MVLP “Gather 'Round” E-News - Issue #65April 16, 2021

This is the sixty-fifth issue of our E-newsletter, “Gather ‘Round,” to call us together through the internet to share news and needs and stories with each other.  If you have a tale to tell or a perspective to share, please send it on for the next issue!

The Buildings Are Closed;The Church Is Open!

Back issues of “Gather ‘Round” E-news are available on the Moosup Valley Church website, thanks to our webmaster, Pat Safstrom. Go to moosupvalley.church and click on the tab at the top of the page.

Tribute To Our Beloved Bill McGrathBy Laurie Murphy

About four years ago, Carl, Bill McGrath, and I discussed the possibility ofhaving concerts at the church. Our annual Concert in the Valley fundraiser had been successful for years, but we wanted to do something more often, something for the community. We decided to have a concert once a month with local musicians and a variety of music. Bill stepped right up and offered to help, and in exchange we would include his name on the billing. The Moosup Valley Music Series in Assoc. w/Bill McGrath was born. We held concerts inside the church and out with an eclectic group of musicians, from classical guitarist Victor Main, singer/songwriter Ray Cooke, Don Lurgio’s Island Farm Ceili Band to the Atwater-Donnelly duo. The concerts were so successful that Carl and friends built a beautiful outdoor stage.

Bill always arrived at the concerts early to greet the musical acts, help them set up, and be there to lend a hand wherever needed. I would introduce the musicians to the audience and Bill would pass around the donation basket. When I’d ask him to stand up and talk, introduce himself, he always bowed out. The spotlight was never on him. He much preferred working

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Window Box on Moosup Valley Church

It’s beginning to look a lot like Spring, thanks to Pam and Tom Haliwell at Natural Designs who have filled our window box with Pussy Willows and Pansies! Also, note that Carl has scheduled a Grounds Clean Up day this Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon (after church) in preparation for the Arnold Memorial Service on the 24th. Volunteers are welcome! Wear a mask and bring your own tools.

behind the scenes. He loved supporting local musicians and was instrumental in starting an organization called Rising where young talent was encouraged to perform and learn their craft.

His daughter, Allison Rose, is an amazing singer/songwriter, and Bill was her biggest supporter, never missing a gig. He was immensely proud of her and she adored him. Bill also cherished his two grandchildren and had recently moved in with Allison and the kids. Bill took over the bottom floor of the house and decorated it with his Victorian antiques, which he found as he perused consignment shops around RI, particularly The Find on 6 in Johnston. It was one of his favorite stomping grounds, along with Cindy’s Restaurant. The Find was the location of his own monthly music series – which he made sure never conflicted with ours. It seemed effortless for Bill to find people to play as he was a mainstay of the local music scene.

Bill was endearing. He treated everyone the same, always had something positive and encouraging to say, and was a friend to everyone. We made a good team, Bill and I, with Carl, too, of course. And I, along with so many others, will miss him dearly. The Music Series will never be the same without Bill McGrath’s quiet, supportive, slightly mischievous, helpful presence.

Rest in peace, Bill. May you soar with the angels and enjoy the music.

A Primer on Earth DayBy Bob Hollis

Earth Day was established on and has been set aside since April 22, 1970. It is now 51 years old, but it is not that new. Indigenous people, like the Athabaskan People in Alaska and Canada have been living EarthDay for thousands of years. They have been committed to living in harmony with Nature – learning from it, taking from it only what it has to offer, giving back what they can to help it grow stronger, and sharing what it gives them with one another, so that all may live in harmony with one another and with our “Mother Earth.”

The Day celebrates the interconnectedness we have with our environment and with one another. It raises the question, “Do we wish to live in cooperation and adaptation with our environment, or do we wish to subdue our environment to serve our purposes?” One focus enhances our lives and our environment and protects the future for our grandchildren and their children. The other focus gives us the excesses that we want while damaging our environment and threatening the health and sustainability of generations to come.

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In Genesis 1, God calls us to subdue the earth.  “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

In Genesis 2, God calls us instead to take care of it. The LORD God took humanity and placed them in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

So, which is it? Earth Day asks the question, Is the earth here to serve us or are we here, as part of the earth, to care for it and be cared for by it? For centuries, we have bounced back and forth between “taking care of our world” and “subduing it” for our purposes,

The word for subdue in Hebrew is “Kabash.” It definitely means to subdue – to overpower – but to overpower to keep something (an invading army) from killing us. We are called to keep the potential harshness of Nature from killing us. We are called to subdue its power for our good. The Hebrew word for rule is “Radah.” It means to “do what is best for all, with an emphasis on those who are the least.”

