First Parish of Watertown

The Arbella
Newletter of the First Parish of Watertown
April 2006


See Calendar listings for April under the website “Calendar”

Sermons and Topics


Sunday April 2, 2006 at 11:00 am
“Are We a Peace Church?” Mark Harris

The third anniversary of the War in Iraq has recently passed. Historically, the UU movement has not been a pacifist church, but has often been in the forefront of peace movements. I believe some of our FPW members believe we have not been active enough in opposing the current war, and believe we need to speak out more. What do you think? Talk back follows.
Children's Choir will sing : “One Little Step Towards Freedom” and “Walk a Mile”

Greeters:
Elisabeth Strekalovsky and Jacqui Sweeney
Social Hour:
Anne Harrington and Virginia Howe

Sunday April 9, 2006 at 11:00 am
“Forgive Us Our Debts” Mark Harris

Both American citizens and our nation are up to our ears in debt. Have we mortgaged our future because we believe we can have it all now? Instead of thinking about what we need, we consider how much debt we can carry. How healthy is that?

Greeters: Elizabeth and Isabel Tappan-deFrees
Social Hour: Anna Knight, Sue Kuder and Channing Mendelsohn


Sunday April 16, 2006 at 11:00 am
“The Renewal of Values” Mark Harris

Our Easter service will include special music, a story and activities for the children. Easter celebrates the resurrection of the spirit or the bringing back to life of that which is declared dead. While the evangelicals have declared how they speak for America’s values, I think it is time for liberals to renew their foothold in the moral landscape of America by voicing the more inclusive and loving values we represent.
Greeters: Sue and Will Twombly
Social Hour: Jane Knuttunen and Elaine McArdle

Sunday April 23, 2006 at 11:00 am
“Remembering Mother Earth “
Darrick Jackson

In the business of our lives, we seem to have forgotten Mother Earth. This Earth Day Sunday, let us remember Mother Earth and the gifts she has given us.

Greeters: TBA
Social Hour: Chela and Nicholas Tawa

Sunday April 30, 2006 at 11:00 am
“A Journey to South Africa on Wheels”
Alex Twombly

Alex, the son of Will and Sue, went to South Africa last year on an extended visit to set up a bike shop and to train workers there. We will hear what he learned. Youth Choir will sing.

Greeters: Chela and Nicholas Tawa
Social Hour: Michael Mc Carthy, Aurora Sherman and Jeff Miller

Captain’s Log

I recently finished the book, The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr. Harr is the author who wrote the page turning story of the contaminated wells in Woburn called A Civil Action. It was later made into a film with John
Travolta. His newest book is about a Caravaggio masterpiece that was presumed lost for centuries. The subject matter of the painting is “The Taking of Christ,” a depiction of Jesus being seized in the Garden following the kiss of Judas. The person holding the lantern in the painting, so that the guards can see is actually Caravaggio himself in a self portrait within the painting. The theme is most appropriate for our coming Easter events.

The story reminded me a little bit of how we sold our portrait of Seth Storer. It was attributed to another painter, and sat around the church for decades with no real understanding of its value as a significant work of colonial art. It was simply a picture of Seth, a minister who was here for a long time a long time ago. Since then we have learned Seth’s story, and that the portrait is by Robert Feke, probably the first important native born portrait artist in America. What is striking about the Storer portrait is that things often occur due to happenstance. Somebody notices something, and one thing leads to another, and in the end something of significance is found and celebrated. No one knew, for example, that we were sitting on the oldest known portrait of a native of Maine.

The story of the Caravaggio painting is a similar kind of discovery. It was attributed to another artist, as copying paintings was common then (late 1500’s). Then after being sold at auction, the copy was eventually given to a monastery in Ireland, where it held religious significance for the Catholic order, but was not held in artistic repute or value. Mostly it gathered dust, and soot and grease (from the kitchen), just as our Seth had
centuries of dirt clinging to him. The Caravaggio masterpiece ended up at the monastery because one of the priests had offered spiritual guidance to the painting’s owner, and it was presented as a thank you. We never exactly determined why Seth came into our possession, except that it was given to
the church in 1930 for the Watertown tricentennial by a curator at the Fogg, except his specialty was Asian art. Why did he have the painting? Why did he give it to us?

Both paintings have ended up as mysteries to be unraveled. Some of the intrigue in these stories for us concerns the story behind the painting. Harr juxtaposes Caravaggio’s beautiful use of light and shadow in painting
with his wild personal life of drinking, debauchery, mental instability, and the vast number of people he offends. One such episode ends in his killing another man in a fight, and then his exile from Naples. He eventually returns, and has his face slashed in another fight, but he continues to paint. Later he is forced off of a ship because he offends the
officers, and ends up wandering, contracting a fever, and dying at the age of thirty-nine. I am intrigued because Caravaggio is a figure in this lost painting. He is the one holding up the lamp to try to identify Jesus, but he is also identifying him so that he might be led away to his eventual execution.

I am not sure what the enduring message is here, except that life often takes precipitous turns as a result of serendipitous actions. Something valuable is sitting under our noses for a long, long time, and we might never realize it, or when we do, it will be because of some odd turn of events. Never neglect seemingly insignificant things. There is a little piece of information that we thought was lost, but it turns up. Someone will show us what we think is the right book or record, and at first, we will not find what we are looking for, but then instead we discover something else that, in the end, is even more valuable.

There are some simple messages here. Good things come to us as a result of kindness. Because she had received support and care, the woman who owned the painting had given it away. Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have. With both the Caravaggio masterpiece and our painting of Seth, something of great value was hanging right before our eyes. We eventually see that, but it takes a journey to get there. Like Caravaggio we hold up the lamp trying to figure out the meaning of our lives. We appreciate and express the gifts we are given, but sometimes we betray them, too. There may be grief in not discovering something soon enough, but there can be great joy, too, when a discovery is finally made.

As we celebrate Easter, I recall little bits of the Gospel stories - the man who helped Jesus carry the cross, and made the journey a little more comforting, and the two thieves who occupied the cross laden hill with him. We don’t know if these events really occurred, but they embellish the story with the kind of human support and affirmation we all long for that can turn a difficult journey of pain and loneliness in something good. Easter reminds us of the hope that we can discover the right person or find the right path to renew us in our hour of need, and it may be found in the most
insignificant thing we happen upon, or it may be sitting right under our noses.
Mark

Among Us

Our sympathy to Charmian Proskauer and her family at the death of Charmian’s mother, Ruth Curtis on March 6 at the age of 89. A grave side service will be held in New Hampshire in the spring.

