Mar 5, 2021 Vol. LXXIX Issue 5 Woodside World NEWS of CONGREGATION and COMMUNITY Joyfully Defiant for the Sake of a Just World a congregation of the United Church of Christ, the Alliance of Baptists, and the American Baptist Churches

witness to the fire at the Triangle residency, two-thirds of whom only for straight people, born of From the Pastor Shirtwaist Factory in 1911, which were Jews, and 231,884 foreign the grief of a widow who would Pastor Deb was asked by Michigan killed 146 people, mostly young ‘visitors’” (Downey 194). not be eligible for her partner's Conference UCC to write an essay for Women's History Month. This is her women and girls locked into the But she was disliked by labor benefits. contribution. building to prevent them from leaders — men who didn’t think Perkins died in 1965. In 1980, taking unauthorized breaks. She In a book review in East Village women should have cabinet on her 100th birthday, the was 30 years old; the sight of the posts. She was disparaged as Department of Labor Building Magazine last week, Frances inferno and its victims changed Perkins was quoted having a a communist sympathizer, as in DC (c 1934) was named the her, became an impetus for her a radical leftist, as a lesbian. Building. Trivia: fight with the head of General life’s work. Motors, which made me a fan Worth noting that Roosevelt did Michigan Senator Carl Levin even before I knew anything When the stock market crashed not defend her and kept other was principal sponsor of the else. “You are a scoundrel and a in 1929, Perkins pushed her cabinet members quiet, too. legislation to accomplish that. skunk,” she told Alfred Sloan in governor, Franklin Roosevelt, Nevertheless, she persisted. So, to recap: a woman, a 1937. “You’ll go to hell when you to do something. He created She cleaned up the labor necessarily closeted lesbian who die if you do things like that.” a committee on employment, department — corrupt, as it was, lost her home when her partner and appointed Perkins to lead I don’t even know what “things inefficient and unaccomplished. died, worked indefatigably for it. Later, when FDR was elected Many workers were terminated worker protections, but rarely like that” she meant, but we president, Perkins joined his live in capitalist, corporate and some eventually went to gets mentioned, while men get administration as Secretary of jail. Realizing Black employees credit. America, so I can imagine, and Labor. I can also imagine she would as were not allowed to use the Any day now, the Equality Act is easily say the same to Manny Social Security, the Fair Labor labor department cafeteria, she heading to the Senate where the “I own the bridge to Canada” Standards Act, worker safety, ordered it integrated. GOP will surely block it. Almost Moroun or Dan Gilbert, both unemployment insurance, the Frances’ lifelong partner was 90 years later, we LGBTQ folks still homegrown Michigan billionaire 40-hour work week, minimum Mary Harriman Rumsey, founder face the vulnerability that nearly opportunists. wage, overtime pay, restrictions of The , though this ruined Frances when Mary died. on child labor. The Civilian story isn’t always told. They lived Transportation Secretary Pete So, I learned some things about Conservation Corps. The Works Ms. Perkins and the contributions together in Washington D.C. as Buttegieg may be the first “out” Progress Administration. The “roommates” known for their gay cabinet member, but that she made to the common good, Bureau of Labor Standards. The our good. dinner parties (whose attendees is only because previous LGBTQ National Labor Relations Act. included ). cabinet members have had to Born in Massachusetts in 1880, Federal Home Owners Loan serve in terrified silence. Perkins was the non-pretty Corporation. The International When Mary died suddenly in daughter, taught by her mother Labor Organization. The right of 1934, Frances lost her home — The Equality Act is not the to dress for something other than workers to organize and bargain not uncommon for gay couples only thing on the GOP hit list: allure and to wear tri-corner hats collectively. These are things for prior to, but even since, the 2015 minimum wage, unemployment to balance the face her mother which we owe her. Obergefell marriage decision. insurance, worker protections said was poorly proportioned. (Just because marriage is now and organizing rights, the well- The Immigration Service was legal doesn’t mean gay people being of immigrants: all seem She wore those hats all her life within the DOL then, so Perkins as she broke barriers one after are automatically free of social, perennially up for grabs, and are was in charge of that, too. She political, economic or physical in the Senate’s hands right now. another. She studied economics maneuvered around existing (making danger.) Francis had to relocate at The Wharton School quota regulations to aid refugees This is Women’s History Month. better grades than someone and could not grieve publicly the and restricted deportations to If we want to honor Frances else we know). She worked with life and love she’d known. She Perkins, let’s pass the Equality Hitler’s Germany. When the channeled her grief into an all- at Hull-House Nazis began their genocide, she Act, raise wages, protect labor in Chicago, before making her night meeting with the Council and give immigrants and stepped up, though the U.S. on Economic Security, and way to New York for a master’s officially stayed out. By 1937, refugees some peace of mind. degree at Columbia. presented Roosevelt a final Social her efforts “admitted 50,255 Security proposal, adopted a First woman in the US Cabinet. In New York, she was accidental