Minister's Message
 

A Stewardship Moment by Rev. Nancy
adapted from the Sunday, October 24 Service
 

I have been honored to join the Stewardship Committee in planning for and engaging in this year’s Stewardship Campaign at Amicable Church. During this season of giving, we are blessed to hear Stewardship Moments from three congregants: Laura Mello (October 17), Shawn Martin (October 31), and Steven Zuehlke (November 7). They all are speaking about what Amicable Church means to them and the importance of our community in their lives.

I don’t know about you, but I always find annual Stewardship appeals challenging. We try to think of some new angle on how to get people to respond to the campaign. This year is a particular test for us because “being church” during a pandemic has changed everything that is familiar and comfortable to us about worship and fellowship. Thus, as you complete your stewardship form this year, you may wonder what has the church done for you during the past eighteen months. That’s fair to ponder. At Amicable we’ve regathered in the sanctuary, but we are not as we were two years ago. Masks and noodles still keep us at arms’ length for the sake of safety. Some watch us on Facebook or on the website. Some wait to return when church operates “normally”—no masks, no social spacing.

Thus, how do we convey to the congregation now more than ever that Amicable has continued to gather, to pray, to join in Holy Communion, to do outreach, and to do incredible work to support this church family and the Tiverton community? In fact, the work of the church has moved forward despite a pandemic.

I think we do that through each of you—through your ongoing presence whether in person on Sundays or virtually. I think we do that through the efforts of the Thrift Store staff and all those who engage in outreach, especially the upcoming Thanksgiving Baskets drive.I think we do that through the liturgy and music we offer each week. I think we do that through our pastoral care of each other. As many of my colleagues and I have said, the church didn’t closed when the pandemic hit in March 2020. We’ve remained open since then. We continue to adapt and seek new ways to be community. This is a frustrating and scary process at times, but it is also full of possibility. I hope that through this time of change, many of you will consider your ongoing support of time, talent, and treasure to the church. It is needed now more than ever as we continue to “be the church” into 2022.

Blessings, Rev. Nancy

Worship Themes

November 7, All Saints’/All Soul’s Commemorations

Holy Communion and a Stewardship Sunday

On the first Sunday of November, we will commemorate All Saints’/All Souls’ Day. Members of the congregation are asked to bring to the service an image of a family member or a friend who died during the past two years (2020 and 2021). During our worship, we will illuminate the photos and lift up the names of these loved ones. The commemoration is a time to reflect on the “saints’ in our lives and their qualities of character. The famous hymn, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God,” ends with the words of determination, “and I mean to be [a saint] too.” How do we go about achieving these similar qualities of character in our lives?

NOTE: If you are bringing an image for the service, please email Rev. Nancy (nhsoukup@gmail.com) to ensure we have a candle for each.

November 14,  Veterans’ Day Commemoration

This Sunday, we will honor those who served our country in the military during times of peace and times of war. It is a hallowed occasion, harkening back to the end of World War I on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in the year 1918 when Armistice was finally achieved. WWI was the first “total war” in which every aspect of global society was engaged in the making or doing of war. So great were the losses—both military and civilian—that many countries still see this war, which lasted for four years, as the measure by which we know the meaning of the “ultimate sacrifice” then and now. How do we advocate for those who have experienced war and their families? How do we continue to advocate for the way of peace?

November 20,  275th Anniversary Sunday and Thanksgiving Celebration

It is appropriate to have Amicable’s monthly 275th-themed service as we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year, 2021, marks the 400th anniversary of the first Thanksgiving after the Pilgrims’ first year in Plimouth (note the traditional spelling). We tend to think of this event as the “beginning” of our country’s history. Yet, we are reminded that the “ground upon which we stand” was in fact that of Indigenous Peoples, who were the original inhabitors and nurturers of this land. The same is true where Indigenous Peoples had contact with other Europeans in Virginia, Florida, and the southwestern region of our country at this same time. As we take part in our annual Thanksgiving service, how we can remember those who taught our spiritual ancestors how to live off of this land? How can we acknowledge more justly these tribes?

