The moment Martha Jefferson discovers that a few drops of Negro blood course through her aristocratic veins, she knows she will do anything to keep this terrible secret from her politically ambitious husband, Thomas.

When fire strikes Monticello, the resulting repairs to Thomas Jefferson's historic home reveal a human skeleton, and the questions begin. . . the "when" is easily discovered, but the "who" and the "why" weave a tantalizing mystery that is Monticello's dark secret.

In this well-researched novel, which successfully melds historical fact with an intriguing 'what if', we are led back in time to the gripping tale of two women, Martha Jefferson and Betty Hemings, mother of infamous Sally Hemings, both forgotten threads in the rich tapestry of America's history. Nothing about them save their names has survived the centuries-- not a likeness nor a personal letter. We know both belonged to the same man, Thomas Jefferson, one through the vows of marriage and the other through the laws of slavery, and that both lived, dreamed and died in Virginia at a time in our new Nation when fact was more exciting than fiction.

Now, we can finally know and understand them as they might have been.

The moment Martha Jefferson discovers that a few drops of Negro blood course through her aristocratic veins, she knows she will do anything to keep this terrible secret from her politically ambitious husband, Thomas.

When fire strikes Monticello, the resulting repairs to Thomas Jefferson's historic home reveal a human skeleton, and the questions begin. . . the "when" is easily discovered, but the "who" and the "why" weave a tantalizing mystery that is Monticello's dark secret.

In this well-researched novel, which successfully melds historical fact with an intriguing 'what if', we are led back in time to the gripping tale of two women, Martha Jefferson and Betty Hemings, mother of infamous Sally Hemings, both forgotten threads in the rich tapestry of America's history. Nothing about them save their names has survived the centuries-- not a likeness nor a personal letter. We know both belonged to the same man, Thomas Jefferson, one through the vows of marriage and the other through the laws of slavery, and that both lived, dreamed and died in Virginia at a time in our new Nation when fact was more exciting than fiction.

Now, we can finally know and understand them as they might have been.

Everyone thought I was upstairs asleep.
But I wasn't.
I saw and heard everything that happened the terrible night
my mother was brutally murdered.

I heard what he snarled as he pushed her face into the sidewalk
with his foot between her shoulders.
I saw him yank her head back by her beautiful blonde hair and
slit her throat before she could scream for help.
I will hear her soft, helpless gurgle until the day I die.

For all these years, I have been afraid to say anything.
If he could kill her like that, he could kill me without a second thought.
My silence was my only safety.

I was only nine years old, and my Mom was my best friend.
She told me once, "He'll kill me someday, and being him,
the All-American hero, he'll get away with it."
And, unbelievably, he did.
He got away with murder.

But I'm not afraid anymore. I've waited this long, endless time.
I have a plan and I've honed it to perfection.
Everything is ready.
I'm going to send my Father to hell for butchering my Mother,
and no one will ever know.
I, too, will get away with murder.

A new and unusual service for Lent...
At the beginning of Lent each family in the congregation is invited to lend a plant from home (silk or live), following a Jewish Shavuot custom. The following Sundays in Lent build on this focal point as an object is added each week. Two readers participate in a dialogue explaining the symbol for that day. A child brings the symbol forward and holds it during the dialogue. In this way several families are able to participate.
"Visions of Lent Year 3 "also includes:
- Sample bulletin insert prior to Lent
- Example of plant reminder that can be used in bulletin
- Sample Torah for bulletin inserts
- A suggested worship service for Palm/Passion Sunday
Betty Lynn Schwab of Saskatoon, Canada, is an ordained pastor serving Meewasin Valley United Church. This is her seventh book published by CSS. She is the mother of two boys and her hobbies are camping and computers.

Experience a story of seeming despair, tragedy, and restored hope -- of a loving daughter, her carpenter father, and the trials they face when he is branded a leper. A full order of worship, staging instructions, a "children's moment", and production and lighting suggestions are included.

"Visions of Lent Year 2 "-- Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) offers congregations a weekly presentation to be included in the regular Lenten worship service. This follow-up to Volume 1 (which concentrated on the Feast of Passover) focuses on the Palm Sunday story and six elements within that story that were significant parts of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. The festival is rooted in Leviticus 23:33f, where God commanded Moses to declare the festival to the people of Israel as a reminder of the temporary shelters they lived in when He delivered them out of Egypt.
Preparation for this worship series is very simple. Lent 1 begins with a plain, "symbolic" booth placed somewhere within the sanctuary. For the next five weeks objects are gradually added inside the booth.
Objects include:
Lent 2 -- citron (or other citrus fruit) in an attractive yet simple container
Lent 3 -- musical instruments (flute, cymbal, lyre, harps, trumpets, etc.)
Lent 4 -- donkey figure or picture
Lent 5 -- a large crown
Lent 6 (Palm Sunday) -- palm branches
Each presentation involves four participants including: minister, a youth, and two other readers. Parts are brief and need not be memorized.
Betty Lynn Schwab of Saskatoon. Canada, is an ordained pastor serving Meewasin Valley United Church. This is her fourth book published by CSS.

Worship in Lent provides an opportunity for a congregation to reflect significantly on our faith. Unlike Advent and Christmas, Lent is free from the excitement busyness and commercialism that distract us as worshipers. We need to hear God's voice afresh. The Passover tradition is a wonderful vehicle for that kind of listening, writes Betty Lynn Schwab.
"Visions Of Lent, Year 1" (three-book series) is a resource for congregational worship on each of the six Sundays in Lent. Special to Year 1 is a Maundy Thursday communion service.
The series provides congregations with a weekly presentation, which may be placed in the worship service. Each presentation offers a symbol. Symbols for Year 1 are Passover-related.
Symbols are:
- The bitter herbs
- The scorched shank bone
- The green herbs
- The fruits and nuts
- The unleavened bread
- The roasted egg
Betty Lynn Schwab, Saskatoon, Canada, is an ordained clergy woman serving on the staff of Meewasin Valley United Church. Her CSS books include two Christmas Eve services and one Advent wreath-lighting book. She was also a contributor to "56 Lectionary Stories For Preaching."

"Every congregation should consider incorporating this welcome addition to Christmas resources into its programming soon."
Walter Farquharson
Moderator
The United Church of Canada
"The blend of insights and sounds makes the Christmas story come alive."
Anne M. Squire
Former Moderator
The United Church of Canada
"An excellent resource for those designing Christmas eve worship for all ages."
Marilyn Perry
General editor
"The Whole People of God," Lectionary curriculum
Attention congregations with young children Here is an exciting, happy, complete Christmas Eve worship service designed for your congregation.
The story is in three parts, set within a worship service. It is based upon two youngsters hiding in the stable while Jesus is born there.
Three young people can carry the entire story. Others could easily join the cast. Sounds that occur through the story easily capture the attention of the congregation. These may be created in the sanctuary by members of the congregation or pre-recorded.
New Revised Standard texts are used. The author faithfully follows the biblical story of Jesus' birth.
Betty Lynn Schwab is an ordained clergy woman on the staff at Meewasin Valley United Methodist Church, Saskatoon, Canada. Her other CSS title is "Do You Hear What I Hear?" a Christmas Eve worship service.