On Sunday, July 31, the Sanctuary/Asylum Committee at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester presented a lay-led service about our Coalition and how we all help support Chris. Below is a photo of Chris and Happy Beale (St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church of Goffstown) opening our Service with words and lighting the Chalice. 

As part of the Service, Chris spoke emotionally about his harrowing journey to the United States.  During “Joys and Concerns”, Edna White, Jackie Spenard, Marge Goudreault and Suzanne Chretien read 4 selected notes of gratitude which included the New Hampshire Immigrant Solidarity Network, The Catholic Sisters of Mercy, the U.U. Church of Nashua, and St. Matthews Episcopal Church of Goffstown. Our Service ended with Paul Introcaso from the U.U. Church of Nashua extinguishing our Chalice flame.

Ben was unable to attend our Service, so Liz read excerpts from his interview with Julie Zimmer and Gloria Anderson (as seen in Manchester Ink Link) describing his journey from the Democratic Republic of Congo to the UU Church of Manchester.

Meanwhile, Ben has been accepted into the UNH’s Carsey School of Public Policy’s Master’s Program in Community Development Policy and Practice.  His online orientation was July 28.  Congratulations Ben!!!

This month, Chris will be visiting his brother and family in Kentucky. While he is visiting, we are planning to continue sending grocery cards, and are researching which grocery store his brother uses. We welcome your donations by check in leu of Market Basket cards.  Your check can be sent to S/A Committee, U.U. Church of Manchester, 669 Union St, 03104, with ‘Groceries for Chris’ in the memo line.

           Liz Alcauskas, Secretary S/A Committee.