“The Shadow of Grace”: A Jazz Labyrinth Walk, Worship, & Dinner
Where: Wilson Chapel at Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, MA
When: Sunday, February 27, 2011. 5:00 p.m. Gathering & Worship; Potluck Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Who: Led by the OpenSpirit Worship Collaborative; Music by Willie Sordillo and Co.; Poetry by Wendell Berry
You: Open to the public, free!
Dinner: Hot dishes provided; bring your appetite and, if you can, something to share
Directions: www.ants.edu
The poet Wendell Berry asks what it takes to “pass through the narrow gate,” a well-worn metaphor in Jesus’ teaching. He suggests that we “cannot pass beyond it burdened,” but must “leave behind the six days’ world, all of it, all of its plans and hopes” and
. . .come without weapon or tool, alone,
expecting nothing, remembering nothing,
into the ease of sight, the brotherhood of eye and leaf.
Join us for a meditative evening with Berry’s poetry, the smooth jazz of Willie Sordillo and Co., and the opportunity to journey into the labyrinth. As we prepare for the Lenten journey, we heed the invitation to be those “coming into the shadow” as the poet puts it,
. . .the shadow of the grace of the strait way’s ending,
the shadow of the mercy of light.
We gather for music and song, for prayer and meditation, and for the walk into the labyrinth of our longing. Join us at 5 p.m., and stay for a simple potluck supper at 6:30. We’ll provide the hot and hearty fare; bring a cold dish to share, if you are able to do so.
A warm OpenSpirit welcome to you all!
The Spark of Love Joy Band will be featured, leading you in playing percussion at this OpenSpirit evening at Edwards Church in Framingham.
Consider the lilies – and look at the birds of the air! God takes care of all of these, and God takes care of us. Sometimes we just need to sit, together, and ponder the ways. And sing! It’s time for old-time Gospel songs, and the abundance of Christ’s table.
Children do it naturally, reminding us how good it feels. Scientists tell us that laughter reduces the levels of our stress hormones, increasing health-enhancing hormones like endorphins; they remind us that it enhances our immune system and reduces the physical effects of stress.
Now, whatever happened to laughter in church? Come find out this Sunday evening, as we celebrate laughter as a measure of grace among us.
Longing calls us as the theme for our evening gatherings during the coming four Sundays of Advent. It is the deep wellspring of creativity, and yet remains an all too neglected impulse in the busy weeks that precede Christmas.
During the coming four weeks of Advent, our OpenSpirit gatherings will explore the depth and shape of longing, and how desire draws us ever more profoundly into the mystery of life.
“In the bleak midwinter”… the echoing words of the carol seem so true, too true. In this season of ice, we long for our world, our hearts to melt and thaw.