Easter Letter

Dear Newman Church Community,

In the UCC, our founding document reminds us that we are called “in each generation to make this faith our own.” And there is no better time than Easter to think about what new spirit we are contributing to our ancient faith.

How is Newman Church giving our faith something new in 2025?

• We’re thinking about our new pastor: we have called a new settled pastor, Rev. Sam Lovett, who started with us on Ash Wednesday, administering “drive-thru” ashes to hundreds of people in the church parking lot. In worship, Sam has been inviting us to consider the “gifts of the dark woods,” using the image of Jesus in the wilderness to help us consider what gifts God is giving to us in this unsettled season of Lent. We’re looking forward to leaving the dark woods at Easter, and continuing to move boldly and brightly into the spirit-filled season of Pentecost.
• We’re thinking about the church’s many missions: we will be continuing our relationships—both new and longstanding—with the Good Neighbors Food Pantry, the Newman Church Racial Justice Scholarship recipients, our Pokanoket neighbors, the Haiti Medical Clinic, Crossroads RI, Hope Hospice and Palliative Care of RI, Back Bay Mission, the East Providence Historical Society, Rumford Little League, the RI Organizing Project, and many others! We are proud to be a community church and we look forward to advancing our partnerships this year!
• We’re thinking about the church garden: we worship in a historical building that is over two-hundred years old. And despite the challenges and privileges of stewarding such a building, every spring when you walk outside the church, the building comes alive and is made new again by the budding and blooming all around. Newman Church first gathered for worship around a tree; if our ancestors in faith were a people of the oak, we are a people of the acorn. We are an Easter people, in good soil, and ready to rise into new life.

In this season of transition, we hope that you will feel inspired to be part of the new life and new faith all around us with your support for our church’s annual Easter Offering. This offering has two goals—half of the proceeds will support our church’s far-reaching mission in the world, and the other half will support dynamic ministry that is responsive to needs within our beloved community.

Offerings can be mailed to the church office with “Easter Offering” noted in the memo area, dropped in the offering plate at the Easter Service on April 20 at 10:00 a.m., or made online at www.newmanucc.org/give.

Easter blessings,