Monthly Archives: October 2016

New Episode of The Pamphlet featuring history of Rev. Althalia Irwin

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In this episode of The Pamphlet Susan and Sean are joined by Gail Forsyth Vail, Adult Program Director at the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The discussion focuses on Rev. Athalia Lizzie Johnson Irwin who was one of the first women in the American South to be ordained to the Universalist ministry. Serving churches across the country she pioneered creative way to use print media for evangelical purposes.

http://www.pamphletpodcast.org/rev-athalia-irwin/

The story of Rev. Athalia Lizzie Johnson Irwin is included in a book co-authored by Gail Forsyth Vail and Polly Peterson called Missionaries, Builders, and Pathfinders Unitarian Universalist Stories from the Midwest, West, and South, 1830-1930 – This book belongs to the Tapestry of Faith Toolkit Series provided by the UUA Faith Development Office. Toolkit Books provide background knowledge, inspiration, and practical guidance to program and lead UU faith development and to help us explore and live our faith in our congregations, neighborhoods, nation, and world.

Polly Peterson authored another insightful book: Stirring the Nations’s Heart: Eighteen Stories of Prophetic Unitarians and Universalists of the 19th Century  – Eighteen compelling stories from the lives of 19th-century Transcendentalists and reformers who played key roles in Unitarian Universalist history. Each story includes introductory material to provide context and quotations that expand the picture of the subject’s life and work. Supplementary materials such as discussion questions allow you to shape a complete program for adult learning or small group ministry.

You can purchase these books at the UUA Bookstore, here:

pollys-book-1 pollys-book-2-gail

 

Maine Peace Walk 2016 – Pittsfield

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The theme of the 5th Annual Maine Peace Walk is:

“Stop the War$ on Mother Earth”

 

The Maine Peace Walkers will arrive in Pittsfield Thursday, October 13th where they will have dinner at Twinkle’s Place at 6:00PM followed by a brief presentation and entertainment 7:00PM-800PM.

If you would like to join us, email “Twinkle”

TwinkleManning@gmail.com

On Friday, October 14th at 8:30AM the Peace Walkers will join the Grandmothers Against the East/West Highway vigil infront of Cianbro, across from Vittles Restaurant on Main Street in Pittsfield.

Below is more information issued by the Maine Peace Walkers:

Triquetra

For immediate Release

Peace and environmental activists from Maine and beyond will walk through large portions of our state from October 11-26 in order to bring the issues of endless war, environmental degradation, and climate change to the public’s attention.  The walk will begin on Indian Island (with a supper and ceremony hosted by the Penobscot Nation) and end in Kittery.

“We come together out of our deep concern about the many different wars being waged on Mother Earth, ranging from over-fishing, deforestation, and human-caused extinctions, to climate disruption and endless war,” said Russell Wray of Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats (COAST) in Hancock.

According to walk co-organizer Connie Jenkins from Orono, “Close to home we support the Penobscot Nation’s struggle for Justice for the River, opposition to the East/West Corridor, and conversion of war production to alternative energy at Maine shipyards.  We know from past experience of walking through rural and urban Maine that many people will be reached with our messages. We hope this spiritual act of walking and sharing conversation and food will help people in our state feel less isolated and despairing about the future.”

The peace walk begins on Indian Island October 11 and will pass through Dexter, Pittsfield, Unity, Waterville, Augusta, Norway, Lewiston, Brunswick, Bath, Freeport, Portland, Saco, Kennebunk, York Beach, and Kittery. The walk will average about 12 walking miles per day. (Some driving will be necessary between some of these communities.) In the evenings walkers will be fed at local churches and will often stay in local homes.)

The walkers will hold a protest at Bath Iron Works on October 20 at 3:00 pm and conclude on October 26 with a protest at the naval submarine yard in Kittery also at 3:00 pm.  Both protests will call for the conversion of the Maine shipyards to alternative energy production such as public rail systems, solar power, wind turbines and tidal power systems.  Studies at UMASS-Amherst Economics Department reveal that building needed alternative energy rather than military production would create more jobs.  See the study athttp://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/published_study/PERI_military_spending_2011.pdf

Buddhist monks and nuns from the Nipponzan Myohoji order will lead the non-violent peace walk.  Their order does peace walks all over the world.

Maine Walk for Peace is sponsored by:  Penobscot Nation; Smedley D. Butler Brigade Veterans For Peace (Boston area); Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space; Maine Veterans For Peace; Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats (COAST); Veterans For Peace (National); Peninsula Peace and Justice; Maine Natural Guard; Greater Brunswick PeaceWorks; Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center; Veterans For Peace, Jim Harney Chapter 003; Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine; Alliance for the Common Good; Grandmothers Against the East/West Corridor; Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC); Pax Christi Maine; Friends of the Piscataquis Valley; Concord Massachusetts Peace Vigil; Peace Action Maine; ESTIA Maine; Stop the East-West Corridor (STEWC); Maine Green Independent Party; Mission Board of State Street Church (Portland); Reversing Falls Sanctuary; Peace to All Beings; Waldo County Peace & Justice; Unitarian Church of Brunswick; 350 Maine

The daily schedule and entire walk route can be found at Maine Veterans For Peace   http://vfpmaine.org/

Contact:  Bruce Gagnon (207) 443-9502