A note from Pastor Travis 4/11/24

Last Sunday during our prayer time Bert told us that students in Melrose will be taking part in the ‘Day of Silence’ this Friday, April 12. Yesterday, I went to the 

https://www.glsen.org/dayofnosilence website to learn more about it. Here is what I found. 

Day of (No) Silence 2024: Rise Up. Take Action

History of Day of (No) Silence: Started in the mid 90’s by two college students, Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Every April, students would go through the school day without speaking, ending the day with Breaking the Silence rallies to bring attention to ways their schools and communities can become more inclusive. 

2024 Day of (No) Silence: With more than 800 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced last year, we must Rise Up and Take Action. GLSEN’s Day of NO Silence is a nationally-recognized student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies all around the country—and the world— protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools. 

Silent Option: For those who may not feel safe or comfortable speaking out, the option of participating in a silent protest remains available. This ensures that everyone can contribute to the movement in a manner that aligns with their comfort level.” 

Students in Melrose will be observing this as a day of silence, and I invite you to stand in solidary with them. I will take a moment of silence at 8:00 in the morning to offer a prayer for LGBTQ+ students and spend some time reflecting on the courage of these students, especially in Melrose. I invite you to join in this time of prayer and reflection. 

Blessings, 

Pastor Travis