The Seekonk Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, is a church that lives out God’s call to mission in exciting and faithful ways.
Ongoing and Local Mission Projects
Adopt-a-Highway
Part of our mission commitment is to keep the environment clean. We are part of the State of Massachusetts Department of Transportation ‘Adopt A Highway’ cleanup program. Our designated route is along 114A from our church, north to the Rhode Island line. April to November, volunteers from the church pick up litter and keep the roadside clean. The litter is collected in bags and picked up by the highway department.
Can and Bottle Collection
This is a contribution toward cleaning up our environment. Massachusetts deposit cans and bottles can be left in the recycling container at the top of the Fall River Avenue church parking lot. The cans and bottles are sorted weekly and taken to a recycling center. The money raised from the project goes to hunger and justice concerns.
Church Food Pantry
Our congregation maintains a small food pantry for members and others requiring assistance to make ends meet. Please contact the church office for more information.
Coat Collection
Prior to Thanksgiving, the church gathers gently used coats that are taken by our Youth to a center where they are distributed to those in need.
Doorways: Local Food Pantry
Doorways Food Pantry is open on Saturday mornings and is supported by area churches and groups working together. Members of the church serve on the Board and provide assistance in a variety of ways. For example, members of the Mission and Social Action Board deliver food every other week to Seekonk residents who are unable to get to Doorways themselves.
Neighbors in Need Offerings: “Unfailing Love”
Neighbors in Need “Unfailing Love” special offering is focused on supporting organizations and projects that are serving homeless and immigrant neighbors or communities. One-third of NIN funds support the Council for American Indian Ministry .(CAIM). Two-thirds of this offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries (JWM) to provide funding grants to UCC churches and organizations leading justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects in their communities.
One Great Hour of Sharing
Around the world, our mission dollars are at work in 80 countries. This special offering helps provide financial and personal resources to assist individuals, especially in developing areas, with literacy and a wide range of other self-help and sustainable activities. These include agricultural, industrial, medical and educational programs.
Soup Kitchen (temporarily suspended due to COVID19)
Seekonk Congregational Church is one of ten churches currently participating in the Christian Community Soup Kitchen. Once every ten weeks on a rotational basis, each church serves a full meal to individuals in need. The Soup Kitchen is held every Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Park Place Congregational UCC in Pawtucket. Members of each church are asked to provide the designated meal (determined by each individual church) and this includes a main dish, plus fruit, salad and bread. Church volunteers assist with preparing and serving the food.
Educational Endeavors
Racial Justice Statement:
We believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. As a church, we confess our complicity and participation in the sin of racism that has plagued our nation for over 400 years. As people of faith and followers of Jesus, we are called to build God’s inclusive and equitable realm on earth. Therefore, we seek to engage in programming, study, and action that lead us to become true allies of people of color, dedicated to promoting real equity and meaningful change.
From the confiscation of indigenous lands and the slaughter and cultural destruction of native peoples; the enslavement of Africans, Jim Crow segregation, and mass incarceration of African Americans: the exploitation of Chinese laborers to build the railroads; the internment of those of Japanese descent during World War II; to mistreatment of and attacks upon Latino and Middle Eastern immigrants, we collectively have a lot to learn, ponder, and repent.
Building Diversity Awareness
The Mission and Social Action Board strives through education and empowerment to foster the awareness of diversity in our society and seeks to challenge the congregation to grow in hospitality and outreach to those who might seem ‘different’ from the majority in our church. To this end, the Board sponsors programs and speakers, and hosts educational seminars and suppers focused on topics of racial and cultural concerns and issues.
In order to further our education on racial issues, Members of the Mission and Social Action Board and the congregation have taken part in “Merciful Conversations on Race: Let’s Talk About White Privilege,” a program conducted by the Rhode Island State Council of Churches.
Book Club
The Mission and Social Action Board has been conducting a book club focused on works related to systemic racism, white privilege, and black history. Some of the books which we have read and discussed are:
- Be the Bridge by Latasha Morrison
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilderson
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- 400 Souls edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blaine
All of these are highly recommended reading. Other topics are under consideration, and the Board is always open to suggestions of books to read.
Peace & Justice Issues
Church members are encouraged to contact RI and MA Congressional representatives regarding urgent issues which arise, such as homelessness, housing, food insecurity, climate change, voting rights, etc.
Contacts:
Rhode Island:
www.Reed.senate.gov
www.Whitehouse.senate.gov
www.Cicilline.house.gov (1st district)
www.Langevin.house.gov (2nd district)
Massachusetts:
www.Warren.senate.gov
www.Markey.senate.gov
www.Auchincloss.house.gov (4th district)
Movies that Matter
The Mission and Social Action Board sponsors potluck movie nights for all who are interested in viewing a movie with an important message relating to social concerns. Participants can also opt to engage in discussion following the movie.
Ongoing Mission in the World
The Seekonk Congregational Church United Church of Christ members pledge to the local church life and to the wider life of the church. What is pledged on the ‘right side of the envelope’ goes directly through the Conference to the mission of the UCC.
When disasters of horrendous proportions occur, we are there through our special gifts throughout the year as well. We are part of CWS (Church World Service), which includes some 30 different denominational church bodies. That organization makes immediate first response efforts with food, water, and blankets, as well as shelter, Health Kits/School Kits/Clean-up Kits/Baby Kits and Gift of the Heart Kits. These efforts are coordinated in cooperation with a variety of groups within the Church, i.e. Christian Education Committee, Mission and Social Action Board, and Earnest Workers.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2