Organized by the Northborough Cultural Council, Open Studios day helps shine a spotlight on art and its many forms in our small town, and the Meetinghouse Arts Center will be a part of it.
To mark the occasion, we’ll celebrate our the new Ted Lilley arts show opening with a reception: come and meet the artist, soak in the colors and textures exhibited in our gallery, enjoy light refreshments. Saturday, May 17 @ 11:00 am EDT
I was recently asked to officiate at a ceremony of a couples who want to renew their vows. I was also recently in a conversation with someone who reported that they were in a room with a mix of both recent American citizens originally from other countries, and birthright US Citizens. The short point being that how and why’s of American civics, how the branches of government work; and the understanding of the basic principles of was better understood by the foreign born than the Native-born citizens. It got me thinking… What if like jury duty, registering for the draft, and filing taxes, periodically native born American citizens were required to take a refresher course in American Civics, or participate in a renewal of vows. What might those look like. What might we as Americans be asked to reflect on? What would or should a renewal of vows a native-born American citizen might be asked to attest to look like Here are a few to chew on… I vow to hold true that a balance of power between our legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government has been a greater source of stability than inefficiency for our government. I vow to hold true that any government or politician that seeks to control the freedom of the press should be themselves held suspect of wanting more control than our government has historically been willing to grant leaders. I vow to be cautious of any leader, party, or agenda who seeks to constrain, disarm, or dismantle the regulatory arm of government, as motivated by an exaggerated desire for their own economic freedom or political control. I as an American Citizen commit to being wary and resist those who wish to violate the delicate balance of power that has existed for 250 years. I vow to be wary of politicians whose temperaments and behavior suggest that they are driven by an excessive narcissistic and/or anti-social behavior, I vow to be wary of politicians who make political appointments on the basis of loyalty over competency.
These are just a few. As we witness the speedy, seemingly reckless challenge to so many long- standing American norms I invite you, to periodically pause and ask yourself, as you already likely are, what the real motivations might be for any newly proposed change in law.
The First Parish Memorial Day Fair is returning this year with all your favorite activities: plant sale, book sale, yard sale and strawberry shortcake! Mark you calendars for Monday, May 26, 10am-2pm.
Vigils for Democracy will continue every Monday. We’ll gather in front of the WWI war memorial on the corner of First Parish lawn every Monday, from 6pm to 7pm. Do join us! And bring your friends!
Opportunity for between 7 and 10 fellow Massachusetts UU’s and to Travel and Live with Rev. Steve at GA in Baltimore. We would be leaving Thursday Morning June 19 and returning on Tuesday night June 24 th. The overall cost of this trip not including spending money, but including registration (which you will do on your own) would be about $1200, overall trip I would guess if you’re frugal: $1400.
Ok, I’m intrigued, but want another layer of detail? Ok, here is more of the scoop.
Housing (If we go): I have rented a Verbo (house) about half a mile from the Convention Center in Baltimore. The house has 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, with 3 queens and two King Beds (It says it sleeps 12, but that would involve strangers sleeping in the same bed. I think with a couple couches; it more realistically sleeps 10).
If you want to look at the house or a map it is https://www.vrbo.com/3607613 It is .6 miles or ½ mile from the convention center in a safe neighborhood with great reviews. I can cancel this “Vrbo” by June 5 and If I don’t have 7 committed people, by May 10 I will cancel the house and likely the whole trip. I suppose there is a chance I might just rent the van, and let people do housing on their own at the hotels.
*Total Housing cost for the 5 days we would stay in this Vrbo is $3400. Per person-with 10 people going-the cost would be $350 each. With only 7 people the cost would be roughly $525 each.
GA Registration: You will need to register on your own and choose your comfort of risk as to whether you/we together are going…
From April 1 – May 15 the cost for registering for GA is $475. After May 15 th the registration cost rises to $540. Note- GA wording suggests you may cancel your registration for GA for a fee of $50. (I do not see a deadline for that. but that is not a promise from me.) I/we will not go with less than 7 people. I/we will go if 7 or more people commit. If going together is the only way you think you will go to GA, I would encourage you to wait until May 10 to register. I will clarify whether we are going will all those who express interest on May 11 so people will have time to register or not, before the rates go up on May 15. Registration is online.
