After the April 23 Earth Service, we’ll enjoy a special Social Hour recognizing the indigenous Khasi Hills spring agrarian festival, Shad Suk Mynsiem. Plus, there will be opportunities to bring your environmental values into action through a post card table sponsored by the Environmental Justice Action Team. Another opportunity to honor Earth Day will be signing up as a volunteer for a project with our church Gardening Committee; share an hour or two to help keep our grounds beautiful!

Shad Suk Mynsiem is one of the most important celebrations of our Khasi Hills Unitarian siblings. This indigenous tribal agrarian festival is honored by our siblings as a cultural celebration. Unitarians do not participate in religious rituals but do participate in the centerpiece dance called “The Dance of Peaceful Hearts.” The festival’s focus is to be thankful for the bountiful harvest of the last year and welcome spring, and give thanks in advance for the new crops that will be planted. The festival lasts 4-5 days.

The Khasi Hills Partnership team will be hosting a social hour with traditional fruit and a festival rice dish, plus other local flavors of the region, different than mainland India. The social hour will also feature a slide show of the Shad Suk Mynsiem dance, photos of the school we sponsor, and scenes of agriculture, the focus of the region.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The Khasi Hills Partnership team is excited to announce that our church Social Justice Endowment Fund is helping support one of our contacts from the Khasi Hills to attend the General Assembly in June and visit our church. Reverend Nangro Suting will be attending our church service on SUNDAY, JUNE 18, and there will be a special LUNCHEON RECEPTION AND BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR SCHOOL during the social hour. This is an exciting time to be involved in the mission we have supported for TWENTY YEARS. If you have questions or are interested, contact Karen Litzinger at KarensCareerCoaching.com, 412-977-4029.