November 28, First Sunday of Advent

During this Advent season, the Church School will start a new tradition of celebrating Chrismons, which simply means “Christ monograms.” Each Sunday, the children will make gold and white ornaments that are symbols associated with Jesus and his birth, such as crosses, symbols of peace and light, stars, and angels. There will be a theme to each week. Then the ornaments will be placed on a Chrismons tree. In this way, the youth of our church will light the pathway for Jesus’s arrival. During Advent, how are we able to live out the light of Christ as winter advances and as this tired world of ours seeks comfort from the strains we place upon it?

Many ways to help!!

Please volunteer to help on Thursday November, 18 from
10:00 AM-noon to help transport everything from Amicable to the library. On Friday, November 19 starting at 10:00 you can help package the bags with all of the Thanksgiving goods. On Saturday November 20, starting 8:30 AM help is needed to distribute the bags. 

Food donations are very much needed. Especially needed are cans of cranberry sauce, gravy, vegetables and boxes of stuffing.
Thank you for your support!

For questions please contact Pat Campion at pjcamp53@aol.com

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

November 7, Pledge Sunday 

November 14, Business Meeting 

As we have been doing for 275 years, we are planning for our future. The very practical form that planning takes is putting together a budget. A budget says: we will pay our pastor and music minister. We will pay the light bill. See to it that the heater heats. We will be here warm and welcoming ready to open our doors. We will teach children, baptize babies, break bread, and share the cup. A budget is an act of faith. IT needs the generosity of members and friends to turn from hope to a plan. By pledging for the coming year you are helping create that plan. If you have not mailed in your pledge, please bring it on Sunday, November 7 as we will be lifting up all pledges. -The Stewardship Team.

Join us on Sunday November 14 after worship service for Amicable's Annual Business meeting to be held in the sanctuary. A vote to approve the 2022 budget is on the agenda. Attend to have your voice heard.

A.C.T.S. NEEDS YOU!

Just One Hour Would Help! If you could find just one hour to help out in ACTS, it would make a BIG difference. No need to commit to a particular day or time, just come by for an hour any Wednesday between 9:00 and 1:00, or Thursday or Saturday between 9:00 and 2:00. You could help in the sorting room going through clothes and linens or in the backroom (former kitchen) getting items ready for sale. We get an enormous amount of donations nearly every day. Just a few more helping hands would allow us to offer our customers quality and variety continually. And you will be amazed at the things we receive.

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

A Big Shout Out to Jim Aiello!

For those of us who enter the church sanctuary from the South entrances especially those who use the wheelchair ramp you'll notice that the ramp has been repaired and painted. A big thank you to Jim who has been donating his time and talent to the Amicable Church community over the past several weeks to restore our wheelchair ramp. Well done and much appreciated!

A thank you note from Jillian Goncola
for receiving a 2021 Garey Scholarship!

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.” 

Employment Opportunity

There is a Church Secretary position available, which is a part-time 10 hour per week
role payable at $25.00 per hour. 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.

Financial Notes of Interest - October 2021

•   With At-Church Worship Services continuing, still with some Covid-restrictions,                         pledged/donated collections were similar to September’s receipts.
 

• If the weekly/monthly pledged/donated contribution trend continues, expect this year’s regular collections to be about 5% less than budgeted.
   
• Cleaning, maintenance, and general expenses were similar to last month and should end the year less than budgeted.
   
• We are still operating without a Secretary so these expenses are not accumulating.
   
• Thrift Shop again had a great month, and is now at 80% over its budgeted 2021 year’s income.
   
• There will be some special Major Maintenance expenses this fall for finishing up the South Ramp repair/repaint task, a Stained Glass Window crack repair, and a ‘lift door closure’ repair, but the MM expenses will still end up less than what was budgeted for the year.
   
• The Trustees currently plan to take the full 4th quarter
  General Endowment Withdrawal.
   
• 2021 should end up in a positive financial position, barring any
  unexpected expenses.
   
• 2022 Budget preparation activities are essentially complete in preparation for the November 14th Business Meeting, and the Proposed Budget Package is being distributed.
  
