Lock-In/Rock-Out

June 27-28, PPC hosted a gathering of youth from Tumaini Fellowship (in Springfield, Ma), Christ is Life Presbyterian Church (in Fall River, Ma), and from Providence.

The groups spent 24 hours together eating, playing, sharing, singing, laughing, and having a great time.
Will and Olu cracking up

Nathan says, "I'm hungry!"

Playing people bingo

"is it really you?!"

barefoot for the field games

Gotcha!

Bridget is all over that kick-ball

Aline and Joe hangin' out

Mmmmm-- delicious BBQ dinner!

The Foster's Backyard was the place to be...

Gilbert and Pastor Dave enjoying a slushy

The Christ is Life group led us in worship at night

Cutting out hands and feet in an exercise about "identity" and "the future"...

The whole group shared a song in worship on Sunday morning... then they all went home and took loooong naps

Officer's Retreat

On a Saturday in June, the Elders, Deacons and Pastors of PPC got together for a retreat at the Mathewson Street Methodist Church here in Providence and had a great time.

We spent a lot of time reflecting on the year past and crafting the vision for the year to come. We returned again to our shared focus on faith, hospitality, diversity, and mission. Below are some pics from the retreat...
Everyone shared an "icon", or something that represented them or said something important about them...

Pastor Dave leads a discussion on our core values and hopes for the year...

At work around the table

Pastor Chris and Zack engaging the group

Some small group work

Sharing our "BHAG"s-- Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals

We laid out all the individual BHAGs on the ground to group them together and find the common themes

Youth Sunday

Every June, we wrap up the Church School Year with Youth Sunday-- a chance for the children and youth of the church to plan and lead worship and to share their gifts with the congregation. Here are some pics from the morning...
Bridget reads the Old Testament scripture lesson

Dylan and Rhessa act out a healing story in the Bible

The "Godly Play" class sings, "Build Up The Temple"

Nahlone Gbaye, 2009 graduate of Classical High School won the Sadie Seaton Scholarship award and tag-team preached with Pastor Dave, reflecting on her journey so far and where she is going from here... (next stop: Newbury College in Boston!)

20th Anniversary of Ordination

On the Sunday after Easter, we had a surprise party for Pastor Chris-- celebrating her 20 years in ordained ministry... here are some pictures!
Carina showing off the Memory Book that the congregation put together

The Foster Family-- all smiles

Mmmmmmm.... cake....

Hangin' out

Greeting the the well-wishers

Helen and Julie dig in

Easter Sunday

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! We had a great resurrection celebration as you will see in the pictures below...
Hello, ladies!

The Aggors

View from above

Squeeze in!

Uluma and Brian (our photographer)

Pastor Dave with Bridget and Leticia

The Baes, looking niiiice

Smile for the camera

Mercy, Pastor Chris, CJ and Sharon huddle up!

Awwww, ain't it cute?!

Happy Easter!

Easter Egg Hunt!

The annual Easter Egg Hunt was held the Saturday before Easter. A great group of parents and kids came out to dye eggs and then to hunt for candy filled ones as well...
Dying eggs downstairs

Having a good time around the table

"Look what I've got!"

Bags filled with loot...

Best friends!

It was pouring rain outside, so we stayed in-- here is the whole group...

Ann and her husband and daughter visiting from Kenya!

Dr. Dave was on kid patrol

Lent Happenings

During the Lenten season, our Tuesday Nights Together (TNT) program was back! We met together weekly for a delicious meal and then small group opportunities. TNT lasted until Holy Week which we marked with a special Maundy Thursday Seder Meal. Some pictures are below!
"The Shack" Book Group read this bestselling novel and wrestled with themes like sin, pain, forgiveness, the Trinity, our perceptions of God and more.

The "Homosexuality and the Bible" group had an in-depth and important conversation about how we read scripture and how we relate with each other in our community, especially around the issue of homosexuality.

The "Following Jesus in the Book of Mark" group was led by our church intern, Kathy Cooper! It was a chance to dig into Mark's Gospel for deeper understanding of what following Jesus is all about.

Kiddos had a blast down in the Childcare/Homework Club group...

Arts and crafts go well with homework!

Pastor Chris surveys the scene as we gathered on Maundy Thursday for a traditional Jewish seder which led into a remembrance of Jesus' last supper with his disciples.

The food was plentiful and delicious as we learned lots of new traditions

Closing with communion...