The shortages of food due to drought in Sudan have sometimes reached famine proportions, climate change is not just a looming crisis – it is the reality on the ground. But there is beauty here too ...

The Beauty and Courage of Sudan: Why a Dream of Peace Is Possible

For most of the past twenty years, the country of Sudan in eastern Africa has been plagued with severe drought. Desertification is apparent in the west, where thorn bushes dominate the savanna landscape of South Darfur and are killing out the native acacia trees. The shortages of food due to drought have sometimes reached famine proportions. Climate change in Sudan is not just a looming crisis - it is the reality on the ground. And then there are the wars of Sudan: unremitting, for nearly all its history. Yet at Sudan's core is beauty. Polish journalist Ryszard Kapuscinski captured it well, "More than anything, one is struck by the light." Aside from the landscape's beauty, there is an interior beauty: the spirit of courage,  a richness of tradition, antiquity, cultures, and natural resources,  human interchange and endurance in all its mystery.

A Lenten study called "The Beauty and Courage of Sudan," using a study guide written by church member Linda Beher, offers an extended portrait of Sudan. Class attendees will explore an overview of history that began in biblical times; the country's main ethnicities, religions and languages; touch points and possible causes for the wars; the way Sudanese women are contributing to the peace process and to the culture as a whole; a critique of the severe impact of colonialism and current challenges; and some ways in which people of faith can embrace and affirm the Sudanese. Sudan is "different" in ways that disconcert Westerners who struggle to understand. The theologian Sally McFague encouraged us to view differences with a "loving eye" rather than an "arrogant eye," sometimes brought to such discourse. Using our loving eye in this study, we can see that Sudan and its people embody and inspirit many of the issues of the 21st century continent of Africa. Their beauty and courage promise the hope that eventually they will realize their dream of peace. The purchase of the study guide is essential for this course - available Sundays at the Book Table. You can sign up for the course at the Opportunity Table.

Haitian Art: Community Life March 5 – April 9 The Board of Worship and Fine Arts Visual Arts Committee is proud to present an installation of Haitian art in partnership project with Trinity College.

This art is part of a collection of more than 300 pieces of art that was donated to the college by the Graham family in memory of their mother, Edith A. Graham, a longtime friend of Professor of Religion and International Studies, Leslie Desmangles.  Dr. Desmangles is a member of AHCC and has taken leadership both at Trinity and AHCC to help shepherd and co-curate four exhibits of this exquisite collection.  It is currently the largest Haitian art collection owned by a private institution and consists of paintings, stone and woodcarvings, ceramic objects and metal structures.  Mrs. Graham's appreciation of Haitian art and support of the country's artists spanned nearly 40 years.

The first installation of this series in Drew Hall was Biblical Art: Haiti, and was exhibited during Lent 2009.  It was enthusiastically received and our church community was eager to experience the next installment.  In January of 2010 Haiti suffered a horrific blow, one of biblical proportions.  The human community is in mourning for the devastation in Haiti and a lot of the world has poured out its heart, money and helping hands to buoy, support, and rebuild the country.  This exhibit will touch you in many ways, not just because the paintings are striking and beautiful, but also because most of what you will see no longer exists.  We are deeply saddened by this loss and we are filled with gratitude and hope that this art installation will contribute to the healing process.

The major schools of Haitian painting in the 20th century include Saint-Soleil, Cap Haitien, Jacmel, Artibonite and First Generation.  Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Pablo Delano, co-curator of the Trinity College exhibits quotes, "Haitian painting is one of the most powerful forms of visual expression in the African Diaspora." Most of the paintings selected for this exhibit are from the Cap Haitien school.  Dr. Desmangles was quoted in a press release that "the visual arts in Haiti are an integral part of the culture" and that "the peoples' spirit as seen in the bold colors and patterns in the paintings are about their enduring sense of hope-given life's struggles."

The Haitian Art: Community Life exhibit will be on display through the second week in April.  Gallery Hours are Monday-Friday, 9-4 and Sunday, 8-noon.

