Powwow in Marshfield this weekend

Lisa Rue shared with me that there's a Native American Powwow in Marshfield, MA this weekend. It sounds like a family-friendly event, if you're looking for something special to do this weekend.

Religious Education Field Trip to Wampanoag Village

A group of 38 adults and children visited the Wampanoag Village at Plimoth Plantation this morning, as part of this spring's Honoring Our Mother Earth program.

We saw our friend Bob Charlebois who explained the highlights of the site.
It was a beautiful day to experience some of our New England heritage.

LOSE THE BLUES

The Male Bonding Band will be playing the Blues -- Clapton, Cash, Armstrong -- and some comic ditties. Special guests Hearts with Ukes will open the show at 7:00.

Saturday, May 8 at First Parish Church Parish Hall -- 50 School Street in Bridgewater.

All seats only $5.00!

Invite your friends on Facebook.

Male Bonding Band at World Music Festival -- BSC

On Tuesday, April 27, First Parish's own Male Bonding Band will be performing early 20th-Century North American music ("Old Timey" music) as part of Bridgewater State College's annual World Music Festival. The festival had been scheduled in an outdoor location, but because of expected rain, it will be in the dining room of Crimson Hall (a relatively new dorm on the East Campus, near the clock tower and book store. Contact Jim Quinn or James Hayes-Bohanan  or the BSC Music Department for details.

The performances will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ending with MBB around 4:15. The full line-up includes:


The Lindsays (Traditional Irish Duo)
Hot Tamale Brass Band (New Orleans Jazz)
Annalivia (Traditional Irish Band)
Veronica Robles and her Mariachi Band (Mexican Music)
BSC Chamber Choir (Western Classical)
Jason Roseman (Trinidadian and Caribbean Music)
The Bohemian Street Chanters (A Capella Ensemble)
The Male Bonding Band (Old Timey American Folk Music)

Later that day, the festivities will continue in Horace Mann Auditorium (in Boyden Hall, across from  the church). Starting at 7:30 p.m., performers will include:

Khakatay (BSC West African Drumming Ensemble)
Alley Cats (American Barbershop Quartet)
Marcus Santos & his Brazilian Ensemble

All performances are free of charge, and refreshments are provided.

Coffee Tasting & Just Trade Fair -- April 20

First Parish member James Hayes-Bohanan is also a professor of geography at Bridgewater State College, where he teaches two courses on the coffee trade. His students will be putting on the annual coffee tasting on Tuesday afternoon, April 20. At the same time, a Just Trade Fair, featuring ethically-traded products of many kinds, will be held.

Both events are in the Rondileau Campus Center's Grand Ballroom and are open to the public. The Just Trade Fair will run 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The coffee tasting will be 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. More information is on the geography department blog.

Public Lecture on Henry David Thoreau

 Jeffrey S. Cramer, Curator of Collections at the Thoreau Institute and editor of several editions of Thoreau’s works, will speak on “Living Deliberately: Thinking like Thoreau Today” on Tuesday, April 13^th, from 3:00-4:30 in the Heritage Room in Maxwell Library at Bridgewater State College. Please feel free to bring classes and encourage students to attend.

Spencer West at BSC

Monday, April 5 -- 7:00
BSC Horace Mann Auditorium (Boyden Hall)


Inspirational and charismatic, Spencer West speaks candidly about the struggles he overcame after losing his legs at the age of five, and how he never lost the hope or courage he needed to overcome personal obstacles. Filled with both humour and humility, his thought-provoking message inspires people to find opportunity in every challenge. With every speech, Spencer leaves an indelible mark on his audiences, instilling hope and strong leadership so that they can inspire others to create positive change. 


Details on Facebook

Theodore Parker - abolitionist

On this day in UU history in 1855, Unitarian minister Theodore Parker was tried in Boston for inciting a riot when he protected escaped slaves Ellen and William Craft when agents came to return them to their master in Georgia.

Dorothea Dix anniversary

On this day in 1841, Unitarian Dorothea Dix visited an East Cambridge jail and was appalled to see mentally ill women confined alongside hardened criminals. The 40 year-old teacher and writer had been exposed to the work of English reformers, and now she embarked on a campaign to ensure humane treatment for the mentally ill in America. She began by documenting conditions in Massachusetts.

Read the rest of the story at Mass Moments and consider signing up for daily emails on Massachusetts history.

Haiti Shelterbox project at Sharon UU: Sunday afternoon April 11

The rainy season in Haiti is about to begin.  The Unitarian Church of Sharon plans to raise money to buy two ShelterBoxes for survisors of the earthquake in Haiti.

From 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, children, youth, and adults will erect a "tent city" on the front lawn of the church, at 4 North Main Street in Sharon center.  Each tent on the church lawn will represent $200 in pledges gathered by participants from Sharon, Foxboro, Mansfield, and Norwood.  The group hopes to reach out to all people in Sharon and surrounding towns to raise at least $2000 for ShelterBox.  The event will happen rain or shine.

All are encouraged to visit, donate toward the raising of a waterproof tent in the tent city, and contribute to the ShelterBox cause.  Cash or checks made out to "ShelterBox USA" can also be dropped off at the "drive-thru" donation area in the traffic circle at the front of the church.   All contributions are tax deductible.

ShelterBox responds to natural and manmade disasters by delivering boxes of aid to those who are most in need. Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and essential equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless people.

For more information visit www.shelterboxusa.org/