While I was away ignoring my blogs, a one day Celtic Fest took place in Frederick,
Colorado, put on as a fund-(and fun)raiser for their many projects by Saint
Brigit Episcopal Church.
This may seem peripheral to our understanding of Brigit. It is just a church that is named for her, which tips its hat to her but is just a church like any other. That may be in some ways true, but not in all. The church truly does embrace Saint Brigit and her tales, and when I look at the various programs they are funding, I see a strong connection to the Saint Brigit who shared her community's wealth with the hungry and sick who came to her. As an older person whose income is low and who is facing losing my tiny rental home in the catastrophic housing crisis that Vancouver is facing, I am more poignantly aware than ever of the life and death importance of her generosity and of programs like the ones listed in the latter half of this post. So thank you to St Brigit Episcopal for continuing the work of Saint Brigit in a very real way.
This sort of work may inspire us in our own endeavours, as we seek to live out the principles found in Brigit, goddess or saint, that are most important to each of us, however much more humble they may be if we are individuals whose efforts may not be supported by an entire faith community.
So let's allow St. Brigit Episcopal Church tell you in their own words what they did in September, and why:
Welcome to the first annual Celtic Fest sponsored by St. Brigit
Episcopal Church to support it's programs
for the community in and around Frederick, Colorado.
Celtic Fest is designed as an event for the whole family, so come to not
just watch, listen, and try Celtic beer, whiskey and food - but perhaps to
try your step at dancing, your lungs on a bagpipe, or your skill at a Celtic
sport! Meanwhile, your children will be choosing from various craft or
gardening activities or meeting St. Brigit and hearing her tales of old
Ireland! Activities range from listening to top-rate music to
a Celtic
Art Show and Competition and Kirkin of the Tartans.
ST. BRIGIT OF KILDARE WAS A CELTIC SAINT
FROM THE 6TH CENTURY WHO FOCUSED HER LIFE IN SERVICE TO THE POOR AROUND HER.
(SHE WAS ALSO THE PATRON SAINT OF BEER!) ST. BRIGIT EPISCOPAL
CHURCH CHOSE TO BE NAMED FOR HER BECAUSE IT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A FOCUS ON
SERVING THE COMMUNITY. OUR CELTIC FEST BOTH SUPPORTS THOSE EFFORTS AND
CREATES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO ENJOY THE FUN!
Musicians! “Open Sessions” will be available for
everyone who wants to join in. First one is at 11:00 - other times will be
posted at Celtic Fest.
Introducing St. Brigit's Bathwater
Beer with a Party, at 12:00!
Pints of beer ($5 per pint), will be poured for the
first time to pay tribute to the Irish Patron Saint of Beer, St. Brigit!
Join us in being one of the first to enjoy this
Irish Red, specially crafted by Oskar Blues for Celtic Fest.
Our Mission
Celtic Fest is designed to raise funds for the
community programs of St. Brigit Episcopal Church in Frederick, CO.
Primary community projects include the following:
Brigit's Bounty Community Resources is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has a large community garden on the St. Brigit
Property. The mission of Brigit's Bounty is to provide education,
training, and resources towards transforming the lives of individuals and
strengthening the Carbon Valley community. Brigit's Bounty partners with
Thunder Valley K-8 school and the I Have A Dream Program to educate children about
gardening, nutrition and healthy food choices and also runs a low-cost garden
camp. All produce is donated to the Carbon Valley Community. www.brigitsbounty.org
Brigit's Village is a 501 (c) (3)
non-profit that has as its mission: to establish a welcoming and
reasonably-priced senior housing community in Colorado's Carbon Valley. Plans
are in progress towards building 50 units of affordable senior housing adjacent
to the St. Brigit property near the Brigit's Bounty Giving Garden. www.brigitsvillage.org
I Have A Dream: The mission of
the I Have a Dream program is to motivate and empower children from low income
communities to reach their educational and career goals by providing a
long-term intervention program of mentoring, tutoring, and cultural enrichment.
Upon graduation from high school each Dreamer is eligible to receive a
four-year tuition assistance scholarship for college or vocational school.
St. Brigit partners with this program by financially supporting two
Dreamers and providing Christmas gifts for multiple families. In
addition, Dreamers receive gardening education through Brigit's Bounty Giving
Garden.
© 2017 St. Brigit's Celtic Fest
See their website to learn about their other important programs, including:
Free Health Fair
Labyrinth
Help Portrait: Free Family Portraits
Carbon Valley HELP Center
