Dana Trent Visits Ashe County Library

 

Meet Dana Trent, author of Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk. Dana comes to Ashe Library at 11:30 a.m. on March 10 as part of The Wellness Circle’s Spiritual Wellness Workshop Series to share her story.  

Rev. J. Dana Trent is an author, instructor, and ordained Baptist minister.  She holds an undergraduate degree in French and history from Salem College and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School.  Dana has worked with nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, and hospitals – holding positions at Duke University, UNC Health Care, and the Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church.  Dana is currently an adjunct faculty member at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, where she teaches English, Public Speaking, and Student Success.  Dana specializes in writing and spiritual direction surrounding interfaith topics, spiritual practices, and grief.  Dana and her husband Fred live in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Saffron Cross is the intriguing memoir of the relationship between Dana, a Baptist minister, and Fred, a devout Hindu and former monk. The two meet on eHarmony and begin a fascinating, sometimes daunting but ultimately inspiring journey of interfaith relationship and marriage.

Dana's compelling vignettes laced with self-deprecating humor and refreshing honesty, give you a glimpse into the challenges and benefits of bringing together two vastly different spiritual paths into one household.

Saffron Cross includes chapters on Dana and Fred's honeymoon at an ashram in India, their individual spiritual journeys, Sabbath keeping, vegetarianism, grief, community, and more. You will sense what an adventure their East-meets-West partnership has been, and you'll also see how much Fred's commitment to his faith has enhanced Dana's Christian growth.

At a time when people are inundated with messages of intolerance and hate, Saffron Cross is a welcome and inspiring story of empathy, love, and understanding.

Saffron Cross was recently awarded the 2015 Illumination Book Gold Award for Best Memoir. The Illumination Book Awards are designed to honor and bring increased recognition to the year’s best new titles written and published with a Christian worldview.

Ashe Library Dates to Remember in March:

For All Ages:    

·     World Read Aloud Day is on March 4.  Drop-in throughout the day and listen as staff read excerpts from their favorite literature and enjoy an all-day family friendly activity to celebrate reading.

·      All day family craft fun on Saturday March 14.

·     Get Crafty Knit & Crochet Classes are for all skill levels from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month.  The project in March is Simply Stripes Baby Blankets.  Materials needed:  size H crochet hook and medium or worsted weight yarn in white and pink, blue, or green.

·     Meet Lissa Brown, author of young adult novels Another F-Word and Family of Choice.  Lissa will be signing and selling her books at 1:00 p.m. March 21.

·     The Community Drum Circle meets at 5:30 p.m. in the library on March 10 and 24. 

For Children:

·     Baby Bounce takes place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays. This is a short 15-20 minute program for infants and babies that will include finger plays, songs, rhymes, and a book or two.

·     Tot Time for 2-3 year olds is at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays.

·     Story Time for 4-5 year olds is at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays.

·     The Lego Club meets at 4:00 p.m. for grades K-3 and 5:00 p.m. for grades 4 and up on March 19.  New challenges monthly! 

·     In honor of the Centennial, create a memory book and personal time capsule.  Bring small items that reflect you in 2015 at 4:00 p.m. on March 12.

·     The newest Story Walk book, The Way I Feel by Janan Cain, has been installed at the Ashe County Park on Old Hwy 16.

For Teens:

·     Geek out with Otaku’s United Anime / Manga Club at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

·     Celebrate the March movie release of Insurgent, the second novel in Veronica Roth's Divergent series and complete challenges to discover your faction at 4:00 p.m.

·     Join the fun during Teen Tech Week, 4:00 p.m–6:00 p.m., March 9-13. Take your script to the screen through a series of five workshops including scriptwriting, costume sewing, filming and more. 

 For Adults:

·     Brouhaha Book Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on March 30 in Boondocks.

·     West Jefferson Centennial Book Club meets at 6:00 p.m. on March 24 in Hotel Tavern. The featured book for March is The Great Gatsby.   

·     Rooted: A Centennial Celebration - Learn about the library's microfilm collection and how the new digital microfilm reader works at 11:00 a.m. on March 21.

·     Tackle a mini project using a new technology tool on Mondays at the Two O’Clock Tech Talk.

·     Mountain Music Slow Jam takes place at 5:30 p.m. on March 6 and 20 in the library’s downstairs meeting room (access through side entrance). 

·     The Ashe Wellness Circle features books related to Spiritual Wellness throughout the months January, February, and March.  Check out the library’s website for a virtual shelf of available books.  Stop in at 11:30 a.m. on March 10 to meet Dana Trent, author of   Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk.

Special Events:

·     An Art Reception for Blue Ridge Art Clan will open in the upstairs gallery at 4:00 p.m. on March 13.

·     Steve Holman on Cello entertains at 2:00 p.m. on March 7.