Get ready, get excited – because we are going to hold our first ever Youth Talent Show!

Youth Talent Show - ALL are Invited!
Saturday, March 13, 7:00 p.m.
Get ready, get excited - because we are going to hold our first ever Youth Talent Show!  That's right; we are going to have an "old school" Talent Show here at AHCC!  Our young people will perform solos, duets, and in groups. They will present skits, serious numbers, laugh-out-loud numbers  and more ... So please come and support our young people as they show us what they've got!

Ten parenting pearls that help us focus

We will be exploring the topic with our presenter, Laura Wilson, guidance counselor at Bristow Middle School in West Hartford.  With her incredible insight and many years of experience working with children, she will take us on a journey of helping us rethink how we parent in today's world.  Please join us for this very special evening.

All of our speakers are special, but each year we are especially delighted to have one of our young people share their spiritual journey with us. This year Jack Nilsen will be that speaker.

All of our speakers are special, but each year we are especially delighted to have one of our young people share their spiritual journey with us. This year Jack Nilsen will be that speaker. As an active member of AHCC's Youth Group, Jack has traveled to Mississippi to help rebuild homes, has served as a member of our Youth Ministry Committee, and last year as a Youth Deacon. Jack is tall, and so this past year was called upon to be one of those to carry the boar's head in our Boar's Head Festival, while also helping his parents, Tom Donahue and Holly DeYoung, (Boar's Head Co-Chairs) with many "behind the scenes" details. A senior at Hall High School, Jack hopes to major in elementary education in college because, as he said,  "I love working with children." Our cooks for this supper will be members of the Youth Group and the Youth Ministry Committee.

Come join the Diners Club at downtown Hartford’s newest restaurant, Salute owned and operated by Jimmy Cosgrove - formerly at Hot Tomatos. The restaurant opened on February 28 so we will be some of the first to visit!

Diners Club
Salute - Hartford's newest restaurant
Thursday, March 18, 6:30 p.m.
Come join the Diners Club at downtown Hartford's newest restaurant, Salute owned and opearted by Jimmy Cosgrove - formerly at Hot Tomatos. The resaturant opened on February 28 so we will be some of the first to visit!
The menu will include vegetarian pasta, meat-based pasta, grilled vegetables, grilled chicken, salad and bread all served family style. The cost is $28.00 pp. Please leave your check in the box on the Opportunity Table and sign up on the sheet.
Deadline is March 16.  Limited to 20 people!

Choir Club presents a fun, jazzy, and upbeat musical rendition of the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale!

Choir Club to present "Oh Jonah!" in Worship

Don't miss worship on March 21, as twenty 3-6 graders of our Spirit Hill program will be presenting a fun, jazzy, and upbeat musical rendition of the biblical story of Jonah and the Whale.  The musical, under direction of Dan Campolieta and Christen Hernandez, will feature songs, dance, humor, stage lighting, and sets, including a giant whale that will envelope the entire chancel!  Come and join us for the telling of the timeless tale about responsibility and responding to God's call.

Self described as “cradle Episcopalian,” Tom said that he was attracted to AHCC because of the incredible sense of community and outreach, and for it amazing music and worship.

The speaker for our final Lenten Supper will be Tom Cooke. Tom and his wife, Rosalind, joined AHCC in 2007, with their daughters Cassie and Rebecca. Self described as "cradle Episcopalian," Tom said that he was attracted to AHCC because of the incredible sense of community and outreach, and for it amazing music and worship. Since joining, Tom has been active on the Board of Worship and Fine Arts, in the Boar's Head Festival, joined our Sunday Choir, and been an instrumental performer during church services and as part of our Concert Series. Professionally, Tom has worked as an attorney for 17 years and as an Executive Vice President of Human Resources. Presently he serves as the Executive Director of VOCE, a professional choral ensemble whose mission is to use music to help others. Their most recent concert raised over $22,000 for Haitian relief.
Our cook will be Nancy O'Brien who has not only cooked for many of the Lenten Suppers, but was also a speaker last year. Mother of two grown children, Nancy restores and repairs antique furniture and caters, "as a ministry of food," she says.

