Reveiw: CD Prarie Child with Bert Marshall

Prairie Child CD  Bert Marshall   available on CD Baby www.cdbaby.com

Not the sound I was expecting, the word prairie evoked soft windswept to me, but here the prairie is alive with a beat of a full bodied rich composition. Each song a story in itself the  music is vibrant and draws the listener in. The opening piece "Road to Nowhere" is a song to listen to over and over. From the Road to Nowhere, that songs 18 wheeler takes you to the streets of New York. Ten songs each a strong stand alone piece make this CD a must have for your collection.

The talents of  Bert Marshall are not his music alone. He is a performer and a graduate of Yale Divinity School. He presently works for Church World Service. He  travels sharing a unique performance of the Gospel Of Mark, which is punctuated by his music and mastery of storytelling in long form.

Gospel of Mark

Rev. Bert Marshall shares the story of the entire Gospel of Mark in compelling performance. To learn more about that his website is:  www.gospelofmarkalive.com  Please watch the trailer video, it is compelling.

an earlier blog I wrote on that is here:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/gospel-of-mark-alive-storyteller-rev.html

other reviews I've written:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/review-tom-callinan-commerations-and.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/09/education-in-cubes-not-just-childs-play.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/mike-lockett-tales-and-fables-east.html

Weather Vanes Series; Point to Stories Part 1

       I love weather vanes. They show you a little about the place or people that live and work below their direction. They  are steady and withstand storms and always helping show the way of the wind. They are whimsical and historical and creative and simple all in one.

                                                                       
My favorite weather vane adorns the top of Whitney Hall .at the University of Connecticut. On this day the wise owls are pointing to the College of Agriculture and the Second Congregational Church whose weather vane is equally beautiful.
                                                                   
Let this weather vane point you in the direction of some great stories, here are owl story links to go with it:
Incredible Story from Simon and Schuster books watch the video on the site:

www.wesleytheowl.com

more: www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=Owl+Stories

No Owl Section would be complete without a spot dedicated to Jane Yolen's, Owl Moon!

                                                                     

Here is the Second Congregational Church and although you can't quite make out the weather vane I love how the steeple is lighted. The vane is  gilded  and  has been a landmark in town and on the campus of the University of Connecticut since its construction.

                                                                    

The Historic Congregational Church at Lebanon, CT sports this artistic gilded weather vane.

Some links to stories of and about church:
 First Church of Christ Mansfield Center UCC, will soon host a special storytelling event "The Gospel of Mark Alive" presented by Storyteller Rev. Bert Marshall  November 27 at 2 p.m. You can see a blog post about the event at:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/11/gospel-of-mark-alive-storyteller-rev.html

Need a laugh here are some humorous stories with a church theme I recommend the
 Story of the Two Little Boys!
www.gatewaytojesus.com/humorouschurchstories.html

Hear Jonah's Tale on You-Tube:

Another Lebanon, CT. weather vane from the top of the Town Hall of an early sulky racer. These weather vanes were pattered after the images of Blackhawk a famous Morgan Horse Stallion. 

Lore of Blackhawk:
www.morganhorse.com/about_the_morgan/photo_archive/black_hawk

www.morganmuseum.org/html/amhistory.html

This was really a form of early advertising  of his racing record and his record as a breeding stallion. Certainly putting this atop your barn in that day was a proclamation to high quality stock below!

The weathervanes of the era are  highly sought after early American Folk Art check out this sale of a Blackhawk vane at the famous Christie's in  2002, can you believe $14,100.00! See it here:

www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=3859833

This is part 1 of the Weather Vane Series, I will post more vanes which will point you to more fun and enlightening resources. Look for those posts in coming days and weeks. Subscribe or follow to be sure not to miss a single weather vanes post.

Blacksmiths and Artisans made the weather vanes of yesteryear here is a post with links to the Blacksmith trade and stories;
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/08/village-smithy.html

Hope you have had fun wandering my resource collection if you liked something share it with a friend please.

The Gospel of Mark Alive: Storyteller Rev. Bert Marshall

Stop right now and check November 27, 2011 on your calendar!

Sure hope you are free at 2:00 p.m. for this very impressive performance of:

 "The Gospel of Mark Alive"

 a storytelling performance by Reverend Bert Marshall at First Church of Christ

Mansfield Center, CT.

                                                                                 
Suggested Donation $5.00 per person $15.00 per family. We are easy to find at the intersection of routes 195 and 89 in Mansfield Center, just south of the Uconn campus.
                                                                             

Hear Mark's whole incredible mysterious story from beginning to end, as it may have been told in the early years of the Jesus Movement, before the rise of Christianity. www.gospelofmarkalive.com  (see the powerful teaser clip there!!)

This will be a very special day at First Church of Christ in Mansfield Center ( UCC)
                                                                           

Fair Trade Gift Fair 11-2

Community Tree Lighting with music by Take Note 6:30 pm followed by refreshments

other blogs I've posted about Mansfield:
www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/mansfield-general-store-whats-story.html

www.carolynstearnsstoryteller.blogspot.com/2011/07/signs-im-not-in-downtown-mansfield.html