If we take those two definitions, there is less of a conflict between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. We are called to use our power and our wisdom to keep Nature from killing us and to make decisions that bring out the best for the most fragile parts of our environment and for those in the greatest need.

So this Earth Day, let’s honor and respect the power of Nature. Let’s thank the Creator for the way Nature makes our lives better. Let’s learn from the lessons of the past that have taught us what not to do to endanger ourselves from Nature’s power. Let’s celebrate the way that we have learned to harness the power of Nature for our good. And let’s celebrate the ways that we can implement and commit ourselves to the work, as part of our environment, to provide for the needs of the least and most vulnerable.

The Athabaskan People have a saying that, I believe, is appropriate for Earth Day. “If we learn to listen to Nature, she will show us the way.”

Ten Simple Things We Can Do to Care for Our Environment (On Earth Day and Every Day!)

1. Cut down on what we throw away. Reduce what we take from the environment. Reuse (or Repurpose) what we do take. Recycle what we cannot use, so that it can be reused by others.

2. Volunteer with agencies that care for our neighborhoods and local ecosystems. (Adopt an area to keep clean. Offer administrative help to a local agency.)

3. Learn and then teach about ways to care for our environment.

4. Conserve water.

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5. Use reusable water bottles, cups, straws, etc.

6. Use reusable shopping bags.

7. Use less electricity and/or install energy efficient lightbulbs.

8. Plant a tree or support agencies that do.

9. Learn about natural (non-toxic) cleaning methods to use in your home and yard.

10. Bike, walk, and carpool whenever we can.

SpringBy Mary Oliver

Somewherea black bear

has just risen from sleepand is staring

down the mountain.All night

in the brisk and shallow restlessnessof early spring

I think of her,her four black fistsflicking the gravel,

her tongue

like a red firetouching the grass,

the cold water.There is only one question:

how to love this world.I think of her

risinglike a black and leafy ledge

to sharpen her claws againstthe silenceof the trees.

Whatever else

my life iswith its poemsand its music

and its glass cities,it is also this dazzling darkness

comingdown the mountain,

breathing and tasting;

all day I think of her —her white teeth,

her wordlessness,her perfect love.

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Moosup Valley Sunday Service Moosup Valley Church holds Sunday Worship by Zoom, at 10:30 a.m. Liturgy literally means “the work of the people,” and at Moosup Valley we take this to heart. Members of the congregation take part in reading, playing, and singing. This Sunday, April 18, we will celebrate Earth Day with a special Earth Day Responsive Prayer and the reading of the Creation story in Genesis. Rev. Betsy’s reflection will be “Helping the Sun to Rise.” Martha, Charlie, and Evie will provide special music. Watch for the Zoom link and the Order of

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Worship bulletin which will be emailed on Saturday morning and will include everything you need to participate, all in one PDF document.

Rice City Worship Worship at Rice City will be live, in person (with precautions) this Sunday, April 18, at 9:00 a.m. as well as online on the MVLP Facebook page Sunday morning and throughout the week. The Order of Worship will be emailed with Moosup Valley’s on Saturday morning.

Mount Vernon Wednesday EveningsMt. Vernon Baptist Church streams a live service on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The link: https://www.facebook.com/MVLPspirit/ ?ref=bookmrks ). The Order of Worship will be emailed with Rev. Betsy’s Order for Evening Prayer that morning.

Evening Prayer Moosup Valley holds Evening Prayer, Vespers, on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. by Zoom – a brief (20 minute) time of scripture, song, meditation and prayer, a time to give thanks for the day just past andpraise to God. As appropriate, we also reflect on questions for the season. If you wish, please bring a candle to light. Let Rev. Betsy know if you would like to sing an evening hymn. It is acceptable to come in your PJs! The Order of Prayer bulletin is emailed early on Wednesdays, along with the Zoom link.

Special PrayersPrayer is the act and presence of sending [the] light from the bountifulness of your love to other people to heal, free, and bless them. When there is love in your life, you should share it spiritually with those who are pushed to the very edge of life. There is a lovely idea in the Celtic tradition that if you send out goodness from yourself or if you share that which is happy or good within you, it will all come back to you multiplied ten thousand times. – John O’ Donohue, Anam Cara, a Book of Celtic Wisdom

Please hold a place in your heart and prayers for…

For the family of Frank and Natalie Arnold whose lives will be Celebrated Saturday, April 24, 10:00 a.m., at Moosup Valley Church, outside on the lawn. Please wear a mask, and, if you like, bring a lawn chair.

For the family of Bill McGrath, Moosup Valley’s beloved Music Series Coordinator, who died of COVID last weekend. Please see Laurie Murphy’s tribute to Bill on page 1.

For Rhoda Dexter who has been transferred to Davis Place in Danielson for rehab after surgery for gall stones at Worcester Memorial Hospital.