Congratulations to Keith Shay (son of Bob and Missy) and Lisa Fhagen, who were married on March 3, 2006 in Oakland, CA

A warm welcome to new member Sachie Karmacharya. Sachie grew up UU, and was recently a member in Jamaica Plain.

Emma Day, daughter of Paul and Norah, was pictured on the front page of the Watertown Tab in her role in a performance at the Watertown Children’s Theater. Isabelle Holt was mentioned as well. Lookin’ Good!

An editorial in the Boston Globe, on March 21, 2006 called “A Focus on Positives in Afghanistan” is written by our own Cornelia Janke. It is posted on the bulletin board in the social hall. Cornelia works at the Education Development Center in Newton and recently returned form Afghanistan where she manages the Literacy and Community Empowerment Program.

Benefit Concert

Our annual benefit concert was postponed because one of the performers, Reinmar Seidler, had to be out of the country on the planned date. The new date with the same program, ticket price and beneficiary will be Saturday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. A flyer will be included in our May newsletter.
A Midshipman’s Musings

Love is like a phoenix
Magnificently robed in crimson flames
Soaring through the air like a comet
Brilliant to behold.

When we love, it burns brightly within us, infusing our being with a glow that can be seen from miles away. And there are many people we love. The partner with whom we share our lives. The friend who stands by us through thick and thin. The homeless man on the corner. The victim of war in Afghanistan. And though we show it differently, we love them all equally. And, like the Olympic torch, we pass the flame of our love on to them, wherever they may be.


Love is like a phoenix
Landing in a remote and solitary place.
The flames slowly extinguish.
Turning
, S/he collapses inwardly into a pile of ashes.

Sometimes we lose our love. The flames weaken, and our light grows dimmer. Or maybe the flame flickers and goes out, leaving us cold and grey. There are many reasons for love to end. We are hurt, and our anger douses the flame. One of us moves away, and in time we forget, and the flame fades.


Love is like a phoenix
Smoldering in his pile of ashes.
A small spark appears.
In seconds the pile erupts into flame
And the phoenix is reborn.
Robed in scarlet
More beautiful than before.

Yes, love can return. The flame is rekindled, and slowly begins to burn brightly within us. Maybe we learn forgiveness, which heals the wound that was made. Or a person long forgotten returns into our life, and reminds us of our love. Or maybe someone new comes along and kindles a flame that we never knew that was there. And we begin to glow again, a beacon of light that shines throughout the world.


Love is like a phoenix
Magnificently robed in crimson flames
Soaring through the air like a comet
Brilliant to behold.

Blessed Be,
Darrick Jackson



Covenant Group
The Sunday Covenant Group will meet next on April 2 at 1:00 p.m. The topic for the day is: forgiveness. This group presently remains open to new members. We had six at our last meeting.

Newcomer Breakfast

Save the date. Coming soon on Sunday, May 7, 2006. All newcomers are invited!



Church Rummage Sale of May 6

Spring is coming and so is our annual rummage sale scheduled for Saturday May 6th. As you do your spring cleaning please collect whatever is cluttering your home for donation to the sale. We sell household and kitchen items, electronics, small articles of furniture, sports equipment, toys, books, CDs, tapes, children’s clothing. No adult clothing please. For any larger items (furniture, electronics, sports equipment) write out a description to be posted at the sale for buyers to peruse. Buyers can pick up these large items directly from your home. Jane Knuttunen and Meredith Montague are coordinating the sale this year and will be soliciting your help in April.

Open Choir Sing

The next choir event is coming soon. We will sing for the Sunday service on April 9 with two rehearsals on Monday nights.
April 9, 11:00 choir singing for church service
9:45 rehearsal before service
April 6th, 6:45 P.M. rehearsal
March 27th, 6:45 P.M. rehearsal

Film Series
All are invited to the continuing series on “Oppressions” - Darrick and Mark are facilitating a Lenten film series on "Oppressions." Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m. The final two films in the series are:
Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. - "People Like Us: Social Class in America" on class
Sunday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. - "Ma Vie en Rose" ("My Life in Pink") - on transgender
In case you missed the previous sessions. They were Sunday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
"Unlearning Homophobia Series"
featuring: "Straight from the Heart" - an Academy Award nominee plus "All God's Children" and “De Colores" and Sunday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. - “Black Is . . . Black Ain’t” by Marlon Riggs was substituted.for “Mi Familia.” This amazing film which was produced as the filmmaker was dying of AIDS, explores how racism, music, family, religion, sexual orientation, nationalism, and intra-racial class, gender, and color castes have collectively shaped the experience and meaning of blackness in America.

Easter and Spring Flowers
If you would like to order flowers to decorate the sanctuary for Easter, and then to take home, please fill out this form and mail it to the church or place in the box on the church office door by Sunday, April 2 at the latest! Please make checks payable to First Parish. All plants except the hydrangeas(new this year) come in 6" pots. Hydrangeas come in 4” pots. The lilies are a single stem with 4-6 blooms. Cost: $7 for lilies, $6 for the others.
Name____________ Phone_______________
Number of plants: ____
Tulips,color:___assorted___ red___ yellow
___ pink ___ purple
___white___orange
____ Jonquils
____ Hyacinths, color: ___ assorted___white
____pink ___ blue
____ Lilies
____ Hydrangeas, color: ___ assorted
___ pink___ blue
Total $ amount enclosed: ______________________________________
In memory of: ______________________________________
In honor of: ______________________________________
A gift of:
______________________________________
Giving Boxes

Thanks for all your book donations in January/February for Teen L.E.E.P.
March / April Giving Boxes are for MCI Framingham Programs administered by Sister Maureen Clark. Sister Maureen runs a couple of programs there that can use assistance. The first is Read to Me Mommy, which is a program in which she talks with families about books they’d like their children to be reading (focused around problems the child may be having) and then videotapes the mother reading the story. They then send the book and the videotape to the child. This program
NEEDS :

Gift Certificates from Barnes & Noble or Borders that they could use to buy books for kids, blank Videotapes and large mailing envelopes

A second program of Sister Maureen’s involves inmates making items for the elderly who live in medical facilities or nursing homes:
This program
NEEDS:

Blank placemats (Can be found at party stores), white stationery, colored stationery,
magic markers, crayons, colored pencils,
smaller posterboard, glue sticks, and black sharpie magic markers

Walk for Hunger

Walk-for-Hunger is coming May 7th.  Some First Parish youth and adults are planning to walk and welcome you to join them for this important cause.  See Roberta Altamari to sign up and get a pledge sheet.  If you are not walking this year, please be sure to pledge generously to one of our walkers.
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari

Wow! The year is zipping by so quickly. Spring is already arriving and the warm weather will be coming soon. With the last season of our church year comes that exciting day known as Youth Sunday, which lands on June 11 this year and I must soon begin preparing for. On Youth Sunday, we will once again recognize some of our children and youth as they celebrate special milestones in their lives. Let me take this time to remind everyone of our wonderful rites-of-passages we honor at First Parish.

