Ecumenical Prayer On April 17, In Walpole After The Marathon Tragedy

We are all shocked and saddened by the act of violence at the Boston Marathon.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those who were killed and to the people who were injured. Events like this must strengthen our resolve to work for peace and justice in our world.

We invite everyone to attend an ecumenical prayer service in Walpole tonight, April 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM. Sponsored by the Walpole Clergy Association, the gathering will be held at the labyrinth in  the field behind United Church, 30 Common St, Walpole.   See below for more information.

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ECUMENICAL PRAYER IN WALPOLE AFTER THE MARATHON TRAGEDY

A community gathering will take place at the United Church in Walpole at 7PM on Wednesday, April 17. There will be lighting of candles, scripture reading, prayer and walking of the labyrinth. This will be an outdoor gathering. The church’s sanctuary will also be open for those who wish to gather for private meditation and prayer.

Walpole Peace Group vigil holding the Budget Banner on Saturday, April 13, from 10 to 11:30 AM on the Walpole Common at the corner of Main and West Streets

Please join us on Saturday,  April 13, from 10 to 11:30 AM on the Walpole Common,  bringing attention to how our U.S. tax dollars are used. April 15 is right around the corner, the day our Federal tax returns are due.  On Saturday, we will be holding a  20 foot “Budget Banner”.  

The banner is comprised of multiple colored segments, graphically illustrating the federal government’s discretionary budget, including military, education, health and human services, housing, justice, labor, and environment.  The length of each segment is proportional to the size of that program’s budget, clearly showing how much is spent for each.  Discretionary spending accounts for  $1.15 trillion of the proposed 2013 budget. The banner gives visual significance to the large amount the US spends on the Pentagon programs and the military. Our country spends more on the military than the next 13 biggest military spenders in the world, combined.  The banner also illustrates how tiny are the portions going to social services, programs that are important to each one of us. 

The banner also serves to remind us that the sequester cuts to these already underfunded programs will be disastrous.  Already, the legislators in Washington have slashed Meals on Wheels, Head Start, Housing, Education, Fuel Assistance, Unemployment, Health Programs, AIDS Housing, and family violence prevention. Now the President wants to cut even more vital programs  and cut Social Security benefits. Please stop by the Walpole Common this Saturday to stand against cuts to critical social programs  or to get a leaflet that further explains the distribution of our tax returns.

The Budget for All! Campaign and other groups are holding a vigil on Tax Day, Tuesday, April 16, to say:

Stop the Cuts!

When: 11 am

Where: Tip O’Neill Federal Building, 10 Causeway Street, Boston – North Station (Green Line)

See the following link for more information:   http://www.masspeaceaction.org/home/files/Tax%20Day%20Leaflet.pdf

Get the Facts: Why Social Security and Medicare Don’t Need to Be Cut

The Walpole Peace and Justice Group is sponsoring a presentation on ‘Get the Facts: Why Social Security and Medicare Don’t Need to Be Cut’ on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 7:30 PM  at the Walpole Public Library. Many of the proposals being offered by politicians, in the ongoing debate on how to handle the national budget and deficit, would drastically change Social Security and Medicare and reduce benefits. Social Security and Medicare are essential benefits that most people will depend on, in part, for retirement.  The result of these cuts could be grave.

This presentation will explain how Social Security and Medicare are funded, how they impact the national budget and debt, and describe some of the options for funding them without cutting benefits. It will cover questions like how much of a problem is the national debt and are there other options for funding these programs. The impact of proposals being discussed by political leaders, like changing the way the annual Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) is computed, are often not being adequately explained even though they will have a long term impact on benefits. Reports in the media often contain misinformation or obscure the facts.

As the debate continues in Washington, it is important for people to understand the facts, so regardless of what they think about Social Security and Medicare, they can make informed decisions and make their voice heard.  Any changes to these programs will affect most people at some point in their lives.

The presentation is open to the public and will be held in the Community Room at the Walpole library.