This is Memorial Day Weekend. I saw on the morning news that the beautiful weather has filled the highways and the beaches, but let's remember that this is not only a three-day weekend. This is the solemn time of remembrance.
Tomorrow at our 10AM Service we will share in the singing of some patriotic hymns and we will offer Memorial Day prayers. Then we will have the opportunity to participate in the town's Memorial Day observance at the parade and the gathering at Smith Academy Park.
Enjoy the long weekend, but we also need to honour those who fought and died in the Armed Services of our country. They deserve no less.
Rev. Randy

-The Hatfield Historical Society's new exhibit is called, Through Marian's Eyes: A Red Cross Canteen Worker Recounts World War I" (see attached poster). It will be open from 11 to 12:30 (before the parade) and from 1:30 to 3:30 (after the Town Hall ceremony). 

The exhibit is based on Marian Billings, a 37-year-old Hatfield woman who left her job as business manager of the family farm and sailed to France in August 2018 to do her part during World War I. Her journals not only tell us what life was like for a Red Cross canteen worker, but give us touching and sometimes gruesome stories about the soldiers she cares for. The exhibit also features mini profiles of a number of Hatfield WWI soldiers. 

The exhibit OPENING will include a Red Cross canteen tent -- starting at 1:30 pm -- staffed by costumed Red Cross canteen workers (some Smith Academy juniors), with a few WWI soldier reenactors (more Smith Academy juniors), and the girls will be serving the soldiers and visitors canteen fare - including coffee, lemonade, chocolate drops donated by Richardson's Candy Kitchen and cider donuts donated by Atkins Farms.

The Historical Society invites you to come visit the exhibit and participate in the canteen. They also ask you to pin up a card and a remembrance poppy with your WWI family member's name in front of the library. 

Kathie Gow
Curator, Hatfield Historical Museum     hatfieldhistory.weebly.com
​Oral History Producer     wordspicturesstories.com

Real Folks has been the women's group at the church for 150 years.  As part of their anniversary celebration, the group enjoyed each other's company at a High Tea in the church dining room and parlor.  Kathy Gow from the Hatfield Historical Society presented a talk and displayed some of the items she curates at the Museum, including the Billings family Bible.  A lot of the members came together to make this happen and we thank them because it looked like a perfectly enjoyable afternoon.

The pictures show the place settings and High Tea offerings, and of course our Real Folks ladies dressed appropriately in their Sunday-best hats.  Even Arnold got into the spirit as he helped out in the kitchen.  The ladies had a blast.  All set to do it again for the 200th anniversary.
​Rev. Randy

This should be a lot of fun.  Let's go out and have a good time together and meet others from our local congregations.

​Hatfield's election day is Tuesday, May 21st. Our church is fortunate enough to be able to set up a table in Town Hall where people pass to come and go as they vote. So we're getting ready for another Election Day Bake Sale. Please bring your donations to the front of Town Hall by 8:30am. Please wrap, label and price your donations for sale.  And thank you for helping with this church fundraiser.

​YOUTH GROUP FLOWER SALE
   The Youth Group of our congregation is running a flower sale.  Order forms are available through any of our members or you may email me at randyc1897@gmail.com and I will send an order form right to you.  Orders will be accepted through May 12th and they may be picked-up at the church on Saturday the 18th between 9:30 and 11:00am.  Thank you for supporting the efforts of our young people.