Bios

Trish

Brings her passion for the human story and eagerness for people to know their lives as sacred art. She is a spiritual director in private practice specializing in retreats for women and one-on-one holy listening.

Identity is important to Trish. At times she has been named mystic, free spirit, contemplative, liberal, feminist and Bringer of New Faith. As a pianist and vocalist, she makes music part of her Way in the world writing songs about all walks of life doing all kinds of things. Trish is well-acquainted with the holistic arts of herbalism, reiki, and healing. Her recovery from an eating disorder in 1991 is testament to Trish's courage and grit, and offers her a depth of sensitivity as she partners with others in their healing journeys.

Past Day Jobs she's had: Private Detective Agency Gal Friday, Coffee Shop Morning Girl, Pre-School Teacher Assistant, Vet Clinic Assistant, Church Youth Director, Salad Bar Goddess, Toilet Scrubber, Des Moines Register Paper Carrier, Children's Choir Director.

Future dream jobs: The Cookie Lady, Organic Soup Goddess, used bookstore maven, Waldorf School music teacher, Organic Wine Bar owner, Retreat Center Founder/Director.

For more information about Trish's spiritual direction and retreat work visit: www.raindancer.net.

Richard

makes his way in the world as one with Christian roots whose practice is informed most recently by his Masters of Arts studies in Theology and the Arts at United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis.

As a theologian/musician, he writes congregational songs --hymns, chants, service music, "contemporary" worship music-- for a variety of settings. As a singer/songwriter, he writes songs about anything from prescription medication to mowing the lawn.

Favorites: blue, autumn, James Taylor, bananas, Sammy, Trish, chocolate, Star Trek TNG, sky, sleep, and three.

For more information about Richard's songwriting and studio work visit www.thisheremusic.com.

The River's Voice

THE
is a definite article representing the noun that follows. We have nothing interesting to say about it.

RIVER's
Many great traditions on our planet use flowing water as a symbol for Abundant Life. It represents power, healing, and the divine presence.

Water is a meeting place in desert culture, where people gather to celebrate, to work together as part of community and to find hope.

River is a way of journeying.

River also calls to mind the natural process, mystery and flow.

To extend (or strain) this metaphor, we tend to think there are many points of access to this River, from touching the surface of the unfathomable ocean to barefoot puddle-stomping in the tiniest stream.

How does this play out in our music and spirituality? We celebrate diversity, and we trust that every person has his or her own unique experience of the Spiritual Life, whatever language he or she puts to it:

With this commitment, how could we not invite those around us to share their sacred stories of life? We have so much to learn from one another.

VOICE
Well, we ARE singers, after all.

Naming Voice for us means a call to use our voices and to be listeners. True dialogue means to enter into conversation with the possibility of being changed. That’s a rare moment to discover with another, and we are committed to this dialogue as a prayer-full spiritual practice.

What would it be like to know each person’s voice as one who represents a Part of God’s Whole?

We are committed to enacting and modeling this Way by crafting songs that bring to mind both the human universal story as well as the wonder of our unique ways in the world.