As many of us know, for the last five years a group of FMC community members has been gathering for Worship at Textron Industries every third Sunday of each month. Textron manufactures an especially gruesome “cluster bomb,” used by our military and also sold to other countries.
For the last three years, on the yearly anniversary (in October), the entire Meeting assembles at Textron for the regular First Day worship. We will gather in worship between two signs that read “Quakers Praying for Peace.” We contact Textron ahead of time as well as the churches in the area, and submit a letter to the editor of the local newspaper.
We stress that this is not a protest, vigil, or demonstration; nor is this a politicization of our spiritual faith, but rather honoring our Testimony of Peace, and taking our practice to a very dark area of cruelty and barbaric war making. It is, we think, a very faithful way to enact the Beneficial Cycle of deepening worship, strengthening community, and increasing our witness.
While the Meeting House will be open and available for a Meeting for Worship (for visitors or those who haven’t heard about Textron), Ministry and Counsel, the Presiding Clerk Team, and Peace and Social Concerns urge all those who are physically able in our community to travel to Textron that morning.
You can drive there directly (please dress warmly and bring your own chairs if you have an easily transportable one), or there will be spaces available in several cars leaving the Meeting House at 10:30. The Worship will be from 11:15 to 12:15. Childcare will be available on site and at 5 Longfellow Park.
DIRECTIONS: Textron is at 201 Lowell Street, Wilmington, MA. Take I-93 north to exit 38 (two exits after the turn-off to I 95); turn right onto Ma-129. Drive .8 miles (not 8 … point 8) to Textron on left. Parking lot on left just before Textron. [There are many ways to get to I 93 north — Alewife Brook Parkway, or through Union Square, but at that time of Sunday, I like Storrow drive.]
During Fellowship period after worship this Sunday, there will be a staffed table in the Friends Room for those wanting more information or discussion.