250th Anniversary

Thank you Everyone!!

August 9, 2015

What a week it was at Harbor Church! Monday Governor Raimondo dropped by to offer congratulations on our 250 years and to see a bit of our current ministries, including the International Students Center. A quick facility tour included the sanctuary, decorated for Vacation Bible School which ran every evening last week. Saturday we rounded out our Trifecta with our 250^th Anniversary Gala.

Thank you to all who supported — many of whom wrote checks saying “it's not my church but it is important to the community” — to all who attended and to all who worked so hard to make Saturday's event a success. Thank you to those who spoke so eloquently, the Revs: Steve Hollaway of our church; Dr. Tom Wiles, Exec Minister of ABCORI; Dr. Tony Pappas former pastor and retired Mass ABC Exec Minister; Marie Carpenter, RI State Council of Churches.  To First Warden Ken Lacoste who spoke the many capacities the church serves in the community, to Lisa Starr, former RI poet Laureate, and, especially, to those who sang so joyfully, the Chancel Choir from South Church in New Britain CT; thank you to those who set up tables and carted tablecloths and carried food and poured drink, who made sure the reception following ran smoothly and made our refurbished back yard a peaceful oasis on a crazy weekend afternoon 

Thanks to Pastor Steve Hollaway for reminding us over and again of this milestone, to Will and Penny Young who suggested a Chancel Choir Concert and made it happen, to Gary Pollard for use of the Empire Theatre, and Block Island Express for transportation, to all who provided housing.

Thanks to our congregation and friends, so many of whom came forth to help, several missing the concert to be sure everything was ready for the rest of us; to the Historical for use of the tent; to all the providers of incredible food: the Abrams & Draper Families, Brenna & Ross Audino, Becky & Tim Clark, Steve Filippi, Aldo Leone, Julie Fuller & Chris Sereno, Perry Phillips, Judy and Jamie Rose, Kimberly and Norman Ward, Sushi Bob, basically everyone who was asked!

Our printed programs (link above) included a list of benefactors and supporters which has grown since press date. We will be accepting donations in honor of this 250^th anniversary into October when the “real” founding date will be marked with Roll Call Sunday and Dinner and an updated listing presented. 

We are all very grateful and proud to have been a part of this community for 250 years. We are indeed blessed.