Minister's Message

I watched for several weeks as many of you moved forward to organize this year’s Summer Fair. Once you decided not to let another year go by without it, everyone pitched in to make this event happen. I sat in my office and witnessed a parade of contributions to the yard sale and book stall being dropped off and taken downstairs to the church’s lower level.  I could not begin to imagine where it all was going. Occasionally, I would walk downstairs and then close my eyes.

Why was I worrying? I had no need to—the coorganizers for the Fair—Pat Campion and Ray Medeiros—just kept showing incredible enthusiasm and calm as we drew each day closer to the Fair. I kept reminding myself that this was my first Fair and that there was a method to what seemed like chaos. So I stood back as more furniture and house goods and books came into the church. These seemed to disappear into a corner here or a nook and cranny there thanks to the incredible Thrift Store staff, Pat, and Ray.

On the day before the Fair, tents appeared, tables came out, boxes and boxes and boxes of goods were hauled out of the church’s lower level. These were all set down next to their appropriate table(s), opened, and arranged.

On Saturday morning, the sides of the tents were removed to reveal a rich assortment of used items for the Yard Sale. Out of nowhere came baked goods, chorizo, chow mein, and ice cream. A table was reserved for children to create their own COVID masks. The game/toy area had goodies for young and old. Plants were available for those with a green thumb. The Thrift Store was fully staffed to welcome shoppers for a very busy day of browsing. The Silent Auction offered bidders numerous high-end products, dinners, specialty food, and oh, yes, kayaks donated by Roger and Martha Gauthier in pristine condition. A bidding war ensued for these, which went right down to the wire.

As I reflect on the day, I most noticed that relationships were nurtured between members of the congregation, some of whom are family, as well as long-time friends of the church. The pandemic had kept everyone separate for entirely too long. People could sit outside and talk to each other, catch up in person rather than by phone or through email/texting. Despite the missed year due to COVID, Amicable put into action a well-oiled event. More than 40 volunteers and 20 donors participated in the success of the Fair. Everyone knew their part, knew how to execute their responsibility, and did it with such ease.

Suffice it to say, I learned much on Saturday, August 21, about Amicable. Many of my observations confirmed what I already suspected or knew about YOU as a congregation. You are extremely close knit, can almost finish each other’s sentences, anticipate what needs to be done, care tremendously about this church as “home,” and care tremendously about each other. Most important, there is always room for someone new to lend a hand, to learn how it works, and to become part of Amicable.

Blessings, Rev. Nancy

Worship Themes

September 5, Labor Day Weekend

Honoring Those Who Worked to Build Our Nation

Labor Day originated during the late nineteenth century at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Laborers of all ages worked in factories, mills, and on railroads, where unsafe and unhealthy conditions prevailed. To protest, a series of strikes began a national labor movement and the formation of unions. Perhaps the most famous of these protests was the 1912 “Bread and Roses” strike in the textile mills of Lawrence, MA. As we purchase goods of all types, we rarely give thought to the human power that went into making these products. May we pray for all those who use their ingenuity, strength, and endurance to produce what we use daily in our lives.

September 12, RALLY SUNDAY

This Sunday marks the beginning of our Church School year and a regathering of our congregation after the summer months. We will celebrate with the “Build Your Own Service” worship, which was postponed from August 22. Members of the congregation sent in suggestions for readings and hymns that form the content of our service. In addition, there will be activities for our children and youth. Most important, we will celebrate our Amicable family as we begin to commemorate the church’s 275th anniversary.

Beginning on September 19 through October 3, our worship will focus on the theme of “Honoring Amicable as Community.”

September 19, Part 1

Honoring Amicable as Community: What Keeps Us Close

Amicable Church has been gathering for 275 years. This long history is a reflection of the endurance of the congregation and its ability to adapt to the challenges of each new era. As a community, what has been the warp and weft of the fabric that constitutes the church? What sustains us as new societal demands tug at the threads of this weave? How can we strengthen our commitment to the beauty of the tapestry that is Amicable?

September 26, Part 2

Honoring Amicable as Community: What Keeps Us Changing

Amicable Church has a long tradition of progressive worship, theology, and viewpoints. The ability to be contemporary helps a church stay relevant with each passing year. How do we balance tradition and our fast forward outlook on the world? How do we continue to adapt to a society that trends away from the institution of “church” and is more reliant on other modes for forming meaningful community?

October 3, Holy Communion and Baptism, Part 3

Honoring Amicable as Community: What Prepares Us for the Future

As Amicable considers its future during a ministerial transition, it is essential to consider that fabric, which is the congregation. How are we bound together? How do we adapt to a changing world around us? How do we approach our future as a community of faith in the 21st century? A global pandemic has altered radically how we engage in worship. How then do we adjust to celebrating our faith together? How do we meet to discuss important matters or to socialize? How do we welcome new people into the community? How do we best prepare for what lies ahead? 

Church COVID Update

In preparation for returning to in-person worship on June 6, the Church Council on behalf of the congregation developed COVID protocols for the health, well-being, and safety of all who come into the church. Among the most important aspects of the protocols were and still are:

• mask wearing in the sanctuary;
• no congregational singing; and
• 6’ distance between the pews with 3’ distance within pews unless sitting with a household.

Other protocols include the use of individual communion cups and stationary offering plates, as well as restricted access to the upper hall and downstairs (except for the Thrift Store).