Our first rite-of-passage is the "first chalice ceremony" in recognition of the fact that our 8-year-olds are entering the stage some developmental experts call the "age of reason". They are becoming ready to begin finding their own truths. We publicly recognize that these kids are starting to think for themselves and will begin finding themselves in more situations in which they have to make choices based on what they think is right and wrong. All kids who have turned 8 or about to turn 8 have a homework assignment that includes defining "for themselves" the words we use frequently at First Parish (like peace, love, courage, equality, etc). The homework also invites them to talk about someone they think is "courageously loving" and then asks a time when they did something courageously loving. Then all the children and their parents meet for a pizza dinner to discuss the homework. What did they think about it and what do they want to share? Our kids are proud of their work and want to talk. It's one of my favorite meetings of the year! Shortly after the meeting, the kids join us for Youth Sunday where they are each presented with a personal sized chalice (made by a local potter).
An extra thing we do is meet one year later with the kids and their parents for a second pizza dinner to talk about the previous year. What was it like being 8? What happened for the kids that year? What is it like to be a UU kid in today's world? And then we let them read the comments they wrote the year before and they are usually fascinated to see how much they have changed only one year later. Then we collect them again because they will get them back for good when they do the coming-of-age program around age 14.

Our next rite-of-passage is a "bridging ceremony" for our youth entering their middle school years. We recognize the significant step they are making as they become more independent members of both our world and our church community. So we want to share our loving hopes and dreams for them as they step into this new level of freedom and responsibility. To do this, we invite each of the youth to select a "church friend" symbolic of how they are now creating relationships with adults at First Parish separate from those their parents have helped them establish. This "church friend" represents the entire church community as they publicly express good wishes for the youth.

The most well known ceremony is "coming-of-age". This is a beautiful celebration that ends a year of participating in a very comprehensive "coming-of-age" program in which the kids are matched with mentors as they deeply explore and solidify their UU faith. The goals for this program include to affirm understanding of UU faith, which includes but is not limited to the principles and sources; actively participate in discussions about deep theological questions; develop a close relationship with at least one adult member at First Parish (other than parent); involvement in Social Action work; and involvement in worship. A program highlight is the writing of personal credos and the invitation to join the church.

The final recognition is the ceremonial chalice lighting in honor of our high school graduates. We share what each youth is planning to do after graduation and present a congratulatory gift. It's an important time to affirm our love and commitment to our youth as they take a significant step out into the world. No matter how much time lapses till we see them again, we want them to know that this will always be their "church home".

We don't usually have kids in all four of these life stages, so we normally only do three of these rites-of-passage ceremonies each year. Join us this year to see which ones! Youth Sunday is always a wonderful day to celebrate these important milestones with our kids. And even if your child is not participating in one of these ceremonies this year, they are something special to witness and look forward to.

R.E. Calendar: What we are doing this month in our small group gatherings!
(key: PA = Principle Activators, youth ages 12 to 14; UUT = UU Travelers, youth ages 9 to 12; UUE = UU Explorer, kids ages 8 to 10; RS = Rainbow Seekers, kids ages 5 to 8; TH = Treasure Hunters, kids ages 3 to 5; FF = Friendship Finders, kids ages 1 1/2 to 3)

April 2
PA: Philosophy According to Simpsons
UUT: OWL finale (11 to pizza lunch)
UUE and RS: explore principle of peace as inspired by wonder and mystery
TH: Heroes
FF: Our big and beautiful world


April 9
PA: Philosophy According to Simpsons
UUT: Passover Seder
UUE and RS: First Parish Peace Day - putting the principle of peace into action
TH: Making our world a better place
FF: Our big and beautiful world

April 16
A Hip-Hop, Happy Easter to You!
Very special activity for all children together. Quieter activities will be available for kids who don't like the big group fun.

April 23
PA: Philosophy According to Simpsons
UUT, UUE and RS: Spring celebrations in the traditions of other religions
TH: Springtime is wonderful
FF: Celebrating the season of Spring

April 30
PA and UUT: attend worship service led by Alex Twombly
UUE and RS: Mother Earth - loving our beautiful home
TH: Playing in nature is fun
FF: Animals

Announcements: Youth Group News!
Save the date
Sunday, May 21st at 1pm - State of the Youth Conversations - an important discussion about how our church community can continue to welcome and empower our youth members. This meeting is for everyone (not just youth and their families). Please plan to attend.

Cody and Giles are setting up their Youth Room. These are some things they want ~ fold-out couch or regular couch, arm chairs, blankets, working computer, lamps, dictionary, and great books you think they'd like to read. If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, please let us know. Thanks!

Presentation on China
Ever wondered what it would be like to go to China? Or live there for a year or two? Coming in May is a photo conversation with Anne Harrington, a member of our congregation who went to China in 2002 and spent two years there teaching English to college students. Don't miss this opportunity on May 13 to meet at First Parish for a pot luck dinner at
6 pm followed by Anne’s photo conversation to find out what life in China is really like these days.

Annual Dinner and Canvass

We had a very successful annual dinner on Saturday, March 25. A special thank you to the following people who helped make it possible: Paul Day, our host; Michael Collins, our sound technician; Isabel Tappan-deFrees, who organized the talent; Meredith Montague and others who helped organize the dinner, and to Fellowship Committee members, Anne Harrington and Carole Berney, who helped setup, and to David Morrison and Martha Scott who provided flowers and also helped setup. Thanks to our performers, too!

