Thursday, April 30, 2009

Week of Sunday, May 3, 2009

Sunday, May 3

  • Walk for Hunger: Cleveland Circle checkpoint 7:00–11:00
  • Adult discussion group 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship 11:30
  • Diaconate noon
  • Natraj concert 3:00
  • AA 6:00

Monday

  • Conversation & prayer noon
  • Mary Lyon School rehearsal 3:30

Tuesday

  • Mary Lyon School rehearsal 3:30

Wednesday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • Movie 4:00
  • Community Supper 6:00

Thursday

  • Mary Lyon School rehearsal 3:30
  • Mary Lyon School concert 6:00

Saturday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • Food Pantry 10:00–1:00
  • Stamp Out Hunger food drive 11–5

Sunday, May 10: Mother’s Day

  • Adult discussion group 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship 11:30
  • AA 6:00

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Natraj concert on Sunday, May 3 at 3


On Sunday, May 3, the world-jazz ensemble Natraj brings its internationally-acclaimed blend of Indian classical music, West African music, and contemporary jazz to the Brighton Allston Congregational Church, 404 Washington Street, Brighton Center, MA. The concert begins at 3:00 p.m. and is part of the church’s concert series to benefit the renovations to the Community Supper kitchen. Tickets are $10 (general admission), $5 (students, seniors), and free (low income). For tickets and information, call (617) 254-4046; directions to the church, both by car and public transit, can be found at in the box to the left under "Learn more about us and the UCC." We are grateful to Citizens Bank for making free parking available in their parking lot next door.

From Boston to Toronto, and India to Ghana, Natraj has delighted listeners in clubs, concert halls, and festivals since 1987. Selected as Boston’s Best Jazz Band by the Improper Bostonian, Natraj captivates and excites audiences with its exotic textures, accessible melodies, and rhythmic energy. Natraj seamlessly melds the classical music of India, traditional music from West Africa, and contemporary jazz to create its own unique and infectious style. Hard-driving African grooves and graceful Indian ragas meet in the band’s expansive jazz conception. “A seamless blend of jazz and Indian music… delightfully unconventional…” — Jazziz.

Appearances include India’s JazzYatra and Prayojana International Music Festival; Ghana’s PANAFEST; the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; and the Guelph Jazz Festival, Guelph, Canada. At its recent performance in the LearnQuest Music Festival, Natraj was featured with special guests, icons of Indian-classical bamboo flute, Shashank and Pt. Ronu Majumdar. Natraj has been featured on the nationally syndicated program, The World (PRI/BBC/WGBH-FM); Doordarshan (Indian National TV); Maine Things Considered (Maine Public Radio); South Asian Newsweek (CFMT-TV, Toronto); and Radio Mid-Day (Mumbai, India). “We heard the future of jazz... we heard the future of world music... a spellbinding tapestry... a jazz hybrid of celebration and reflection.” —Times of India.

In this concert, Natraj features the raga-influenced soprano saxophone of Phil Scarff; the warm, nimble solidity of bassist Michael Rivard; the tabla and multipercussion wizardry of Jerry Leake; and high-energy groove of drummer Bertram Lehmann.

Week of April 26, 2009

Sunday, April 26

  • Adult discussion group 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship 11:30
  • MBA spring meeting 2:30–5:15
  • Divi Zheni rehearsal 5:00
  • AA 6:00

Monday

  • Conversation & prayer noon
  • Investment Committee 1:30

Wednesday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • Movie 4:00
  • Community Supper 6:00
  • Food Pantry Committee 7:00

Thursday

  • Community of Practice workshop 9–5
  • Mary Lyon School rehearsal 3:30
  • General Synod 6:00–9:30

Saturday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • BU trauma workshop 9–5

Sunday, May 3

  • Walk for Hunger: Cleveland Circle checkpoint 7:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Adult discussion group 9:30 a.m.
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship 11:30
  • Diaconate noon
  • Natraj concert 3:00
  • AA 6:00

Week of April 19, 2009

Sunday, April 19
  • Adult discussion group 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship brunch 11:30
  • Building & Grounds Committee noon
  • AA— Anniversary gathering 6:00
  • BUOP group from South Glastonbury CT UCC here through Thursday.

Monday: Patriots Day

Tuesday

  • Women’s Association lunch noon

Wednesday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • Movie 4:00
  • Community Supper 6:00
  • Divi Zheni rehearsal 6:00

Saturday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • Food Pantry special baskets 10:00–1:00
  • Flea market, BAHS Senior Center 9–3

Sunday, April 26

  • Adult discussion group 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship 11:30
  • MBA spring meeting 2:30–5:15
  • Divi Zheni rehearsal 5:00
  • AA 6:00

Monday, April 27

  • Conversation & prayer noon
  • Bereavement group 1:30

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Week of April 12: Easter!

Sunday, April 12: Easter

  • Easter breakfast 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship brunch 11:30
  • AA 6:00

Monday

  • Bible discussion group noon
  • Bereavement group 1:30
  • Divi Zheni rehearsal 5:00

Tuesday

  • Thrift Shop cleanup noon

Wednesday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00
  • St. Elizabeth Chaplaincy 10:30–11:30
  • Movie 4:00
  • Community Supper 6:00

Thursday

  • Urban Clergy Sector meeting 10:00
  • Committee on Ministerial Standing 7:00

Saturday

  • Thrift Shop 10:00–2:00

Sunday, April 19

  • Adult discussion group 9:30
  • Worship 10:30
  • Fellowship 11:30
  • Building & Grounds Committee noon
  • AA — Anniversary gathering 6:00
  • BUOP group from S. Glastonbury CT arrives; here until Thursday, April 23

Monday, April 20: Patriots Day

Tuesday, April 21

  • Women’s Association lunch noon

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Divi Zheni ("Wild Women") to appear in concert tonight at 8:00!

Divi Zheni will present "An Evening of Bulgarian Music" tonight at 8:00 in the sanctuary of the Brighton Allston Congregational Church, 404 Washington Street, in Brighton Center. The suggested donation is $10; students and seniors are $5; low income free. The donations benefit the church's Community Supper kitchen renovation.

Divi Zheni is a women's Bulgarian chorus and band, none of whose members come from Bulgaria--except for director Tatiana Sarbinsha, Bulgarian folk singer and teacher extraordinaire. Formed in 2000, Divi Zheni has performed concert and dance music, ranging from traditional village style to choral arrangements, at festivals, concerts and dances in the Boston area, Connecticut, New York and Bulgaria.

The group is under the direction of Tatiana Sarbinska, a world-renowned Balkan vocalist and teacher. Born in the village of Rila in Bulgaria, she rose quickly through the ranks of the finest Bulgarian state choruses to become one of the preeminent soloists of her generation. Since moving to the U.S. in 1991, Tatiana has coached many Balkan ensembles and has founded two choruses in the Boston area: Divi Zheni (women) and Zornitsa (men).

For directions to the church, please see the link at the left. There will be free parking, courtesy of Citizens Bank, next door to the church in the bank parking lot.