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For Judi White’s husband, Andrew, who is recovering from an accident on an icy mountain road in NH two weeks ago; and for Judi’s mother, Joyce Chase, who is scheduled for open heart surgery on April 21.

For Rocky Riccio and Billy Dexter, recovering well from COVID.

For Vicky Neville’s sister, Carol, who is recovering from heart surgery.

For Earl Mann who is recovering from back surgery and is now out of pain!

For Rose Desilus who is recovering well from gall bladder surgery at home.

For Phyllis Dexter’s family and all of those who loved her.

For Martha’s niece Rev. Mindy Reed as she deals with chronic life-threatening conditions.

For Joan as she continues with radiation following surgery, and Joan and John’s grandson, Christopher, and for Joan’s friend, Jane, who is in need of strength and courage.

For Barbara’s cousin Judy who is still holding her own with new treatments for tumors.

For Judi White’s co-worker Ann’s new grandson, Wyatt, born prematurely on January 1 at 24 weeks. Although he has suffered some lung damage, he now weighs 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and has a good sucking reflex. Each day brings more hope for this little fighter!

For Jean Salemi, recovering from back surgery and awaiting the time we can all be physically together again.

For Richard Lucky who had another follow up procedure in Boston and is awaiting a safe time to be baptized at Rice City.

For Carol and Bob’s friend, Kathy, back in the hospital in Boston and knows that she will always have some of the pain that she currently is trying to endure.

For Linda’s son Peter, now that he is in his own apartment. 

For Jeanne Lavoie’s son-in-law Ryan as he undergoes chemo treatment.

For Chris Crowther’s partner Jen who has qualified to receive a liver transplant.

For all those killed and mourned across the country in mass shootings of which there have been 126 in the first quarter of 2021 and 24 additional in April so far for a total of 150 this year. (The Mass Shooting Tracker project identifies a “mass shooting” as any event with four or more shot in a single event.) That means, so far this year, we have experienced 150 shootings with a death toll of many killed and many more injured. Pray that we can find the will as a country to rein in our love affair with guns!

For our beloved country in the midst of persistent hostility and division.

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Gather ‘Round for Bible Study – New Day!

Rev. Betsy leads Bible Study on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. by Zoom. We have just finished reading the Letters of John and will begin reading the Letter of James, whom some believe is Jesus’ brother, next Thursday. We are interested in comparing the theologies of these two sources. To receive the Zoom link, contact Betsy.

Praying the HymnsHymns are meant to teach theology and not just to serve as an act of devotion. So we need to pay attention to the words, what they are telling us. We can ask, “Is this good theology, helpful to my life and faith development?” Or maybe not. True, many of us sing something we might not recite as a creed or even believe. But it behooves us to pay attention to the words. Here’s a hymn written by Ruth C. Duck which can be sung to the Shaker melody, “Simple Gifts.”

In the dawn of the ages God created the earth.Ev’ry living creature found in God its birth,From the birds in the sky to the deer in the wood.She looked all around and she said, “It is good.”

Refrain:One God, Creator of us all,In you we find our life and call.Great Spirit and source of birth,We praise your name in all the earth.

In the dew of the morning with her work almost done, the Creator said at rising of the sun, “Only one thing is lacking from earth far and wide: the children of earth living here by my side.” Refrain

So she reached down and gathered up the clay in her hand, and she shaped and formed a woman and a man. Then she breathed into each her own life-giving soul. She gave each a longing to love and be whole. Refrain

A Closing Prayer for Earth Day

Please God, let [us] never take for granted the beauties and wonders of nature. Let [us] never look with jaundiced eyes at a sunrise or a sunset, without feeling that they are truly religious happenings. Let [us] always be filled with pleasure at seeing the first crocus pushing its way up through the hard, cold ground, the new leaves appearing on the trees, the little striped

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chipmunks darting from place to place, the robins looking for food for the new little ones waiting to be fed. Let me always look to the sky, to see the beauty of the clouds and feel the warming rays of the sun. You have given us such a beautiful world; help [us] to always marvel at it and enjoy it. Amen. – Isabel Grasso

Church Offerings may be mailed for:

Mt. Vernon to Ron Allen (116 Barbs Hill Road, Greene, RI 02827), Moosup Valley to Pat Safstrom (76 Moosup Valley Road, Foster, RI 02825), or go on the website (moosupvalley.church) and donate through PayPal.Rice City to Robin Petrarca (105 Hopkins Hollow Road, Greene, RI 02827).

Reverend Betsy can be reached at BetsyAldrichGarland@gmail.com or 401-463-8697. Pastor Bob can be reached at revbobh@gmail.com or 401-440-7831.

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