SING ON THROUGH: The Work That Reconnects + Sing Praise
☀️ We are blessed to have a FULL DAY together! ☀️
12:00 - 3:00 The Work that Reconnects with Lydia Violet
3:00 - 4:00 Snack + Fellowship break
4:00 - 6:00 Sing Praise! with KJ Song + Lydia Violet
We gather at Octobarn (14370 Mimosa Place, Nevada City)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 1 OF THE DAY: THE WORK THAT RECONNECTS 🌱
What is The Work That Reconnects?
Joanna Macy’s Work That Reconnects offers a path. Developed over more than 40 years, this body of work draws on systems theory, deep ecology, and Buddhist thought, as well as decades of lived activism. It helps us remain steady, connected, and responsive in the face of ecological and social crises, reawakening our capacity for resilience, relationship, and meaningful action. For thousands of people, it has been a gateway into what Macy calls the Great Turning: the transition to a life-sustaining society, and the essential adventure of our time. We will immerse ourselves in the bounty of teachings and practices from Joanna Macy's group work, "The Work That Reconnects," to which she dedicated her life. These teachings and practices will be led by Lydia Violet, Joanna's colleague and mentee of 17 beloved years.
Who is Lydia? ♥️
Lydia Violet Harutoonian is an Iranian-Armenian-American facilitator-scholar, grief-worker, and community songleader who has studied and worked with deep ecology elder and Buddhist scholar Joanna Macy for the past 17 years, learning how to metabolize planetary despair, anxiety, and community trauma into energy for resilience, action, and community healing. She founded and runs The School for The Great Turning, which creates access to an education that will empower humanity's life-sustaining legacy. In her music she weaves together her songwriting, folk standards, Iranian ballads, 3-part harmonies, fiddle, banjo, and collective singing into an altar of music to lay at our feet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 2 OF THE DAY: SING PRAISE 🌈
🎶 What is Sing Praise?
Sing Praise! is not your average song circle—it’s a queer revival, a ritual of collective prayer and joy, led by music minister KJ Song.
Sing Praise! is a place to wail, harmonize, stomp, and rise. It’s for anyone hungry for Spirit without the strings, for prayer without dogma, for a free voice that sings back, for a moment of communal aliveness that feels like YES.
This isn’t a concert and not a "vocal jam" — it’s a homecoming.
This is a song SERVICE, curated by KJ, without any dogma or religious affiliation. It's a place to let loose and sing songs that actually stir something deep. You don’t need to be “musical.” You just need to come.
🌈 Who is Sing Praise for?
*People who used to sing but forgot how.
*People who’ve never sung but always wanted to.
*People who miss the singing in church but not the rest...
*Anyone who wants to belong to themselves again.
*Queer folks and allies who know that the power of prayer and praise belongs to everyone.
*People how want a little more ceremony in their song circles. Less warm up games, more prayer. We get down to it.
💜 Who is KJ?
KJ Song (they/them) is a queer music minister, voice doula, and ritual artist devoted to helping people come home to their voices and bodies. Rooted in Gospel-inspired joy, sacred mischief, and deep listening, KJ creates spaces where healing feels possible and spirit feels real. Their work lives at the intersection of music, embodiment, queerness, and liberation.
🤧 Please be mindful of everyone's health and do not attend if you are experiencing any cold symptoms 🤧
🌿 Bring:
A water bottle, a sit-upon, shawl, or soft thing, an open heart and a wild hope, a small object for our communal altar (optional)
💸 A Note on Money and Access
Your contribution helps make this work possible: the time, the preparation, the holding of space, and the unseen labor that goes into creating something truly nourishing. If you’re able to give more, you help make room for someone who can’t. If you need to give less, you’re still welcome in the circle.
Pay what feels generous, honest, and aligned with your current life—without shame, without pressure.
Please also note that there are no refunds or exchanges for this event.