The weather folk say that tomorrow we will have two or three inches of snow. No wonder Mark Twain said that being a weatherman in New England was a dangerous occupation. I don’t want to complain but our Magnolia Trees clearly think it’s Spring and I wouldn’t want to tick them off – you should see what they do to drainpipes that intrude too close to their roots. The squirrels are emptying our squirrel proof birdfeeders as though Spring had sprung for them. And there are kids all over the place in shorts and T shirts on skateboards trying to see how many pedestrians they can scatter from the sidewalks. Snow could crimp their style bigtime!

Congratulations on finding, persuading, cajoling and voting for a new minister unanimously! When he finishes his work in his current Interim placement he’ll hotfoot it down here and he’ll settle in like a whirlwind. (I know and like him.) He’ll be meeting with leadership and consulting way before that and we’ll make the transition as positive and supportive as it can be. You deserve it.

Let’s make sure that we do everything we can to make his beginnings and his ministry a solid success. The foyer has been redone, with banners – and a banner outside. The cleanup of the grounds really shows. The recycling center in the kitchen is up and running. We’re spiffing up the place. Thanks to all who’ve worked on these projects. Please make sure we all have done our part for the Church Canvas. If you haven’t sent or brought in your pledge card please do it and make things easier for our team. If you want a visit, just call the office – we’ll arrange one.

The Hudson Habitat team is off to a wonderful start, with lots of committees to do lots of work. They need volunteers for many areas. There are phone calls to be made, money to be raised, people to organize and ultimately a house to build! And one house, leads to another and more – as the new low income owners pay their loans back. Watch the newsletter or check with the office and we’ll get you connected.

This place has a great history, and if you all work together it has an even greater future. Maybe not such a wild future as the past - founder Brigham driving around town in a hearse or F. Ellen Brown climbing through a church window in the midst of the great Hudson fire to feed and make coffee for the firemen – but a great future. Have a great Spring and may the sour weather folk always be wrong (well they usually are, aren’t they?).

Rev. Dave Johnson