  Respectfully Submitted:  Treasurer, Roger Gauthier

2022 Budget Process

Amicable Church operates on a financial calendar year basis.  Budgets are formed in the early fall for the subsequent year and presented at an early November Business Meeting for a congregational discussion, review, suggestions, possible amendments, and vote for approval. 
There are three areas of the church that have budgets, each with an official church body that is responsible for identifying, presenting, and recommending their budget, as well as overseeing the financial expenditures, relative to the approved budget, during the budgetary year.  These areas are as follows, along with the responsible church body.

Operation Account – Board of Trustees – covers maintenance and operation of the physical church and property.  How Amicable supports our mission to each other and to our community.

Benevolence Account – Standing Committee – provides support to Southeast New England UCC Conference, and other global and local missions.  How Amicable reaches out in mission to others locally and internationally.

Faith Formation Account – Faith Formation Committee – covers running of the Sunday School, Youth Groups, and Adult Education activities.  How Amicable supports the educational mission for and to our congregation.

2022 Operation Budget Notes

A budget provides a financial framework to support our mission and ministries.
The 2022 budget is the result of extended deliberations that involved balancing the conflicting objectives of General Endowment preservation, staff recognition, building maintenance and the continuing impact of COVID-19 on church operations.
 

The Operation Budget is our church’s plan for how it will maintain and extend the ministry of Jesus Christ in this place, among this people. The largest financial obligations of the Operation Budget are the salaries of the individuals employed by the church. These are the people who work supporting Amicable’s mission and ministry and empower us to do our part.
 

As we are all aware 2022 will be a year of challenge for our church community. Our Interim Minister, Rev. Nancy Soukup will lead the church family through a period of self-reflection as we develop a profile to recruit our next settled minister. A contributing factor to our success in this process is to maintain stability and continuity among the staff who are employed by the Church.
 

The significant factors influencing the Trustees budgeting discussions are: 1. The need to recruit new staff and motivate and retain our current staff so that the church has the resources to help us through this upcoming period of congregational discernment; 2. The continued withdrawal of funds from the General Endowment to cover the Operation Budget.
 

The 2022 budgeted amount for Minister salary and benefits line reflects that Rev. Soukup's 2022 contract will increase by the 3% cost-of-living increase experienced over the last year and the UCC Pension Board medical insurance increase of 5%. Rev. Soukup’s compensation package includes $83,160 salary, and including standard benefits totals $111,976. Rev. Soukup is expected to perform the roles and responsibilities of a settled minister but, also of leading the process of congregational self-reflection and discernment to prepare the congregation for the calling of a settled minister.
 

The Minister of Music salary is receiving a 3% cost-of-living increase along with a 2% merit increase. The total salary is $35,550. These increases were in recognition of the outstanding contributions of time and talent that the Music Minister gave the church community throughout 2020 and 2021. The Music Minister has not received a merit increase in 6 years, due to ongoing budget constraints.
 

The Office Administrator/ Social Media Coordinator roles will receive an increase in hourly rate to $25.00.  We have been actively searching for candidates without success and have therefore updated the wage rate to be more competitive. It is critical to Rev. Soukup’s success to have this position filled.
 

Currently the 2022 Budget reflects 5 hours per week for Custodian duties and 5 hours per week for a Cleaning Service. The rate for these positions is $20 per hour.
 

The other sections of our Operation Budget represent fixed costs for day to day maintenance of our property. It is the cost of our open doors and spiritual hospitality. The Trustees have made tactical decisions as to the extent and timing of Normal and Major Maintenance expenses to balance the budgetary impact of maintaining the church building.    In 2022 our Normal Maintenance budgeted costs are expected to decrease slightly by 2.81% in comparison to 2021 budgeted expense. In 2022 we are planning for one Major Maintenance project. We are planning to tile the Child Care Room with a non-toxic product called Marmoleum. This project is estimated at $2500. This project is necessitated by a health and safety concern.
 

In 2021 our Fund Raiser events continued to be challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 5K Walk/Run Event and Holiday Bazaar were cancelled. The Summer Festival and Thrift Shop operations this year are expected to yield $53,063 in support of church operations. These proceeds continue to be a critical portion of our income and we want to thank all the people that continue to plan, manage, run, and support these important efforts. More importantly, these events allow the community at large to meet our church family and experience what makes Amicable so special.  For 2022 the 5K Walk/Run event as well as the Holiday Bazaar are currently planned to be held, along with a fuller Summer Festival and the continuing Thrift Shop operations.
 

