Sunday March 3 is Transfiguration Sunday and the celebration of Mardi Gras and Holy Communion for 10am worship at Guilford Community Church, an Open and Affirming Church of the United Church of Christ. Andy Davis will open the service with the banjo and an invitation to sing “Maple Sweet”, a folk song written by local musicians, Margaret and Dan MacArthur, to honor the coming sugaring season, Spring and the upcoming Sugar Sugar Supper to be held on March 16 at Guilford Church. The service will progress with attention to the tradition of Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) as part of the children’s story in preparation of the sacrifices of Lent. Anthems for the day, also under the direction of Davis, will include: “Yes, God Is Real”, an African American spiritual, and “Siyahamba”, a South African freedom song—both full off the light of the Transfiguration. The scripture for the day includes the transfiguration story taken from Matthew 17:1-9 and the story of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9: 1-22. Rev. Lise Sparrow will offer a homily entitled “Breaking Out of Prison”. Everyone is welcome.
Sunday afternoon at 2pm Rich Holschuh, Annette Spaulding and Stuart Strothman will offer a presentation to the general public and to the Brattleboro Area interfaith Youth Group entitled: Hidden in Plain Sight: The Abenaki Presence. Holschuh is himself of Abenaki heritage, Strothman has written a book entitled “Sackett”, a true story about an Abenaki warrior and Annette Spaulding will show slides of the “Indian Rock,” now known as one of the most significant Petroglyph sights in North America and which is located at a spot where the West River and Connecticut River meet, an ancient ceremonial site sacred to the Sokoki Abenaki and their ancestors, according to Holschuh.
Lent will begin with the Ash Wednesday service and Imposition of Ashes at 5pm on Wednesday March 6. The service features Tony Barrand with solo of “Come Oh Thou Traveler” and other anthems under the direction of Andy Davis.The Sugar Supper will be held March 16 with seatings at 4:30, 5:45 and 7pm. Call 254-9019 for reservations and information.
Anthems
Maple Sweet
Yes, God Is Real
Siyahamba