Pilgrimage to the beautiful and spiritually rich island of Iona

Of all the places our Grandtimers programs have visited, Iona is perhaps the smallest - an island off the west coast of Scotland, a mere 3.4 miles long and 1.6 miles wide. But there is an almost universal recognition that somehow this "Holy Isle," as it is sometimes called, is set apart from other earthly sites for its spiritual sanctity.
There are legends that Mary and Jesus visited Iona. Historically, we know that in 563 CE, Saint Columba came from Ireland to this island, and from there set about the conversion to Christianity of all of Scotland and much of northern England. It became the center of Celtic Christianity, and today the Iona Community is host to literally thousands of visitors who come from all over the world each year ... some as tourists but many as spiritual pilgrims.
AHCC member Sherri Bedingfield has travelled to Iona several times, and will share with us some of its history, some of its beautiful landscape, but most importantly, her personal experiences as a pilgrim there.
Grandtimers is a program primarily for people of retirement age, but anyone interested in our programs is welcome. No registration is necessary and newcomers and guests are welcome.

Choirs of Asylum Hill Congregational Church & Immanuel Congregational Church Two of Hartford's finest church choirs combine with orchestra for a special presentation of the ethereal and moving Lux Aeterna

The choirs of Asylum Hill & Immanuel Congregational Churches combine with full orchestra for a special presentation of Morten Lauridsen's ethereal and moving Lux Aeterna.  Lauridsen composed the requiem in 1997, the year his mother died. She was the "muse" who introduced him to music, playing swing jazz and singing to him as a toddler and teaching him to play the piano. The consolation for grief offered by Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna is often compared to that of Fauré's Requiem and Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, both inspired by the deaths of the composers' mothers. These works also have in common a deceptive simplicity, yet their capacity to touch the listener reveals mastery at expressing through music, the depth of human emotion. The five movements of Lux Aeterna are based on various references to light from sacred Latin texts - perpetual light, light risen in the darkness, Redeemer-born light of light, light of the Holy Spirit, light of hearts, most blessed light, eternal light - all supporting an earthbound spirit seeking not only mercy, understanding and consolation, but also renewal.
Portions of this work will be presented in worship at AHCC that Palm Sunday morning, but one must experience the full work, uninterrupted, to absorb the beauty and depth of this important 21st century composition. The choirs will also present selected anthems, ensembles and solo works as part of the afternoon concert. Here is your chance to share the beauty of the music at AHCC with family and friends beyond the church.  Invite them to the concert.  Buy them tickets. Support the music ministry through your attendance and your ticket purchase. Call the Ticket line (860) 278-0785.  Tickets are $20.

This concert is supported by the City of Hartford Arts & Heritage Jobs Grant Program, Eddie A. Perez, Mayor

Yummy pancakes, sausage and fruit salad

You are cordially invited to the Palm Sunday Pancake Breakfast Please join the youth of AHCC who are participating in the Spring Mission Trip for a hearty breakfast of:
pancakes, sausages and fruit salad.

Date: Sunday, March 28
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Cost: $5 per person ($20 max. per family)

All proceeds directly support the young people of AHCC going on the mission trip to Galveston, TX in April

Build skills needed to help you land a job

We are pleased that AHCC member Karin Stahl will be repeating her Job Search Workshop, to focus on building skills needed in today's challenging economic environment. It will cover:

• Preparing yourself before searching for employment

• Creating a résumé that attracts and draws interviews

• Networking for best results

• Interviewing skills

"Staying strong and positive over the long haul is important," says Karin. "Remember, you're not alone. In today's economy it's all about finding who is hiring and how your skills match the work needs, then networking for interviews." Karin is Vice President of The Prescott Group, communications consultants. She has done training and individual coaching for many years. Karin joined AHCC in 1986 and currently serves on our Board of Communication.