Update from the Heartland

HEARTLAND CRADLESONG

Friends of the Creche National Convention

DUBLIN, OHIO - 2007

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.

Heartland Cradlesong

Nashville, TN - 29 October 2006 - The theme of the 2007 national convention of Friends of the Creche is "Heartland Cradlesong". The convention will be held Thursday 8 November 2007 - Saturday 10 November 2007 in the Embassy Suites Hotel, Dublin, Ohio and the Mill Run Church complex.

Why "heartland"? Locationof the convention! Why "cradlesong"? Lullabies at the manger cradle! This convention in America's heartland will have a special emphasis on music related to the creche.

Another subject being considerd is "Herbal Lore in the Nativity Tradition". There are scores of herbs with creche-related legends that might surprise you. Do you know why the flower of the rosemary changed from white to blue at the time of the Nativity? Hint: It has to do with wash day and Mary's mantel.

We will be hearing more on displaying and exhibiting your creches and something entirely different is under consideration also -"The Traditional Placement of Manger Figures". Yes, there is a customary place to set the kings and another place just for the angel. Who knew?

Donna and David Hahm, co-hosts of the 2007 national convention have tentatively announced what they call "Programs in Progress".The keynote address will be delivered by Pastor Paul Ulring, senior pastor of the Mill Run Church. There will be presentations on the cultural traditions that have shaped the American Mid-west, such as German, Scandinavian, Irish, Greek, Slovakian, and African-American traditions.

Other topics being considered include "Creche Design for the Twenty-first Century", "Constructing Nativity Settings", "Displaying Nativities in a Home Setting", "Advent Calendars", "Collecting Nativities on a Budget", "Nativity Quilts and Stitchery", and "All About the Magi".

Registration will be an on-going activity on Thursday. The ever-popular Manger Mart will open at noon on Thursday, followed by the Hotel Manager's Reception. The Special Creche Exhibit will feature selections from the world-renowned collection of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton, explained by Father Johann Roten. The talented Music Ministry at the Church at Mill Run is busy preparing a special program of music and dialogue for Friday evening of the convention. There will also be a carol sing in which we may all participate, even the tonally-challenged.

In order to increase the opportunity for social interaction among convention attendees, the Hahms are investigating the feasibility of other meals shared in common in addition to the closing banquet. Ethnic foods of Christmas will certainly be a delicious taste experience. The early morning Interest Groups initiated at the Santa Fe convention will be continued so that individuals will have the opportunity to gather and hear presentations in particular areas of interest. The Hahms will also initiate "Splinter Groups" for those who may choose to forego free time during two hours on Saturday afternoon and instead gather for presentations on particular topics.

The Hahms report that the Mill Run Church, a Lutheran faith community, has graciously given us full use of their beautiful complex and that Friends of the Creche will occupy the entire hotel. Both the church complex and the hotel are totally accessible to those with disabilities.

There will be raffles and an auction, seven formal presentations in addition to the keynote address and increased free time to meet and mingle. In keeping with the Friends of the Creche mission to further the tradition of Christmas Nativity scene, designated times and places will be open to the general public.

The pre-convention event will be not just one but hopefully two guided motor coach tours of the many interesting local attractions. You get to choose. There will also be a list of recommended sites for those who may wish to investigate the area on their own.

The 2007 convention will begin to draw to a close on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. with the banquet, preceded by the Hotel Manager's Reception. All should be over by 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The Hahms stress that these events and programs are subject to change since plans are still in preliminary stages of development, but it's enough to give you some inkling. With a year to go, it's already clear that this will be one terrific gathering - a "down-home convention" filled with friendliness, variety, enthusiasm, music, food, and of course lots and lots of useful information on the tradition of the creche.

For information on the Church at Mill Run (Upper Arlington Lutheran Church or UALC) visithttp://www.ualc.org/. For general 1nformation on the hotel visit http://www.embassysuites.com/en/es/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CMHESES. Special hotel guest room rates should become available as the convention date approaches.

The convention registration fee is $180. The special FOTC guest room rate at the hotel is $125 per night, plus tax. Mark your calendars now!

Next National Convention is Really Cooking

DUBLIN, OH— In keeping with the melting pot theme Heartland Cradlesong, the 2007 Friends of the Creche Convention (November 8-10, 2007, Dublin/Columbus, OH), we are planning dinners and a luncheon to reflect our heritage. Recipes submitted will be published in a cookbook available at the convention. We would like to know the origin, ethnicity or family connection, and accounts of the role food plays or played in our family celebrations.

In our family, my grandma’s fruitcake that she made as a relative newlywed from 1917 on is essential as is the French beef burgundy and German red cabbage, dearly loved by our son and daughter-in-law. David’s and my German grandmothers served tooth-breaking hard anise cookies with wine. Every Christmas Eve, as a tribute to the joy we felt at the birth of our oldest child, I prepare shrimp Creole for supper, the dish that was served to me on the night of her birth 40 years ago.

Tell us about your old or new traditions. Submit recipes, preferably by e-mail to dlhahm83@yahoo.com. By snail mail, our address is: The Hahms, 83 South Riverview St., Dublin, OH 43017