Library open for normal business Fri, Sat, and Sun

After closing for Thanksgiving, the Franklin Public Library will be open for normal hours Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fri - Sat: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sun: 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Franklin Public Library

library book shelving in the temporary location at 25 Kenwood Circle

This was shared from the Franklin Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2016/11/thanksgiving-week-hours.html

Franklin Interfaith Council - Thanksgiving Service - Message

My wife and I were joined by about 200 hundred folks who gathered at the First Universalist Society where the Temple Etz Chaim hosted the Interfaith Council Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 20. The Interfaith Council Choir led the gathering in song.

The Rev. Deborah M. Woodward, Interim Priest at St John's Episcopal Church was honored to deliver the Thanksgiving message. I approached her afterward to see if she would share her talk with us and she gladly did so.

I do not normally do something like this but these are not normal times. You can read, share, and discuss Rev Woodward's message.

To you and your family, may your Thanksgiving be a good one!

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The Title of this Message is “Modim Anachnu Lach” - (which from the Hebrew means, “We Thank You.”)

Modim Anachnu Lach”  from Hebrew means, “We Thank You.”

"As I begin, First, I wish you to know that I was deeply touched when I was invited, “thank you”, to offer this message.

I mean “touched” as in TOUCHED in bold capital letters, by the honor of being considered, as I am “the new kid on the block.”
And I also wondered a bit, because, this is not something I have ever done before, spoken at an interfaith gathering. Amazing, after 30 years in the job!

So, I am thankful and grateful for this opportunity, and I pray that I might do a worthy job.

As I prayed and named for myself this deep sense that “this is no ordinary opportunity,” I began to ponder,

• Why does it seem so very important?
• Why does this night seem different from other nights?

• I pause.
• I pray.
• I wait.

And then the blessed penny dropped… Ah the Spirit…

I thought...

Given the divisiveness and incivility of our recent public discourse -

Is it not a remarkable grace that we are gathered here?
Especially now!
This is a gathering that might not always be possible, allowed, safe, or surrendered unto,
in a world so often broken and divided?

Our shared communion here;
That that we choose to gather here;
That we congregate, way beyond mere civility;

That we gather in shared thankfulness,

• In song and psalm
• In wisdom and prayer
• That we gather across separateness and in communion
• That we are free to do so

This is actually a reality of Grace beyond thanksgiving. It is a wonder.

Look about this worship space. See each other.

I recall a dated aphorism…
“The medium is the message.”
This is important.

Modim, anachu lach.

For this moment in time we should indeed be awesomely grateful, and this truth calls me to consider that, tonight, perhaps, we should be seeking a deeper gratitude.

Touched as I was…

I needed to consider how, for me, for us, tonight's thankfulness might have its own unique particularity...

Perhaps a more pointed, additional thankfulness?
Is there something here, to be said, that is unique to the times?
I mean, in 2016 in Franklin, perhaps, something else that needs to be considered?

I recall our responsive reading...

Indeed we are thankful for...

Galaxies, humanity, freedom, ….

Here, I have a confession to make. I had considered that we might offer thanksgiving for Brussels sprouts on Thursday's thanksgiving table, but it occurred to me that Brussels sprouts might not be something for which we are all universally thankful.

We are thankful for...
Galaxies, humanity, freedom, ….

Food, nourishment...

Family, children, grandchildren...

For the tenacity of the human soul to strive to the limit for what is right,

For those who have sacrificed and those who have saved us into liberty.

Yet I find in our responsive reading, as I wondered, some words that do make this night different from others. I was touched by this particular thanksgiving.

“The Right to Choose.”

And this line guides me on.

• We have said that we are grateful for the right to choose.
• We have chosen to be here.
• We have self-selected.
• And therefore, we are called to take that right to choose with transcendent seriousness.
• We are thankful for the right and the freedom to choose how to behave.
• How to be godly and righteous.
• Modim Anachnu lach.

Here is my particular closing thought, for us in the here and now…

We are called to be grateful for the right
Indeed the obligation...
To choose, when we leave here, to offer ourselves back to this world in thanksgiving.

You see, I believe that all of us here are “touched people.”
I don't think we are accidentally present here across our differences.
We are blessed, touched, called to be here, to claim thanksgiving for our common blessedness, and to leave as agents of that thanksgiving across all that divides.

• Perhaps tonight we might to attend to that particular gratitude.
• The right to choose, to choose to be people of civility.
• And far more, to be people whose lives are grounded, beyond civility,
• grounded in thanksgiving,
• sustained in faithfulness,
• and united in a common intention, not only to be thankful, but to do thankful.

I believe that being here calls us to action.
I believe we are all here because, in the mysterious ways that wonder works we are all “touched” people.

I remember the demeaning use of that word from my youth. Someone who was “touched” was a little bit crazy. Well that's okay. Maybe we, the gratefully blessed, need to be willing to look foolish for that which is right!

I believe we evidence, by our very presence here, a particular calling, a responsibility to be thankful for our commissioning as those who demand that the world be a place of thanksgiving for all.

Let us be touched by this sacred responsibility to leave here to do thankfulness.

Let us leave here consciously, intentionally thankful, not just for material well being, not just for the spiritual grace, and the wisdom blessing our lives, but for the tasks of our lives, and I believe that task is to redeem the world to a place of thankfulness for all.

Thus we concluded our responsive reading with these words…"

“We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds.”

