Edwards Church is excited to partner with the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ to bring the Sacred Ally Quilt Ministry to Framingham. Created by women in nine UCC congregations in New Hampshire in the days following the murder of George Floyd, the ten Sacred Ally Quilts document the painful experience of his death at the hands of police in Minneapolis in May of 2020. They offer an opportunity for education, reflection, personal transformation and action.
Throughout the weekend, there are numerous opportunities to participate and/or volunteer. Plan to come to one, two or three of the events. Please register at SNEUCC Sacred Ally Quilt Tour Registration (brtapp.com). Or sign up to volunteer here.
Friday, June 2 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. – Edwards House Opening Reception
Enjoy refreshments, walk through the quilt exhibit, and view a film, Stitch, Breathe, Speak, which describes the transformative process of creating the quilts. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a simple service of evening prayer, with gentle music (including Jenny Baylor on flute), lighting of candles, and reflections by Rev. Elizabeth Garrigan-Byerly.
Saturday, June 3, from 1:00-4:00 p.m., “Deepening our Understanding: Acting for Change.” Walk through the quilt exhibit, view the film, Stitch, Breathe, Speak, take action through a letter-writing campaign. At 3:30 p.m., there will be a worship service, featuring music by the Willie Sordillo ensemble, and reflections by Dr. Grace Gamez, Assistant Director for Advocacy at the Center for Anti-Racist Research and Rev. Darrell Goodwin, Minister and President of the Southern New England Conference of the UCC.
Sunday, June 4, from 1:00-3:00 p.m.: “A Mosaic of Hope: Stories, Quilts and Stepping Stones.” Indoor and outdoor activities include storytelling and the creation of “stepping stones” to mark a path toward healing and transformation. Karen Nell, Myrna Phelps and Manny Kalamu are among the leaders.