First Parish invites you to our second
SPRING RETREAT | THE ART OF REPAIR

Join Liz Elliott, Ann Moss, and Barbara O’Neil for a day of spiritual grounding and reflection through yoga and meditation, live music, and writing.

Lunch will be provided. Childcare available upon request.

Registration Fee: $25

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER by Friday, March 8 at noon.

Sessions

THE SPLENDOR OF RECOGNITION, with Liz Elliott

In this gentle yoga and meditation session, we’ll explore the body as a vessel — cultivating a stable core and a supple, receptive outer body. Available to all levels, bring a mat and props if you have them.

Liz Elliott has taught yoga and meditation since 2006. Her studio in Harvard Square closed in the pandemic; she still teaches classes at Harvard, leads local and international retreats, and works one on one with injured folks both in person and on zoom. www.instagram.com/steepedingrace/

LIFELINE, with Ann Moss
a modern-day interpretation of the music of Hildegard Von Bingen distilled through the lens of the artists’ experiences in quarantine

For Ann’s newest album LIFELINE she partnered with musicians around the country to create pre-recorded, multi-layered ‘drone’ tracks, over which she performs the ecstatic chants of Medieval mystic and composer Hildegard von Bingen. Along with offering a fresh perspective on some of the oldest and most beautiful compositions in the European Art Music canon, LIFELINE spotlights how artists have been able to empower one another through our digital networks to create and collaborate while in isolation.

This unique performance experience comprises an introspective exploration of the LIFELINE album featuring live singing and amplified music, commingled with spoken meditations on Hildegard’s 12th century life and work, highlighting her radical views on “singing as sacrament.”

Soprano Ann Moss is an acclaimed recording artist and passionate teaching artist. Described as a “fearless performer” of some of the most challenging music of the last two centuries, Ann’s artistic mission is to lift up contemporary vocal literature to serve as narrative for the hard to speak about issues of our times. She has released two portrait albums – Currents and Love Life – both recorded and produced by multi-GRAMMY® Award winner Leslie Ann Jones at Skywalker Sound, and can be heard on releases from Angels Share Records, Albany Records, ARSIS Audio, Navona, Naxos, and Ravello Records. A twice-elected Governor of the SF Chapter of the Recording Academy, Ann shares the organization’s commitment to promoting diversity & inclusion, advocating for creators’ rights, protecting musicians in need, and saving music in our schools. A native of Lincoln, MA and a graduate of Hampshire College, the Longy School of Music of Bard College, and San Francisco Conservatory of Music, she currently resides in Watertown with her husband, multi-instrumentalist Justin Ouellet. www.annmosssoprano.com

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN, with Barbara O’Neil

Inspired by the words of Leonard Cohen in his piece, Anthem, we will explore dark and light in our writing. What gifts and challenges are there in things that are broken? What strength is there in things that are repaired? Using writing prompts, we will write short pieces that explore these ideas and more. Ring the bells that still can ring! All are welcome. No writing experience is necessary.

Barbara O’Neil is a life-long writer and teacher. She finds writing to be a powerful vehicle for personal expression and creativity. Her great pleasure is guiding others on the writing path. She leads writing groups in the Boston area and in Taos, New Mexico where she was recently named artist in residence. www.writinglifebarbaraoneil.com