The View from Bolton Street

Remember those times as a child when your parents forced you to do good deeds for others? 

Growing up in the Berkshires in the 1960s, my grandparents lived next door to us. Mom was always volunteering us kids to get the paper and mail for Gramma and Grampa, to weed their garden, or carry in and unload their groceries. As they and we aged, the tasks grew more demanding, time-consuming and even gendered: the girls would wash the kitchen floor or dust the living room; the boys would cut the grass and whack the weeds. We weren’t allowed to complain. 

Paul’s letter to Philemon helps me understand why thinking back on these forced tasks makes me smile more than cringe. An important outgrowth of being forced to volunteer my time and talent to my elders was that those early morning tasks invariably morphed into something much more pleasant: a few hours learning to sew (Gramma) or whittle wood (Grampa); a chance to listen to stories, ask questions, and lean into the deep love that flowed so freely from them to us. This love that grew between our grandparents and my siblings and me was immense. To paraphrase Paul, helping and being with our grandparents refreshed our hearts, due to the joy and encouragement of our Gramma and Grampa’s love. 

It’s funny - when you volunteer, forced or not, you start out thinking you’ve got work to do. Before you know it, benefits you never expected come flowing back.

Memorial Church runs on this engine! 

Did you admire the flower arrangements on Sunday’s altar? A volunteer designed and arranged them. Want to help? Let Alice know!  Did you read the e-news reflections last week and the week before? Volunteers John and Kathleen wrote them! Would YOU like to write a weekly reflection before Grey returns from sabbatical? It’s easy: just volunteer

Memorial’s Sabbatical Committee is working hard to create a memorable Homecoming Sunday on September 11. Want to help ensure the day’s success? Welcome visitors at the door!  Offer to bring a side dish to share after church! Step up for a stint cooking hotdogs! Lend your grill to us!

In 1960s rural Massachusetts, my mom understood that time and attention offered by her kids to their elders helped sustain the health and grow the happiness of Gramma and Grampa as well as the big hearts of my siblings and me. 

So it is with Memorial Church in 2022 -  with just one full-time and a few part-time employees, we depend on our members’ generosity of time and talent to keep our focus on justice, and Jesus at the center of our community. 

As the program year begins soon, please consider refreshing your own heart by giving some of your time to Memorial Church.