Lastly, to cover the 2022 Operation Budget withdrawals are scheduled to be made from our Endowment. As the proposed budget now stands, to cover operation expenses, we have agreed to withdraw the standard distribution of 5% from the General Endowment or $37,636, plus an additional $47,443 or 6.3% from the General Endowment to allow for expenses to be covered by income.  This means that pledges and other planned income such as our Fund Raising Events fall short of covering our operation budget by $85,079. We need to "borrow" 37.3% of our operation budget from the General Endowment to keep the lights on and we NEVER pay it back. It is this continuing concern that the Trustees have about capital preservation that has caused the Trustees once again to postpone significant Major Maintenance projects such as the repair and painting of the Sanctuary ceiling.

2022 Benevolence Account Budget

The Benevolence Budget brings Amicable’s mission statement to life as we “endeavor to follow Jesus Christ’s example by serving as a beacon of light, bringing the world into relationship with God.” Sharing from what we have so others can have enough is one important way in which we bring people—ourselves includes—into relationship with God. Recognizing that we have all been richly blessed, we are called to increase our own blessings by modeling God’s generosity to us. This means looking beyond ourselves and our own needs to those of individuals and groups in our community and around the world who are hungry, homeless, cold, lonely. Amicable’s Benevolence Budget supports such important missions.
 

We are members of the United Church of Christ, joining in ministry and mission with Congregational churches throughout the United States. Our local UCC chapter is the Southern New England Conference, with a Rhode Island Association in place since 2020. The UCC has many programs that help support members of our national and international communities, including “Our Church’s Wider Mission” (OCWM). OCWM funds the work the UCC does in its Associations and Conferences and in the national and global church. Some of these specific programs include supporting leadership training for theological and medical students in seven African countries, providing racial justice curriculums to members and congregations, funding over one hundred missionaries in forty four countries, and promoting eighty seven different mission trips within the United States. OCWM funds are invested in programs, resources, and tools needed to keep local UCC churches like Amicable strong, effective, and growing. Amicable’s Benevolence Budget contributes to these efforts through our Proportional Giving line items to the SNE Conference and RI Association.
 

Our Benevolence Budget also supports ongoing aid efforts in Haiti through the Haiti Project, Andover Newton Seminary, and the RI Association’s local mission, the Hispanic Church. By supporting these and the work of the SNE Conference, we are helping to build community, nurture hope, promote wholeness, and demand justice in the Northeast, throughout the United States, and around the world. We deepen our own relationships with God and transform lives.
 

Your pledge of support for Amicable’s Benevolence Budget allows us together to care for the least among us, thereby allowing God’s transformative love to change us and the world.

2022 Faith Formation Account Budget

The Faith Formation Budget supports Sunday School, Adult Education, and Youth Groups.
 

Sunday School is still struggling a bit with low attendance which is unfortunate as we have two dedicated and enthusiastic teachers running the program. Sarah Martin and Mica Silvia will be utilizing Cokesbury Celebrate Wonder curriculum which accounts for the majority of the budgeted expenses at $500.00.
 

There will be no confirmation for 2021-2022. Special events include a budget of $300 for Christmas and Children’s Sunday expenses. We will be reaching out to all children in our directory with special Thanksgiving treats and activities. This expense will also come out of the special events line item. New have budgeted $200 for supplies and children’s bulletins. Lastly, we have budgeted $100 for missions.
 

Adult Education will receive a grant from Sunday school of $205 to cover costs of Upper Room, Advent and Lenten Devotionals, and 275th Amicable anniversary readings. Covid 19 restrictions has been limited to a few virtual contacts with families.
 

Youth Group has budgeted $600 for outings and meetings. The budgeted money covers costs of admissions and food.
 

As always Bibles will be handed out during Reformation Sunday, to just the third graders in 2022 as there will not be a confirmation class. On Children’s Sunday, Garey Scholarships are provided to active youngsters (often of any age) who are pursuing post-high school education. We have a surplus of Bibles so no expense needed.

Milestones