Letters to the Editor - The Lakeville Journal - 11-16-23

Clothing drive thanks

On behalf of the parishioners of All Saints of America Orthodox Christian Church, I would like to express our appreciation to the local community for supporting our recent winter clothing give-away. We were overwhelmed by the response from our area friends and neighbors with their generous donations of clothing. Thanks also to The Lakeville Journal and WHDD radio for publicity help. A special thank you goes to the Salisbury Central School Student Leadership Group and their families for collecting hundreds of items for us to distribute. 

We had a huge turn-out of local people and almost all of the clothing was given away. Left-over items were donated to local shelters. We feel so blessed to be able to help others and to be a part of such a caring community.

Hope Mongeau

Church Council Member

Salisbury

‘Vigil for Israel,’ solidarity with all who suffer, and a church’s mission

On Nov. 14, the Congregational Church’s Meetinghouse was scheduled to be the site of a “Vigil for Israel.” While this was not organized or sponsored by the church, as pastor I led the decision to allow the use of our building. The church’s senior lay leader planned to open the event with the following statement:

“As Moderator of the Church, I welcome you to this historic Meetinghouse, which, in addition to church-related functions, for more than two hundred years has been used by this community for public gatherings and meetings. We take to heart our stewardship of this place, including tonight’s opportunity to host our neighbors.

“Often, controversial subjects are discussed, including matters on which our membership holds a wide variety of deeply held convictions. So, as a church we will state clearly that we neither endorse nor oppose the perspectives presented in public forums because they are convened in this place.”

I have heard from both church members and neighbors that an event held in the Meetinghouse has the appearance of being supported by the church. We are, nonetheless, determined to have this place used as often as possible as a site for speaking on issues that matter to our community — even as we toll our bell for victims of gun violence, open the doors to blood drives, host a multitude of local groups, and seek to use the place so extensively the carpet wears out.

Regarding the war in the Middle East, our members have shared an outpouring of anguish. Our members deplore the brutal attacks on people of Israel, and also the brutal attacks on residents of Gaza and the West Bank. We pray with broken-hearted anguish for Israelis, Palestinians, Jews, Muslims, Bedouins, and Arabs, in the Middle East and in communities around the world,  who today are vilified, scapegoated, and attacked. We pray for the safe return of hostages. We weep for hundreds of thousands of neighbors whose lives are forever disrupted and distorted by trauma and loss. We acknowledge even sacred scripture offers no singular vision that would end the conflagration.

We are in solidarity with all who suffer, all who are in need of healing, all who live in fear, all who seek an end to fighting, and all who are determined to build communities of dignity and self-determination.

We believe we are fulfilling our church’s mission when the Meetinghouse provides a place to give voice to that multitude of convictions, and more besides.

The Rev. Dr. John A. Nelson

Congregational Church of Salisbury, UCC