Aurora church to host program on Underground Railroad quilts Feb. 17
Celebrating Black History Month, Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora will host a reading of "Under the Quilt of Night" and a chronicle of how quilts conveyed Underground Railroad codes during the Civil War.
The program will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the church, 14 N. May St. The public is invited. Admission and parking are free.
Kelly McLeary, WUMC preschool director, will lead the reading and quilt coding exploration. McCleary, a quilter, will display original quilts.
In "Quilt of Night," author Deborah Hopkinson writes in the anxious voice of a young slave girl escaping from a harsh master. Hopkinson transports children back to a time gone by.
The young girl tells of a dramatic, treacherous flight, under the quilt of night, through a mosquito-ridden wood and across deep river waters and of finding a glimmer of hope, a sign from the Underground Railroad, shining against the dark backdrop of the night sky.
She sees a quilt hanging across the fence of a simple farmhouse. The quilt delivers a message: slaves have reached the path to freedom.
Light refreshments will be served after the program.
Call (630) 896-1033 or visit wesleyumcaurora.org for more information.