Oct 28: 2 MMC Events in Chicago!

We're pleased to be leading a couple of Music that Makes Community events in Chicago this fall!  Join us if you're in the area, or make a special trip into the Windy City!

#1 - Advent Worship Planning & More -- Facebook event

- When: Saturday, October 28 from 9 am to Noon

- Where: Bethany United Church of Christ (4250 N Paulina, Chicago)

Join fellow musicians, clergy, and lay leaders on Saturday, October 28 for a Half-Day Advent Worship Planning Workshop at Bethany United Church of Christ, Chicago. The time of singing and learning will be facilitated by Conie Borchardt from the Twin Cities, in collaboration with local MMC leaders.

We'll reflect on this expectant season of the liturgical year through songs that invite our communities into paperless, participatory expressions of praise and prayer. The final hour of the workshop will model creative approaches to Communion liturgy, using paperless practices to renew our experiences around the table.

REGISTRATION:
Registration fees are on a sliding scale, from $40 to $20 per person, which includes access to a song list and resource materials following the workshop. We ask you to pay what is generous and affordable for you, with gratitude for the time and skill of our presenters. Additional scholarship support is also available, if needed.

REGISTER HERE!

The workshop is supported by generous gifts from Bethany United Church of Christ, Chicago and First Congregational Church of Evanston.

#2 - Peace and Justice SING! -- Facebook event

- When:  Saturday, October 28 from 2 to 4 pm
- Where:  Borelli's Pizzeria (2124 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago)

Join Twin Cities song leader Conie Borchardt and singer/song-writer Charles Murphy for a Peace and Justice SING in Chicago on Saturday, October 28 from 2-4 pm.

When we sing, we connect with one another and with something larger than our individual selves. Join us for this uplifting experience of learning and collaboration, as we share songs that give voice to our collective yearnings for justice, freedom, and peace in our world. Bring a song to share and, by all means, bring friends who love to sing.

The event is free and open to all who love to sing, regardless of musical experience or training. Freewill donations are welcome and help support the work of Music that Makes Community.

Feb 27-29: MMC at Luther College

Points of Light Music will be working with Music that Makes Community at Luther College next month!  



Details
When
On Friday, February 28:

Feb 10: MMC at SW MN ELCA event

Points of Light Music is excited to be co-presenting two hour long Music that Makes Community workshop with John Jahr in Willmar, MN in February.  It is one of many sessions being offered to ELCA congregations in the Southwest Minnesota synod as part of their Equipping Congregations Day.  If you're part of one of these churches, check with your pastor or synod representative to see how you can register to attend.

 

 

Conie grew up in an ELCA church in Southwestern Minnesota surrounded by folks who nurtured and supported her budding musicianship and vocation as a church musician.  It seems like a homecoming to return to the area where she attended summer bible camp to offer new music tools and resources for lay and clergy in the small congregations of her youth. 

 

Points Of Light Music is very interested in bringing the paperless song leading tools and resources to the congregations and communities of rural Minnesota.  If you're not able to attend this workshop in Willmar, reach out to shine@pointsoflightmusic.net to talk about scheduling a 60-90 minute workshop in your community.  In addition to MMC tools and resources, Points Of Light Music offers Dances of Universal Peace events, Full Voice coaching sessions, spiritual direction/companioning, and more.  See the right column for more details. 



Music that Makes Community



Sept 9: 1/2 Day MMC Workshop in Moorhead

Want to experience the paperless Music that Makes Community for worship settings?  And live in the Fargo-Moorhead corner of Minnesota-North Dakota? 


You're in luck! 

I will be co-leading a half-day workshop with Liesl Spitz as part of Concordia College's

Sing A New Song: A Day of Discovery, Renewal, and Refreshment for the Church Musician.

When:  Saturday, September 9, 1-5p (with morning breakout sessions on organ improvisation, choral techniques, audio recording basics, and software for the church musicians)
Where:  Concordia College, 901-8th St. S, Moorhead, MN

Registration and more information on Facebook. 



Standing Rock Reflections

Over the second weekend of October, I had the opportunity to visit Oceti Sakowin, the camp in North Dakota where people from the Standing Rock Sioux and many other indigenous nations were living as Water Protectors.  The experience has left an impression on me that I'm still processing.  Here are a few thoughts that I can articulate at this moment.



Overlooking Oceti Sakowin north of the main gate (Photo by C. Borchardt)

This picture and video below may be a bit different from others you have seen of Oceti Sakowin.  The pictures you are familiar with probably show a place full of people, tents, and teepees in late summer heat and glory. 

