Pictured left to right: Michael Dooman '78, Headmaster, Herbert Carlsol '57, Founder, Reverend Norman Eddy '34, Amanda Carlson '89

We are thankful for the great events that honored our parents – Norm and Peg Eddy – the weekend of Feb 26th. As many of you know we had a powerful turn-out at both the New York Theological Seminary on Friday evening and at Church of the Resurrection on Saturday afternoon despite the huge storm in the NorthEast. We thank everyone who found a way to join us, and we have good news for those of you who missed either gathering. In the coming warmer seasons there will be at least one more opportunity to get together – this time to see the entire film of Jan Albert’s called Reverend Eddy and The Fireflies of East Harlem and to learn even more about Norm’s method of community activism that he refers to as Spiritual Coordination. In future years we also hope convey more about Peg’s work as well through her legacy at New York Theological Seminary (NYTS).

 We are thankful for the Friday reception that was beautifully hosted by NYTS. NYTS President, Dale Irwin, announced plans to continue to raise the funds (with the help of Rev. Susan Switzer) needed to start a center called the Margaret and Norm Eddy Program Center for Spiritual Coordination and Community Well-being at NYTS. We were so moved by how longtime friends active in the East Harlem community spoke warmly about how they engaged in Spiritual Coordination efforts under the guidance of the Eddy’s. We heard a moving talk about Peg and Norm from Jose Vadi who is now a professor at Pomona in Southern California. Frank Diaz shared how he was trained to be a community activist using Spiritual Coordination while working at The East Harlem Urban Center founded by Norm. This effective process in East Harlem inspired him to become an Assemblyman and now a lobbyist. Buffy, a dear friend who was also a mother involved with the ‘group ministry’ talked about raising her children in Spanish Harlem with Peg and about their work together with the Healing Community and School of Faith. James Allen sang a song he wrote and personalized to Norm. Mr. Allen was part of the Narcotics Committee in 1950s that helped transform drug addiction from a criminal act to a medical condition by advocating for new legislation. His colleague, Reverend James Bryant, gave a closing prayer and led us in singing. Both James Allen and Reverend Bryant have been helping addicts for decades, having created and sustained the ARC – Addiction Recovery Choir (you may remember that they sang at Peg’s memorial services in 1990). While the weather kept author Dan Wakefield landlocked in Florida, we were blessed by having passages from his book Spirituality Incorrect read by the wonderful lawyer who helped put through the EHPP Narcotics Committee legislation (the Metcalf-Volker bill) – Seymour Ostrow. These talks were followed by a viewing of over half of the movie about the ministry of Norm and Peg in Spanish Harlem. Photos of early years and returning celebrations at South Church and 99 Lincoln Street as well as class pictures from Mooreland Hill School in New Britain were featured. It showed Norm’s experiences as an ambulance driver with the American Field Service (AFS) in WW2 and his call to open people’s eyes to the working of the universal spirit while on the road to Damascus. Jan Albert has captured in this movie how through hard work, dedication, and the skills of Spiritual Coordination community members of East Harlem started their own Federal Credit Union, fought to gain a voice and then collaborated with agencies to get new housing to replace their rodent-infested homes that had no consistent heat or hot water, were involved with Dr. Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights movement, and are still having an impact on children’s education today. Sy Ostrow stated that the Eddy’s work also included working to overcome police brutality and gangs. Norm spoke about his inspiration to ‘coordinate all people into small committees to make change using the power of prayer’ came from learning about Bishop Grundtvig of Denmark from Signe Toksvig, the Danish wife of Frances Hackett, a frequent guest of Jim (Howard S) Hart’s on Abel’s Hill. Norm spoke of how fireflies can light up the world when their energies are harnessed into one lantern, fueled by the Holy Spirit. He reiterated what many others said – his work was as part of a team – with God, the people of the 100th Street Church of the East Harlem Protestant Parish, with the extended East Harlem community, with dedicated professionals, and most importantly with his wife Peg.

 On Saturday Rev. Kim Wright, current pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, welcomed over 150 people. She shared a chronology of the Eddy roots with the church. After the 100th Street Church that Norm and Peg founded together merged to become the Church of the Resurrection Peg became the first female pastor there. The church still houses the East Harlem Urban Center created by Norm (which oversees the Booker T. Washington Learning Center). Many friends including Reverend George Todd commemorated Peg (Margaret Lindsay Ruth Eddy) who died twenty years before of cancer on March 7 (practically the same day that we lost Peggy Bristol Eddy this year). Her dedication and effect on East Harlem residents were palpable as described by Elisabeth Calvert on Friday evening. The Saturday program included many people who, to quote son-in-law Paul Feuerstein, deeply appreciated Peg’s ‘humility, hospitality and humor.’ We had numerous spontaneous speakers from ‘the early days’ who remembered the humor-filled hospitality of being at Mom and Dad’s wedding, in her ministry, and her direction of the family camp Parish Acres – ‘the Farm’ or ‘Trails End’ in Putnam Valley owned by the Parish. Her dear friend, Carol Brandes, came all the way from Seattle with her partner Dottie Neufeld. Carol blessed us with music and was accompanied by talented members of the Church of the Resurrection in singing hymns. We were delighted by a spontaneous visit from Congresswoman Maloney, introduced by community member Mr. Bob Montesi. She bestowed Norm with a framed citation that documents Peg and Norm Eddy’s work in the Congressional Record. Ms. Linda Lantieri spoke of Norm’s interfaith vision and his ease in leading a post-9/11 interfaith prayer circle. Dad spoke poignantly again and told a story about one East Harlem mom, Helen Boles, who was moved by the spirit to help families see their children in prisons – and did so by raising the money to rent buses to get to the prisons in remote locations to visit. We were moved by the visitors who braved the weather from Connecticut, upstate NY, NJ and Massachusetts.

 We have several documents that we’re happy to share with you: a statement about how Lydia Lopez perceives Norm Eddy as a spiritual coordinator and a brochure of the new proposed center at NYTS that will teach methods for how to enhance community well-being developed by Norm and Peg. Many people have written wonderful statements and sent photos. John Cato, Paul Valliere, Rev Dr. Pedro Windsor, and Hector Velez wrote moving accounts some of which we read out loud. We are printing all writing on archival paper with the plan to create a book that will last a long time! Your contributions are still welcome. We were delighted to have representatives from the Union Thelological Seminary library, AFS International, and the NYC Mission Society join us. Together we hope to grow awareness of the effectiveness of Spiritual Coordination and the importance of working together to bring positive social change in our world – ever still in need.

 When interviewed last week Norm said he was humbled and deeply moved by everyone’s love. He hopes that all who learn about Spiritual Coordination understand that the accomplishments achieved were examples of the divine at work. At 90 years young he continues to have passion to teach this spiritual approach to social change and welcomes anyone who wants to join in a study group on Spiritual Coordination. We will be arranging monthly meetings, most likely on Thursday or Friday afternoons at his home. At present he is home nursing a broken arm, but in good spirits. He cares most that we all live our lives in spiritual connection and loves to receive stories of the spirit at work.

 The entire Norm Eddy clan hopes to see each of you at future gatherings about Spiritual Coordination of Community Action and about other aspects of our parent’s life work. In the coming warmer seasons we look forward to one or two showings of the completed film in NYC, and perhaps others in New Britain, CT and on Martha’s Vineyard! If you have ideas about how to spread the work please do share them with us!

 With Appreciation,

 Martha (Eddy)