What: Concert for Casitas: A Benefit for Chilean Earthquake Survivors
Where: The Outdoor Pavilion at The Massachusetts Conference Center
One Badger Road, Framingham, MA 01702
When: Sunday, July 18, 2010
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
Wheelchair Access: Yes
Sponsors: Edwards, Plymouth and Grace Churches, Framingham; First Congregational Church in Natick; OpenSpirit; The Mission Partnership Committee, the Commission for Mission & Justice Ministries and the Just Peace Ministry of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ
Contact: Willie Sordillo: 508/628-9294; or Debbie Clark: 508-877-2050
On Sunday, July 18 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm, a consortium of MetroWest churches and church mission organizations will host an outdoor concert to raise funds to provide homes for survivors of the February 27 earthquake and resulting tsunamis which left hundreds of thousands of Chileans homeless. The concert features a band led by local jazz saxophonist Willie Sordillo and home-made Chilean delicacies such as fruit empanadas and alfajores.
Proceeds will be distributed to Global Ministries, whose Lifting Up Hope project oversees the purchase of materials from local Chilean suppliers and construction of the houses by donated labor. For about $1500, a small “Blessing Cabin” can be built which houses a family whose home was completely destroyed and does not have relatives with whom they can live. The Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ has collected over $81,000 towards this effort to date, and has set a goal of building 150 homes.
Willie Sordillo has toured internationally, recorded extensively, co-written arrangements which have been aired on the tv show, ER, and with the band, Flor de Caña, won multiple Boston Music Awards. A resident of Framingham for the past 14 years, he has performed at local jazz venues including Amazing Things, The Regattabar, Scullers, and the Acton Jazz Café.
Willie currently directs the music for a weekly jazz and gospel worship service at Old South Church in Boston and is the musical director for OpenSpirit, a creative worship offering based in Framingham. Willie will be joined by a talented group of friends, including Bob Pilkington, Marlene, Lisa Durkee and Russell Lane.
For more information about Willie Sordillo, please visit www.williesordillo.com
For more information about Global Ministries’ Lifting Up Hope project, please visit http://globalministries.org/news/lac/earthquake-in-chile-and-the.html
Tickets for the concert and Chilean snacks are $5 and may be purchased in advance from Edwards Church: 508-877-2050. A free will offering will be received at the event. All are welcome.