One year ago, The Center for Wisdom’s Women opened Sophia’s House, a residential healing community for women in Lewiston. It was just as the coronavirus arrived, cancelling a planned opening gala event at the Franco Center. Now, a year later, on the weekend of the equinox, at the cusp of spring, it is time to celebrate the first year of operation and look toward the future.

A concert with singer, songwriter and author Carrie Newcomer will be livestreamed at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 20. All proceeds will benefit Sophia’s House. Ticket costs are on a sliding scale.

Newcomer has been described as a “prairie mystic” and as someone who “asks all the right questions.” She has 17 nationally released albums and has released two companion books of poetry and essays. Newcomer and Parker Palmer are actively collaborating on several projects including The Growing Edge, a website, podcast and retreat that has been listed as one of the top ten spiritual programs for the next 20 years. She earned a regional Emmy for the PBS special “An Evening with Carrie Newcomer.” In 2019 she was recipient of the Shalem Institute Contemplative Voices Award. Her media appearances include Krista Tippett’s On Being. For more information about Carrie Newcomer, visit carrienewcomer.com.

A virtual tea party will be streamed from Sophia’s House at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 21. The afternoon event will thank and celebrate all those who helped create Sophia’s House, and will include a dedication of the dining room; a video tour of the house; sharing of poetry; and the launching of the Klara Tammany Endowment Fund for perpetual support of the residential program.

Concert tickets and reservations for the virtual tea party can be obtained through The Center for Wisdom’s Women website at wisdomswomen.org/events.

Those who attend the Sunday afternoon tea party are encouraged to make some goodies and brew a pot of tea to enjoy as we gather. A favorite at Sophia’s House is Welsh Tea Cakes. And we suggest also Calendula Tea – available in either mint or lemon flavors – made by Herban Works, a social enterprise of The Center for Wisdom’s Women. It can be purchased through the Winter Farmer’s Market or by contacting Sue Kingsland by phone at (207) 513-3922 or by email at suek@wisdomswomen.org.

WELSH TEA CAKES

4 cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 sticks butter
1 cup currants
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk

Cut butter into dry ingredients, add currants and mix well. Combine eggs and milk and beat to mix then add to dry ingredient mixture. Work into pie dough consistency. Roll out to 1/8″ thick. Cut with a round cookie cutter. Fry like pancakes at about 340 degrees until brown, turn and brown other side. Pat both sides in bowl of sugar. Serve with jams. Makes about 10 dozen.