The annual dinner usually marks the end of our canvass, but the dinner was moved up a week this year. As a result canvass totals are not yet
finalized. We are working hard to make up the loss of three significant pledge units, two of whom moved away, and one who died. We especially need your generous support this year to meet our budget requirements. Please
send in your pledge today to support the work of the church, if you have not done so already. Our deep gratitude to those who have already given so generously.

Annual Meeting

A notice will be mailed out later in the month to officially notify you of our annual meeting. It will take place after church on Sunday, April 30. This is the time of year when your voice counts to review the year, and vote on the budget for next year. Committee chairs are reminded that reports are due in the church office by Wednesday, April 12. Please let Nancy Dutton know if you cannot meet this deadline. Jean Merkl is trying to finalize the
ballot for the upcoming year for membership on a First Parish committee. If you are interested in joining a committee, but have not told Jean or Mark Harris, please let us know today! A description of all the committees can be found on the information table in the upstairs sanctuary foyer.

Join us for a Craft Circle
Johanna Erickson and Roberta Altamari are pleased to invite First Parish adults to a craft circle at Johanna's home (48 Chester St. in Watertown) on Saturday, April 29th from 10am to 2pm.  Many fabulous craft options will be available for your selection including new things you've never done before.  Bring your own sandwich for lunch ~ drinks and tea will be available.  And please bring $10 to contribute towards the materials and supplies.  (If you have your own project you'd rather work on, still join us for socializing but no need to contribute the money.)  RSVP needed, so contact Johanna (617-926-1737 or erickson48@verizon.net) or Roberta (617-923-2368 or chaliceDREamer@aol.com) with questions or to sign up to come. 

The Obyat/Hussein Family Sends Thanks
Heartfelt thanks go out to all of you who have offered support to our Jordanian friends, the Obyat/Hussein family. In the spirit of love and caring, the First Parish community has extended help and reassurance in many ways. These gifts, both tangible and intangible, have meant a great deal to the family, and have assisted them enormously as they continue to struggle with multiple health issues, a lack of income, the pain of separation from their four children in Jordan, and the seemingly impossible challenges posed by U.S. immigration laws.


Abood continues to attend the 8th grade at the Middle School. His doctors hope to initiate some major orthopedic procedures in the next six months in order to improve his walking. Meanwhile he remains courageous and positive.

One of the very few options open to the Obyat/Hussein family that would allow them to stay near the medical treatment they need is for Habis to obtain an H1B visa. In order for this to happen, he must find an employer who is willing to be his sponsor. The position offered must be on a professional level, preferably in the field of electromechanical engineering, or something closely related, such as computerized mechanical system controls. However, translation services may be another potential field of employment.

The U.S. government issues a limited number of H1B visas each year, and applications for 2006 may be filed after April 1. They are awarded on a first come first served basis. Although sponsors usually are responsible for certain expenses associated with this process, we believe that we can raise enough money in the community to cover them. In addition, Attorney John Gallini has offered his legal services pro bono, thus easing the employer’s burden.

If Habis is able to get an H1B, there is a good chance that his children will be allowed to come to America to be reunited with their parents and brother. So once again, we are asking for your help in finding an employer willing to sponsor him. If you know of anyone who might be willing to do this, or even talk about it, please let Mark, Will Twombly, or Habis know. This would be an incredibly important opportunity for them.
Thank you!
UU Events and Summer Conferences

Mark Harris will be delivering a paper on Hosea Ballou and early Universalism
at the convocation of UU Christians on Sunday afternoon April 2, and then again at the Rhode Island Convention of Universalists on April 30. If you want to come along and hear his talk, please let him know.

Mark and Jean Merkl will be representing First Parish at the Annual Meeting of the Mass Bay District (UU Church in Greater Boston) on Saturday, April 8.

Finally, many of the brochures for summer conferences at Ferry Beach, Star Island, Rowe Camp, and Unirondack have arrived. There are many exciting opportunities. Roberta is happy to answer any questions about the wonderful experiences she had visiting Ferry Beach in Maine last summer.  There are many inspiring weeks for UU folks looking for a fabulous vacation.  See the display downstairs or ask Roberta for more details.  She will be returning to Ferry Beach as staff for the middle school camp (Different Drummers). While she will directly be working with the kids in the middle school grouping, there are camps running for 4th to 6th grade (kids for the earth)
and high school youth at the same time (July 1st to 8th). So if any First Parish youth are considering a sleep away camp and would like knowing someone on the camp grounds, here's an excellent opportunity. 

Mark Harris will be the theme speaker at a UU Heritage conference at Ferry Beach on UUs and Class issues in late August. Are we class bound? Can we appeal to a broader spectrum of people? Who do we really welcome at our door? A preview of this topic will be presented n a sermon in early May.
People of Faith Testimony Book

The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry is calling for submissions to a testimony book where both clergy and laity tell stories about how marriage equality has affected them. Examples include how the congregation or community has changed, how family and friends have been affected, and how your life has been affected. The statement should include a comment about your support for marriage equality as a person of faith. Your testimony can be sent to RCFM , 11 Beacon St., Suite 1125, Boston, MA 02108 or
maggie@rcfm.org. The deadline is April 17. Also please let Mark know if you are interested in doing this. The Coalition tells us this is the single, most powerful way to move hearts and minds to support marriage equality. These will be delivered to legislators before the next constitutional convention. A Testimony pledge sheet is posted on the Social Action bulletin board downstairs. Please sign on.

Thirst - Sneak Preview

Thirst is a film about water. Come to a preview and discussion on Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Parish in Bedford, 75 The Great Road, Bedford. Free admission. Is water a human right or a commodity to be sold?
Who controls your water supply? Are multinational water companies coming to your town? Do you want a voice in access to local water resources? Film and dialogue with Jonathan Levitt of Massachusetts Global Action and Water Allies Program.



Annual Meeting of the First Parish of Watertown.

All members and friends are invited to the 376th annual meeting of the Parish.

This meeting to review reports, elect committee members and officers, act
on bylaw changes and vote for the 2006-2007 budget will follow the church
service (with time for social hour and sandwich fixings) on:

Sunday, April 30, 2006.

Please Join Us to be part of our Democracy in action!

