Hearth Raises $1054 for Eyes to Burma

Our fall Hearth event was on the theme “Living on the Edge.” Six local community members shared stories that ranged from raising basset hounds in the Colorado mountains to surviving cancer in a Zen monastery to living among Burmese refugees. Over a hundred and fifty souls gathered to hear these tales interspersed with live Celtic folk music by Duane Whitcomb and friends. We raised $1054 for Eyes to Burma–a local non-profit that does beautiful work for children and families living in the Mae Sot dump in Thailand. You can read their end of year letter here. Our next event will be January 24th on the theme “Bullies” to benefit Mediation Works and their public school anti-bullying program.

Listen to a  beautiful story from Lorraine Cook, one of our storytellers from our fall event here:I Love You Dad -V2

Living on the Edge: October 18th

Join us for our fall event as we gather six local folks to share true tales of “Living on the Edge.” We’ll gather at 717 Siskiyou Blvd (the grey UCC church) on Thursday, October 18th from 7 to 9 pm. Storytellers include Lucy Edwards, Kevin Williams, Daniel Jokelson, Fred Stockwell, Lorraine Cook, and Nancy Morgan. Music by Duane Whitcomb and friends. Cost is $5 and all proceeds from the event will go to Eyes to Burma  a non-profit that assists refugees living in the Mae Sot dump.  The headquarters and staff (all volunteers) are located here in Ashland, Oregon.  Should be a packed house so come early.

Jefferson Monthly Profiles the Hearth

Author and journalist Jennifer Margulis has written a cover article on the Hearth for the Jefferson Monthly.  Here’s an excerpt:

The Best Thing in the Valley

“I just think it’s the best thing that’s going on in the Valley right now,” confides Mark DiRienzo, as if he’s telling me a secret.

“It’s like a quarterly grounding opportunity to check in with the big picture stuff and realize everyone has a story and their story deeply impacts the audience and everyone can relate,” contines DiRienzo, a father of two and a real estate developer who is a regular at these events. “It’s usually funny and moving and some are totally crushing. There are suicide stories. And yet the person standing before you in that vulnerable state is able to make the audience laugh.”

DiRienzo, though he’s not ready to get up and tell a story himself (yet), says going to The Hearth has made him a more sensitive and compassionate person, less quick to judge others and more aware that everyone has a story.

“The next day you walk down the street and you see someone and think, even if they may have been a jerk, everyone has a story, and you’ve got to give people a chance.”

Yaconelli believes that storytelling can be transcendent: “What happens on a good night, with a good story is that your imagination gets awakened to possibilities,” he tells me. “Someone talks about Mexico and you think, ‘I could travel there.’ Listening helps you release the unhealed wounds that oppress your life and keep you trapped. You realize, ‘I could be more than my wounds.’”

 You can read the whole article here.

Upcoming Themes and Events

*Our next storytelling event will be Thursday, October 11th now October 18th.  The theme is “Living on the Edge.” Proceeds from the event will go to Eyes to Burma  a non-profit that assists refugees living in the Mae Sot dump.  The headquarters and staff (all volunteers) is located in Ashland, Oregon.

*Our winter theme will be “Bullies” and will be held in December or January.  Proceeds will benefit Mediation Works.

If you would like to share a personal story on either of these themes leave a note in the comment section below.

Lifestory Retreat

Twenty two folks from the Hearth community headed up to the Greensprings for a day of sharing life stories.  The retreat began with sharing sacred objects from childhood then moved into some exercises to help recall various details of our lives.  We practiced some listening exercises then gathered in small, random groups, where people were given thirty minutes each to share their life story without interruption. The day was warm and beautiful up in the Cascade mountains with lunch provided by the Greensprings Inn. We’ll hold a second Life Story retreat next spring.  Here is the closing poem that was created by the group as they were asked to spontaneously give one word that described their experience:

Mountaintop Metamorphosis

 Metamorphosis

Fulfillment

Dance

Play

Green

Mystery

Love

Connected radiance

Mountaintop discovery

Beauty

Gratitude

Vulnerability

Presence

Availability

Embodied courage

Hope

Grace

Inspired

It happened.

Surprised by Love Friday, May 18

The Hearth

Presents

 Surprised by Love

A Night of Story and Song

Friday May 18

Doors open at 7:30 and show begins at 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

Poetry by Angela Decker

Cost: $15 tickets available at Paddington Station or order online here.

Location: UCC Church, 717 Siskiyou Blvd

Ashland, Oregon

A Lifestory Retreat May 19

Saturday, May 19 9:30am-4:00pm

$65*

[Only one spot left!]

 Join a diverse group of community members from Southern Oregon for a day of exploring, shaping, and sharing life stories. Set in Ashland’s Green Springs mountains, the retreat will offer participants a chance to explore life experiences in a restful and contemplative setting. The retreat will include:

• Creative exercises to help you recall and reflect on your own life experiences
• A process to encourage compassionate listening
• Instruction to help you shape and communicate your story
• Interesting people whose rich stories will deepen your connection to others
• Good coffee and baked goods
• A delicious lunch
• A beautiful setting among ponderosa pines and fields of wild flowers

The retreat is an extension of The Hearth’s true storytelling series and offers a chance for community members to appreciate the variety of life experiences that exist within our community.  The day will be facilitated by Hearth founder Mark Yaconelli. For more information go to “retreat” at http://www.thehearthstorytelling.wordpress.com. All proceeds will support The Hearth: Reals Stories by Regular Folks, a true storytelling series that raises money for non-profits in Southern Oregon through seasonal, communal storytelling events.

To register email Mark Yaconelli at yaconelli@msn.com.

*Scholarships are available.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds.