May 8th “Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Peace Proclamation Updated”
Rev. Marilyn Richards
If you would like, please bring a picture of your mother or father to the service, to put on the table in the front of the chapel.
The original Mother’s Day Proclamation was written by Unitarian Julia Ward Howe in 1872. Howe was exceedingly angry at the deaths and war mongering that she saw in the Civil and Prussian wars. What might today’s parents, families and teachers learn from her experience?
May 15th Hattie Nestel Speaking
Local Social Activist and seemingly tireless advocate, Hattie Nestel will be sharing her thoughts about what keeps her going. People often ask her: “how do you keep going?” She writes: “my most recent response has come “Faith and the Holocaust”.
May 22nd Rev. Richards
May 29th TBA
EVENTS
Spring Fair Meeting on Saturday, May 14th at the church, at 10:00 AM
“Let’s make sure that we have everything covered.” says Donna.
Hattie Nestel Speaking on May 15, 2016
Board of Management Meeting, May 15, 2016 after Coffee Hour
Spring Fair — May 21, 2016
9:00 AM until 2:00 PM
Tables
* Plants table
* White Elephants & Jewelry
* Books
* Tin Can auction
* Raffles:
— A standard sized Women’s Bike with basket and helmet
— Baby “Car quilt” — road design, small cars included
— Baby quilt — Pink with ballet theme and a ballerina outfit included
— Baby quilt — Jungle theme
— “Scratch Ticket Tree”
What we need for Spring Fair
* Spring Cleaning? Please bring jewelry (all kinds of earrings, necklaces, bracelets) and lightly used white elephants to our Spring fair.
Spring Fairs were made for Spring cleaning.
Help us, by cleaning out your closets, garage, under the stairs, etc.
* small plants and flowers for our Plant Table.
* Scratch Tickets –– The plan: have flowering branches ornamented with Scratch tickets.
* New Items with a theme for the Tin Can auction. Edith has lots of baskets.
Please let her know if you are planning to use a basket.
Our church’s Annual Meeting will be June 12th at 10:00 AM.
COMMUNITY NOTES @ FIRST CHURCH ATHOL
Dave Smith fractured his knee-cap, on a slippery floor. He is still working if stiff.
Our Condolences to Rev. Daniel Harper, former Minister of our church, who’s father, D. Robert Harper, Jr., age 92, died Thursday, April 21st.
IN CLOSING on May 4th
On This Day In Unitarian Universalist History :
Horace Mann was born in Franklin, MA in 1796. Mann has been called the Father of Public Education. He was a lawyer and state Senator, who promoted free, non religious, universal public education with good educational standards, creating a state insane hospital, abolition and taxing liquor sales. In 1837, Mann became Secretary to the Massachusetts Board of Education, serving with distinction. Mann remained Secretary of the Board of Education until 1848, when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill out the term of John Quincy Adams shortly after Adams’ death (another Unitarian and the 6th President of the United States ). Horace Mann married Mary Peabody, one of the famous Peabody sisters (Unitarian), and it was a happy marriage that many admired. Mann’s great lifelong interest was education. From one of his speeches in the Chamber of the US House of Representatives, he said:
“education would abolish slavery, if it could invade a free state.”
May 4th is Star Wars Day ~ May the fourth be with you. ~ May the Force be with you.