The Arbella
Newletter of the First Parish of Watertown
April 2006


See Calendar listings for April under the website “Calendar”

Sermons and Topics


Sunday April 2, 2006 at 11:00 am
“Are We a Peace Church?” Mark Harris

The third anniversary of the War in Iraq has recently passed. Historically, the UU movement has not been a pacifist church, but has often been in the forefront of peace movements. I believe some of our FPW members believe we have not been active enough in opposing the current war, and believe we need to speak out more. What do you think? Talk back follows.
Children's Choir will sing : “One Little Step Towards Freedom” and “Walk a Mile”

Greeters:
Elisabeth Strekalovsky and Jacqui Sweeney
Social Hour:
Anne Harrington and Virginia Howe

Sunday April 9, 2006 at 11:00 am
“Forgive Us Our Debts” Mark Harris

Both American citizens and our nation are up to our ears in debt. Have we mortgaged our future because we believe we can have it all now? Instead of thinking about what we need, we consider how much debt we can carry. How healthy is that?

Greeters: Elizabeth and Isabel Tappan-deFrees
Social Hour: Anna Knight, Sue Kuder and Channing Mendelsohn


Sunday April 16, 2006 at 11:00 am
“The Renewal of Values” Mark Harris

Our Easter service will include special music, a story and activities for the children. Easter celebrates the resurrection of the spirit or the bringing back to life of that which is declared dead. While the evangelicals have declared how they speak for America’s values, I think it is time for liberals to renew their foothold in the moral landscape of America by voicing the more inclusive and loving values we represent.
Greeters: Sue and Will Twombly
Social Hour: Jane Knuttunen and Elaine McArdle

Sunday April 23, 2006 at 11:00 am
“Remembering Mother Earth “
Darrick Jackson

In the business of our lives, we seem to have forgotten Mother Earth. This Earth Day Sunday, let us remember Mother Earth and the gifts she has given us.

Greeters: TBA
Social Hour: Chela and Nicholas Tawa

Sunday April 30, 2006 at 11:00 am
“A Journey to South Africa on Wheels”
Alex Twombly

Alex, the son of Will and Sue, went to South Africa last year on an extended visit to set up a bike shop and to train workers there. We will hear what he learned. Youth Choir will sing.

Greeters: Chela and Nicholas Tawa
Social Hour: Michael Mc Carthy, Aurora Sherman and Jeff Miller

Captain’s Log - Mark Harris, minister

I recently finished the book, The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr. Harr is the author who wrote the page turning story of the contaminated wells in Woburn called A Civil Action. It was later made into a film with John
Travolta. His newest book is about a Caravaggio masterpiece that was presumed lost for centuries. The subject matter of the painting is “The Taking of Christ,” a depiction of Jesus being seized in the Garden following the kiss of Judas. The person holding the lantern in the painting, so that the guards can see is actually Caravaggio himself in a self portrait within the painting. The theme is most appropriate for our coming Easter events.

The story reminded me a little bit of how we sold our portrait of Seth Storer. It was attributed to another painter, and sat around the church for decades with no real understanding of its value as a significant work of colonial art. It was simply a picture of Seth, a minister who was here for a long time a long time ago. Since then we have learned Seth’s story, and that the portrait is by Robert Feke, probably the first important native born portrait artist in America. What is striking about the Storer portrait is that things often occur due to happenstance. Somebody notices something, and one thing leads to another, and in the end something of significance is found and celebrated. No one knew, for example, that we were sitting on the oldest known portrait of a native of Maine.

The story of the Caravaggio painting is a similar kind of discovery. It was attributed to another artist, as copying paintings was common then (late 1500’s). Then after being sold at auction, the copy was eventually given to a monastery in Ireland, where it held religious significance for the Catholic order, but was not held in artistic repute or value. Mostly it gathered dust, and soot and grease (from the kitchen), just as our Seth had
centuries of dirt clinging to him. The Caravaggio masterpiece ended up at the monastery because one of the priests had offered spiritual guidance to the painting’s owner, and it was presented as a thank you. We never exactly determined why Seth came into our possession, except that it was given to
the church in 1930 for the Watertown tricentennial by a curator at the Fogg, except his specialty was Asian art. Why did he have the painting? Why did he give it to us?

Both paintings have ended up as mysteries to be unraveled. Some of the intrigue in these stories for us concerns the story behind the painting. Harr juxtaposes Caravaggio’s beautiful use of light and shadow in painting
with his wild personal life of drinking, debauchery, mental instability, and the vast number of people he offends. One such episode ends in his killing another man in a fight, and then his exile from Naples. He eventually returns, and has his face slashed in another fight, but he continues to paint. Later he is forced off of a ship because he offends the
officers, and ends up wandering, contracting a fever, and dying at the age of thirty-nine. I am intrigued because Caravaggio is a figure in this lost painting. He is the one holding up the lamp to try to identify Jesus, but he is also identifying him so that he might be led away to his eventual execution.

I am not sure what the enduring message is here, except that life often takes precipitous turns as a result of serendipitous actions. Something valuable is sitting under our noses for a long, long time, and we might never realize it, or when we do, it will be because of some odd turn of events. Never neglect seemingly insignificant things. There is a little piece of information that we thought was lost, but it turns up. Someone will show us what we think is the right book or record, and at first, we will not find what we are looking for, but then instead we discover something else that, in the end, is even more valuable.

There are some simple messages here. Good things come to us as a result of kindness. Because she had received support and care, the woman who owned the painting had given it away. Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have. With both the Caravaggio masterpiece and our painting of Seth, something of great value was hanging right before our eyes. We eventually see that, but it takes a journey to get there. Like Caravaggio we hold up the lamp trying to figure out the meaning of our lives. We appreciate and express the gifts we are given, but sometimes we betray them, too. There may be grief in not discovering something soon enough, but there can be great joy, too, when a discovery is finally made.

As we celebrate Easter, I recall little bits of the Gospel stories - the man who helped Jesus carry the cross, and made the journey a little more comforting, and the two thieves who occupied the cross laden hill with him. We don’t know if these events really occurred, but they embellish the story with the kind of human support and affirmation we all long for that can turn a difficult journey of pain and loneliness in something good. Easter reminds us of the hope that we can discover the right person or find the right path to renew us in our hour of need, and it may be found in the most
insignificant thing we happen upon, or it may be sitting right under our noses.
Mark

Among Us

Our sympathy to Charmian Proskauer and her family at the death of Charmian’s mother, Ruth Curtis on March 6 at the age of 89. A grave side service will be held in New Hampshire in the spring.

