Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church is pleased to announce its annual series of social justice events for 2015. Partnership with The Nave Gallery underscores the idea that art is a vehicle through which conversations on social change can be held, compelling people to action.
All events are free, open to the public and held at 155 Powder House Blvd. Somerville (Teele Square)
OPENING RECEPTION: Embracing Differences – Mending the Isms and Schisms
Sunday, October 4, 2015 | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Gallery show runs October 4-31. Hours: Saturday and Sunday 1:00-5:00
Participating artists (local and national): Michael Ahern; Garth Amundson / Pierre Gour; Anthony Astone; Campbell Forbes; Adam Forguites; Gini Holmes; Julia Kwon; Mario Paoli /S.VID; Travis Patterson; Ken Reker; Gem Beila Rosenberg; Gabriel Sosa; Tucker Stilley; Donn Young. (navegallery.org)
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS – First in a series organized by the City of Somerville
Monday, October 5, 2015 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Dr. Rev. Allen Fairfax of Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church will moderate a public discussion about issues of racism and discrimination brought to the fore by the Black Lives Matter movement. (http://patch.com/massachusetts/somerville/somerville-hold-community-conversations-racism-0)
POETRY READING BY NICOLE TEREZ DUTTON – Somerville’s Poet Laureate
Sunday, October 18, 2015 | 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Readings by Nicole Terez Dutton, named earlier this year as Somerville’s first Poet Laureate. Reception with the artist to follow. Her collection of poems, If One Of Us Should Fall, won the 2011 Cave Canem Poetry Prize and was reviewed: “every poem is unsettling in that delicious way that changes and challenges the reader.” Nicole Terez Dutton lives in Somerville and teaches in the Solstice Low-Residency MFA Program (nicoletdutton.com).
LEARNING TO TALK IN FERGUSON AND BOSTON – Critical conversations among faith communities
Sunday, October 25, 2015 | 5:00 pm reception, 5:30 – 7:00 pm presentation
Visiting from Ferguson, Missouri, Rev. Michael Trautman of First Presbyterian Church in Ferguson will share about the work of “One Ferguson”, a diverse gathering of people and organizations dedicated to re-creating the Ferguson community through “citizen engagement, empowerment, and accountability” (oneferugson.com). And from here in Boston, Rev. Laura Ahart of the United Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain will share about ministries at the Nashua Street Jail, her church, and the work of the Criminal Justice Committee for the Black Ministerial Alliance in Boston (bmaboston.org). Both will engage each other and the audience about religious groups responding to race and injustice in our communities.
Douglas S. Kress, Director of Health and Human Services for the City of Somerville, will also be present on October 25th to share information about Somerville’s efforts to support the Black Lives Matter movement. Of note, on Monday, October 5th from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church will also host and moderate the first “COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS,” a series organized by the City of Somerville about issues of racism and discrimination brought to the fore by the work of the Black Lives Matter movement (thesomervillenewsweekly.wordpress.com/2015/09/25/somerville-to-host-community-conversations-series-on-race-and-racism/)
We have a date for the installation service of Rev. Fairfax, so mark your calendars! The service will be at 3:00 p.m. in the sanctuary on Sunday, November 3rd, with a reception to follow. We’ll be looking for help, so please consider saying yes when you are asked. The installation service marks the official beginning of Allen’s ministry with us. It will include members of the Presbytery of Boston, as well as those who have been important to Allen in his faith journey and his pastoral career. All are welcome and we hope you will join us!