From the Pastor:

This past Sunday after worship, as people were walking out the front door, someone asked me about the significance of the pole and streamers on the fence, across the street from the church, over by the Court House. And I said I am sure it’s a May pole. The person said oh, as if that was something peculiar, and then they went on their way, and as they did I got to thinking about May Day celebrations. The celebration of May Day as a spring festival goes back to the Celtic celebration of Beltane. Fires were lit on hills to call down light from the sky. May Day was a celebration of the fertility of animals and the earth, which may be why it was taken out of the schools in the 1950’s.

I really can’t remember taking part in a May Day celebration since I was in kindergarten, which was a long time ago. It was also a rather traumatic day for me. A May pole had been erected in the middle of the classroom from which crape paper streamers hung down. Each of us students was given a streamer and told to walk in a circle around the pole. I can’t remember if we were all going in the same direction. Somehow I lost hold of my streamer or it broke, and I was beside myself with sadness. The next thing I remember I was sitting on a chair in the cloak room where, apparently, I had been sent to regain my composure. I can remember how separated I felt from my classmates that day, because I lost hold of my streamer… and because I lost hold of my emotions.

I mention this… not because I still bear a grudge against my teacher for sending me to the cloak room… or because it made me glad that

May Day is not celebrated in schools anymore… I mention it because of the deep sense of separation it left with me. Back then it was a sense of separation from my classmates, but now it is a sense of separation from harmony with the earth which May Day once celebrated. Over the years May Day has become associated with many things. In the 1800’s the Labor movement took the day to call for shorter working hours. My memories of May Day in the 1950’s and 60’s were of parades of military weapons in the Soviet Union. Then, when I began to fly, the words mayday… mayday… mayday… became associated with urgent emergencies on sea and in the air.

This May Day, that mayday call may best sum-up my feelings about the tragedy of our relationship with the earth. With the dryness which we experienced in March I was amazed to see the flowers bud and the trees leaf out. The world we live in is so beautiful and such a treasure, and we fail to treat it as a sacred trust… a holy gift. There is so much that we could do… that I could do, but I just assume that the earth is big; it can handle it. The earth is all we have to live on; may we do it with care.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday Evening Programs as usual.

May 1^st-5th^h ABCOTS meeting in Orlando, FL. Mr. Weimert will be attending these meetings, and will be out of the office during this week. If you have need of pastoral care call the Church Office in the mornings or contact Deacon Chairman—Glenn Morris (410-323-3558) or Deacon of Pastoral Care— Ora Altevogt (410-823-1028).

May 7th We will not be having Sunday School due to the Towson Town Festival. Worship will begin at 10:00 a.m. Communion.

May 8^th 12 Noon Annie Armstrong Circle meeting in the home of Eleanor Bondurant. Please bring a sandwich.

7:30 p.m. Needles and News at the home of Libby Field, 10518 Longbranch Rd. 410-666-3127.

May 10^th 8:00 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting

May 14^th Mothers’ Day.

May 21st 12 Noon Ann Judson Circle meeting, beginning at Edenwald’s Garden Court for lunch, followed by meeting. Visitors are welcome.

May 22^nd Sarah’s Hope 9:00-5:00. Cone when you can.

May 28^th Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday June 3rd.

Make plans to come to the Church Picnic on Saturday June 10^th.

Bike ride to Niagara Falls… impossible you say. Not if you start in Buffalo or better Fort Erie. Think about coming with the pastor July 28-30^th (We will make the ride on Saturday the 29^th) back to his home town. We can eat hot dogs at Ted’s, have a lemon ice at Anderson’s, maybe a Roast Beef on ‘wick at Charlie the Butcher’s… any number of wonders unknown to you who call Baltimore home.

MIGRANT WORKER KITS

Annie Armstrong Circle is collecting items for the migrant workers. The items which are most currently needed are

Bath towel Wash cloth

Soap Shampoo

Comb Tooth brush

Tooth paste Smaller towels

and/or cash. Thank you.

Following is a list of our elected Deacons who will begin July 1^st:

Chairman of the Board of Deacons

Paul Gillespie

Deacon for Communication/Vice Chairman

Kathy Wright

Deacon of Finance/Treasurer

Randy Lott

Deacon of Records/Church Clerk

Mary Frantz

Deacon for Stewardship/Financial Secretary

Ann Ray

Deacon for Building & Grounds

Fred Ray

Deacon for Adult Education

Ruth Kulkarni

Deacon for Childrens’ & Youth Education

Susan Edwards

Deacon for Church & Family Life

Alta Schuster

Deacon for Missions & Outreach

Doug Thomas

Deacon for Ministry & Pastoral Care

Ora Altevogt

Deacon for Worship

Diana and Don Romano

Due to some recently arising personal reasons Lindsay Allen has had to resign from her position of Seminary Internship with Calvary. We will all miss Lindsay’s effervescent presence and will pray for her continued study and success.