Congratulations to Keith Shay (son of Bob and Missy) and Lisa Fhagen, who were married on March 3, 2006 in Oakland, CA

A warm welcome to new member Sachie Karmacharya. Sachie grew up UU, and was recently a member in Jamaica Plain.

Emma Day, daughter of Paul and Norah, was pictured on the front page of the Watertown Tab in her role in a performance at the Watertown Children’s Theater. Isabelle Holt was mentioned as well. Lookin’ Good!

An editorial in the Boston Globe, on March 21, 2006 called “A Focus on Positives in Afghanistan” is written by our own Cornelia Janke. It is posted on the bulletin board in the social hall. Cornelia works at the Education Development Center in Newton and recently returned form Afghanistan where she manages the Literacy and Community Empowerment Program.

Benefit Concert

Our annual benefit concert was postponed because one of the performers, Reinmar Seidler, had to be out of the country on the planned date. The new date with the same program, ticket price and beneficiary will be Saturday, May 20 at 8:00 p.m. A flyer will be included in our May newsletter.

A Midshipman’s Musings - Darrick Jackson, student minister

Love is like a phoenix
Magnificently robed in crimson flames
Soaring through the air like a comet
Brilliant to behold.

When we love, it burns brightly within us, infusing our being with a glow that can be seen from miles away. And there are many people we love. The partner with whom we share our lives. The friend who stands by us through thick and thin. The homeless man on the corner. The victim of war in Afghanistan. And though we show it differently, we love them all equally. And, like the Olympic torch, we pass the flame of our love on to them, wherever they may be.


Love is like a phoenix
Landing in a remote and solitary place.
The flames slowly extinguish.
Turning
, S/he collapses inwardly into a pile of ashes.

Sometimes we lose our love. The flames weaken, and our light grows dimmer. Or maybe the flame flickers and goes out, leaving us cold and grey. There are many reasons for love to end. We are hurt, and our anger douses the flame. One of us moves away, and in time we forget, and the flame fades.


Love is like a phoenix
Smoldering in his pile of ashes.
A small spark appears.
In seconds the pile erupts into flame
And the phoenix is reborn.
Robed in scarlet
More beautiful than before.

Yes, love can return. The flame is rekindled, and slowly begins to burn brightly within us. Maybe we learn forgiveness, which heals the wound that was made. Or a person long forgotten returns into our life, and reminds us of our love. Or maybe someone new comes along and kindles a flame that we never knew that was there. And we begin to glow again, a beacon of light that shines throughout the world.


Love is like a phoenix
Magnificently robed in crimson flames
Soaring through the air like a comet
Brilliant to behold.

Blessed Be,
Darrick Jackson



Covenant Group
The Sunday Covenant Group will meet next on April 2 at 1:00 p.m. The topic for the day is: forgiveness. This group presently remains open to new members. We had six at our last meeting.

Newcomer Breakfast

Save the date. Coming soon on Sunday, May 7, 2006. All newcomers are invited!



Church Rummage Sale of May 6

Spring is coming and so is our annual rummage sale scheduled for Saturday May 6th. As you do your spring cleaning please collect whatever is cluttering your home for donation to the sale. We sell household and kitchen items, electronics, small articles of furniture, sports equipment, toys, books, CDs, tapes, children’s clothing. No adult clothing please. For any larger items (furniture, electronics, sports equipment) write out a description to be posted at the sale for buyers to peruse. Buyers can pick up these large items directly from your home. Jane Knuttunen and Meredith Montague are coordinating the sale this year and will be soliciting your help in April.

Open Choir Sing

The next choir event is coming soon. We will sing for the Sunday service on April 9 with two rehearsals on Monday nights.
April 9, 11:00 choir singing for church service
9:45 rehearsal before service
April 6th, 6:45 P.M. rehearsal
March 27th, 6:45 P.M. rehearsal

Film Series
All are invited to the continuing series on “Oppressions” - Darrick and Mark are facilitating a Lenten film series on "Oppressions." Sunday nights at 7:00 p.m. The final two films in the series are:
Sunday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m. - "People Like Us: Social Class in America" on class
Sunday, April 9 at 7:00 p.m. - "Ma Vie en Rose" ("My Life in Pink") - on transgender
In case you missed the previous sessions. They were Sunday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.
"Unlearning Homophobia Series"
featuring: "Straight from the Heart" - an Academy Award nominee plus "All God's Children" and “De Colores" and Sunday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. - “Black Is . . . Black Ain’t” by Marlon Riggs was substituted.for “Mi Familia.” This amazing film which was produced as the filmmaker was dying of AIDS, explores how racism, music, family, religion, sexual orientation, nationalism, and intra-racial class, gender, and color castes have collectively shaped the experience and meaning of blackness in America.

Easter and Spring Flowers
If you would like to order flowers to decorate the sanctuary for Easter, and then to take home, please fill out this form and mail it to the church or place in the box on the church office door by Sunday, April 2 at the latest! Please make checks payable to First Parish. All plants except the hydrangeas(new this year) come in 6" pots. Hydrangeas come in 4” pots. The lilies are a single stem with 4-6 blooms. Cost: $7 for lilies, $6 for the others.
Name____________ Phone_______________
Number of plants: ____
Tulips,color:___assorted___ red___ yellow
___ pink ___ purple
___white___orange
____ Jonquils
____ Hyacinths, color: ___ assorted___white
____pink ___ blue
____ Lilies
____ Hydrangeas, color: ___ assorted
___ pink___ blue
Total $ amount enclosed: ______________________________________
In memory of: ______________________________________
In honor of: ______________________________________
A gift of:
______________________________________
Giving Boxes

Thanks for all your book donations in January/February for Teen L.E.E.P.
March / April Giving Boxes are for MCI Framingham Programs administered by Sister Maureen Clark. Sister Maureen runs a couple of programs there that can use assistance. The first is Read to Me Mommy, which is a program in which she talks with families about books they’d like their children to be reading (focused around problems the child may be having) and then videotapes the mother reading the story. They then send the book and the videotape to the child. This program
NEEDS :

Gift Certificates from Barnes & Noble or Borders that they could use to buy books for kids, blank Videotapes and large mailing envelopes

