An invitation to the community - Diana McKendree invites you to join her in celebrating the life and legacy of her beloved Fran McKendree. A celebration of Fran's life, love and ministry will be Saturday, September 11th at 2:00pm at Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC. For those interested in housing at Kanuga a registration link will be shared soon.

Fran created circles of love wherever he went. Last week, someone described Fran as having a "seriously special kind of invitational love-light." Yep, that about sums it up. I am guessing that whether you were invited to jam with him late into the night, or to step out of your comfort zone on a stage, or to join in with hundreds of voices in song, or to collaborate with him on a project you experienced that invitational love-light, too. Fran and I started talking about hosting gatherings together in January 2009. Little did I know at the time that he was inviting me into a family. Fran cherished his friends and revelled in watching those he loved come together to create "containers" where transformation might happen. Fran modeled so many wonderful things for those of us who were blessed to spend time with him. His ability to create family was one of his superpowers. My life is so much richer because of the relationships he invited me into. A true blessing. I share with you some messages from a few of the folks Fran called family. Ann Holtz Waynesville, NC

No one has touched my life and my heart like Fran has. No One. No one has had more of a hand in dragging my soul-self into the driver's seat of my life. I owe so much to Fran that it is impossible to repay him in any way but to pay it forward. Having worked in public with him for over 24 years, I have witnessed the impact he has had on thousands upon thousands. When he was loving, when he was vulnerable, when he was playful, when he was listening in that intensely compassionate and thoughtful way... that was no act. It was just who he was to the core. Charles Milling soon to be Charlotte, NC

Fran invited me to sing one morning using a microphone and joining him in doing a Spiritual. I had never done that before and I doubt that I will ever do it again. Only Fran, with that wonderful smile and big open hearted invitation, could make it seem such a sensible thing to do. I miss him already. Peace, Catherine Meeks Atlanta, GA

Fran first visited Tiorabhàin here in South West Ireland in the early 90's and fell in love with the wild Atlantic terrain and our family farmhouse where himself and Diana visited many times. A lasting friendship was formed, built upon wonderful memories, reciprocal visits, music and a shared love of the outdoors. Fran named his home recording studio after our little village, something we are so proud of here. We look at our little farmhouse and think Fran and Diana. The world has lost an amazingly kind and gentle man but to translate the Gaelic saying 'Nì imithe uainn, ach imithe romhainn' (He is not gone from us but before us.) Ar dheis Dè go raibh a anam dìlis. (May his soul rest in peace) The Daly and Kearney Families Tiorabhàin, Ballyferriter, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Fran, you are the kindest friend ever. Your generosity of spirit is boundless. You will always live inside my heart. Love you forever, River Guerguerian Asheville,

Fran patiently and kindly worked with me over 13 years to draw out the full expression of my own heart and soul in ministry. He did that by showing me his ... he brought his whole Self to our work and inspires me to keep going in that Way. Like so many of us are, I'm now taking the love and wisdom that Fran shared with me out into the world. Tom Brackett  Asheville, NC

His name is Fran McKendree. He’s more like a Godfather to me. He was a true artist and talented musician, singer and song writer. He loved to walk in the woods and he loved to write. His words on pages would carry anyone deeper into themselves where we all become connected. He was an amazing friend and husband to Diana, and together they could move mountains. He was an activist and was deeply enraged by the recent political unrest, environmental damage, and racism - and he channeled all of that into music for impact, and opportunities to gather for discussions to think creatively and act with focused direction for social change. He is a Legend. Lindsay McKinnon Roanoke, VA

In our journey through life, we all encounter a lot of people. A select few inspire us and make us feel seen, loved, valued for who we are. "This is what a good human being is like," we think. "To be around this person helps me be my best self. It is a gift and blessing to know this person." Fran McKendree is one such person in my life. He is someone whose presence I simply and sincerely enjoyed. His artistry carried the sweetness, kindness, and depth of who he was, and carried a gentle current of the grace, goodness, and artistry of God. We met when we were past fifty, but I have always felt around Fran like I felt with my best friends from childhood, alive, happy, and sure that fun was around the corner. He has lived a good, beautiful, and true life indeed. Brian McLaren Marco Island, FL

Thank you for inviting me to spend time with you on stage. I know that it’s not your job to help me feel alive, complete, and whole, that’s my job. But when I was on stage with you at Kanuga for so many years, I felt alive, complete, and whole. When I was on stage with you, I knew who I was, I knew what to do, I felt like I was right where I needed to be. Seamless harmonies, good grooves, for me, it was perfect. Sam Hensley Austin, TX

Fran, a captain like no other. ONWARD was our call to action. A call to action which could easily include non-action like sitting around a kitchen table for hours on end laughing at life’s most simple pleasure. Let us remember Fran wanted us to embrace and experience the beauty and preciousness of life. ONWARD brother! Eric Murrell New Orleans, LA

How can I even find the words? Fran has been an unwavering source of tender love and guidance in so many aspects of my life. Thank you for your friendship and willingness to walk with me as I have grown up. Your influence has permeated into all the nooks and crannies of my being, and I pray that I may be able to honor your spirit throughout my life. Thank you for your love, your wisdom, your stories, and most precious friendship, Fran. I love you. Lindsey Blount Frieburg, Germany

It was a chance meeting at a large youth gathering that turned into forty years of Spirit-filled collaboration. It was an imaginative programmatic conversation over a meal in a dining hall – “Wonder what it would be like…” Fran offered his gifts of music and song, I offered my gifts of spoken word and prayer, and the Holy synchronicity that created a seamless rhythm between us became decades of holy partnership. https://brianprior.com/2021/06/12/external-circle-of-lovefran-mckendree/ Brian Prior Spokane Valley, WA

I call Fran my relentless angel, because he is so gently insistent about calling me to the things that matter in this life, and placing them before me in ways that are impossible to resist. Through the years, he has sent me new songs he has written at the exact moment when I needed them. He has called me into community when I wanted to stay safe in my one person monastery. He has shown me what it looks like to live straight from the heart, and though he has never spoken of what it costs to live that way, I know it has cost him. He is my big brother in faith, whom I share with thousands of other people who think of him the same way--or maybe I am one of his many, many children? Whatever he is to me, he is my precious kin, and I will never stop being grateful for being in his circle of care.  Barbara Brown Taylor Clarkesville, GA

A final note from Ann - One of the many things I loved about collaborating with Fran was that he would send me unexpected gifts. One Sunday morning a few years ago, I had an email from Fran that said “I wrote a song this morning.” Attached was a rough version of his protest song Rise Up. Other times he would share pieces of poetry or writing that had caught his attention. Often, he would share early versions of songs that he and Lindsey were writing together. This past January, he sent me a rough mix of a Pete Seager song that he and Lindsey were working on. I think you will recognize it. This was the last recording of his voice that he sent me. I am sharing this gift with you. Click Here. You might want a tissue.

AwakeningSoul Is the collaborative partnership of Fran McKendree and Ann Holtz. Fran was a gifted musician based in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Ann is both a spiritual director and an independent consultant. She lives in Waynesville, NC. Together they formed AwakeningSoul to offer spiritual events to feed hungry souls. Ann can be reached at annawakening@gmail.com or 865-414-8509.  AwakeningSoul Banner Images are used by permission ~ Holly Doll (c), Rara Schlitt (c), and Mary How (c)

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