BSEC's BELOVED ELDERS

Ann-Marie Mogil and Warren Miner were celebrated, with MC and organizer of BSEC's Honoring of Elders, on May 23rd, 2010 -- a unique and delightful intergenerational party!  Constance Pigozi and Edith Calabro, whose personal stories and loving friends evoked their presence, were also honored as members who exemplify true dedication and contribution to the Ethical community.  Children interviewed Ann-Marie and Warren to hear visions of what childhood was like many years ago. And what Ethical Culture was like too!

NURTURE FEST -- A MOTHER'S DAY TRADITION AT BSEC

What is at the HEART of mothering?  Our celebration on Mother's Day, is about the VERB, the doing, the act of mothering.  At CSA, we have created a new tradition:  THE NURTURE FEST.  In the blossoming of Spring, we celebrate Mother Earth, and the mutuality of care that makes the world healthy and loving. All beings need mothering, and it comes to us in a myriad of ways and forms.  NURTURE is the deep VALUE of this seasonal celebration, and at Ethical Culture, the value guides and leads. 

     

POEM FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Iris

great boughs

branches of my blossoms

watered by you.

in the hands of your

love

I squirm to reach you

and rejoice when I do.

you are my gardener

you are the sun

you make us all feel

warm and happy--

me especially. 

          Chlo White, age 9, CSA

An "origin" story from Simba Yangala, CSA staff

At BSEC, CSA has been learning about Origin Stories throughout diverse cultures.  Here is an origin story told by Simba's Grandmother.

Beginning of mankind: "From the beginning everything was dark and only the supreme being Vidje Mukulu existed in any form he wished. Then Vidje Mukulu started to create a lot of things from imagination. Different things and creatures were made, years before what we have today as Earth. Vidje Mukulu thought of creating creatures who could live all on their own so he could rest from the work of creating and thinking. So Vidje Mukulu took the form of a snake and started to absorb all that he thought was not needed. As the snake swallowed different things to make space for us, it became bigger and bigger.  It was very tired and let out a sigh -- that's how the sky was made.  When the earth was made the way it is today, the serpent decided to rest and sleep -- to let us rule.  So it sunk deep in the bottom of the earth and is taking a nap even now. Every now and then the snake moves its tail, or changes position -- that's why we have earthquakes.  When we die we are buried under the ground, to become part of the snake we all came from."

A letter from our friend, Ian Pounds

Note:  Ian Pounds visited BSEC in January 2010 to share his experiences at an Orphanage in Afghanistan. On March 22, he wrote us this letter:

Dear Friends, 

I have been back in Kabul 5 days.  I have decided to continue my
journal on the web site run by the sponsors for AFCECO orphanages, as
they are most interested in the narrative from inside the orphanage
and I am able to post with minimum Internet speed. Go to this link:

http://www.hopeforafghanchildren.org/topics/kabul-journal

There you can begin to read the present journal from Kabul.  If you
have not read last year's journal, you will see the entire 2009
Journal follows the 2010.

I encourage you also to keep track of the new Omprakash web site at
omprakash.org where I will be posting my lesson plans as they develop,
and where anyone interested in volunteering here or anywhere can find
all the resources they need.
All my best wishes,
Ian

Haiti Help!

“Hands-On Haiti” -- People to People Support   Sunday February 7, 1 to 3 pm 

 Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West 

Donate to Marie Yoleine’s trip to Léogâne in Haiti!!

Marie Yoleine Gasteau and retired Ethical Culture Clergy Leader Lisel Burns are traveling to the Haitian city of Léogâne on February 14 to deliver aid, support recovery efforts, and evaluate how we can do more to help after the devastating earthquake.  They have come up with a list of urgently needed supplies to support the children and families of that beleaguered city.  Half of the population of Haiti is under 15 years old. 

On Sunday, February 7 at 1pm, members of the Brooklyn Ethical community and friends are urged to donate the following items, whatever we can do will make a difference:  

solar ovens; flashlights and batteries; candles; Tylenol and Advil

new art supplies for kids, pencils, paper and manual pencil sharpeners 

We will collect and pack the items donated to go directly to Léogâne on February 14. Children will make art work and write letters to go to Haiti as well. All are welcome! 

