Crossroads Notes:

From our monthly Newsletter

Help the Church Library Grow           Like a garden, a library needs tending in order to flourish. We've done a little "weeding" already, and thanks to the efforts of Whitey Graham, we have new shelves. now we're asking for your help in adding some books to the library. On May 18th, we will be holding a book fair during coffee hour. Descriptions of books on our "wish list" will be on display. We will also have book catalogs available, and you are welcome to look through them to find something of special interest to you. Please consider donating a book to the church library. If you will not be in church that Sunday, but are interested in donating a book, please see Anne Denier. Is This Your Year for M.A.T.E.?           We'll soon be forming this year's Dream Team to go to Maine for an exciting summer week of housing construction/renovations, fellowship, and inspiration! This will be the fifth summer week for a team from our Presbyterian Partner Churches (Burlington, Cambridge, Natick, Needham and Waltham) to go to work for the wonderful organization Mission At the Eastward in rural central Maine. Skilled and unskilled workers are welcome. Adults and youth have shared this experience together (under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). This summer's dates are July 27 through August 1. Participants may come for part of that time if they can't put in a whole week (though a full week is best). We stay in dorms at the University of Maine, Farmington. Cost to individual participants (for housing and food) is a maximum of $130 (we may reduce that through group fund-raising). Boston Presbytary funding will help us cover the group charge for materials neede for our projects. Interested? Like more information? Speak to Rod, or Linda Roscoe.

Invitation to Donate Blood In Honor of Vickie Graham Thursday, June 26th           Despite modern advances, blood donation is the only way to obtain blood, as it cannot be manufacture; "its only source is a healthy volunteer." Every working day, "140 pints of blood must be collected by the Red Cross in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts adn Vermont to provide half of the nationl's blood supply, roughly six million pints per year." In the summer, fewer people donate but "blood usage often increase," so summer donor are especially valuable.           So, in honor of Vickie Graham (and to help offset the summer donantion lull), the Deacons are sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive at church on Thursday, June 26 from 3-8 p.m. Facts About Donation Giving blood takes about an hour, including a mini physical and 15 minutes in the canteen, though the actual donation take 6-10 minutes. Your body replaces the liquid part (plasma) in a few days, and the red blood cells in a few weeks. The night before you donate, get a good night's sleep. The day of the donation, eating a good breakfast and lunch and drinking plenty of water will help prepare you body to give blood.           If you cannot donate blood, there will be other opportunities to help such as staffing the canteen, handing out donation forms and keeping the donors entertained: more information of such opportunities to come. For more information about the Red Cross and blood donation, visit their webiste at http://www.newenglandblood.org/giving Jennifer Ross Deacon