It is now October and a stiff wind is moving over the prairie landscape whipping less secure rain flies and tarps on tents around and making a holy racket.  The door to our pop-up camper may fly open with the slightest encouragement or slam shut depending on if the wind was blowing from the north or the south.  The low temperature our first night was 30 degrees.  The last morning we rose there, miniscule sleet pellets danced on the vinyl walls a bit before strong winds from the north literally rocked the whole camper. 

It is no wonder the population of camp is lower.  The stress of long-term direct action is hard enough without having to endure the extreme winter weather of an outdoor living situation.  As folks discern their ability to stay and how to care for their home front left behind, the camp is adjusting and figuring out needs, roles, duties, decisions. 

While I was there, folks from the Oglala tribe were moving a teepee into space vacated by abandoned tents.  These seemingly simple structures of long poles and taut canvas were built for their strength and durability.  It was hard to believe that these incredible structures were in the same scene as tents flexing and flapping in the strong wind.  They hardly moved.  It's as if the teepees shared the same deep abiding strength of the people who lived in them.

A friend of a friend's drive by video of Oceti Sakowin, a week later than my visit.

As I assisted a horse farrier in her work and roamed around collecting trash, I started seeing interesting connections between this place and my home. 

• Both are near confluences (Bdote) - Standing Rock is where the Missouri and Cannon Ball Rivers meet.  My home is near where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers meet (Wita Tanka, or the colonized name of Pike Island). 
• Both have been places where Native people have lived. 
• Unfortunately neither location was by happy choice.  The encampment at Wita Tanka was a forced concentration camp under the watchful eye of Fort Snelling for 1600+ Dakota people following the Dakota-US War of 1862.  300+ folks died over the harsh winter of little food and shelter.  (source: Wikipedia)

As I pondered this similarity of military observation, I wondered if this might be an opportunity for white people to choose differently. 

154+ years ago, white European settlers following the lead of the government choose to claim land they were lead to believe was "theirs" and were fearful of these folks who inhabited the land before them.  I imagine the noisy, wild sounds these native inhabitants made were alarming because the vocalizations were nothing like the settlers heard or created themselves before.  Being in a new wild location trying to make a courageous new life, any unknown is seen as a threat and treated with the same worst case scenario fear of flee and flight.

Now, almost two centuries later, we can look back and understand the stories differently.  We can now recognize these people as the First Nations who lived here first, since time immemorial.  We can see that the Doctrine of Discovery (Wikipedia) used by our European forefathers to claim this land violated the basic human rights of these First Nations people and is horribly wrong.  We can realize the beauty of how these Native peoples live at one with nature, the land, water, and air. The contact is so seamless that others don't see an impact.  We can acknowledge our fear of the unknown and the other in ways that don't cut us off from each other, but open. 

With this refreshed view of history, can we recognize the right to clean water for them and really, all of us who live downstream?  Can we honor the beauty of nature and all of its resources without pillaging it for our own excessive non-essential uses?  Can we awaken to the powers of industry, corporate marketing, and government run by individuals who are more interested in making a profit off others?  Can we live into a just society where prosperity is measured by all people having food and shelter, purpose and recreation, safety and freedom? 

How can we support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all the indigenous nations present stand for their rights to be seen and recognized as being valued, honored, and respected? 

It is my hope that we rise to the challenge of helping Standing Rock survive a brutal North Dakota winter and not let the Water Protectors suffer with inadequate supplies like their ancestors did at Pike Island-Wita Tanka that winter of 1962-63. 

Banners of support along a fence north of camp.

A Dances of Universal Peace song accompanied my first morning walk to the river and became my prayer along its banks.  "Wah! Taho! Taho!" is a traditional Sunrise Call in the Zuni tradition.  Finding the above banner among prayer ties and hundreds of other flags as we were leaving Oceti Sakowin felt very special to me. 

Wah! Taho! Taho!

Wah! Taho! Taho!

 

Wake! Ye, Arise! Life is calling thee,

Wake! Ye, Arise!  Life is greeting thee.

 

Mother Earth God, she is calling thee.

Mother Earth God, she is greeting thee.

 

Lastly, one of my travel companions was writer and Community Rights educator, Paul Cienfuegos.  His podcast reflections last week mirror my own and I include a link here to wrap up these thoughts: http://communityrightspdx.org/podcast/october-11-2016-reflections-on-my-recent-visit-to-standing-rock/

Labyrinth Updates

2016 has been filled with labyrinths more than ever before ... Here's a skinny chronology of what's happened so far and what's coming ahead:


Walking the labyrinth at Wintermission.