Greg Tewksbury, cochair of the Ethical Action committee, urges everyone to bring donations of whatever amount --checks can be made out to the Neges Foundation see ( HYPERLINK "http://www.negesfoundation.org" www.negesfoundation.org).  These funds are needed so that the delegation to buy supplies once they arrive in Haiti.  Marie needs to purchase a large tent(s) to serve as a temporary shelter, to feed children, medical supplies, food, children’s clothes and toilet paper. 

Former Brooklyn Ethical board member, Marie Yoleine is a public school guidance counselor originally from Léogâne who has long supported her hometown through Neges, a foundation she created, and by helping coordinate international volunteer efforts there.  These connections have proved vital since Léogâne was near the devastating earthquake’s epicenter.   30,000 people in Léogâne alone have lost their lives. Still, Léogâne has not received the attention of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital 25 miles to the north. 

Marie has been working from New York with a seasoned Volunteer for Peace pro from Britain who arrived in Haiti on Thursday and reports that the carnage is worse than what he saw in Sri Lanka after the tsunami. Ninety-five percent of the Léogâne is destroyed. The hospital that serves the poor collapsed, as did the new nursing school, and people with open wounds are not getting medical care.  Peter, the volunteer, has been hauling in supplies and helping to coordinate relief, and managed to get the Canadians to give food boxes out on Sunday. He has helped get a purification system installed and three wells are being restored.

Now they want to set up a temporary structure to provide meals to the 300 or so children stranded without homes, including more than 30 new orphans. Parents are also eager to start up at least two hours of school classes again, which is why Marie Yolaine is emphasizing school and art supplies. 

Peter also relayed the dire need for doctors and nurses. Those who can help connect Léogâne with medical volunteers should alert Marie Yolaine.  She will be at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture this Sunday February 7 at 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

This is a critical time for us to reach out with direct aid to a grass-roots organization on the ground in Haiti that can make a difference.  Please come and offer what you can.  If you can not come, please go to the website of the NEGES Foundation at  HYPERLINK "http://www.negesfoundation.org" www.negesfoundation.org picture of Léogâne can be found on the site.  

In the words of Haitian proverb:  “Sa je pa wè kè pa tounen”

“What the eye doesn’t see, 

Doesn’t move the heart.”

Have a look and please do what you can.  Feel free to send this information to friends and neighbors.  Join us on February 7^th 

For more information contact

Greg Tewksbury, gtewks @gmail.com

Lisel Burns, liselburns@earthlink.net

The Rosa Parks Story in A Children's Song We All Know and Love!

Concept and words by Audrey Kindred, Director of Children's Sunday Assembly:

The Rosa Parks Story: (sung to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)

The Rosa Parks Story: (sung to the tune of Wheels on the Bus)

The wheels on the bus go 

round and round...

…to '55 in Montgomery town.

The rules on the bus said 

whites can sit

…And blacks must give up their seat

Rosa Parks said 

I’ve worked all day 

I’m tired and I’ll sit right here.

The driver on the bus said 

you can’t sit there 

…because your skin is brown.

Rosa Parks said

 I’m tired of just one thing 

"… I’m tired of giving in!"

The driver on the bus said 

We've got to obey the rules

…Even if the rules are not fair.

Police said Rosa!

we’re taking you to jail

for sitting in that seat.

The people of the town said 

The rules are unfair!

These rules need to change!

To stand up for justice, 

we’ll walk instead

Of taking a racist ride.

Adults walked to work and
children walked to school
through snow, rain, and sun.

Martin Luther King said 

I have a dream 

of equality for all 

The wheels on the bus 

went round and round 

but people walked and walked.

The manager of the bus said 

We need your money!

Whether you’re black or white.

The people of the town said 

Change those rules 

Then we'll ride your bus

Many people helped the

Civil Rights Movement 

and made the world a better place.

When we stand up for fairness

we're not alone

Heros are on our team!