Music helps spread Quaker House's message of peace

Source: The Fayetteville Observer, N.迷你倉C.Sept. 19--A crowd of about 20 gathered at the Quaker House on a recent Saturday, waiting for the evening's main event."Do we need more chairs?" asked Lynn Newsom, the house's co-director, as people made their way inside.Gradually, the guests found their seats in the living room of the Hillside Avenue house. After a short introduction, the Parsons -- Jon and Caroline Parsons and their musical partner, Jerome Hawkes -- began their set in the adjoining dining room.With Hawkes on mandolin, Jon on guitar and Caroline on bass, the group launched into their first number, "Jesus Is on the Mainline."The band stood in front of posters and placards that read "Witness for Peace" and "Yes to the Troops, No to the War."So began another evening of music at the Quaker House, where songs from the Parsons and others are increasingly a part of the mix."The whole purpose of all this is to let people know Quaker House is here and to welcome them and extend love to the community and the military," Lynn Newsom said. "We feel service members especially need places off base to relax and laugh and have some fun."For the musicians, the concerts are almost like playing for family."There's no pressure, no stress," Hawkes said. "Even if you bomb, you can say, hey, we tried."Lynn Newsom and her husband, Stephen, became directors of the 44-year-old Fayetteville Quaker House in December, succeeding Chuck Fager.Founded in 1969, the house serves as a peace and military counseling center. Directors provide information to soldiers who want to leave the military and have sponsored or helped organize protests against military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq.In years past, the Quaker House sponsored potluck suppers to bring people to the Haymount house. The Newsoms are looking to music and other programs to accomplish the same goal.Since coming to the Fayetteville Quaker House, the Newsoms have organized concerts by the Parsons, singer-songwriters Leslie Lee and Steve Gretz, and Congolese drummer Pline Mounzeo.Also, alternative to violence workshops have been held at the house and "mindfulness" classes designed to ease symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are held every Thursday at 6:30 p.m.A return visit by Lee and Gretz is planned for Valentine's Day, and the Newsoms said they are open to hosting other local musicians before then.The Newsoms said they hope the programs make the Quaker House a welcoming place, especially for service members and military victims of domestic violence.Although only a few concerts hav迷你倉 been held so far, they have been popular."We have had very good crowds," Lynn Newsom said. "We have a small home, but we've usually gotten about 25 people, which we consider a good crowd."The Parsons' first Quaker House concert, Lynn said, was standing room only.The Newsoms said they try to schedule musicians who promote a spiritual, uplifting message. The music must be suitable to the small space available.Music is a natural outreach for the Newsoms. Lynn is a jazz singer who performed mostly at rest homes and retirement centers in Cincinnati and Charlotte but avoided clubs because she did not like the late nights and cigarette smoke.In the mid-1970s, Steve Newsom, a Navy veteran, managed a Camden, N.J., coffee house that attracted some well-known artists."(Singer-songwriter) John Prine would come over after a big gig and ask to use the stage," Steve Newsom said.A relaxed atmosphere prevailed at the Quaker House as the Parsons prepared to begin their set.The guests were a mixture of folk music fans and Quaker House regulars. Some were members of a Baptist group that the Newsoms were hosting.Janice Boettcher and her friend Ruby Cain came from Stedman for the concert. Boettcher said she likes bluegrass and folk music and saw the Parsons perform about 20 years ago."It's different than anything I've ever been to, but it's fun," Boettcher said of the Quaker House concert.Cain was seeing the Parsons and visiting the Quaker House for the first time."It's sort of a home-type atmosphere," she said. "It's very friendly."Lynn Newsom introduced the Parsons and encouraged guests to make donations for the musicians."We're really thrilled to have you come," Lynn said. "We love the Parsons, as do you."The Parsons delivered a down-home set, filled with good-natured banter. The musicians swapped instruments as they performed songs including "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" and "Telling My Troubles to My Old Guitar."Lynn Newsom joined in on harmonies on one song, and Caroline Parsons borrowed a comb from an audience member during another for a waxed paper-and-comb solo.Lynn said the concerts fit in with the couple's vision for the house."One of our goals when we came to Quaker House was to operate it in an open and loving way," she said. "Music is a great way to do that."Staff writer Rodger Mullen can be reached at mullenr@fayobserver.com or 486-3561.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at .fayobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存倉