• Jan-Feb 2016:  Invited to make a snow labyrinth for the Friendly Streets Initiative and their Wintermission event at the planned site for the Rondo Commemorative Plaza. 

The huge snowfall from the previous week melts during an incredible mid-winter thaw!  Oh no!  Brainstorm a stanchion-based rectangle design from materials from Ax-man that also can multi-task as dreams and concerns collector. 

• Mar-Apr 2016:  Submitted poster session proposal to The Labyrinth Society's annual meeting based on the Wintermission labyrinth.  It is accepted!



Two little people walk at the Backyard Farm Fair

• Apr-May 2016:  Invited to install a temporary labyrinth by The Trust for Public land at Frogtown Farm's Backyard Fair. 

Adapting Tom Vetter's Flower in the Seed design, I develop the stanchion based labyrinth idea from February and add pennant flags for more presence.

• Jun 2016:  Submit a proposal to Springboard for the Art's Ready Go mobile art tools to continue developing the stanchion based labyrinth idea.  I find out in a couple of weeks if it's accepted!

So, what's ahead?
* Prepare my poster and handouts for The Labyrinth Society gathering, make travel plans for Houston, TX, and go!  (Sept-Nov 2016)

* Attend Veriditas' labyrinth facilitator training in North Carolina.  It occurs to me that if I was going to install and facilitate labyrinth walks, it might be a good idea to get the stamp of approval by "the experts." (Aug 2016)

* Bring Field of Reflections to fruition if my Ready Go proposal is accepted!  (Jul-Aug 2016)

* Round up financial support. (Now) Although I'm hopeful about receiving a scholarship to attend training and the poster presentation comes with a stipend, I need to raise more funds for travel, lodging, and registration.  And if the Ready Go! proposal is not accepted, I already know I want to move forward with the project and will need to raise funds to buy material and commission an artist to create a centerpiece (intrigued?  more on that later!).  Would you be willing to consider supporting me in one of the following ways?

• Hire me to install a labyrinth (either the simple rectangle or Flower in the Seed design) for an event at church, workplace, or family/friends gathering.  Since I already have the materials, you pay for the setup/teardown and time facilitating during the event. 
• Or hire me for one of my many other interests: 

1. a Full Voice workshop with friends, family, or co-workers (ask me for details!)
2. a 1:1 Full Voice lesson,
3. lead Dances of Universal Peace for an event
4. lead community song at an event or worship service or team building session
5. facilitating other community art projects for your neighborhood or organization
6. providing music for funerals, weddings, other services, and events from the piano and organ bench, voice, flute, baritone ukulele, shruti box

• Contribute to my GoFundMe.com campaign. 

Thanks so much for reading my Labyrinth Update!  It's an exciting time and I'm grateful to have you along for the company!

The Root of the Root

I'm in Madison, Wisconsin this weekend attending "The Root of the Root" lead by Tasnim Fernandez and Saadi Neil Douglas-Klotz.  These two folks birthed the Dances of Universal Peace organization into what it is today and have spread the Dances like Johnny Appleseed planted trees over the last 30 years.  I'm so grateful for their wisdom, leadership and dedication to the dances and look forward to what they have to share this weekend.

 

I hope to share a bit on twitter, but apologize in advance if I don't.  It is easy to get deeply immersed.  I suppose that is going to the root of the root. 

 

Blessings on your day and weekend. 

Is that the January wind you hear? SHHH...

That's not January's wind you hear.  It's your reminder of January's installation of Sing Heavenly Harmony Home (SHHH!)!

Join us on Sunday, January 6, 2013 for singing songs of struggle and resolve, concern and hope, and sadness and joy. 

In this New Year, SHHH is in a NEW LOCATION at a NEW TIME and added another 'H' to the acronym. 

• New Locale:  Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 Dale St. N, St. Paul, MN.  We'll be meeting in the Youth Meeting Room.
• New Time:  2-4 p.m.  The library is open 1-5 p.m. on Sunday so we're adjusting to meet during their hours.
• Additional 'H':  Each of the 'H's stand for different projects.  "Heavenly" represents a connection to the Grace Notes hospice choir and to the movement in faith communities to do more (not exclusively, just more) paperless music (see the Music that Makes Community work of All Saints Company).  "Harmony" represents the connection between individuals in community art.  "Home" points to the connection with the Arts Responding to Foreclosure (ARF!) project. 

If you're not able to join us this month, pencil SHHH! into your calendars for the 1st Sunday of the month.  Check out the Public Events calendar for details. 

SHHH! It's December soon!

