Minister's Corner

“A Shared Sense of Compassion”

May 31, 2022

Last week, an expression of profound compassion was extended when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered his condolences to the town of Uvalde, Texas, on the death of 19 children and 2 teachers at the Robb Elementary School. Of course, all the outpouring of care for Uvalde’s grieving parents and family members were heartfelt. However, for a man, whose country has been under siege since February, to take time from his own sorrows to express his understanding and care on the tragic deaths of these innocent victims was very moving to me.

I speak for so many who are appalled and outraged by the events a week ago in this small Texas town. People who perpetrate these crimes almost always take advantage of the most vulnerable—children and youth in schools, worshippers in sanctuaries, shoppers going about purchasing food or everyday goods. Once again on a happy school day, small children and their teachers faced the incredible, inexplicable horror of someone determined to destroy multiple lives including their own.

Each time this happens, people rise up in anger and ask “why”—why can’t we stop this? As President Biden left Uvalde on Sunday after visiting the memorial site and family members of those lost, people shouted out to him: “Do something.” “Do something.”

In this spring of sadness—the Ukraine, multiple shooting events, COVID, out of control inflation—I struggle, as we all do, to identify workable solutions to what has transpired. However, I think President Zelenskyy gave us a first step—a shared sense of compassion. We may not have experienced the same type of violence Uvalde and the Ukraine has known recently. However, we can sit attentively with the complexity of these troubles longer than the 24/7 news will allow us.

I believe that this shared sense of compassion—a shared sense of humanity—can break through the stiff walls of political will. I also believe that collective, concentrated prayer for those affected by such violence makes a difference! It is not a quick solution, but it requires work and time. Furthermore, I believe intentional action is essential, such as writing/emailing/texting our representatives in Congress, and not just Rhode Island’s representatives, but those with whom we may not always agree.

What do I remember from last week? I remember the president of a besieged country extending his care to a besieged school in a small town in Texas, resulting in a shared sense of compassion.

To learn more about what our denomination is saying about events in Uvalde, Texas, please follow this link.

- The Rev. Nancy Hamlin Soukup, Interim Minister

June Worship Themes

June 5, 2022

Reconnect and Regenerate: Eat in the rhythm of the planet

The four-week Reconnect and Regenerate our Community's Ecosystem Program concludes with a worship service at Movement Ground Farm followed by a potluck meal. We’ve come to expect the same array of fresh foods at the corner grocery all year long without thinking about the considerable carbon produced to reach our stores. We are learning that by eating seasonally we reduce that carbon footprint and gain additional nutritional benefits. We can also use ancient processes of fermentation to preserve seasonal foods. This week, we’ll consider how eating locally and seasonally tunes us to the cycles of the planet and the community. The Rev. Dr. Leslie Simonson will preside at this service alongside Kohei Ishihara, founder of Movement Ground Farm.

June 12, 2022

Pentecost—A Celebration of Amicable Church’s 275th Anniversary and Dedication of the Native Plant Pollinator Picnic Garden

This Sunday, we will celebrate Pentecost—the Christian Church’s Birthday—and Amicable’s 275th Anniversary with a service of Holy Communion. We will honor all those, who for generation after generation, including our own, have given faithfully to the building of Christian community at Amicable. Furthermore, we will recall the church’s decades of dedicated service to the world around us. The morning concludes with a symbol of our future—the dedication of the native plant pollinator picnic garden on the church’s north lawn. This garden was developed by Amicable’s Church School and Girl Scout Troop 540 as part of the Reconnect and Regenerate Program.

June 19, 2022

Father’s Day and Church School Celebration

This service honors all those who are fathers to us as well as our Church School, which has had a very active and joyful year despite COVID. The children and youth will lead our worship and offer the morning message. During the service, we will award the Garey Scholarships to those seeking higher education. Furthermore, we will celebrate the Faith Formation team, who has creatively guided our young people through a year of tremendous accomplishment.

June 26, 2022

Worship under the Tent

Following Saturday’s (June 25) Summer Fair, we will gather for worship outside under the tent in the north parking lot. This is our annual service to celebrate all the hard work members of the congregation and Amicable friends put into our fair. Most important, we will give thanks to all in the church who give countless hours of time and talent to support the Amicable’s numerous mission efforts.

Join us on Sunday, June 5th!

Pollinator Garden Update

From Conception to Fruition

Summer Fair Request

Volunteers and Donations

The Summer Fair Committee is also looking for volunteers to help prepare for and staff the Summer Festival. Volunteers are needed on Friday, 9am to 4pm and Saturday, all-day. Please come and join in the fun! If you are interested in helping, please email Pat Campion at pjcamp53@aol.com or Ray Medeiros at medeiros7@cox.net, leave a message on the church office phone:              401-624-4611.

PrideFest

Rhode Island’s Annual PrideFest Celebration & Illuminated Night Parade will be held in beautiful Downtown Providence on Saturday, June 18, 2022. Beginning at noon with gates opening at 11:00 a.m. on South Water Street you’ll have access to over 250 nonprofit organizations, businesses, and food vendors. Please stop by Amicable’s booth between 11:00 a.m. and 6 p.m., visit with Jeanna DaCosta and Ray Medeiros to show your support!

If you would like to volunteer email Ray Medeiros at medeiros7@cox.net or Jeanna DaCosta at jeannadacosta@gmail.com.

Love is love!

Financial Notes of Interest - May 2022

• In person and open Church Services & Upper Hall coffee hour gatherings, along with congregational singing, albeit masked, continued.
• Donation receipt amounts continued as expected, with all varieties of giving methods being utilized.
• The Thrift Shop continued to have greater than planned monthly receipts (now about 10% ahead of the year’s expected receipts).
• Expenses continue to pick up as Church opens up more and more.
• A few special expenses in May:
  • Some extra office supplies and items were purchased as our new Office Coordinator settles in and helps to get office operations back in gear and more efficient after a couple of years without an office secretary.
  • Two trees were removed in the North-East area where the lawn drops off – just east of where the Pollinator Garden is being constructed – as they were old, and ivy encased.
  • Expenses for material for the Pollinator Garden – covered by the $2,000 grant received earlier in the year.
• Even with the earlier decision to not take the budgeted 1st quarter withdrawals from the General Endowment Fund, the Operation Account financial status through May remains in good shape. Therefore, the Trustees have decided, once again this year, to not take the standard 2nd quarter General Endowment withdrawal in June. 

  - Respectfully Submitted: 

    Treasurer, Roger Gauthier

June 2022 Calendar of Events

For more up-to-date calendar information please view our calendar here.