February 17 Service at 10:30 AM

Edith Fenton

This service will honor Gertrude O’Kelly who was one of the most influential people in the life of a southern girl raised in Memphis, Tennessee, during the 1950’s. A childhood of being cared for each day by Gertie gradually led to the girl’s realization about the injustices in Gertie’s life and the unearned privilege in her own. This insight inspired the girl to begin a journey to find a more just community. This is the story of Gertie and Edith.

Professional clarinetist Margo McGowan will return to inspire us with her soulful clarinet.

Judy Putnam will add her piano accompaniment to Margo’s playing.

Rev. Julie Lombard

The tribute for all worship services on the topic of love must include a tribute to the Beatles. How many Beatles songs do you think there are about love? Did you know that Paul wrote “Love Me Do” as a love song to Linda? What can we learn from The Beatles? What wisdom did their songs leave to us, and what did they know about love? Come and sing along to the familiar tunes as we explore love through the eyes and hearts of the “Fab Four.” Please join us for worship and this journey through love.

The Singing Group will provide a musical view of Rev Julie’s Sunday morning theme.

Rev. Julie Lombard, Minister

Justice looks beautiful in the face of fifteen-year-old, Greta Thunberg of Sweden, as she sits next to UN Secretary General António Guterres at the COP24 in Poland to let them know, “that our political leaders have failed us, because we are facing an existential threat and there’s no time to continue down this road of madness.” Hear the stern rebuke Greta offered on behalf of the world’s youth climate movement to the gathered adult diplomats, executives, and elected leaders. She told them she was not there asking for help or demanding that they comply with demands, but she was there to inform them that new political realities and a renewable energy transformation are coming, whether they like it or not. Hear the story of how the young plan to guide us forward to a greener reality.

The Singing Group will call for a new justice through their music.

Lois Markham

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a towering beacon in the fight for justice for all. Dr. King’s words and deeds are inspiring, familiar, and comforting in their familiarity. Perhaps they are too comforting, for they speak to a time more than 50 years past. Much has changed in the 50 years since Dr. King’s death. What would Dr. King ask of us today? I believe we honor Dr. King most when we continue his work, rather than enshrine it. I believe Dr. King would ask us to listen to the voices of those who have come after him, seeking justice. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., we will hear some of the voices of today’s black leaders and what they are asking of us, as UUs, as allies, as members of the Beloved Community.

Rev. Julie Lombard, Minister

In early January, the minister from the Marblehead Church and I are taking a group of young adults on a service trip to Guatemala. My daughter is among the young adults going. There, we will work in an orphanage, and also with a non-profit to install needed cisterns. Come hear of our travels through a land where a caravan of peoples have marched on a path to a better life. The story behind our sisters and brothers from Central America comes with a long history of devastating poverty, and people seeking work. Hear how their story changed us.

Barbara R. Bodengraven