Now that we are in full fledged holiday mode, be sure to get enough exercise.  Singing exercise that is!  It's time to warm up those Christmas carols! 

On Sunday, December 2, 2012, from 4-6 p.m. Sing Heavenly Harmony Home (SHHH!) will be singing at the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library's O'Shaughnessy Room one last time in 2012.  Please join us for a smattering of tunes of the season, and songs for all times.  You can even lead one if you'd like.  Just let me know when you get there!  Here's a link to the usual details. 

Renaming SHH & upcoming dates

SHH is going through a bit of a makeover, trying on new word clothes to see if they fit.  Much thanks to Tammy, Carol, Mildy, Mary Lynn, Julie, and Jo whose thoughtful suggestions prompted more brainstorming.  How does "Sounds Hearts Hear in the Library" work for you?  Might the pain and joy our human lives experience fit within its bounds?  Could it invite stillness within for the stories to emerge around? 

Regardless of the event's name, more community singing is happening ... here's the 411 on dates and places

• TODAY, Sun, Jul 18, 2:30-4:30p (co-hosted/lead by Julie Bonde)
• Sun, Aug 1, 6-7:30p
• Wed, Aug 18, noon-1p
• Wed, Sept 1, noon-1p

(it looks like there's a 1st and 18th trend happening ... it's serendipity and not part of a conscious scheme.  Really!)

Location:

O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, Room 108
University of St. Thomas, North Campus
(on Cleveland Ave just north of Summit Ave)
St. Paul, MN

Thanks again to you who shared personal requests about event times.  The times will be in flux for a bit longer with a goal of settling down by mid-fall.  If you'd like to add your voice to the chorus, click through to my earlier post about it. 

p.s. I'm working towards presenting an Around the World in Community Song-like program, matching up Daniel Levitin's book The World in Six Songs with community songs in English and other global languages.  Would love to have a cultural song from each continent -- if you've got a song to share, I'd love to hear & learn it!  And I'm willing to travel (there's three more continents on my bucket list and slews of countries!)

Italy in retrospect

A post or two ago I made the assertion that Italy is life changing. I have since made the trip and am back in my humble abode. Posting only one entry while there must be evidence that it is life changing and it was. I did open my heart to be touched and recieved a waterfall of love from new friends and gave the same to others.

Marmore Falls in Umbria is a Roman-made cascade and our group was witness to one of the thrice daily opening of the gates of life-giving water. Here is before...

And this is after the floodgates are open ...

It is amusing to me that our needs are best filled when we allow God to work in whatever way seen fit. The results are most unusual and humorous and above all go beyond our expectations. When we let God out of the box we are privy to a most glorious display of joyful play. I don't believe he is full of judgement, only love and light.

Oneness

At the Intl airport yesterday, my fancy noticed the people around me
looked like the people back home. Yet they talked in a different
language. Yet they seemed to have the same concerns as me.

I felt this way when I went to Cameroon, Africa. Although the vast
majority of people were colored darker than I, I never felt alienated.
Perhaps its because I've lost the fear of being different. I grew up
in a rural town where I was half like those around me but not fully.
Then I wanted so much to be accepted and didn't have the tools to do
so. As I moved away for college and have travelled more I see that
accepting oneself as a unique individual is the greatest gift back to
the world. One that I'm continually growing in understanding.

Amongst this onesness with my fellow travellers yesterday I also
noticed how individuals were dressed. Each seemed to have their own
style. In this Old World country where cookie cutter big box stores
and brand names have no space, the oneness of self is nurtured and
even expected. Hmm, I think I'm going to like this trip.

--
Sent from my mobile device

--
Work is love in action. ~Kahlil Gibran

The harmony you seek is less important than the harmony you bring. ~unknown

May blessings of love and hope rain on you, clearing the dust from
your sandals and refreshing you to welcome with open arms and heart
all the wonderful things in store for you.

Italian freedom

I've heard that Italy has played host to many life changing events. I
plan to test that for the next week. Is it the wine? Is it the simple
food of Umbria? Is the rush, rush, hurry, hurry of my country of
origin not important here, trumped by a nurturing of ones
individuality, nursing the creator artist within? How will my heart be
broken open to feel abundance in love, joy, and peace? Hmmm. Stay
tuned ...

--
Sent from my mobile device

--
Work is love in action. ~Kahlil Gibran

The harmony you seek is less important than the harmony you bring. ~unknown

May blessings of love and hope rain on you, clearing the dust from
your sandals and refreshing you to welcome with open arms and heart
all the wonderful things in store for you.