News, Farah Siraj in Concert, and Music and Spirituality of the Week

Dear Friends,

At the end of August, the Vestry at Immanuel Episcopal Church in Bellows Falls, Vermont, voted to discontinue Stone Church Arts concerts and Stone Church Center's programming, and my position as Director, for financial reasons. They plan to sell Currier Hall which has been the heart of the retreat center for many years. The pandemic certainly ended our income and, from a financial point of view, this makes sense. However, it is a great cultural loss for the community.

Then, I woke up on September 1st with the name Halcyon Arts on my heart and mind. I just did not have the heart to stop this ministry of presenting world music and world spirituality, into which I have poured my heart, in Bellows Falls since 2006. So I plan to continue presenting concerts, workshops, and retreats at various venues, mostly churches and retreat centers, in Western Massachusetts.

The Facebook page, slated for deletion, has been resuscitated as Halcyon Arts, and I have created a website, www.halcyon-arts.org. The work of founding a new nonprofit has also begun, with forming a Board of Directors, filing articles of organization with the Secretary of State, and, ultimately, applying for 501(c)3 status.

With all this going on behind the scenes, up front we are presenting our first concert, online and streaming, on October 10. Farah Siraj, the Jordanian “Musical Ambassadress”, focuses on raising awareness about the consequences of war and violence, and advocates for women's rights, refugee rights and animal rights. In recognition of her humanitarian efforts, Farah was invited to perform at the United Nations Humanitarian Awards, and her music was played before the United Nations Security Council before passing a legislation regarding the genocide in Darfur. Farah approaches music as a medium for peace and a way to amplify the voices of people around the world who need to be heard. Please join us by purchasing tickets and enjoying this amazing performer from your own living room!

May you be well and find some real peace in these strange times,
Beau

Inta Albal (Live in New York)

Farah Siraj Band

Kabbalah: Five Basic Principles

Dr. Michael Laitman