Our Ministry
Our ministry began with public worship in 1663.
Our worship starts each Sunday at 10:00 a.m. We have a “blended worship” utilizing both traditional and contemporary music. All are invited to participate. We strive to be friendly and informal and to encourage visitors to feel comfortable with our church family. Our communion is open to all who profess Jesus as Lord. This reflects our heritage of religious tolerance and openness.
Our religious education program begins with the children in worship.
During the first 20 minutes all young people are a part of the worshipping family. They are invited to the front of the sanctuary for a special “Children’s moment” just for them. Then they are dismissed to age appropriate classes. Bible Study for Adults will be arranged with the pastor. We often "do Bible study" as a part of worship. Other directed studies are scheduled at various times throughout the program year. In the summer, we offer an intergenerational Vacation Bible School held in the evening.
Our ministry of hospitality...
happens in our Coffee Hour Every Sunday after worship we gather after worship in the vestry (downstairs) as a church family to share conversation and fellowship. Seasonal worship highlights our church year. We share the joy of every season in some special way. Thanksgiving is a time to share ecumenically with other congregations in the Swansea area. Advent and Christmas is highlighted by a children’s program, special music, a winter hayride, and a Christmas Eve service of candlelight and carols. Lent is a time of shared worship and learning throughout the community. Maundy Thursday is celebrated with an agape meal to remember the Last Supper. Good Friday is a time of solemn meditation. Palm Sunday has been a time for the annual cantata as a special way to tell the story of Jesus’ passion. Easter is celebrated ecumenically with a sunrise service and then with a joyous service at the regular time. Table fellowship is important to us! In every month of the year we have a meal for the congregation. We have fellowship potlucks, accompanied by some kind of fun activity most months. We also have luncheons after the Children’s Christmas program and on Children’s day at the end of our program year we have games and a “doggie roast.”
Mission and Outreach is our way of sharing with others.
Each month on communion Sunday an offering is taken for a local or distant mission need. These include programs like “The Way Up,” Bacone College, our Baptist work in Honduras, One Great Hour of Sharing and many others. We collect food regularly to be taken to the South Providence Neighborhood Ministry. During the Advent season we focus our efforts on local needs for food, heating support or families in need. We cooperate with our denominational efforts to support a global missionary effort. A group of our musicians, the Harmony/Grace Band, play for local events and nursing homes. Our pastor is available for worship at public events and local care facilities.
A special opportunity for outreach is our annual “Founder’s Festival” held in the fall to which we invite artists, crafters, musicians and community groups to celebrate the spirit of Swansea. We also have open the “Golden Candlestick” coffee house to local musicians and poets to share their gifts with others in the community. Each year we offer the opportunity to spend time in the wilderness. A somewhat unique ministry is “Expedition.” This is a 3-6 day backpacking adventure in the wilderness areas of New England. It is a program for youth and adults. We also cooperate with our American Baptist camping programs at Canonicus (in Exeter, RI) and Grotonwood (in Groton, MA)
Our ministry is under girded by compassionate care.
While our pastor offers fully trained spiritual guidance and emotional support as a way to care for our members and neighbors, many within the congregation extend themselves personally to be supportive of those who are in need. Every Sunday we pray by name for all our colleagues, friends and family who experiencing joys or concerns.
We are an ecumenical congregation.
We cooperate with other local congregations of various traditions. We recently helped organize the Swansea Clergy Fellowship which provides a place of conversation and support for the clergy in our community.
We use our building as a tool for ministry.
We house in our facility the Small Wonders Preschool, two AA groups, an FA group and a pack of Cub scouts. Rooms within our building are available for groups that bring benefit to our community.
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