There is a long history of meetinghouses in our region as centers for town life, places where all can gather in community – and the Friends of Wendell Meetinghouse is delighted to have reopened our historic meetinghouse as a multipurpose community center hosting a wide range of spiritual, cultural and community gatherings for our town and the surrounding region (see more on Meetinghouse events). We are committed to working towards supporting a full range of programs offered as part of what we call:
The Four Domains:
Living Room, Performance Place, Spirit Circles, and Maker-Learner Center
We are indebted to the many community members who have provided input on what they would like to see happen in the Meetinghouse space – their ideas and suggestions are reflected in the possible visions for each domain listed below:
LIVING ROOM at Wendell Meetinghouse:
- A drop-in center for community members of all ages
- Informal seating areas, café tables, wi-fi service, games/puzzles,
- Beverages, pastries, light meals (potluck or catered) served/sold
- Living Room Store: local arts and crafts, branded items, stationary
- Book exchange and reading/writing groups (co-sponsored with the Wendell Free Library)
- Social events: breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, cabarets, nightclubs
PERFORMANCE PLACE at Wendell Meetinghouse:
- Theater company or drama series featuring local and guest artists
- Music concerts (all styles), possible Full Moon Coffee House partnership
- Possible Wendell Community Chorus home for rehearsals and performances
- Spoken word, performance artists, entertainers
- Art cinema and film series
- Theater arts classes — kids, adults; acting, sound, lighting, set design, etc.
- Dance performance and parties: contra, square, African, Morris, ballroom
- Sing-alongs, jamming sessions, Karaoke nights
- Recording/filming venue with unique acoustic/visual properties
SPIRIT CIRCLES at Wendell Meetinghouse
- Theater company or drama series featuring local and guest artists
- Regular multi-faith meeting place for spiritual groups of all traditions
- One-off ceremonies, celebrations, weddings, rituals, memorial services
- Meditation, yoga, chanting, prayer circles, kirtan, drumming, tai-chi
- Body-mind-spirit spa, health, wellness, fitness, exercise classes
- Speaker and film series: world religions and local faith traditions
MAKER-LEARNER CENTER at Wendell Meetinghouse
- Crafting classes (fabric, paint, ceramic, quilting, multimedia, etc.)
- Workshops for hobbyists, children, seniors
- Gallery shows featuring local artists and artisans
- Old Home Day and Holiday Craft Fair (indoor/outdoor market)
- Lecture series and seminars, all subjects: arts, sciences, and humanities
- Continuing Education programs in collaboration with local colleges
- “Wendell University” in collaboration with Library and the Local Cultural Council