A second program of Sister Maureen’s involves inmates making items for the elderly who live in medical facilities or nursing homes:
This program
NEEDS:

Blank placemats (Can be found at party stores), white stationery, colored stationery,
magic markers, crayons, colored pencils,
smaller posterboard, glue sticks, and black sharpie magic markers

Walk for Hunger

Walk-for-Hunger is coming May 7th.  Some First Parish youth and adults are planning to walk and welcome you to join them for this important cause.  See Roberta Altamari to sign up and get a pledge sheet.  If you are not walking this year, please be sure to pledge generously to one of our walkers.
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari

Wow! The year is zipping by so quickly. Spring is already arriving and the warm weather will be coming soon. With the last season of our church year comes that exciting day known as Youth Sunday, which lands on June 11 this year and I must soon begin preparing for. On Youth Sunday, we will once again recognize some of our children and youth as they celebrate special milestones in their lives. Let me take this time to remind everyone of our wonderful rites-of-passages we honor at First Parish.

Our first rite-of-passage is the "first chalice ceremony" in recognition of the fact that our 8-year-olds are entering the stage some developmental experts call the "age of reason". They are becoming ready to begin finding their own truths. We publicly recognize that these kids are starting to think for themselves and will begin finding themselves in more situations in which they have to make choices based on what they think is right and wrong. All kids who have turned 8 or about to turn 8 have a homework assignment that includes defining "for themselves" the words we use frequently at First Parish (like peace, love, courage, equality, etc). The homework also invites them to talk about someone they think is "courageously loving" and then asks a time when they did something courageously loving. Then all the children and their parents meet for a pizza dinner to discuss the homework. What did they think about it and what do they want to share? Our kids are proud of their work and want to talk. It's one of my favorite meetings of the year! Shortly after the meeting, the kids join us for Youth Sunday where they are each presented with a personal sized chalice (made by a local potter).
An extra thing we do is meet one year later with the kids and their parents for a second pizza dinner to talk about the previous year. What was it like being 8? What happened for the kids that year? What is it like to be a UU kid in today's world? And then we let them read the comments they wrote the year before and they are usually fascinated to see how much they have changed only one year later. Then we collect them again because they will get them back for good when they do the coming-of-age program around age 14.

Our next rite-of-passage is a "bridging ceremony" for our youth entering their middle school years. We recognize the significant step they are making as they become more independent members of both our world and our church community. So we want to share our loving hopes and dreams for them as they step into this new level of freedom and responsibility. To do this, we invite each of the youth to select a "church friend" symbolic of how they are now creating relationships with adults at First Parish separate from those their parents have helped them establish. This "church friend" represents the entire church community as they publicly express good wishes for the youth.

The most well known ceremony is "coming-of-age". This is a beautiful celebration that ends a year of participating in a very comprehensive "coming-of-age" program in which the kids are matched with mentors as they deeply explore and solidify their UU faith. The goals for this program include to affirm understanding of UU faith, which includes but is not limited to the principles and sources; actively participate in discussions about deep theological questions; develop a close relationship with at least one adult member at First Parish (other than parent); involvement in Social Action work; and involvement in worship. A program highlight is the writing of personal credos and the invitation to join the church.

The final recognition is the ceremonial chalice lighting in honor of our high school graduates. We share what each youth is planning to do after graduation and present a congratulatory gift. It's an important time to affirm our love and commitment to our youth as they take a significant step out into the world. No matter how much time lapses till we see them again, we want them to know that this will always be their "church home".

We don't usually have kids in all four of these life stages, so we normally only do three of these rites-of-passage ceremonies each year. Join us this year to see which ones! Youth Sunday is always a wonderful day to celebrate these important milestones with our kids. And even if your child is not participating in one of these ceremonies this year, they are something special to witness and look forward to.

R.E. Calendar: What we are doing this month in our small group gatherings!
(key: PA = Principle Activators, youth ages 12 to 14; UUT = UU Travelers, youth ages 9 to 12; UUE = UU Explorer, kids ages 8 to 10; RS = Rainbow Seekers, kids ages 5 to 8; TH = Treasure Hunters, kids ages 3 to 5; FF = Friendship Finders, kids ages 1 1/2 to 3)

April 2
PA: Philosophy According to Simpsons
UUT: OWL finale (11 to pizza lunch)
UUE and RS: explore principle of peace as inspired by wonder and mystery
TH: Heroes
FF: Our big and beautiful world


April 9
PA: Philosophy According to Simpsons
UUT: Passover Seder
UUE and RS: First Parish Peace Day - putting the principle of peace into action
TH: Making our world a better place
FF: Our big and beautiful world

April 16
A Hip-Hop, Happy Easter to You!
Very special activity for all children together. Quieter activities will be available for kids who don't like the big group fun.

April 23
PA: Philosophy According to Simpsons
UUT, UUE and RS: Spring celebrations in the traditions of other religions
TH: Springtime is wonderful
FF: Celebrating the season of Spring

April 30
PA and UUT: attend worship service led by Alex Twombly
UUE and RS: Mother Earth - loving our beautiful home
TH: Playing in nature is fun
FF: Animals

Announcements: Youth Group News!
Save the date
Sunday, May 21st at 1pm - State of the Youth Conversations - an important discussion about how our church community can continue to welcome and empower our youth members. This meeting is for everyone (not just youth and their families). Please plan to attend.

Cody and Giles are setting up their Youth Room. These are some things they want ~ fold-out couch or regular couch, arm chairs, blankets, working computer, lamps, dictionary, and great books you think they'd like to read. If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, please let us know. Thanks!

Presentation on China
Ever wondered what it would be like to go to China? Or live there for a year or two? Coming in May is a photo conversation with Anne Harrington, a member of our congregation who went to China in 2002 and spent two years there teaching English to college students. Don't miss this opportunity on May 13 to meet at First Parish for a pot luck dinner at
6 pm followed by Anne’s photo conversation to find out what life in China is really like these days.

Annual Dinner and Canvass

We had a very successful annual dinner on Saturday, March 25. A special thank you to the following people who helped make it possible: Paul Day, our host; Michael Collins, our sound technician; Isabel Tappan-deFrees, who organized the talent; Meredith Montague and others who helped organize the dinner, and to Fellowship Committee members, Anne Harrington and Carole Berney, who helped setup, and to David Morrison and Martha Scott who provided flowers and also helped setup. Thanks to our performers, too!

