OpenSpirit

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.

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OpenSpirit Summer Sabbath:  Water of Life

OpenSpirit Sunday Evening, July 26, 2009; 7:00 pm; Performing Arts Center of MetroWest

We are called together this final evening before a time of Sabbath during the month of August.  (Remember, we come together again on Sunday, September 20th – and what rejoicing there will be!!)  But this night,  let us reflect on summer, on Sabbath, and on the Spirit’s invitation to come to the water of life.   

What does this mean, ‘the water of life’?  Friends, we find ourselves in the deep, lush middle of summer.  It is time to think about what is before us — where we are going, what journeys lie ahead of us.  With curiosity and anticipation, we ask ‘what kind of happening of Spirit will come upon us tonight’?

In poetry and song, and in the final words (almost) in the entire Bible, we find an invitation voiced by the Spirit and the church to “Come!”:  “Let all who hear say ‘Come!’  Let all who thirst say ‘Come!’  And let those who wish take the water of life, given freely!”  Why not hear this word, and . . . come!

Come and join us for song and prayer, story and silence, music and meal.

Come!

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How Can I Keep from Singing:  An OpenSpirit Celebration of Voice

Sunday, July 19, 2009; Performing Arts Center of MetroWest; 7:00 pm

Fellow Pilgrims in God’s Open Spirit … how can we keep from singing??  Has there been a time when loving people around you have ‘heard you into speech’?  Is there a moment when, with God’s help, you have claimed your own voice, or, perhaps, re-claimed it? 

Together, we will pray for boldness in raising our voices, for grace in lifting each other into the power of speech.  In song, in word, in silence, we will hold those who risk their very lives to speak out as the Spirit compels them to do.

We also invite you to a time of conversation, as part of our celebration of voice!  We look forward to this opportunity to engage each other in discernment about this new ministry of OpenSpirit, and where God may be leading us.  Worship will lead directly into time for conversation, food, and fellowship.  We have some exciting news to share!!

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Consider the Lilies:  An OpenSpirit Celebration of Summer!

Sunday, July 12, 2009; 7:00 pm; Performing Arts Centerof MetroWest, Framingham, MA

Ah, you remember the words to Gershwin’s song:  “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy ….”  And then there’s  the old-time Gospel hymn:  “God’s eye is on the sparrow ….”  Friends, finally, and oh, how we New Englanders need it, summer’s here!  Fellow Pilgrims in God’s OpenSpirit, let us center ourselves around the words of Matthew’s Gospel, and, together, consider the lilies.

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.

A wonderful poem, courtesy of the Writer’s Almanac, provides inspirtation for our celebration of summertime in God’s creation.  And, yes, the livin’ is easy … bring a friend, share the joy!

OpenSpirit is a new creative arts-centered worship gathering in the Christian tradition, led by a collborative of ministers and musicians.  Our desire is to create a holy and participatory experience, weaving the spoken word together with music, communion, visual arts, dance … inviting each of us to draw closer to God.

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Dear OpenSpirit Friends!  Now that the monsoon seems to have subsided (we hope!),  and summer sun is finally upon us, we have a plan for our summer Sunday evenings.   

We will gather at our usual time – 7:00 pm – on three more Sundays:  July 12, 19, and 26 – at our usual location, the Performing Arts Center of MetroWest.  We will then take Sabbath time for rest and renewal, and come together again beginning  Sunday, September 20th.  And what a joy it will be, to gather in song and prayer once again.

On the evening of July 19th, we invite you to join us for a brief time of worship followed by an opportunity for conversation (and food, glorious food!) about this new ministry.  We have been gathering since March, and we’d love to engage you in dialogue about how OpenSpirit has touched you, and what dreams we may share for its future.  We have some exciting news to share …

Please come, and bring a friend!  And know that, during those Sabbath days of August, you will remain very much in our thoughts and prayers.

Summer Blessings to All!

Andrea, Debbie, Mark, Vicky and Willie

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Freedom Walk:  OpenSpirit Sunday Evening; July 5, 2009; 7pm; Performing Arts Center of MetroWest

An OpenSpirit celebration of freedom, in honor of the Fourth of July Weekend.

Happy Fourth of July!  Come, join us, and bring a friend!  A special traveling labyrinth will center our gathering, our chanting, our prayer.   

Freedom, this weekend of summer BBQs and fireworks, is often defined as the flag-waving patriotism of Independence Day.  But freedom is a multi-faceted thing.

What does freedom mean, to you?  Does it mean freedom from slavery or imprisonment? Or does it mean spiritual freedom, the ability to find peace in God, no matter what, no matter where?

Nelson Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom offers us a vision of freedom as justice, not only for one man, or for one people, but for all people.   Together, we will lift up his words.

Mark’s Gospel offers yet another vision of freedom.   Jesus’ healing ministry, his call to us as disciples, is about freedom.   We will lift up these words as well.

Our OpenSpirit celebration of freedom will be rich and memorable.  We will sing songs of freedom, full of joy and depth and spirit.  We have a special ‘guest’ labyrinth, to help us walk the long walk of freedom, with Jesus, with each other, with God.

The freedom of God’s OpenSpirit is waiting to embrace us all.

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OpenSpirit Summer Evenings

Companions in God’s OpenSpirit!  Summer is almost upon us.  We want to be in touch with you before folks scatter to beaches, mountains, books in hand, songs in our hearts.

Will you be here in late June, July, August??  Does it make sense to gather all summer?  Let us know, so we can plan accordingly.  Also, would anyone like to help with set-up, break-down, or refreshments in the next few weeks?

What has OpenSpirit meant to you these past weeks?  Are there dreams you’d like to share with us?  How have our evenings touched you?  We’d love to hear from you.  Write us back, and let us know!

Reply, if you’d like, to our OpenSpirit Collaborative, at this email:  revandrea@gmail.com.

Summer Blessings!  – Andrea, Debbie, Erin, Mark, Vicky and Willie

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