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Bring Kleenex to March 19th Hearth Event
The theme is “Letting Go” for the Thursday, March 19th Hearth event at Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland. The stories are honest and heartfelt by locals Cat Gould, Dee Anne Everson, Emma Durbin, Adam Marx, and Jim Titus. Doors open at 6:30, cost is $5 and all proceeds collected at the door will benefit The Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice. Music by Duane Whitcomb and friends. Hosted by Mark Yaconelli. Wine and homemade treats will be available. Spread the word.
We need volunteers to set up chairs, sell concessions, and work the front door. If you can help email Mark at mark@thehearthcommunity.com.
The Hearth on Immense Possibilities
The Hearth was profiled on Immense Possibilities, a local television and online program here in Southern Oregon. The focus of the show is on the power of personal storytelling. You can watch the episode here:
The Hearth Pub Sing-a-long Thursday January 29th
A community that sings together stays together. It’s time for The Hearth Pub Sing! Thursday, January 29th from 7 to 8:30pm at Louie’s Restaurant and Bar off the plaza in downtown Ashand. Led by Hearth regular Wendi Stanek, we’ll chase away the winter blues with some heartfelt folk songs, spirituals, and popular songs. This is an all-ages event and there is no fee.
Deadline for Blues Pilgrimage
Here is information for our upcoming Blues Pilgrimage to Portland, Oregon February 18-20th. The trip will be a mixture of beautiful settings, soulful music, good food, and sharing stories of grief and loss within a safe and compassionate group. We need to book rooms and tickets so if you plan to go YOU MUST SEND AN EMAIL (“I’m going!”) to mark@thehearthcommunity.com by January 30th. Space is limited.
Community Storytelling Training
The Hearth is looking for individuals and communities interested in starting their own community storytelling project. The Hearth recently received a $10,000 grant from the Oregon Community Foundation as well as support from the Ford Institute (out of Roseburg, OR) to run a pilot program to train other Southern Oregon towns in developing their own Hearth-like storytelling project. The training includes two retreats, online teaching, and individual coaching by Hearth founder Mark Yaconelli. For those selected, expenses will be underwritten. If you know of Southern Oregon communities (outside of Ashland) interested in the training have them look at the information here.
The training will also be open, for a fee, to individuals and communities interested in receiving training in personal and community storytelling. For more information email mark@thehearthcommunity.com.
A Lump of Coal, A Father Found, and the Joy of Disco This Thursday Night!
Be prepared to laugh from the belly and cry from the heart at The Hearth Holiday Gathering this Thursday, December 11th from 7:30-9:30pm at Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland. $10 suggested donation, doors open at 7:00pm. It’s our once-a-year fundraiser for The Hearth Community. The evening will include some of our best storytellers including Lorraine Cook, Joshua Boettiger, Mary Landberg, Juliet Grable, Michael Fitzgerald, and Mark Yaconelli with stories on the theme “All in the Family.” Music will be performed by Hearth favorite Wendi Stanek. Other performers include Jeff Stanley, sisters Kate Joss-Bradley and Carly Joss, and Duane Whitcomb.
We encourage you to bring your checkbook and make a tax-deductible gift that night to help us develop a new training program for other communities in Southern Oregon. This will be a great evening to gather with your neighbors and celebrate a year of doing good work for our community through the Hearth. You won’t want to miss it.
Tickets Still Available for December 11th Pre-Event Wine and Dessert Reception
There are still tickets available for our pre-event, wine and dessert reception for The Hearth Holiday Gathering Thursday, December 11th, from 6:30 to 7:30pm at Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland. Tickets for this special fundraiser are limited. A $50 VIP ticket includes local wines, delicious desserts, live music, and reserved seating for that night’s Best of The Hearth Holiday Gathering (7:30-9:30pm, open to the public) with stories from some of our favorite tellers on the theme “All in the Family.” Tellers include Mary Landberg, Joshua Boettiger, Michael Fitzgerald, Juliet Grable, Lorraine Cook, and Mark Yaconelli. Music by Wendi Stanek and friends. To reserve your tickets email mark@thehearthcommunity.com. This is our once-in-a-year evening in which all ticket proceeds benefit The Hearth.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE PRE-EVENT RECEPTION you can still attend The Best of The Hearth Holiday Gathering (7:30-9:30, $10 donation) or simply support The Hearth by making a tax-deductible donation. Simply send your check or money order to The Hearth, 400 Morton St., Ashland, Oregon 97520. Thanks friends.
Blues Pilgrimage: An Exploration of Grief and Loss in Portland
Join The Hearth founder Mark Yaconelli for a unique exploration of grief and loss through blues music, storytelling, travel, and shared conversation.
The retreat begins with an award-winning barbecue and a private blues concert by some of Portland’s finest musicians on February 18th (Ash Wednesday) and ends with lunch at the Power Station Pub on Friday, February 20th.
Lodging will be at McMenamins historic Edgefield Hotel (originally build in 1911 as the county poor farm) with onsite brewery, outside heated soaking tubs, award winning gardens, and original turn-of-the-century hand-painted rooms.
Retreat sessions Wednesday night, Thursday, and Friday morning will take place at a beautiful retreat center right on the edge of the Columbia Gorge and will be led by veteran retreat leader Mark Yaconelli who will help participants explore and share stories around personal experiences of grief and loss.
Thursday night the group will head into Portland and seek a bit of transformation through some soul-moving, foot-stomping, hot blues music by Lloyd Jones and the Struggle.
Cost of the retreat is $300 per person, $500 per couple– which includes all retreat gatherings, all music performances, and all meals (two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners.). This fee does not include drinks, travel, and housing.
Lodging at Edgefield McMenamins: Edgefield is located on 74 acres at the mouth of the Columbia River. It is a one of a kind, historic hotel with vintage furniture, comfy beds, and whimsical hand-painted rooms. Rooms are European style–no televisions nor phones, conveniently located common bathrooms are located down the hallway.
Lodging fees:
Hostel, bunkbed: $60 for two nights.
Single occupancy, twin: $100 for two nights
Double occupancy, queen: $140 for two nights
Up to four occupants, two queens: $180 for two nights
Travel: All participants are responsible for their own transportation. We will help connect people for carpooling. There will be a shuttle van available from Ashland to retreat site in Portland and return for $50, each way, per person. The shuttle will only be available to the first six people who sign-up.
Retreat Reservations: Space is limited to twenty participants. To reserve a space please email mark@thehearthcommunity.com. Please enter subject line: “Blues Pilgrimage”
Best of The Hearth Holiday Event December 11th!
We will hold our annual Holiday Hearth Event on December 11th at Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland as part of our annual fundraiser for The Hearth. The evening will include a gathering of some of our best storytellers including Mark Yaconelli, Joshua Boettiger, Mary Landberg, Cat Gould and others sharing stories around the theme “All in the Family.” Music will be performed by Hearth favorite Wendi Stanek. This special evening will begin with a VIP wine and dessert reception beginning at 6:30 with live music and a special presentation by Mark Yaconelli. Tickets are limited (fifty) and include reserved seating for that evening’s storytelling program. Tickets for this special reception are $50 and can be purchased at Paddington Station or you can reserve tickets by emailing mark@thehearthcommunity.com.
The Hearth storytelling program will begin at 7:30, cost is $10. All proceeds from the evening will go to support The Hearth for another year of community-building. We encourage you to bring your checkbook and make a tax-deductible gift that night to help us develop new programs, provide a better sound-system, and develop a new training program for other communities in Southern Oregon. This will be a great evening to gather with your neighbors and celebrate a year of doing good work for our community through the Hearth. You won’t want to miss it.
The Hearth 