The annual dinner usually marks the end of our canvass, but the dinner was moved up a week this year. As a result canvass totals are not yet
finalized. We are working hard to make up the loss of three significant pledge units, two of whom moved away, and one who died. We especially need your generous support this year to meet our budget requirements. Please
send in your pledge today to support the work of the church, if you have not done so already. Our deep gratitude to those who have already given so generously.

Annual Meeting

A notice will be mailed out later in the month to officially notify you of our annual meeting. It will take place after church on Sunday, April 30. This is the time of year when your voice counts to review the year, and vote on the budget for next year. Committee chairs are reminded that reports are due in the church office by Wednesday, April 12. Please let Nancy Dutton know if you cannot meet this deadline. Jean Merkl is trying to finalize the
ballot for the upcoming year for membership on a First Parish committee. If you are interested in joining a committee, but have not told Jean or Mark Harris, please let us know today! A description of all the committees can be found on the information table in the upstairs sanctuary foyer.

Join us for a Craft Circle
Johanna Erickson and Roberta Altamari are pleased to invite First Parish adults to a craft circle at Johanna's home (48 Chester St. in Watertown) on Saturday, April 29th from 10am to 2pm.  Many fabulous craft options will be available for your selection including new things you've never done before.  Bring your own sandwich for lunch ~ drinks and tea will be available.  And please bring $10 to contribute towards the materials and supplies.  (If you have your own project you'd rather work on, still join us for socializing but no need to contribute the money.)  RSVP needed, so contact Johanna (617-926-1737 or erickson48@verizon.net) or Roberta (617-923-2368 or chaliceDREamer@aol.com) with questions or to sign up to come. 

The Obyat/Hussein Family Sends Thanks
Heartfelt thanks go out to all of you who have offered support to our Jordanian friends, the Obyat/Hussein family. In the spirit of love and caring, the First Parish community has extended help and reassurance in many ways. These gifts, both tangible and intangible, have meant a great deal to the family, and have assisted them enormously as they continue to struggle with multiple health issues, a lack of income, the pain of separation from their four children in Jordan, and the seemingly impossible challenges posed by U.S. immigration laws.


Abood continues to attend the 8th grade at the Middle School. His doctors hope to initiate some major orthopedic procedures in the next six months in order to improve his walking. Meanwhile he remains courageous and positive.

One of the very few options open to the Obyat/Hussein family that would allow them to stay near the medical treatment they need is for Habis to obtain an H1B visa. In order for this to happen, he must find an employer who is willing to be his sponsor. The position offered must be on a professional level, preferably in the field of electromechanical engineering, or something closely related, such as computerized mechanical system controls. However, translation services may be another potential field of employment.

The U.S. government issues a limited number of H1B visas each year, and applications for 2006 may be filed after April 1. They are awarded on a first come first served basis. Although sponsors usually are responsible for certain expenses associated with this process, we believe that we can raise enough money in the community to cover them. In addition, Attorney John Gallini has offered his legal services pro bono, thus easing the employer’s burden.

If Habis is able to get an H1B, there is a good chance that his children will be allowed to come to America to be reunited with their parents and brother. So once again, we are asking for your help in finding an employer willing to sponsor him. If you know of anyone who might be willing to do this, or even talk about it, please let Mark, Will Twombly, or Habis know. This would be an incredibly important opportunity for them.
Thank you!
UU Events and Summer Conferences

Mark Harris will be delivering a paper on Hosea Ballou and early Universalism
at the convocation of UU Christians on Sunday afternoon April 2, and then again at the Rhode Island Convention of Universalists on April 30. If you want to come along and hear his talk, please let him know.

Mark and Jean Merkl will be representing First Parish at the Annual Meeting of the Mass Bay District (UU Church in Greater Boston) on Saturday, April 8.

Finally, many of the brochures for summer conferences at Ferry Beach, Star Island, Rowe Camp, and Unirondack have arrived. There are many exciting opportunities. Roberta is happy to answer any questions about the wonderful experiences she had visiting Ferry Beach in Maine last summer.  There are many inspiring weeks for UU folks looking for a fabulous vacation.  See the display downstairs or ask Roberta for more details.  She will be returning to Ferry Beach as staff for the middle school camp (Different Drummers). While she will directly be working with the kids in the middle school grouping, there are camps running for 4th to 6th grade (kids for the earth)
and high school youth at the same time (July 1st to 8th). So if any First Parish youth are considering a sleep away camp and would like knowing someone on the camp grounds, here's an excellent opportunity. 

Mark Harris will be the theme speaker at a UU Heritage conference at Ferry Beach on UUs and Class issues in late August. Are we class bound? Can we appeal to a broader spectrum of people? Who do we really welcome at our door? A preview of this topic will be presented n a sermon in early May.
People of Faith Testimony Book

The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry is calling for submissions to a testimony book where both clergy and laity tell stories about how marriage equality has affected them. Examples include how the congregation or community has changed, how family and friends have been affected, and how your life has been affected. The statement should include a comment about your support for marriage equality as a person of faith. Your testimony can be sent to RCFM , 11 Beacon St., Suite 1125, Boston, MA 02108 or
maggie@rcfm.org. The deadline is April 17. Also please let Mark know if you are interested in doing this. The Coalition tells us this is the single, most powerful way to move hearts and minds to support marriage equality. These will be delivered to legislators before the next constitutional convention. A Testimony pledge sheet is posted on the Social Action bulletin board downstairs. Please sign on.

Thirst - Sneak Preview

Thirst is a film about water. Come to a preview and discussion on Tuesday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the First Parish in Bedford, 75 The Great Road, Bedford. Free admission. Is water a human right or a commodity to be sold?
Who controls your water supply? Are multinational water companies coming to your town? Do you want a voice in access to local water resources? Film and dialogue with Jonathan Levitt of Massachusetts Global Action and Water Allies Program.



Annual Meeting of the First Parish of Watertown.

All members and friends are invited to the 376th annual meeting of the Parish.

This meeting to review reports, elect committee members and officers, act
on bylaw changes and vote for the 2006-2007 budget will follow the church
service (with time for social hour and sandwich fixings) on:

Sunday, April 30, 2006.

Please Join Us to be part of our Democracy in action!