The importance of maintaining these protocols is accentuated by news of the Delta variant in all 50 states. Those unvaccinated are at high risk from this newest form of COVID. Unfortunately, we are seeing a small percentage of people with vaccinations have breakthrough cases. The most recent CDC guidance recommends vaccinated individuals wear masks when indoors in public spaces.

What does that mean? For now, Amicable is staying the course with our COVID protocols. I have people ask me regularly, “When can we remove our masks and sing in the sanctuary? Other churches are doing it.” I feel your discomfort and weariness with masking and no singing. Yet, protocols are not a one-size fits all. What one church does might be vastly different than another. At Amicable, the Church Council made wise assessments of COVID risk in the sanctuary and the rest of the building. The equation takes into account factors such as the size of the sanctuary, ventilation, and the age of the population. This indicates that we need to continue to maintain the protocols.

If a family wants to have a wedding, funeral/memorial service, and/or baptism—life rite services—the COVID protocols are still in place. We have been fortunate to have some of these services during the past year, where families have worked with us to hold their important occasions. It has meant adapting the seating and music to assure that all who attend remain safe. The Worship Team is also trying to come up with interesting ways to inject singing into our Sunday services outside of the sanctuary.

We thank you all for your faithful observance to these protocols. We believe they are keeping us all safe so that we can gather together for worship. If you cannot participate in-person, we are still posting the service on Amicable’s Facebook page on Sunday afternoon.

Blessings, Rev. Nancy

Thank you to our silent auction donors - Four Corners Grille, Sakonnet River Grille, Newport Restaurant Group, Family Ties, Groundswell, Coastal Roasters, Indian Rock Farm, Stop and Shop, Young Family Farm, Peckham's Greenhouse, Sakonnet Farm, Humphrey's Building Supply, Rt. 177 Flea Market, Sue Cory, Sheila Gediman, Leslie Simonson, Tori Beth, Paula Becker, and the Galipeau Family.

A very big thank you to Barbara Pelletier for many years of donating her services to update the cloth banner used for the Summer Fair. This year was exceptionally tricky due to the month and day change. Thank you for your creativity!

Audio & Video Update Fund Established

For instance, good quality video and audio recordings could potentially be incorporated into in-person services. Higher quality integrated audio and video recordings of in-person services could be made available online. Clarity and volume of audio in both types of services would also be improved.

 
Anyone interested in donating towards the fund may designate your donation to “The AV Update Fund.” Also, watch for information coming soon about a fundraising concert to be held in September!

Employment Opportunity

There is a Church Secretary position available, which is a part-time 10 hour per week role. If anyone is interested please send an email to office@amicablechurch.org or call the church office at 401-624-4611. We are looking for an individual who has experience with MS Word, Excel and Google document management.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Christian Ed Team is in need of  Sunday School volunteers for the 2021-2022 year. If you enjoy working with children and youth and can share your time and talents with us at least one Sunday per month, please reach out to Sarah Martin at smartinrdn@gmail.com. 

We are in need of a freezer for storage for the Thanksgiving baskets. If you know of anyone looking to get rid of a freezer (upright or chest) please call or e-mail the church office.

Help Needed at ACTS

Calling All Able-Bodied Help…ACTS Needs YOU!

The Thrift Shop at Amicable is thriving! We see regular customers who look forward to interacting with our staff as well as checking out what is new in our ever- changing inventory. It is also fun to hear the exclamations from those who have discovered us for the first time and compliment us on the artful displays and unique finds.

However, we can only keep the Thrift Shop thriving if we have enough help. At a minimum, ACTS needs five (5) staff on the days we are open. We are busy putting merchandise out, organizing, pricing, and completing sales with customers. We would like also to have 3-4 volunteers on the days the Thrift Shop is not open to assist with set-up, sorting, organization, and cleaning. There is ALWAYS something to be done. Additionally, we would welcome a volunteer who is willing to learn how the shop operates in the event one of our current “managers” is unavailable.

At present, we have a wonderful hardworking team – but there is no back-up and we are often understaffed. We very much want to avoid having to close the Thrift Shop on days we are expected to be open as that would send a confusing message. People are used to seeing the “OPEN” flag on Thursdays and Saturdays. ACTS is not only a source of income for Amicable’s operational expenses but also an important community outreach on many levels.

If you can provide a couple hours, please call Gail  ducks4jkj@yahoo.com (401-624-2260) or Martha  m.s.macnaught@cox.net (401-624-2323)

Financial Notes of Interest - August 2021.

• With At-Church Worship Services continuing, still with some Covid-restrictions, pledged/donated collections were similar to July’s receipts.
• Cleaning, maintenance, and general expenses picked up slightly, as church use continues to expand slowly.
• We are still operating without a Secretary so these normal expenses are not accumulating presently.  
• The late-August Summer Festival took place and successfully, though as a slightly less than full event.  Good to be able to hold it after missing having it last year.
• Thrift Shop again had a great month, and is now at 45% over its budgeted 2021 year’s income.
• There were some Major Maintenance expenses in August for exterior siding repairs for the West side of the Oil Tank Bulkhead and around the South-West Entry double-door.
• Because of our current positive financial position, along with an expectation that we will end up 2021 in a positive financial position, the Trustees decided to forego taking about 2/3 of the planned 3rd quarter General Endowment Withdrawal.

Respectfully Submitted:  Treasurer, Roger Gauthier

Milestones