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Announcement of Job Opening
Position: Executive Director of Wisdom House
Retreat and Conference Center Litchfield, CT
Applications being accepted through June 30, 2017
Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center, Litchfield, CT seeks an Executive Director for its interfaith, not-for-profit center. This is done in keeping with the mission and strategic planning for Wisdom House.
 
Candidates are required to have at least five years managerial and leadership experience, a bachelor's degree, ability to manage the hospitality mission of the center  to work with diverse personalities and cultures, excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to encourage and motivate staff, excellent organizational skills with ability to establish and rearrange priorities, proficiency in understanding and developing budgets, ability to mediate conflict, knowledge of buildings, grounds and ecology, basic computer skills. Click here for more details.
 
 
Veteran of the Month Ceremony
Honoring World War I Pfc. Frederick Flaherty
Bantam American Legion Post #44
Saturday, July 1 ~ 10:00 a.m.
All Wars Memorial, Bantam
Post 44 of the American Legion in Bantam continues to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of United States' entry into World War I by honoring the life of United State Army Private First-Class Frederick Flaherty, long time resident of Bantam as the July Veteran of the Month.

Post 44 invites the public to the July 1st ceremony, at 10:00 a.m. to the All Wars Memorial (Route 202, Bantam Cemetery) in Bantam. In case of inclement weather the ceremony will be held in the Bantam Borough Hall, (809 Bantam Road, Route 202) in Bantam.

The ceremony will start with members of a flag detail retiring the honor flag of World War II United States Army Technician 3, Reno “Ray” Luzi.

They will then account the life of Private Frederick Flaherty who was shipped to France in 1918 to fight for freedom. Mr. Flaherty was also a past Commander of Post 44. He will be the 346th veteran honored and this will be the 333rd ceremony to honor a Veteran of the Month.

Following the celebration Post 44 will provide light refreshments and encourages attendees to enjoy fellowship and comradeship at the Bantam Borough Hall. Contact email post44.bantam@gmail.com
 
 
Jewish Mysticism and the Divine Feminine
Friday, July 14 - 6pm through Sunday, July 16 - 1pm
Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center
Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center will present a program led by Rabbi Rami Shapiro, “Kabbalah/Jewish Mysticism and The Divine Feminine” on Friday, July 14 (6 pm dinner) through Sunday, July 16 (lunch.)
 
Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Rami Shapiro is an award-winning author, poet, essayist, and educator and frequent presenter at Wisdom House. His books include The Sacred Art of Loving Kindness, The Divine Feminine, and Accidental Grace. He is also the editor of The World Wisdom Bible.

"If ten people sit together to engage with Torah, the Shechinah (Divine Feminine Presence of God" rests among them..." ~ Rabbi Rami Shapiro
 
In this introduction to Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) participants will discover that Kabbalah is one of the deepest ways to engage with Torah and awaken to the Divine Feminine. It should not be surprising to learn that Kabbalah is steeped in feminine imagery and an understanding of spirituality as a feminine undertaking. Rabbi Rami will explore the centrality of the Divine Feminine to Jewish mysticism, and how the mystical practices of noted Jewish rabbis down the ages can provide us with our own path to the Shechinah.

Registration closes Thursday, July 13, at 7:00 p.m.
A copy of Shapiro’s book,
Minyan: Ten Principles for Living Life of  Integrity
will be included with the cost of the program.
     Overnight accommodations are available
and commuters are also welcome.
Non-refundable deposit: $50
For Saturday only commuter rate please call us.  
For further information call (860) 567-3163

*******************
Nature as Our Muse
Friday, July 14 - 6pm through Sunday, July 16 - 1pm
Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center
A weekend writing workshop, “Nature As Our Muse: Writing Retreat” July 14 (6 pm dinner) to July 16 (lunch), will be presented at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield. Author Davyne Verstandig will give the retreat.

Participants in the weekend program will have the opportunity to write and be inspired in a natural setting of the Litchfield Hills while being guided in their writing.  Writers of poetry, fiction or memoir will benefit by this retreat.  Commuters are also welcome to attend the weekend.    

Davyne Verstandig
Ms. Verstandig has 22 years of teaching English and Creative Writing at UCONN. She is presently teaching at the Hartford Campus of UCONN. As an author, her works in progress include a novel, The Sorrows of the Blue Distance, a memoir, The Mermaid in the Cornfield, and poetry in Sex and Sexuality in a Feminist World and Where the Beach Meets the Ocean. She is also poet laureate of Washington, CT.  www.davyneverstandig.com
 
Registration closes Thursday, July 13, at Midnight
Non-refundable deposit: $50
For Saturday only commuter rate please call us.  
For further information call (860) 567-3163
 
 
FCC Tag & Bake Sale
The First Congregational Church of Litchfield held its annual tag & bake sale on Saturday. The church's "dream team" was on hand (below) to make sure everything went smoothly. BZ photos
 
 
 
Veteran of the Month Ceremony
World War II, United States Army
Tech 3, Reno "Ray" Luzi
Post 44 of the American Legion of Bantam celebrated the life of World War II, United States Army Tech 3, Reno "Ray" Luzi, late of Bantam, Connecticut as the 344 consecutive veteran of the month on Saturday, June 3rd at the Bantam Borough Hall. ~ BZ photos
 
 
Ray was a partner in the Bantam Lumber Company, a popular business in the borough. He was also actively involved in his community and was a member of the Bantam Volunteer Fire Company.
 
Reno, a first generation American was born on the 3rd of November 1922 to recently arrived Italian immigrants, Augusto and Zelinda Luzi of Bantam, Connecticut. He attended grade school in Bantam followed by high school in Litchfield. He led an active youth participating in sports and scouting. As a boy scout, he achieved Eagle Scout status and as an athlete he played on the Litchfield high soccer team.  
 
His burial fllag was presented by his son David (right). The flag will fly in his honor at the All Wars Memorial in Bantam throughout the month of June.
 
On Sunday, December 7th, 1941, he remembered listening to a New York Giants baseball game when the announcer broke in to announce the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. The very next day at school all of the Litchfield high students were gathered in the gymnasium to listen to President Roosevelt ask for a declaration of war. Little did he, or others of his generation know, events beyond their control were about to change their lives.
 
The Luzi family was well represented at the ceremony.
 
 
Above, his son Michael (right) accepts the Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal on his father's behalf. Below, brothers Michael and David display their father's flag and medal.
 
 
 
Food Pantry Open
@ St. Michael’s in Litchfield
St. Michael’s Parish is currently collecting donations from its own members as well as those in the greater Litchfield community in order to stock a food pantry.
Rev. Deacon Amy Reichman
 
The pantry will be open the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and welcomes all who are affected by food insecurity issues. No registration is required. Once the scope of need is assessed, the pantry times could be expanded.  

To begin, nonperishables are being collected, but St. Michael’s plans to eventually accept fresh food items as well. Nonperishable items can be left in the Community House on the wire shelving in the foyer.

Volunteers from the greater Litchfield community are invited to help with stocking the pantry and in distributing food on Saturdays from 10 am-1 pm on May 20; and June 17. 
 
Contact: Rev. Deacon Amy Reichman
or call the Parish Office at 860-567-9465
weekdays from 10a.m-2pm