit units and two compressors is approximately $46,000. The cost just to replace the heating elements in the DeWolf Room would be $60,000; however, we would not have the benefit of a cooling component to the system.

The Facilities Committee presented their research and recommendation to the Church Council on Tuesday, July 22. After discussion, the Church Council put forward a motion supporting the Facilities Committee’s recommendation to install minisplits in the DeWolf Room and to engage Ocean Air as the contractor for this installation. Furthermore, the Council discussed options for how to finance this expenditure.

Special Congregational Meeting: On August 10, the congregation will hear a presentation from the Facilities Committee about how they came to recommend the minisplit option, why they suggested Ocean Air, how this system will enhance our overall congregational program, and what is involved to install this system. Then, Ruth Fisher, our treasurer, will explain proposed options for how we could finance the minisplit solution.

As required by our By-Laws, a Special Congregational Meeting requires a two-week announcement. Please consider this communication that announcement.

With thanks for your presence on August 10,

Dr. Amy Halt, Church Council Chair
Rev. Dr. Nancy Hamlin Soukup, Settled Minister

Everyone is invited to attend the July 4th Interfaith Service on June 29th this year at:

First Congregational Church
at 300 High St., Bristol, RI 
on Sunday, June 29, 2025
at 2:00 p.m.

The Interfaith Service brings together the clergy from Bristol’s houses of worship in a patriotic, multi-denominational prayer gathering. The Interfaith Speaker for 2025 is Chaplin, Colonel, Father Robert L. Marciano. Father Marciano presently serves as Pastor of Saint Kevin Parish and school in Warwick and Chaplain for the Warwick Police Department with the rank of Colonel and Chaplain, Deputy Chief for the Warwick Fire Department as well as Chaplain, Deputy Assistant Chief for the Providence Fire Department and Chaplain for the “100 Club”, Rhode Island Chapter, which assists families of first responders killed in the line of duty.

All are welcome. Join us on this day of celebrating the spiritual roots of our nation’s Democracy.

Sorry you will need to bring your own chairs.

We need your help! We’re building a church float for the July 4th parade. We have more than 13 walkers signed up, but we are aiming for 25. Would you and your children step up to either WALK IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE FLOAT OR SIT on the flatbed trailer? (We’ll provide the hay bale.) We need to know, hopefully, by the end of this month. We could also use a few more PAINTERS some time in June to paint some stones and windows on the replica of the sanctuary and belfry. And we could use a few people to ASSEMBLE THE SIGNS AND BUNTINGS on the flatbed trailer around July 2, after our terrific construction team have set up the float on the trailer.

Building this reusable church float is one of the great ideas that came out of our 2024 Congregational Gatherings. We had built one back in 2005 (You can see the video here). But it was not saved, and, to tell the truth, it was very heavy and not able to be taken apart and stored.

With the help of are architect member, Alan Berry, who is designing the new float, and our team of builders. we are well on our way to getting that float built. It will be about the size of a large garden shed and we plan to build it in the back yard of the Guiteras House. We have the kind loan of a driver, a huge truck and flatbed trailer from ELJ Construction.

If you or someone you know will take on the challenge of walking in front or behind the float or sitting up on the flatbed to make our float as lively as possible, WE NEED SIGNED WAIVER FORMS FROM EACH WALKER – OF ANY AGE – BY APRIL 27th. You can download a copy of the waiver form here and give it to Caroline Jacobus or Barbara Watts in the office.

Hope you can join the church float. It is a special way to celebrate the Fourth!

You can take the flowers home after the service or ask that they be given to a member who would appreciate them. All you have to do is print out the order form, complete it and add your check, and drop it in the offering plate or at the church office by March 14. Order Easter flowers here!

Members of the SNEUCC Haiti Task Force will offer a presentation on their long-time work bringing vital service to schools, orphanages, and health clinics in Haiti during our coffee hour on Sunday, March 16. (This is the presentation postponed from February 9 due to a snowstorm.) Rev. Soukup’s message during the service will reflect on the Haiti’s legacy as the first Black republic in the world following the revolution by the enslaved in the French colony. After the service, Suzanne Swanson, Shirley Hardison, and Linda Sable will give an update on the Task Force’s current initiatives, especially in light of the heightened violence in the country. The Task Force has been “providing education, quality health care, orphan relief, spiritual support, and community-based services for the people of Haiti for over 30 years,” as a sponsored mission in the Historic Rhode Island Conference and now the SNEUCC. Please join us for the worship service at 10:00 a.m. and the presentation at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 16. For additional information about the Task Force, visit Haiti Task Force – Southern New England Conference of the UCC.