Apr 25-27: The Blessing Way of the Aramaic Jesus (Dubuque, IA)

The Blessing Way of the Aramaic Jesus

A Residential Retreat with Neil Douglas-Klotz

When:  

Friday-Sunday, April 25-27, 2025

Where:  

Shalom Spirituality Center in Dubuque, Iowa

An introduction to the spiritual practice and contemplative prayer of Jesus viewed through the lens of his native Aramaic language. Including meditation, chanting, body prayer, walking meditation, contemplative prayer, and Dances of Universal Peace.

To learn more about the retreat, where it will be located, what's included, and to register, click here. Below are alternate lodgings and useful travel logistics. 

Jun 7-9: Dances of Universal Peace in Northern MN

Eeeeeeeee!!!!!! It's happening!

Adam Wolter and I are caravaning to northern MN to share and amplify the Dances with the communities where fellow dancers live in Duluth, Ely, and Grand Rapids!  

More details to come, but feel free to jot down these dates and join us as you feel so moved!

• Friday, June 7:  Duluth
• Saturday, June 8:  Ely
• Sunday, June 9:  Grand Rapids

p.s. an event in Morris and in the southeastern corner of the state will be scheduled for May and June. Watch for that date to be determined soon!

Thank you voters of MN! “This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.”

A Christmas Carol Dance: Joy to the World!

In the summer of 2019, I took a workshop on liturgical dance from Susan Mendenhall at the UCC Musicians Association Conference and it inspired me to create and lead a Christmas Carol Festival later that year.  This year I got the invitation to offering music and dance for an Advent (pre-Christmas) Sunday morning worship on Joy and I gleefully offered lead us in a circle dance for the traditional Joy to the World.

Here's the movements.  I believe they are Susan's (I'll need to find my materials to check!)

Feel free to use whatever verses that fit your context.  The hymntune is ANTIOCH, which is from a theme in the oratorio "Messiah" by George F. Handel, adapted by Lowell Mason in 1742.  Please source Susan Mendenhall for the movements and point folks to this page if you can. https://plm.tiny.us/DanceJoy2World

Jul 10: Move Sound A.C.T.! @ Open Streets Franklin

What: Move Sound A.C.T.!

When:  Sunday, July 10, 2022, 1-4 p.m.

• 1-2 p.m. Community Singing with Liz & Conie
• 2-3 p.m. Dances of Universal Peace with Conie (with the Spirit of Peace Meditation at 2:15 p.m.)
• 3:15-4:30 p.m. More Community Singing with Liz & Conie 

Where:  in front of Maria's Cafe, 1113 Franklin Ave, Minneapolis 
as part of Open Streets Franklin

Who are our leaders?

Liz Digitale Anderson (she/her) I write songs for community singing. They're songs for the streets, to keep us going in the struggle for justice, songs to remind us another world is possible and carry us through to liberation. I hope you'll find some friends and sing these together.  Hear my songs here:  https://soundcloud.com/lizdigitaleanderson. 

Conie Borchardt (she/they) is a mixed Asian Public Heart Artist, a listener and vibration holding space for truth, pain, and delight while inviting creative expression in sound, movement, and color within themselves and in others.  Learn more about them by checking out this website.

A New Easter Carol: Lord of the Dance

This year I got encouragement from Brene Brown to create another Easter dance.  Our church was reading her book, Gifts of Imperfection, where she names "Laughter, Song, and Dance" as one of 10 guideposts to cultivate.  And knowing this community usually sings "Lord of the Dance" at the Easter Sunrise service, it seemed a no-brainer.

Not having a lot of capacity to do exhaustive research, I took to my personal mobile research unit and intuited my way to something that felt natural and meaningful.  Here's the write-up; a video from the service is at the end.  Let us know what you think.

--

Refrain:  Instructions first with (accompanying words from the song in parathesis)

1. Standing in a circle facing in, take hands with your neighbors and take four steps in (Dance then)
2. Step back 4 steps (wherever you may be)
3. Turn in place to the right (I am the Lord of the Dance said he)

Dances of Universal Peace Testimony from Dr. Colleen Carpenter

Dr. Colleen Carpenter invited Conie and two colleagues to share Dances of Universal Peace and street justice songs for a paired Religion and Music honors class early in March 2022.  After the demonstration, Carpenter sent this note.  Shared with permission.  

--

"I am someone who finds it very difficult to really trust in God’s love and justice. I BELIEVE in it, and I cling to it, but the horror and the suffering of the world seem to me more “real” in a lot of ways.

I have to believe in God’s love, because if I don’t there’s nothing but despair, but I don’t think it’s going to save anyone on a practical level in the world right now. Putin will continue to level Ukraine.

But when I was driving home,

Oct 24: Street Justice Singalong @ Open Streets Minnehaha

What:  Street Justice Singalong (fb Event link)

When:  Sunday, October 24, 2021, 1-4 p.m.

• 1-2 p.m. with Liz & Conie
• 2-3 p.m. Dances of Universal Peace with Adam & Conie
• 3-4 p.m. with Liz & Conie 

Where:  Minnehaha Ave @ 42nd Street, Minneapolis 
as part Open Streets Minnehaha

Who are our leaders?

Liz Digitale Anderson (she/her) I write songs for community singing. They're songs for the streets, to keep us going in the struggle for justice, songs to remind us another world is possible and carry us through to liberation. I hope you'll find some friends and sing these together.  Hear my songs here:  https://soundcloud.com/lizdigitaleanderson. 

Adam Wolter (he/him) Adam is a musician, astrologer, and a certified leader of the Dances of Universal Peace. He's an initiate in the Sufi Ruhaniat order, and facilitates monthly (1st Sundays) sacred musical gatherings, and works to build good mystical musical community with the Dances of Universal Peace North America.  

Conie Borchardt (she/they) is a mixed Asian Public Heart Artist, a listener and vibration holding space for truth, pain, and delight while inviting creative expression in sound, movement, and color within themselves and in others.  Learn more about them by checking out this website.

Socially Distant Easter Dance: In the Bulb There Is a Flower

A angular sketch of
Tom Vetter's Flower in the Seed labyrinth
in prep for a large outdoor installation.

Early last week, I was starting to settle some ideas for the outdoor Easter Sunrise service the current congregation I serve has every year.  (Except last year, my first year with them.  Last year, we suspended it because it was the first month of pandemic life and we didn't know what we didn't know...)

One of the traditions I heard was the use of Natalie Sleeth's 1986 strophic text "In the Bulb There Is a Flower."  (New Century Hymnal #433)

Singing with other people during this respiratory pandemic honestly gives me the willies.  It's not quite rational and I'm sure some of it has to do with the ways that some of my ancestors have been tricked and hurt by oppressors.  Beside that, I'm interested in reducing paper waste and embodying our songs.  It didn't take long for the germ of an idea to bloom into something fully formed (ahem) that could be used for all verses ... and guide our social distancing.  :)

Here's the write-up: 

Song/Dance: I Planted Seeds: Where & How

Have you sung and danced "I Planted Seeds" recently?  Has it taken root in your ears and heart and started to grow?  

Are you wanting to share it with other people in other places and would like to make sure you're getting it right by the creator?  

Will you be reprinting the words and wish to appropriately credit the source?  

We're glad this song and dance has meaning for you as it does for us!  

Here's the information you are looking for to double check your understanding of the song and dance, the appropriate way to cite it, and some bonus words from its originator about how to share it with others.