by Rev. Sean Amato

Friends –

Welcome to the season of Pentecost – a time in which we, like the disciples who went before us, seek the energizing and affirming presence of the Holy Spirit as we go out into the world. Pentecost is known as a fiery, busy season: a time in which Christian ministries start and end, a time in which people begin to seek out new opportunities for engagement with churches and church life. This is a time to consider taking part in the greater life of our church – a time in which you might step back, consider all the work done by our community through committees and special events, and ask yourself: “Could I do that, too? Why aren’t I doing that with them?”

Over the last year, one group at our church has moved with an energy that I can only watch and applaud: that is, our Outreach & Action Committee. Though they were only ‘formally’ established in January of this year, the seeds for their work were planted years ago when our congregation took an important vote to establish Slatersville Congregational Church as ‘Open & Affirming’ within the United Church of Christ (UCC) – a label we attach to ourselves, one that signals our willingness to work with and affirm the entire body of Christ, including those parts and people who have been treated so haphazardly by other worshiping bodies. Being an Open & Affirming church is, as the UCC suggests, an important sign of our willingness to act as “effective witnesses of Christ’s extravagant welcome” for the LGBTQ+ community – and I have to say, my friends, we do it well. But with the Outreach & Action Committee’s work, our welcome has expanded even further!

Our Outreach & Action Committee acts as an extension of our spiritual ethics and community approach, drawing attention to and educating people on the histories and lived experiences of those who surround us in Slatersville – important tasks that give us context for how and why we live out our faith. To date, the committee has hosted programs addressing sensitive topics such as local race relations, and even best practices in regard to mental health – matters that many churches shy away from – and have enhanced these events by inviting those outside our church into participation. This is hard work, my friends! Echoing
the contributions made by our Missions Committee to the Trevor Project and other justice-minded groups, our Outreach & Action Committee has already shown itself to be a powerful reflection of our church’s heart out in the great community – a reflection of our spiritual and ethical values, too, which we all too often keep to ourselves.

This month, our Outreach & Action Committee will be representing our church at Woonsocket Pride – a special event at River Park in Woonsocket on Sunday, June 14th, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. The committee’s participation represents our church’s first appearance at an event like this, which is brave and new… and, I can imagine, a bit nerve-wracking for your fellow congregants. Considering how special this moment is, I might ask you a favor: show up to support your brave fellows!

Whether you’ve been to a Pride event in your life or not, I would like to invite you to spend time this year at Woonsocket Pride. I invite you to consider engaging with the width and breadth of God’s children, right in our greater backyard of Northern Rhode Island, even if the parking’s difficult; I invite you to spend time with your fellow congregants at our church’s booth, even if it’s only for a little while. Come and see what our church is doing in our community; come and show those in attendance that we are the church we say we are! Harness that Pentecost spirit, that fiery righteousness, and be part of our special witness this year!
I’ll be there, and I hope I’ll see you there, too.

Pastor Sean