by Rev. Sean Amato

Friends and Family in Christ,

Though my time with you has been short, it has felt deeply productive – constructive and busy for our church and our congregation, essentially informative for me, and profoundly refreshing. Though we stand on unsteady ground – a descriptor of our world to which I find myself regularly returning – during these days, our church seems to have found itself reinvigorated: host to surprising visitors and new members, resurgent partnerships and new projects, beautiful reminders of what has been and provocative hints at what we might still become. This has been a time of activity and change, Slatersville, and I could not be more excited about who we are and what we are becoming.

I started working as your settled pastor, full-time, on approximately August 5th of this year; I did so to coincide my start with our Vacation Bible School. That week began a time of observing the passion of this congregation – a time in which I watched long-time supporters of this church put their heart and soul into our church’s mission, into our church’s community, and into the greater community around us. Over the next few weeks, I met with members of our community beyond the church that spoke to me at length about the deep and important work our congregants do – at Harvest Community Shelter in Woonsocket, as host to the North Smithfield Food Pantry… the list goes on, and on. Your passion, your capacity for connection with one another and the world around you – it’s quite special.

It takes a special church to experience, let alone survive, the tumultuous season into which we entered after the retirement of Rev. Eileen. The obstacles facing this church and its congregation were not small, nor – in my opinion – did the church escape them unscathed.

The uphill journey toward being an Open & Affirming church, the congregation’s instructive experience with several interim and bridge ministers, the transition of long-time staff members alongside the arrival of new staff members, our church leadership’s attempts to wrangle conference support, responding to security concerns around our church and community – not to mention the agonizing and circuitous work of the Search Committee in finding a new settled pastor… this church has spent the last few years weathering storms
that would have genuinely collapsed other places.

But they did not collapse Slatersville Congregational Church – not even close. Instead, this church’s talented lay leadership, committee members, and supportive congregation kept moving forward with institutional survival in mind, doing so without external support – doing so without, on some days, a visible light at the end of the tunnel. And by the grace of God, this church has pulled us through the mire. From my head to my feet, from one end of my heart to the other, I have nothing but appreciative awe for this church’s capacity
for adaptation, hard work, and survival.

The fruits of this survival labor are in view, especially now that we’ve entered a new season. Per commentary from congregants, the church
is growing; adult Christian Education programming has begun again, leading to regular and provocative discussion of both our scripture and our faith. Our Christmas Eve services were crowded – so crowded, as Michell can attest, that we needed to ask attendees to share programs! Our supplementary programming, including new offerings like a Sensory Friendly Service for local families, have drawn new eyes and hearts into our midst. We are doing things, Slatersville. Things are happening here, and they’re happening
because you are involved and invigorated.

My call for this congregation in 2025, then, is for each of you to consider doing what you can to take ownership of this place. How can you make this church your own, even more than it already is?

In our meetings with the Nominating Committee, there is some palpable excitement over the diversity and fullness of many of our committees: there are many of you that have taken the initiative and are taking ownership by participating in the ‘backstage’ of our church. I urge all of you to consider following in these footsteps – not necessarily by joining a committee, but by considering how you can enhance your participation in our community. This does not mean that I expect you to find a place to fit in! The joy of our church, this church, is that we are willing to explore new avenues – consider new ways to live our community and our Christianity. Is there something we’re not doing that you think we should be doing, especially if it’s something you think you could lead us into? Let me know; speak to our Council! This is your church.

As we move forward, though, I beg you: forget not where we came from, as a community of tradition and history. When I speak of this matter, I think about our Christian Education program and our Sunday School in particular – a Sunday School that is the root of our church, the reason why Slatersville Congregational Church exists. We are host to one of the
oldest, longest-running Sunday schools in the country (if not the oldest). What is the next iteration of this program? How might we better support the stalwart few who lead our Sunday School program, and shore up what has already made us great? In taking ownership of your church, I beg you: let’s build upon what has made all this possible, and make it stronger.

In closing, church, I say thank you. Thank you for taking a risk on bringing in a new pastor, and for showing that pastor who you are and how you do things. I am but one person, and I have much to learn. Joyfully, joyously, I am privy to a congregation of teachers, or at least those with the patience of teachers – those who are helping me learn, and pastor to you as you are. With your help, I feel – I know – that we can continue to grow all that this church has been and will be. Thank you, thank you – now let’s keep moving. As best you can, do not be afear’ed as to the unknown: we are together, we have lasted this long, and we have momentum. Make it yours and keep moving!

Pastor Sean