My progressive, arts-loving church started talking a lot about race and racism, after the Jeremiah Wright kerfuffle in the press last spring (Jeremiah Wright is UCC, like us). We haven’t stopped talking about it yet, and this winter and spring are running a multifaceted “Sacred Conversation on Race,” both for our own community’s learning, and the wider Somerville community.

We are hosting an arts and entertainment evening as a centerpiece of the project, and are soliciting participants. Will you be one of them? See the invitation below.

CALL TO PERFORMANCE AND VISUAL ARTISTS

First Church Somerville UCC, a progressive, open and affirming congregation in Davis Square, has been engaged in “Sacred Conversation on Race” through worship, workshops, study groups and movie nights. On March 22, 2009, as part of this project, we will host an afternoon of arts and entertainment to which area artists are invited to submit proposals for performance and/or display of creative offerings at this event. “Sacred Conversation on Race” is communication, rooted in a sense of the Divine, that promotes authentic, non-judgmental sharing on the subject of race and its related themes. Submissions of proposals should be sent to Rita Rocha at ror36@hotmail.com no later than March 7, 2009. Please include your name, contact information (including a phone number), medium, a sample (if possible) and description of the work you propose to share (including time frame for performance pieces and space requirements for visual pieces). Please note, there is no remuneration for participation.