• Rev. Deborah M. Woodward, Interim Priest at St John's Episcopal Church

The cover of the program for the service

The full program for the service can be found here in individual files

• Page 1

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczbEo1bFhnN2Q2ZDQ/view?usp=sharing

• Page 2

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczY2ZNdmZlLTVONnM/view?usp=sharing

• Page 3

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczN053Ylp2THZJT3c/view?usp=sharing

• Page 4

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczUDNfdjZ0MllmQ2M/view?usp=sharing

Heath Nisbett at 2016 Franklin Cultural Festival (video)

Turning back time (or #TBT) to that Saturday in July when THE BLACK BOX had two stages going for a full day of musical performances.

Here is a sample of the performance by Heath Nisbett on the indoor stage at THE BLACK BOX





For more about Heath, visit his profile online
http://network.online.berklee.edu/public_profile/heathn

Heath Nisbett (photo by Jake Jacobson)

The 3rd Annual Cultural Festival will be held in Franklin July 26 through July 29, 2017. Subscribe for email updates

MBTA: Thanksgiving through Friday: Commuter Rail notice

On Thanksgiving Day, 11/24, the Commuter Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule. 

On Friday, 11/25, the Commuter Rail will operate on a regular weekday schedule.



Last updated: Nov 23 2016 11:01 AM

MBTA commuter rail enroute to Boston

FHS Wolowacki recognized as Hockomock Football All Star

HockomockSports.com has published the official 2016 Hockomock League Football All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.


HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP - KELLEY-REX

• John DeLuca, King Philip

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS
KELLEY-REX DIVISION

• Jacob Wolowacki, Franklin

2016 Hockomock League Football All Stars

For the full listing of football all stars

https://hockomocksports.com/2016-hockomock-league-football-stars/

Franklin Historical Museum: miniature metal art exhibit to close on Sunday

The current exhibit of metal artwork by Abraham Megerdichian will be closing at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, November 27. 

At 1 PM the same day, Robert Megerdichian will give a new presentation about his father’s life and his art. 

Robert Megerdichian presenting in October when the exhibit opened

Additional information and photos of the exhibit. The pictures do not do justice to the art work of the miniature metal pieces.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/the-box-tagged-in-armenian-these-are.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/reminder-miniature-metal-artwork.html

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The Franklin Historical Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday, and from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. Admission is free.

For more about the Museum visit them online  http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/

Register today for the Franklin Turkey Trot 5K Family Fun Run

On Thanksgiving morning, hundreds will gather at the Franklin Turkey Trot 5K Family Fun Run to help fight hunger. The registration fee of $20, or 20 nonperishables, goes directly to the Franklin Food Pantry, keeping donations local to help those in need during this holiday season.

The event begins and ends at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) at 91 Jordan Road in Franklin. The race, open to runners and walkers of all ages, is a great opportunity for the entire family to get out and exercise together before their traditional Thanksgiving feast. And, there’s the added benefit of helping to relieve hunger in the community.

“We are inspired by the great turnout for the Franklin race,” said Erin Lynch, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “Thanksgiving is a time for everyone to truly appreciate what they have, but also an occasion to think of others who are struggling to put food on their tables. The Turkey Trot rallies our community to give back and help protect others from the threat of hunger. We, and the 504 households we serve, are grateful to our community for coming out to support us.”

The November 24 race will begin at 8 a.m. Registration can be made online at franklinturkeytrot.org; at the LDS Church from 7 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday (today); or Thursday morning before the race from 7 – 8 a.m. 

While the registration fee of $20 is preferred, individuals have the option of donating 20 nonperishables to register. The Pantry has a shortage of personal hygiene products, such as toilet paper, deodorant, shampoo, liquid hand soap and feminine products.

For more information, call 508-520-9864 or email franklinturkeytrot@gmail.com.

Franklin Turkey Trot Helps Feed Those in Need - Nov 24

RACE REMINDERS:

• NO DOGS ON THE COURSE 

- No matter how cute, kind and darling your dog is, the insurance we use does not allow for animals on the course. Please don’t bring them as we will pull you out of the race.

• REGISTRATION AND BIB PICK-UP

-WEDNESDAY NIGHT from 7-9:00 pm - Avoid the long lines on Thanksgiving morning and register, pick-up bibs, free sunglasses, etc.
THANKSGIVING morning from 6:45 - 7:45 am.
TIMER - We have hired a professional timer and we’ll be using timing chips.

• RACE START

8:00 am Thanksgiving morning. Last year we were hesitant to close registration before the race because the line was soooo long. This year, it will close at 7:45 am. We really encourage you to register or pick-up your bib wed. night.

• Race Day Parking

No parking on Jordan Road! Again, No parking on Jordan Road! We've gotten into some trouble for clogging Jordan Road. If the church parking lot is full, please park down the street on Pearly Lane or Burning Tree Road. We will have a van circling those streets offering rides until 7:50 am.

• Race Map 

To view the race course map: www.franklinturkeytrot.org

• Awards 

Awards will be given to the top three placers in each age category. Gift certificates will be given to the best overall places.

• Free T-shirts 

150 short sleeved shirts were given to the first 150 participants who registered online.

• Free Sunglasses 

The Ironman sunglasses have been kindly donated again.

• Free Raffle Items 

We will be having a free raffle at the end of the race before the awards ceremony.

• Free Breakfast 

Breakfast items are available in the gym throughout the race. These items include muffins, bagels, fruit slices and beverages.

• Expiration Dates 

Check the expiration dates on your donations; the food pantry has to throw away any
expired donation! Please don't donate expired items.

• Dress Warm 

It looks like it will be a chilly morning around 44 degrees!


Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Krystal Whitmore
franklinturkeytrot@gmail.com