Rev. William A. (Bill) Sterrett served as pastor of the Amicable Congregational Church UCC in Tiverton for the past 33 years before retiring on March 1 of 2021. Previously, he served as a minister in Germany where he met and married his wife, Barbara.

After ten months of retirement, Bill decided that he couldn’t sit around without pursuing “what God has planned for me.”

Meanwhile, Edgewood Congregational Church was struggling with a loss of membership, not unlike what most churches were facing during the pandemic. The church was without a pastor and facing financial difficulties, only able to afford part time ministries. Currently, membership is down to about 30 parishioners. A couple of endowments plus rentals have allowed the church to continue, but at the present time they cannot afford a fulltime minister.

The small group of dedicated church members was determined to keep the church going – convinced that it served an important purpose in the community and was much too important to lose.

Rev. Sterrett and members of the Deacons met and quickly discovered they had a common goal of finding new ways of serving the larger Edgewood communities.

Bill was hired as the “quarter time” pastor and immediately went to work on January 1, conducting Sunday services and working with the church leadership to discover new ways to serve its membership and the expanding community.

“One of the ‘gifts’ of the Covid-19 pandemic has been a growing understanding of how important ‘presence’ is,” Rev Sterrett said. “How important being together, in person, with other people.”

“We miss the hugs of family and friends, the touch of handshakes, and conversations enhanced by the small facial expressions missed via Zoom. I personally discovered how dependent I am on such in-person interactions.”

The church members and Rev. Sterrett are meeting together to brainstorm ideas of expanding the church’s greater role in the community.

“I am most grateful to Edgewood Church for giving me the opportunity to return to pastoral ministry, albeit part time,” Rev. Sterrett said. “Already, at the beginning of my time in Edgewood, I am excited about the ministries this small group of people are involved in and their commitment to be of service to the community.”

Edgewood Church has opened its doors to share its worship space with two other churches.

For years it has hosted AA, AlAnon and NA groups. They sponsor two active Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops that meet weekly in the church hall.

A local artist rents space and the Rhode Island Chess Club has recently taken residence in the building.

The church has a thrift shop that has expanded into a space larger than many thrift stores that offers clothing, kitchen wares, sundries, tools, gift items and a multitude of items at intentionally low prices, making it very popular for low income neighbors to find incredible bargains.

Church members have been strong supporters of Project Outreach, along with those who use the church’s space, contributing weekly to the local food pantry at the neighboring Church of the Transfiguration.

For many years, the Education Wing was home to Child Day Care. The building is now used as a music school.

Annual May breakfasts, Christmas bazaars, Blessing of the Animals, yard sales and other programs are popular community events.

“While it is true that the national decline in church attendance has had a strong negative effect on Edgewood Church, its members are still strongly committed to finding new ways of serving the larger Edgewood, Cranston and Rhode Island communities,” Sterrett said.

“While my initial task is to establish relationships with the current members and friends of Edgewood Church, it will also be important for me to help Edgewood’s members and friends discover the next phase of service they are being called to.”

“Through prayer, conversation and careful listening it is my intention to help grow the sense of community, both in Edgewood Church and the larger community, as we seek together to share the unconditional love of God with the world around us.”

Sterrett mentioned membership in many churches in the area and nationally has decreased in recent years, yet Sterrett and the church leadership have faith that the membership will increase as the church finds ways to be more relevant in the community.

The church is located at 1788 Broad St., Cranston.

For further information about the Edgewood Congregational Church, call the church office at 461-1344 or e-mall office@edgewoodchurchri.org.

The church also has a web site at www.edgewoodchurchri.org.

The church’s invitation is printed on all of its literature: “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.”