The Guthrie Center Newsletter

Happy New Year!

from The Guthrie Center

January 2025

A look back at 2024

2024 has come and gone with much to be grateful for, and we now set our sights on the horizon of the new year.

Before we embark on our next chapter we'd like to share some of the highlights of what has been an amazing year here at TGC!

19th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner that can't be beat!

We had such a lovely time at our Thanksgiving Dinner and served over 150 meals, in person and to-go! The thanks we give must especially go to the people and local businesses that went above and beyond to donate food and items we needed to make the day a beautiful success for all.

So without further ado, please recognize and support the following special friends of the Guthrie Center:

Taft Farms

Rising Son Records

Samel's Deli

Six Depot Roastery and Cafe

The Red Lion Inn

Taylor Rental

Lucy Peterson

Berkshire Mountain Bakery

As always, we must thank our outstanding volunteers who truly amaze us every day of the year!

Volunteers: Rick and Bill picking up trays of turkey, graciously donated by our friends at

Taft Farms

Northeast Regional Folk Alliance

The Guthrie Center made it's first trip up to the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance this year and what an amazing experience it was! We met and connected with so many artists and organizations and furthered our

musical connections!

We are really happy to know that these new friends can help us to increase the reach of the Guthrie Center and help the folks we impact. We also hope to support them as artists and people who value the human spirit through music.

We look forward to seeing a number of them here at the church, whether to perform or to build on what we have already seen to be many rewarding friendships!

The Guthrie Center team setting up shop at NERFA

Our Giving Season Fundraiser

We are well on our way to achieving our goal of $55K! Through your kind contributions, we have to date raised

$45,350!

This is an on-going effort as we have a number of projects we must address, in particular the needs of our old and historic building!

DONATE HERE

The Check It Out musical instrument lending library at TGC made its full launch in January 2024!

With the help of our committed staff and volunteers, we have been able to lend out a variety of quality instruments at no charge to whomever may have an

interest or need for them.

Thanks to those who donated to our now quite outstanding musical instrument library, we have plenty of instruments to share, and are seeing more and more folks making use of this treasure trove of musical potential!

Give us a call (413-528-1955) if you want to try your hand at a new instrument. We look forward to seeing you take advantage of one of the fine instruments

we have available!

As George would say: "We don't want any Beethovens to fall through the cracks!" (Or Dylans or Guthries... either!).

Many of you know that George Laye, our previous Director, was instrumental in putting the Guthrie Center on the map. With charisma, creativity, and effort, George grew the Guthrie Center and helped make it what it is today, with national acts and

national recognition.

You may not know that George is battling cancer and is no longer able to be here

at the church

on a regular basis.

We ask that you keep him in your thoughts as we do. He is, and always will be, much appreciated.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Outwardly, winter is a quieter time here at the Guthrie Center. But behind the scenes we are busy building the foundations of the new year and planning for a lot of exciting events and performances (and are also putting our house in order)!

It is not a typically active time for us to see visitors but please know that

we are open from 10a-3p, Tuesday through Friday

and you are more than welcome to stop by to say hello or to take part in or visit the following:

Native Son Exhibit:

Available Tuesday through Friday, 10a-3p.

Check it out! Musical Instrument Lending Library:

Open every Wednesday from 1PM to 3PM, first Sunday of each month 1PM to 3PM, and second Thursday of each month 3PM to 7PM.

Hootenannies:

Held on the second Thursday of every month! Doors open at 6:30PM and the music starts at 7p.

Free Community Lunch:

Held every Wednesday from 12p to 1p.

The Berkshire Center for Justice also attends these lunches and offers a free legal clinic.

Praise Sunday:

A non-denominational interfaith spiritual service which is held on the first Sunday of each month from 11a to noon. All are welcome to attend.

Keep an eye out for more updates on the 2025 Troubadour Series and other events planned for this year!

Check our calendar of events

Alice May Brock

February 28, 1941 – November 21, 2024

As many of you may be aware Alice May Brock passed away on November 21st. Her memory and legacy live on in the lives of those she impacted and inspired.

Alice began the tradition of welcoming, caring for, and feeding folks here in this church 59 years ago on Thanksgiving and as long as we are here we will honor her legacy by continuing in that tradition.

Alice didn't want fanfare. She was ill for a while and knew her time was limited. She specifically asked that we not hold a huge memorial or 'make a big deal' of her passing. And so we honored that request.

Alice is and always will be in this building and in our hearts.

Alice wrote the following note for our Thanksgiving in 2019 and it seems even more relevant now than before.

Guthrie Center Historical & Cultural Preservation Program

This is a long term and on-going program with a treasure trove of material to sort, catalogue, preserve, and share. Stay tuned for annual exhibits! Currently we have,

Arlo Guthrie Native Son, available until May 2025. Visit the Guthrie Center to explore unique archival photos, letters, clothing, and other items on display. Stay posted for information on our next exhibit.

WAYS YOU CAN LEND A HAND

Make a tax deductible donation on our website, by mail or call us.

Become a Friend of the Guthrie Center.

Refer Friends to become Members.

Check out and share our Amazon Wish list.

Shop in our Online Gift Shop.

Rent the church for a private event.

Sponsor a Troubadour concert (current year sponsorship open now until May 21st)

Private Event Rentals

We are rapidly becoming a go-to location for private events, meetings, and workshops, with more and more of these occasions happening here. It is our pleasure to offer our space for private use.

Our team is dedicated to making your special event the best it can be! Contact us for availability and pricing.

guthriecenter@gmail.com

Become a Friend of the Guthrie Center with a minimum donation of $25 a year. In addition to supporting TGC’s programs, Friends receive 10% off of Guthrie Center events* at the Church and in the gift shop. We are on a mission, and we could use your help.

*discounts do not apply to fundraiser events

BECOME A FRIEND

Check out the video below & meet some of The Guthrie Center Community!

WEBSITE

GIFT SHOP

The Guthrie Center

2 Van Deusenville Road

Great Barrington, MA 01230

guthriecenter@gmail.com

413-528-1955