Seattle folk singer brings songs of peace to Highland Avenue Coffeehouse Nov. 13

On Friday, Nov. 13, Mike Stern, a Seattle folk singer and writer of songs about love and justice, returns to the folk stage at 7 p.m. at the Highland Avenue Coffeehouse.

Stern’s roots are in the apple orchards of rural Okanogan Valley in Washington State, but he has traveled extensively while singing and working for peace and justice — including to Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Japan; to Malawi and Zimbabwe on a Habitat for Humanity singing/building trip; to El Salvador for disaster relief following a major earthquake; and to Nicaragua to build a vocational school.

He is retired from a career as a family nurse practitioner and research clinician, focusing on vaccine preventable diseases.

His songs reflect these wide-ranging humanitarian interests, and they draw inspiration from diverse literary, historical, spiritual, and personal influences, ranging from thought-provoking to humorous and from romantic to spiritual. His music evokes feelings of passion, joy, and wonder at the beauty of creation and human diversity.

David Horsey, Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist and columnist, wrote, “Michael Stern’s music is an anthem for an America as it should be — a reminder that peace and justice should be our highest moral values.”

Stern will accompany himself on guitar and banjo and will be joined by Michael Overman, percussionist from Virginia, and Elgin’s own Peg Lehman, singer and autoharp player.

The Highland Avenue Coffeehouse offers folk music, light refreshments, and friendly people in the fellowship hall of the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, 783 W. Highland Ave. in Elgin. It is open to the community. There is no cover charge; donations are appreciated. For information, call 847-741-5124 or go to www.hacob.org.