Update from the Heartland

HEARTLAND CRADLESONG – DUBLIN, OHIO - 2007
Friends of the Creche National Convention

Thursday, November 8, to Saturday, November 10, 2007

Ethnic Traditions of the Midwest

and

Music Celebrating the Birth of our Lord

and
Presentations hailing the historic melting pot diversity of the Midwest:

German, Irish, Norwegian, African-American, Slovakian, Italian, and Greek.

• Exhibit of Creches from the International Collection of the University of Dayton. Curated and introduced by Fr. Johann Roten, Director of the Marian Library, the exhibit will reflect the ethnic diversity theme by featuring the supporting cast of the Nativity tradition: the people of all walks of life and of all ages, attracted to the Christ child as to a magnet. They bring gifts of gratitude, visible and invisible ones, and converge on him who gives them faith, hope and love for God and each other.
• Keynote speaker, Dr. Paul Ulring, Senior Pastor of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, accomplished pianist and authority on the hymnody and musical heritage of the Christian church, will present: "This is My Story, This is My Song" with a focus on the biblical roots of the Nativity cradlesongs and carols, with audience participation in carol singing.
• Evening musical performance by the Sanctuary Choir and instrumentalists of Upper Arlington Lutheran Choir, directed by Michael G. Martin, noted choral director, composer and arranger.
• Prominent Creche Artists talking about their own work:
  Jerry Krider (Columbia City, IN)—Woodworker
  Gary Wilson (Monroe, MI)—Ceramicist
  Armando Piscitelli (Naples, Italy)—Traditional Neapolitan Figures
• Orthodox Nativity Iconography and Hymnody. Discussed and demonstrated by Frs. Nathanael Smyth and Nicholas Hughes, monks from the Monastic Brotherhood of St. Theodore, (Galion, Ohio) and practicing iconographers and creche maker
• More Presentations—on Advent calendars, garage sale Nativities, displaying Nativities, herbal lore in the Nativity tradition, ethnic Christmas foods, and how-to discussions of displaying Nativities.
• More Exhibits—Nativity Stitchery and Members’ Crèches. Bring your own stitchery and/or crèche to share.
• Ethnic heritage Christmas Menus for Friday lunch and Friday and Saturday night dinners, and a full breakfast is offered to all conventioneers staying at the Embassy Suites.
• Pre-Convention tour of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a splendid Byzantine-style church featuring some of the most impressive mosaics in the country, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the State Auto Insurance Company’s outdoor Nativity display.
• FOTC cookbook of your own recipes. In keeping with the melting pot theme, the convention committee is publishing a cookbook of family recipes to be distributed at the convention. We invite each of you, whether you are attending the convention or not, to submit one or more of your favorite Christmas recipes. Tell us the origin, ethnicity or family connection, and the role food plays or played in your family celebrations. Share your old or new traditions. Submit recipes, by e-mail to dlhahm83@yahoo.com; or with your registration form before July 1.