Turning Point sing

Turning Point of Windham County is a recovery program for people dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. They gather at a meeting room in a house in Brattleboro on Flat Street, across from New England Youth Theater. Today, a group of about 10 Hallowell singers gathered there outside to do a little sing. I think this took place because a woman who is a Hospice volunteer and is familiar with Hallowell also works with Turning Point and thought that the group would enjoy being sung to as they were coming out of their meeting. It was pretty chilly, but it was not raining, as it had been forecast to do. So we dressed warmly, I sat on my stool, and we sang about 7 songs. The group was indeed very appreciative. We always end with what has become our signature song, How Could Anyone Ever Tell You: "How could anyone ever tell you, you are anything less than beautiful? How could anyone ever tell you, you are less than whole? How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle? How deeply you're connected to my soul!" This song never fails to touch people, and we often see people wiping tears from their eyes as we are singing.

Turning Point meeting-place****************************************

Our Hallowell group singing for Turning Point********************************* I was supposed to meet with Jerome at 11a.m. today but this sing sort of crowded that appointment, so I called him and changed it to tomorrow. We took Calvin home after the sing, and on the way we stopped to get a few things at the Dollar Store, but it was closed! Oh dear! We hope that it is not closed permanantly. Ellen buys food containers there very reasonably which she can use to take food to people and not have to arrange for them to return the containers. We're hoping it was closed due to a temporary staff shortage. The website for the store says it will open at 9am tomorrow morning. We'll see! ************************* This evening I have signed up for a special Zoom session being sponsored by the Vermont Interfaith Action Committee. Debbie Ingram will make a presentation about Proposition 2, which would eliminate slavery unequivocally from Vermont’s constitution. She also delves into the history of how Vermont’s constitution influenced Amendment 13 which created exceptions that have led to mass incarceration of Black men today. I was mostly unaware of this issue, so I look forward to learning more about it. LATER: It was a very interesting session that informed us of a great deal we were unaware of. The basic point is that the Vermont Constitution of 1777 has this paragraph: "That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety. Therefore, no male person, born in this country, or brought from over sea, ought to be holden by law, to serve any person, as a servant, slave, or apprentice, after he arrives to the age of twenty-one years; nor female, in like manner, after she arrives to the age of eighteen years, unless they are bound by their own consent, after they arrive to such age, or bound by law for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like." This abolishes slavery, but with two big loopholes: (1) you can be enslaved under age 21 (men) or 18 (women); and you can be enslaved for punishment." The current Proposition 2 gets rid of the loopholes. It abolishes slavery, period. Four states have already done this, 15 are currently in the process of it, and many more are considering it. This will be on the ballot in VT in November. It has already passed both houses of the VT Legislature twice (as required by law to amend the Constitution). The full implications of this Amendment will have to be worked out in the courts - esp. what it means for incarceration. So this is huge, and we are in favor of it.

Debbie Ingram, a UCC pastor who led the session tonight