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TRYON—The Historic Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Tryon is hosting two events on Saturday, December 7, to launch the season of Advent.  

Starting at 1 p.m., Dr. Reverend Mother Aloha Smith will lead an instructed rosary-making workshop featuring a special form of prayer meditation called the Tharseo Rosary.  

Ten beads with holes large enough for stringing (not necessarily identical), one distinctive ‘Our Father’ bead, three Cardinal Virtue beads, stringing material such as sturdy waxed string, leather, or yarn, and one small cross are required. Mother Aloha will provide some materials.

The church will serve international holiday pastries and finger foods, and have coffee and cider available for all participants. This portion of the program is free to anyone who is interested and does not require a reservation.

At 3 p.m., a concert will take place with three readings from Scripture featuring music by violinist Mari Hashimoto of the Carolina Primrose Quartet, former Asheville Symphony pianist turned chamber musician Peter Kutt, harpist and alto vocalist Regina Maimone, musician and songwriter extraordinaire Chinobay, who plays several traditional instruments from East and West Africa, and has performed both locally and internationally in concerts with Grammy award-winning musicians such as Bela Fleck and the Kronos Quartet, and Denis Sewanyana, a percussionist, dancer and visual artist who, like Chinobay, hails from Uganda. 

Both Chinobay and Denis have led workshops in multiple countries to teach people about traditional Ugandan music and benefit outreach programs for children and young artists through the school programs associated with the LEAF festival, as well as Denis’ community program Sewi Arts. Denis says his programs “go beyond showcasing art; they are immersive experiences where students learn the arts of expression, collaboration, and listening.”

The music will include a mix of traditional Advent music by classical composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Camille Saint Saens, as well as the vibrant rhythms and lyrical melodies of traditional Ugandan music. Each section of the concert will mirror the mood of the readings from Scripture.  

Denis Sewanyana and Carl Mascio, an artist from Hendersonville who paints landscapes but is also known for his teddy bears and afghans, will exhibit and sell their artwork in the Homework Center.  

The concert and art exhibit are $10 for Good Shepherd congregants and $20 for the general public. Seating is limited, and reservations can be made by calling (828) 329-2217. 

 

Submitted by Cathy Jones