Bread and Roses, a Singing Sanctuary

Workshop # 50
Annie Patterson

This workshop is for those who identify themselves as women who love to sing, yet long for rest and renewal.  We will sing songs that fill our hearts with joy and hope, and songs that help us share our burdens and our grief.  There will be time for gentle movement, quiet prayer and reflection.  

Percentage of time:
Worship/worship-sharing 10; Lecture 5; Discussion 35; Experiential 50

Adults only

My expectation for this workshop is that it will be a sacred space, a place where an accepting, loving community of women will help support each other to relax and heal through song and prayer.  I will teach songs out of Rise Up Singing, meditative chants as well as circle dances.  Although there will be time for quiet reflection and prayer, most of our time will be spent singing songs from various sources: Rise Up Singing, Kate Munger, Betsy Rose, Becky Reardon and other wonderful songwriters.   

We will start with about 20 minutes of worship and worship sharing.  There will be a special spot for each of us to set an object that symbolizes our burdens (a stone, journal, feather). I will talk about this at the beginning of the week.  After an opening song, I will lead the group in movement and body work.  This might be gently massaging each other's shoulders or gentle stretching.  There will always be a simple vocal warm up.  

I will bring plenty of Rise Up Singings and copies of other songs, but also plan to teach chants and sacred songs by ear.  When I lead singing I often accompany our singing with guitar and banjo, but I especially love how women’s voices sound without any accompaniment.  My expectation is that a majority of our time will be spent singing together, but that we will allow time for sharing about our lives, what a song might mean to us, etc.  I will remind the group to honor the confidentiality each other's sharing.  

Each day we will take time for one or more women to lie or sit in the center of our circle and have the rest of the group sing to them.  This activity may evolve or change depending on how the Spirit moves us as a group. This is an exercise that can be very relaxing and healing, especially for women.

Participants should bring copies of songs that they find healing or want to teach.   Friends are also welcome to bring handwork (quilting, knitting) but understand that we will be doing some movement and circle dances.  

I will encourage everyone to take care of themselves during the week (rest when you need to, drink plenty of water, etc.).  We will especially support each other by allowing space for resting, relaxing, for silence, and especially compassion.