It's Contra Dance Time for Stone Soup

You may ask, "why would a worship laboratory go to a contra dance?" Or "How am I going to experience worship at a contra dance?"

Well, here's what to work with:
In the book of 2 Samuel chapter 6, "David danced before the Lord with all his might." Now I am not saying that we can do something just because someone in the Old Testament did it too. The context is not something we can replicate today. However, we can look at the act as a guide for us. In dancing, David embodied his love of the God whose power was overwhelming and real. It's  the embodiment that we're seeking; a physical way to acknowledge and participate in our God who calls us to love one another in powerful and real ways.

In contra dancing we don't just agree with the idea that we are called to live out our love of God and love of neighbor by saying we like people in theory. In contra dancing we are called to look our neighbor (friend and stranger) in the eye from a close distance. We are called to ask if it is okay to spin this way or that. Permission seeking and agreement making are good practices. Contra dancing calls us to make new friends and build relationships at a time when our schedules and fears tend to make us more isolated and selfish. It isn't easy to do. We do this to worship the God of love who we celebrate at this time of year because this love came and dwelt with us, Jesus the embodied one. At the contra dance, we're not asking you to talk about your love of God and neighbor, we're asking you to actually grow in your love of God and love of neighbor with all your might.

(all pics are from the Harvest Moon Folk Society website. HMFS sponsored the last dance we attended)

So, here's the gig Katrina has put together for us. (thanks Katrina)

FOR STONE SOUP we can meet at 3:00 at the Methodist Church we can say a dancing prayer and carpool / caravan down.
It seems that we wouldn't really want to eat right before? and everyone might have different times they want to stay and 7:00 getting back might be too late to eat together? so I think we should call off a dinner.

and here's the dance info...

(the following is Judy Wards letter.)

CONTRA DANCE DECEMBER! 

Please plan to join us at historic Sunnydale on Sunday Afternoon, December 9   

LIVE MUSIC by BLUE RIDGE ROUNDERS featuring Alan Dillman, Bob Buckingham and Amy Buckingham.

CALLING by Diane Silver a popular Asheville caller.

LOCATION:  Sunnydale, a wonderful, historic facility with a wooden dance floor and plenty of room.  334 Trade Street in  Tryon, NC next to the IGA Grocery. Parking in front on lot to east and across the street (not in the Dollar General lot).

DONATION: Please share $8 with us to pay the musicians and caller.

TIME:  Beginner lesson at 3:30.  Dancing from 4:00 until 6:30.

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED.  NO PARTNER NEEDED.  JUST COME AND BRING A SMILE AND WE'LL GET YOUR TOES TAPPING IN NO TIME! This is a called dance with plenty of walk-through to be sure you have the pattern down.  Then the musicians will take it away!

Tryon Downtown Development Association is co-sponsoring and helping with costs and hopes that dancers will come early and enjoy dinner at one of the great restaurants in downtown Tryon.  Please forward this to your friends who may want to join us!