Interesting Happenings, Exciting Opportunities

Interesting happenings, exciting opportunities

Our Nov. 19 meeting was interesting. Though several of our regular attendees could not be present because of the funeral of Edna Rudnick, who worked very hard for our community in many ways during her long life, we still had more than 10 people in attendence.

(Our next meeting will be held at the First Baptist Church in North Adams at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 17. Use Eagle Street entrance.)

At the last meeting, I gave an update on the status of our survey of what area houses of worship are doing to meet basic human needs. As of this writing, Wednesday, Dec. 8, we have results back from 12 Northern Berkshire houses of worship, 14 if you count churches in different communities that have joined together.

Obviously we still have a lot to do, and I hope that after the new year we will have a surge of activity to get this effort completed and published.

Which brings me to an important point. This Friday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in North Adams, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition will hold a discussion on repairing our fraying social safety net as part of its monthly forum. I would encourage all who are involved with the Interfaith effort to attend.

I participated in two planning meetings for this meeting, and what faith communities are doing and can do to meet basic human needs in our community will be a part of this forum, along with a large contribution to the discussion by Community Action, among others.

I know that heating assistance is going to be a major need this winter, and there are many others.

Getting back to the Nov. 19 meeting, Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser noted that the Williamstown Ecumenical Association has disbanded. They had a sort of group voucher system that was coordinated among the churches and helped people in need. It was thought this could be something our group could possibly continue and expand.

It is worth considering, though I think that there would have to be a strong clergy component, because this is something that would usually or often be coordinated by church/synagogue office secretaries, as calls from those in need would likely go directly to a house of worship. I know that people at times would/will show up at the office and rectories of the Catholic Churches looking for help.

Which brings me to a comment I have heard a couple of times recently: That many people just won’t go to churches to seek help. It wasn’t explained to me why, though I can make some guesses. I suppose some people might expect a judgemental attitude and perhaps attempts to be converted. Speaking for faith-based efforts I have been involved in around here, that isn’t so. But it’s worth keeping in mind as we move forward.

Also Nov. 19, our faith sharing component evolved into a political discussion. It was interesting. Also on Nov. 19, I shared my late grandfather’s French-language prayer book he was given at his first Communion in 1912. Priscilla Northrup shared her thoughts on the expression: “The glory of God is the human being fully alive.”

Anyone with a faith or spirituality-related thought or inspiration or item of interest for the December meeting is encouraged to share.

In addition to moving ahead with our survey, and considering the voucher system idea, we need to continue our exploration of cooperating and assisting area agencies. And discuss the nature of this assistance. My preference remains not to tie ourself to one or two agencies, serving as a kind of fundraising arm. Rather I would see us providing volunteers for special tasks, encouraging wider volunteerism in the community, and possibly sponsoring one-and-off fundraising events.

As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I should also note that the new Systems of Care effort is looking for the participation of members of the faith community. I have said I will participate. There will be a meeting in January. I do not have the time here to explain what this is about (and I need to learn more myself) but I hope to get into more detail in a future blog post.

As always, feel free to comment on this blog. Or contact me at markrondeau@earthlink.net or northernberkshireinterfaith@gmail.com or at 664-0130 (please leave a message if I’m not there).

Moving forward in several areas

The Nothern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative made progress in several areas at its Oct. 15 meeting.

For one, we are proceeding with a survey of faith communities in Northern Berkshire to determine what services they provide to meet basic human needs, and we already have the results from several churches surveyed by our members.

We hope that compiling this information will help make these services better known, perhaps inspire faith communities or others to fill in gaps in available services, and also promote awareness of the Interfaith Action Initiative.

Though for the sake of moving ahead on the survey I did not contact those members of the Initiative who were not present at the October meeting, they are welcome to participate. We still have numerous faith communities that no one has yet been assigned to survey. So let us know if you wish to help with this.

In our efforts to explore needs in our community and find agencies to help, we now have a committee exploring the possibility of setting up mentoring relationships with clients of Louison House.

Nothing has been determined yet, but this is an exciting step in our effort to find ways to make a difference at a time of growing need. Our effort to explore community needs and find ways to help will continue. I can think of other agencies we might also have cooperative efforts with, including those we have spoken with at our meeting, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Berkshire Food project, among others.

Also at the Oct. 15 meeting, those present voted unanimously to oppose Massachusetts ballot Questions 1, 2 and 3. We composed and sent out a letter to the editor publicly stating our opposition to these questions. Though I do not think the letter made it into print before the election, at least we took a stand.

In addition to community service, the Initiative aims to promote interfaith understanding. To this end, the silent prayer and faith sharing portion of our meetings has really taken off, with people putting their all into meaningful presentations. For our November meeting, everyone is invited to bring something meaningful to share — but if you don’t, that’s fine, too. Just come to the meeting.

(Myself, I think I will give a very brief biography of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, as that is the new name of my church!)

For more information, e-mail northernberkshireinterfaith@gmail.com, call Mark at 664-0130 or visit http://northernberkshireinterfaith.blogspot.com.

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Here’s the letter to the editor about the Mass. ballot questions:

To the Editor:

The Nothern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative — a group of people

of various faiths seeking to serve the community — voted at its Oct.

15 meeting to express opposition to the three initiatives on the Nov.

2 ballot in Massachusetts.

We urge a “no” vote on Question 1, which would remove the 6.25 percent

sales tax on alcoholic beverages and alcohol. This measure, largely

supported by package stores and beer distributors, would take away

state money for drug and alcohol treatment for more than 100,000 state

residents. Nearly every state has in place a sales tax on alcohol in

addition to excise taxes. With a large state budget deficit looming, a

special exemption for alcohol makes no sense.

We also urge a “no” vote on Question 2. This question would repeal the

state law dating from 1969 meant to facilitate low- or moderate-

income housing by streamlining the permitting process for such

housing. The law has resulted in 58,000 homes across the state.

Question 2 would leave Massachusetts without an affordable housing

law. Dozens of individual clergy members across the state have come

out against Question 2, as have the Massachusetts Association of

Jewish Federations and the Massachusetts Catholic Conference.

We also urge a “no” Vote on Question 3, which would reduce the state

sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. This irresponsible proposal

would take away $2.5 billion in state revenue at a time when local aid

has already been cut by 25 percent in the last two years. This would

mean less money for schools, parks, roads, youth programs and services

to seniors.

On behalf of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative

Corrine Case (Adams)

Mark Lincourt (North Adams)

Sally Sussman (Williamstown)

Al Nelson (Clarksburg)