Submitted by First Congregational Church
Bedford’s First Congregational Church, 25 Great Road, will host its second annual West Virginia Mission Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 9. The celebration will feature Appalachian music and story-telling, a Southern-inspired dinner, Cake Walk, a sweet-and-savory food sale and a variety of children’s activities. A suggested donation of $15 per person or $40 per family, covering dinner and entertainment, will be collected at the door.
First Church will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from this event to fund its on-going humanitarian mission work in West Virginia. For five years, the First Church West Virginia Mission Project has helped fight poverty in Appalachia by supporting several nonprofit organizations dedicated to making home repairs, providing after-school programs for children, and offering art and music programming for at-risk youth.
Appalachian Music & Storytelling
The highlight of the evening will be live music performed by Tim and Maggie, who were with us for the first festival. Tim and Maggie have spent decades studying and performing Appalachian music. They teach music professionally, work on instruments every day and perform regularly. Wherever they play, people are charmed by their wit and compelling melodies. They can often be heard throughout Southern West Virginia, playing at restaurants, clubs, weddings, college programs, open mikes, and local festivals. Their musical sets can be heard from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. In between sets, members of the First Church Mission Team will also be telling brief stories of inspiration and hope from their experiences.
Other Activities
A Southern-style dinner will be available, featuring pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, cole slaw, cornbread, beans, and delicious desserts. The sweet-and-savory table will feature baked goods, soups, chowders, and other tempting items. There will also be a variety of fun-filled activities for children (and the young at heart), as well as an old-fashioned Cake Walk – think musical chairs with a cake as the prize!
All are welcome!
The entire community is invited to sample the fine cooking of our First Church chefs and listen to some toe-tapping music and inspiring storytelling while enjoying your dinner. This benefit will help bring hope and optimism to a naturally beautiful part of our country with deep cultural roots.
For further information about First Church Bedford’s West Virginia Mission Festival – and a full schedule of the evening’s activities – visit: https://firstchurchbedford.wordpress.com/calendar-news/special-events/west-virginia-mission-festival-march-10-2018/ or call 781-275-7951.
About First Church of Christ, Congregational in Bedford
First Church of Christ, Congregational in Bedford, Mass. Is an open and affirming community of the United Church of Christ. We are committed to transforming the lives of people within and without our church through our mission statement: Welcome All, Grow in Faith and Joyfully Serve.