An invitation...

If you are going to be anywhere near Marblehead next Thursday, this is a MUST do. I have seen the prototype for this, and I was moved to tears. It will be POWERFUL!




Holocaust Remembrance Day Experiential Memorial and Inter-Faith Service



The public is invited to two events on Holocaust Remembrance Day Thursday May 5th.

All day long on May 5th, there will be an experiential art exhibit at St. Stephens United Methodist Church open from 7 AM to 7 PM, open to the public. The exhibit uses ten pieces of art by a local artist depicting the Death March from Auschwitz inspired by the writings of Holocaust survivor Sonia Weitz.

The artwork portrays the Nazi’s forced evacuation of 58,000 prisoners from the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland to Germany and Austria, where the death factories remained temporarily beyond the Allied lines. Sonia Schreiber (who was 16 at the time) and her sister Blanca and another young friend were part of the March. Sonia has dedicated her life to preserving the memory of those who died in the Holocaust.

Attendees will take a self-guided, self-paced journey through the series of paintings accompanied by excerpts of writings by Sonia Weitz describing the Death March. Background music includes excerpts from Henryk Gorecki’s Symphony No. 3.

The 48” x 24” panels trace the footprints of the prisoners as they march through snow and ice, with no provisions for food clothing, water, or shelter. This contemplative memorial offers no answers and makes no attempt at consolation with such horrific events. It only presents questions and an opportunity for solemn reflection.

Asked about the purpose of the memorial, organizers state, “Jews are well informed about the Holocaust. This exhibit is designed by Christians, primarily with Christians in mind. It is intended to raise the level of awareness concerning the cruelty and inhumanity of the Holocaust and the visceral revulsion that we all should feel. Many of us wish to avoid these abhorrent aspects of our collective human behavior, resulting in a failure to keep the moral imperative “never again” for all forms of genocide. This memorial attempts to give each attendee a unique experience, created by individual sensibilities through the mediums of art, music, poetry, and prose.”

To close the evening, an Inter-faith Remembrance Service entitled “United in Memory: United in Hope” sponsored by the Marblehead Ministerial Association will take place at 7:30 PM at St. Stephens Methodist Church. These events are open to all.

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Sounds like a *must do* . . . thanks for the info . . .

1.) Holocaust Remembrance Day
Thursday, May 5, 2005 from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

2.) followed by an Inter-faith Rememberance Service
entitled "United in Memory: United in Hope"
Thursday, May 5, 2005 at 7:30 P.M.


St. Stephen's United Methodist Church
67 Cornell Road
Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945
781-631-2756



Drive into Marblehead on Pleasant Street (Route 114) from Salem heading (northeast);
Pass by St. Stevens Church on your left driving toward Smith Street;
Take left onto Smith Street at the lights;
Take first left onto Cornell Road; and
Drive a few hundred yards and there's St. Stevens on the left, drive into parking lot.

Wow! Sounds like you are planning on being there at some point during the day!

I have to work all day, but I'm going to try to get there somewhere in the 6:30 PM area, and stay for the service. If you are there at that time, please, please, please make yourself known to me. I will be the one with mostly white hair, likely hanging out in the narthex, or passing out bulletins, or getting water for the lecturns, or lighting the candles, etc.

I hope to see you!