by Facilitator on May 16, 2012
The Hearth is a community building project we started in January of 2010, in Ashland, Oregon to experiment with a narrative approach to compassion. In a little over two years we’ve had almost 60 local people share true stories from their lives, listened to music by over 20 local musicians, and raised nearly $6000 for ten local non-profits (everything from a women’s shelter to a grief counseling program to Ashland food bank to Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands). Next week we’ll try and raise money for the Hearth to help pay the bills for venue rental and other small expenses. If you’re in the area, show up. Here’s the announcement below.
The Hearth
Presents
Surprised by Love
A Night of Story and Song
Friday May 18
8pm
Mark Yaconelli is a wise and patient teacher with a lovely sense of humor
–Anne LaMott, best selling author of Traveling Mercies and Operating Instructions
Join Mark Yaconelli for a night of true and unique love stories
A fundraiser for The Hearth,
Southern Oregon’s true storytelling series.
Original music by Trent Yaconelli
with Duane Whitcomb, Benji Kushins, Zach Hammer, Jimmy Donaghy
Cost: $15 tickets available at Paddington Station or order online here.
Location: UCC Church, 717 Siskiyou Blvd
Ashland, Oregon
by Facilitator on October 4, 2011
We hit bottom, find inspiration, fall in love, lose a job, get hurt, get healed, and somehow our lives move in a new direction. On Thursday, October 13th The Hearth presents “Change: True Tales of Transformation.” Storytellers include Catherine Larkin, Gregory Whitcomb, Selene Aitken, Randy Ellison, Mercedes Urive, and Louise M. Pare. All proceeds from the event will go to the Maslow Project, a resource center for homeless youth in the the Rogue Valley. The event takes place at the UCC church at 717 Siskiyou blvd from 7 to 9pm. Cost is $5. Mark Yaconelli will host the evening with music by Duane Whitcomb, Wendi Stanek, and special guests. Tea, juice, wine, and snacks will be available. Arrive early, seating can be limited.
by Facilitator on July 13, 2011
For two years Trent Yaconelli has attended the Summer Contemplative Retreats with Frank Rogers, Doug Frank, and Nancy Linton in southern Oregon. Lead singer for 5am, an award winning rock band from San Francisco, Trent has just released his first solo album with a set of songs inspired by his experience on retreat. Entitled “Birdwings,” the album is in many ways a journal of Trent’s spiritual struggle to hold suffering, receive joy, and live life in the present moment. Trent debuted the new songs at the Wild Goose Festival and will be volunteering as the retreat musician later this month at the Summer Contemplative Retreat. To hear more about the album as well as music samples you can go to Trent’s website here. You can download the album on Itunes here or get a physical copy of the cd (with a beautiful cover by the same artist who designs Josh Ritter’s cd’s) at CD baby. As one member of the audience at Wild Goose said after hearing the album, “This music makes my heart ache with love.” Check it out.
by Facilitator on April 28, 2011
Mark Yaconelli leads a storytelling series in Ashland, Oregon called The Hearth: Real Stories by Regular Folks. On April 28th they’ll hold their spring storytelling event to benefit Rose Circle, a mentorship program for teenage girls in Southern Oregon. The theme is “Love Hurts: Relationship Struggles.” Tellers include Bryon Lambert, Davis Wilkins, Megan Sheer, James di Properzio, Renee Riley-Adams, and others. Music by Duane Whitcomb, David Hess, and Wendi Stanek. This month’s stories include breakups, betrayals, mother-daughter relationships, death and dying, and fighting with the in-laws. It will be a beautiful night of true gut-wrenching tales of human love. It all happens tonight, 7-9pm at the UCC church in Ashland, 717 Siskiyou blvd.
by Facilitator on March 15, 2011
Frank Rogers, Nancy Linton, and Doug Frank have spent the past seven years leading a beautiful retreat up in the Cascade mountains here in Southern Oregon. You live in cabins, spend mornings in silence, and Frank Rogers leads powerful spiritual exercises that help you recover your sense of God and self. There are two retreat sessions, the dates are June 26-July 2 and July 24-30, 2011. These retreats sell out each year, so if you’re interested register here.
Here’s the description:
The world moves at an inhuman pace, compelling us to move with it. We have too little time for remembering the spirit that brought us to our place of work or study, too few opportunities for replenishing the inner resources upon which the genuine expression of our gifts depends. Before we know it, we are living at the surface, running on empty. Why not step back and take some time out for self-recollection?
Spend a rejuvenating week in our serene mountain community, in the company of others who wrestle with similar challenges, who are on a similar journey. Let the silence and the solitude bring you closer to yourself, awaken what is deepest in your, reconnect you with what you love.
Allow the experience of contemplative listening and the practice of contemplative prayer animate deep thought and real talk about life in our world, the world in which we work, study, and seek to be true to our calling. For more information go to Greensprings retreat.
by Facilitator on January 1, 2011
On the thirteenth day of the thirteenth month the Hearth will present our winter storytelling night. The theme is Tough Lessons: Stories of Learning the Hard Way. Tellers include Kim Levy, Matt Damon, Savel Sabol, Bill Ritch, Angela Decker, and Eric Guyer. Music by Duane Whitcomb and friends. Cost is $5 and all proceeds go to Willow Wind Alternative Learning Center. January 13, 7-9pm. United Church of Christ community room. 717 Siskiyou Blvd in Ashland.
