St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28 Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.
We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.
Williams Labyrinth Available For Lenten Walking Meditation
01:36PM / Thursday, March 19, 2009
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - During January of 2005, about two dozen members of the Williams College community helped to create a 36-foot portable canvas labyrinth which is a replica of the one at Chartres. This is an eleven-circuit design divided into four quadrants.
Several times each semester, for several days at a time, the labyrinth is spread out and available free of charge to the whole community for many kinds of meditative use. This Lent it will be available in the Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church from 7 am-3:30 pm Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8, and from 7 am-7 pm on Maundy Thursday, April 9, and Good Friday, April 10. For more detailed information visit the Website of the College Chaplain’s office: http://www.williams.edu/chaplain/labyrinthmain.php
The labyrinth is an ancient device for walking meditation. While many find walking the Labyrinth a spiritual experience, it has no direct ties to any specific faith community and can be enjoyed by people of all faiths as well as by those who feel no affiliation with any organized religion. Though one of its most familiar manifestations is engraved in the stone floor of the 13th century nave of Chartres cathedral near Paris, France, it has pre-Christian roots in many cultures, and people have been walking the convoluted path to the center and back again for countless centuries.
The labyrinth looks like a maze – but you can’t get lost! The beautifully complex path always leads faithfully to the center, and then always back out again to the waiting world. During your labyrinth walk you will meander through each of the four quadrants several times as you wend your way to the center and back out.
There is no right or wrong way to walk the labyrinth and for most people no two labyrinth walks are alike. Most people need about 20 or 30 minutes for a gentle, reflective walk to the center and then back out again – though it’s possible to stretch the journey longer, or to linger in the center. Adults usually enjoy walking slowly along the winding path, while children often run or skip.
Any preparation, any kind of mindfulness that's helpful to you and nourishing to your inner life before walking the labyrinth, is appropriate and welcome. You will find printed sheets with suggestions on how to structure your walk and be asked to remove your shoes to protect the canvas.
A journal is available wherever and whenever the labyrinth is set up for walkers to write in or enjoy reading what others have written. One walker poignantly wrote: “Thanks for a calm place in the storm.”
The First Congregational Church is located at 906 Main Street (Rt. 2) in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The building is fully handicap accessible and parking is available behind the church off of Chapin Hall Drive. For more information on the Williams College Labyrinth call the Chaplain’s office at 413-597-2483.