immigrants for permanent month later. Social Security, but see from the pastor, cont'd p 2 In the Congregation Sacred People, Sacred Earth From our Admin Desk. Jamie and Karen are still recruiting folks to Share your moral power for climate justice! Thurs, Mar 11, is Global recruit help for various tasks that we all depend on — most of which Day of Action. People of faith around the world are making noise, can be done from wherever you are. If you have just an hour or two making a scene or making a stand at 11 am — humanity's "eleventh each week to Woodside's administrative life, you can't imagine how hour" to act on climate desecration. valuable such a gift would be. Please email Jamie or Karen. Woodside's Creation Justice Team is asking us each to take a picture: From our Technical Desk: Before the end of March, we are shifting you, your climate justice sign in front of your house, posted to your our worship leadership back to our sanctuary. Just 3-4 worship social media page. leaders will broadcast from this space we miss, while the rest of us For more information and "how-to" go to https://greenfaith.org/ still participate from home. take-action/sacred-people-sacred-earth. Adam Schmidt has kept us online for a year, and we want to give him a break. If you have tech skills for editing video or managing Zoom, Stewardship we really need you! We hope to create a Technical Arts Team to rotate Stewardship is not just for October! these needs, which includes Sunday worship. Questions? Email us. You know the stewardship drive is when you are asked to pledge to Communications. So thankful to Courtney Cody who has stepped help us pay our staff and keep the lights on, but it is much more than into the role of communications liaison. If you have announcements that. Your stewardship (giving) helps us make a difference in the lives or calendar additions, let her know. of Woodsiders and in the lives of our neighbors in Flint and beyond. Church Membership? Thinking it's time to join? A series of info We want to remind you of the impact of our ministry in many areas. sessions starts Sun, 12:30 pm, to help you figure it out. Use the coffee As we reach out, we have seen how important it is to discover a fellowship link... church that welcomes you “whatever your story,” that invites ALL Vaccine Update: Beginning Mar 22, Michigan residents 50 and older to share communion, that champions systemic change designed to are eligible to sign up for a vaccine. Find out more: t.ly/PCPJ. improve all people’s lives. Daylight Time begins! Remember to reset your clocks Mar 14 Over the coming weeks look for the stewardship team article that will sometime in the middle of the night. highlight the specific ways Woodside makes a difference. Post-Covid Planning Team. We appreciate several of our medical Joe Eufinger and Linda Angus, Stewardship Co-chairs professionals who have agreed to guide us back toward our building. We are not planning in-person worship anytime soon, but they will Name Change update watch for updates and then tell us when and how we can safely To move us along on this rebranding path, the Executive Committee return -- maybe by early summer (no guarantees). has posted a request for proposals from marketing professionals. Meanwhile, they are guiding the worship team as we begin Sunday Please share it with anyone you know who may fit the bill. And Sunday, broadcasts from the sanctuary. Thanks to Diane Thompson, Dee when you worship, jot your "new name" ideas in the comments! Johnson and Robin Evans, who have agreed to serve on this team. We need your input. We've added two surveys to the website for from the pastor, cont'd from p 1 the next few weeks: one to help us streamline communication and Longest serving Secretary of Labor ever. The 4th longest serving update our directory; the other to help with our yearly evaluation of cabinet secretary in US history. Pastor Deb's leadership. Neither of these will take very long! Please The Baltimore Sun said in an editorial about Perkins, “A woman go to WoodsideChurch.net and scroll to the links. smarter than a man is something to get on guard about. But a woman smarter than a man and also not afraid of a man, well, good-night.” Holy Week Good night, indeed.

The final week before Easter is "Holy Week," beginning with Palm Want to know more? Here's where I learned it... Sunday, Mar 28. Here's what we're doing: https://www.fdrlibrary.org/perkins Palm Sunday, 11 am. Recounting the story in a Readers' Theatre. https://francesperkinscenter.org/ Want to participate?Email Tom. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_Cabinet_members_who_have_ served_more_than_eight_years Maundy Thursday, 7 pm. A short service of prayers and songs. Kirstin Downey's The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR'S Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience (Random House, 2009). Good Friday, 7 pm. Seven Last Words: Jesus and the ongoing state https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/eras/great-depression/perkins-frances-the- killings of people of color. roosevelt-years/ https://www.eriegaynews.com/news/article.php?recordid=201510francesperkins Easter Sunday, 11 am. Holy Communion, songs we love, a pretty https://365daysoflesbians.tumblr.com/post/158001468071/march-4-frances- good sermon, and maybe some festive bonnets. perkins-becomes-the-us https://carolyngage.weebly.com/blog/the-woman-behind-the-woman-behind- Our Easter offering this year is in homage to our music program. social-security Want to help? Find a link on tithely or mail a check to the church https://legacyprojectchicago.org/person/frances-perkins office.

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