Transportation: I am planning on renting a 12- or 15-person van for the trip and doing a pick- up and drop-off at all the churches I serve (Billerica, Northborough, and Bernardston) on Thursday morning June 19. Between 8 and 11am. The Van is roughly $2000 for the 6 days we would be gone plus roughly $300 gas. I would plan on doing AM and PM drop offs and return to the house with the van. Note- GA begins on Thursday, so we will be missing most of the first of 4 days. Believe me GA is pretty intense Fri, Sat, and half day Sunday is enough. On Monday I/we will drive to DC for a full day of sightseeing, returning to our Vrbo Monday night for a Tuesday AM departure.
Transportation Costs Total 2,300 potentially divided by 10 $225 per person. If we only have 7 people the cost is $300 each. *In most cases I can cancel the van free of charge by June 18. Travelocity number: 73077680255410
Your potential Costs in more detail: If you register for GA before May 15, it is $475. + $300 for Transportation + Housing 3 or 400. Making your total costs to be about $1150 before any food or spending money is allotted for. In general I think 1500 is a realistic budget. Sorry, “Wilson Travel” is a non-profit, low overhead operation and thus, no scholarships are offered with this proposal. All I get out of this is the pride of getting parishioners to GA, and the chance for a mix of people from my three churches to have some crossover and a fun road trip.
As I said, I/we will not make this trip with any fewer than 7 confirmed travelers. I will ask for no deposit money, before we go, but I will ask for a firm confirmation. An email expressing interest, is ok, but I really would prefer a phone call. Inevitably questions will need to be asked. Call Rev. Steve.
Wednesday, April 16, 7 pm at the Meetinghouse Arts Center – First Parish Northboro
Come listen to Dr. Ira Helfand, President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), speak about this important subject on Wednesday, April 16, at 7pm.
We will continue to stand in support of democracy through April, from 6pm to 7pm. We’ll gather in front of the WWI war memorial on the corner of First Parish lawn. Do join us! And bring your friends!
Revitalize your Soul with Ancient Energy Medicine. The Healing Sounds of 7 Chakra Crystal Singing Bowls, Tibetan Sound Bowls, Handmade Native Drum & Flute, Steel Drum, Chimes ở grinch Gong. With Special Guest Zack Black. Please contact Charlie @508-440-7200 to pre-register/pre-pay. Send payment via Venmo ($55) @SoulShineHealing8
**PLEASE BRING MAT/BLANKETS/PILLOW/ANYTHING YOU NEED FOR EXTRA COMFORT, WATER & DIVINATION TOOLS YOU MAY WANT FOR YOUR JOURNEY **
Join us for a night of live storytelling and community at the Meetinghouse Arts Center. Tell Me a Story will take place in the Meetinghouse on Saturday, April 5, 2025 from 6pm to 8pm. We expect eight to ten 5-min stories to be presented live in front of the audience. If you want to submit a story, contact Heather and Jean at tellmeastorymac@gmail.com Find out more details at the link below.
Described this way “Friendly jams for friendly people, led by our fun faculty performers.” On occasional Tuesday Nights from 7 to 9pm Groton Hill opens up a few rooms of its inspiring beautiful facilities to people who want to come play and or just listen to people jamming together. Seemingly different genres of music, (usually they are Irish, bluegrass, and Jazz) are played in different rooms, and people are invited to roam about from room to room with a pint in their hand. Seems worth a try.
Prior to the open sessions there are also Intro to Bluegrass, Intro to Jazz Improv, and Intro to Traditional Irish Playing are all classes that meet right before our jam sessions! It’s the perfect way to study these joyful and collaborative art forms and then put what you’ve learned into practice. Learn more and register on our classes page. For more info go to https://grotonhill.org/pages/jam-night/ People can meet at church 630 to carpool or just meet Steve at 7pm at the Groton Hill Arts Center at 122 Old Ayer Road, Groton, MA (I (SW) will not leave from church)
We will leave church at 12:15pm to carpool for a field trip to the Worcester Art Museum. People may wish to meet us there at 12:45pm in the lobby. We plan on being back by 3pm. All are invited and will pay separately at the museum. The Museum’s address is 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609.
