Old First Reformed UCC

Join fellow community members this Saturday, May 30th, at the Inaugural Senior Resource Fair, hosted by Councilmember O'Rourke's Office!

There will be Grocery Giveaways, Workshops, Vendors, and Fitness Classes, all geared towards older Philadelphians.

The event is free and open to the public. More information in the comments.

A group of Old Firsters enjoyed an informative tour of the Museum of the American Revolution after lunch at National Mechanics. We spied an image of Old First’s original building among the museum’s collection

"Happiness"
by Jane Kenyon

(as shared in the SALT* e-newsletter)

There’s just no accounting for happiness,
or the way it turns up like a prodigal
who comes back to the dust at your feet
having squandered a fortune far away.

And how can you not forgive?
You make a feast in honor of what
was lost, and take from its place the finest
garment, which you saved for an occasion
you could not imagine, and you weep night and day
to know that you were not abandoned,
that happiness saved its most extreme form
for you alone.

No, happiness is the uncle you never
knew about, who flies a single-engine plane
onto the grassy landing strip, hitchhikes
into town, and inquires at every door
until he finds you asleep midafternoon,
as you so often are during the unmerciful
hours of your despair.

It comes to the monk in his cell.
It comes to the woman sweeping the street
with a birch broom, to the child
whose mother has passed out from drink.
It comes to the lover, to the dog chewing
a sock, to the pusher, to the basket maker,
and to the clerk stacking cans of carrots
in the night.

It even comes to the boulder
in the perpetual shade of pine barrens,
to rain falling on the open sea,
to the wineglass, weary of holding wine.

I just wrote a comment on this proposed change -- making any family ineligible from HUD housing programs if one person's immigration status is an issue. Currently, if grandma is over 62, it doesn't matter if she's undocumented. But if they change that rule. tens of thousands of families will be made ineligible for their housing. 37,000 children across our nation could lose their homes because of this Administration's desire to change the rules.

You too can write and register your opinion / concern. But all the comments need to be received by tomorrow!!!

ACT NOW: File comments with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to protect religious freedom The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that impacts the housing of mixed-status families. This rule would fracture families and faith communities -- you have until April 21 to respond!