Colrain composer’s piece premieres Sunday in Keene, N.H.
KEENE, N.H. — The Mak’hela Jewish Chorus of Western Massachusetts will perform the world premiere of Yosl Kurland’s choral piece, “Vezokharto” (Remember that You Were Slaves in Egypt) on Sunday, April 17, at 3 p.m. at Congregation Ahavas Achim, 84 Hastings Avenue, Keene, N.H. The text of “Vezokharto,” in Hebrew and English, is made up of quotations from the Torah about social justice. Kurland of Colrain, the lead vocalist of the Wholesale Klezmer Band, composes in Yiddish more often than Hebrew and English. Two of his previous works were selected for the Shalshelet International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical music. He also sings for services and teaches Yiddish classes at Temple Israel of Greenfield. The 40-voice Mak’hela chorus has performed in many New England venues and in 2010 participated in the Zimriya international choral festival in Israel. The group is led by Music Director Elaine Broad Ginsberg and is accompanied on piano by Jamie Goodnow.
Sunday: Prepare for Passover as
our ancestors did
COLRAIN — Temple Israel in Greenfield says, “Make your own Mazto! We will spend the Sunday before Passover, April 17, 10 a.m. to noon, at the homestead of Eli and CR, 400 Adamsville Road in Colrain. Join us to bake kosher matzo from locally grown grain in Eli’s beautiful cobb and copper oven. We’ll also forage for bitter greens for our seder table. You’ll have a chance to practice the traditional songs from the seder table. Ideal for families and open to all. Donations will be gratefully accepted. Pre-registration is helpful for our planning. Please email rabbi@templeisraelgreenfield.org to RSVP.”
Northern Lights Youth Choir: Sunday in Vernon, Vt.
VERNON, Vt. — The Vernon Advent Christian Church will host the Northern Lights Youth Choir in concert, “Greater,” on Sunday, April 17 at 6 p.m. The Northern Lights Youth Choir is a four-part Christian choir comprised of teenagers from 6th to 12th grades from Aroostook County, Maine. The choir has been serving the Lord in ministry through song and drama for over 30 years. The choir program each year incorporates a diverse range of music. Audiences can look forward to a blend of everything from modern praise and worship to popular songs from contemporary Christian artist to the choir’s own arrangements of beloved hymns. We invite you to join us in worship and celebration of God’s greatness. The church is located on Route 142 in Vernon, Vt., just over the Massachusetts/Vermont border. We are handicapped accessible. A free will offering will be received.
Folk Music Concert: Wednesday,
April 20 in Orange
ORANGE — Leslie Lee and Steve Gretz will perform a folk music concert at the Community Church of North Orange and Tully on Wednesday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. Gretz says, “We’re happy to return for the third time to this community church in North Orange, ‘where all are welcome and kindness is the point.’ We love singing unplugged in small sanctuaries that were constructed for that very purpose, and this one has some great energy to go with it.” Free-will donations accepted. The church is located at 48 Main St.
I.N.C. group plans Spring Cleanup
Saturday, April 23
ORANGE — The newly formed group, Interfaith Neighbors Connecting, or I.N.C., is partnering with the Orange DPW and Josh Knechtel, Interim Superintendent of Public Works, to put on a Spring Cleanup day for Saturday, April 23. All residents are welcome to participate; bring the whole family, invite organizers Mercedes Clingerman and Luanne Lyman. Meet at the North Orange Church at 8:30 a.m. There will be a work project at Moore-Leland Library, 172 Athol Road, North Orange from 9 to 11:30. Lunch from noon to 1 p.m. will be at Methodist Church (food and drink provided by the churches), followed by another work project partnering with the DPW at Memorial Park, Butterfield Park in downtown Orange. For more information, call Clingerman at 978-544-5713 or Lyman at 978-544-2338.
New England Gospel Ensemble coming April 24
GREENFIELD — The New England Gospel Ensemble will be performing a gospel concert on Sunday, April 24, at 4 p.m., at Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square. This Boston-based group has sung for hundreds of audiences over the years. Gospel music and music of encouragement make up a significant portion of their repertoire. The messages of all their songs are very positive, uplifting, and challenge audiences to participate “as the spirit moves.” Tickets can be purchased at World eye Bookshop on Main Street or at the door the day of the concert. Prices are $15 for adults, $12 for students. Children 10 and under are free. A limited number of premium balcony seats are available for $20 (adults only). A portion of the ticket sales will go to help support The RECOVER Project. The church is handicapped-accessible. For more information, contact the church office at 413-774-4355 or email office@greenfieldsecondchurch.com or Leigh Labrie at 413-772-2308 or Leighlab3@gmail.com.
Register today for Community Seder, April 24 at 6 p.m.
GREENFIELD — Temple Israel will host a Community Seder at its Pierce Street place of worship on Sunday, April 24 at 6 p.m. Come for a delicious meal and a spiritually and socially uplifting experience. The seder will be traditional, lively and engaging. All are welcome. The meal will be strictly kosher for Passover, created by the Passover Seder Committee. Our buffet will include matzo ball soup, a variety of salads, a chicken entree and a vegetarian entree, gluten-free options and dessert. Please submit your registration today and follow the instructions for payment so that we can order sufficient ingredients. Reservations must be made by April 16 (today). Cost is $30 each adult, $15 each child, under 7, $5, under 2, free.
Easter Season Bible Study: Mondays
GREENFIELD — A weekly Bible Study will meet on Mondays during Easter season at 6:30 p.m., in the Choir Room at Saint James Church, 8 Church St. We will be taking a prayerful and conversational look at the Gospel lesson assigned to the coming Sunday. If you wish, you can preview the lessons at Lectionary Page. The remaining Mondays in Easter Season are April 18, 25; May 2, 9. For more information, visit www.saintjamesgreenfield.org.
Monday Night Compline: A nightcap for the soul
GREENFIELD — “Monday Night Compline in Easter Season: A Nightcap for the Soul,” will take place on Mondays during Easter Season at 8 p.m., in Saint James Church, 8 Church St. Compline is descended from the night prayers said before bed at the end of the monastic round of daily prayer. It is a simple office including a confession of sins, one or more psalms, a short reading from scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord’s Prayer, silence, along with free intercessions and thanksgivings, and collects which ask for God’s protection during the night to come. The remaining Mondays in Easter Season are April 18, 25; May 2, 9. For more information, visit www.saintjamesgreenfield.org.
Charlemont Federated Church annual meeting: May 1
CHARLEMONT — The Charlemont Federated Church will hold its annual meeting following the May 1st Sunday service. Pie and fellowship follows.
Help Charlemont Federated Church plan for the future: New dates
CHARLEMONT — (Note: New dates) Charlemont Federated Church invites public input on the church’s long-range planning, according to Rev. Cara Hochhalter. “Under the facilitation of David Specht, the church will be embarking on a series of three conversations around who we have been, where we are not and how we want to move into the future. We know that many people in the surrounding communities have been involved in the church in a variety of ways. We welcome their input and invite them to attend any or all of the following opportunities for conversation.”
#1: “Our Living History and Packing for the Journey,” Sunday, May 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with potluck lunch OR Monday, May 23, 6 to 8:30 p.m., with pizza.
#2: “Mapping the Present Moment and Trends that may shape our future,” Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., OR Monday, June 27, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
#3: “Excursions into our Future,” Sunday, July 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., OR Monday, July 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
You may call the church office (413-339-4292) to sign up or ask questions.