Week Ahead: King Day Celebrations Set
Episcopal News Service. January 12, 2005 [011205-1-A]
On January 17, Americans will celebrate a national holiday honoring the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. Episcopal congregations will hold events and services throughout the weekend recognizing King's efforts towards strengthening communities, alleviating poverty, and acknowledging dignity and respect for all human beings.
Coming up Thursday, January 13, 2005...
ATLANTA, Georgia - On Thursday evenings in January, the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta will host "A Symphony of Sacred Texts" from 7 – 8:30 p.m. in the Great Hall.
Find out what the Torah, Christian Scriptures, and the Koran say about various topics. Meet Rabbis, Christian Pastors, and Imams as they celebrate their Sacred Texts, and enjoy the company of the Atlanta Interfaith community.
This Thursday, Jan. 13, the cathedral will welcome Rabbi Judith Biener, The Temple; Meghan T. Sweeney, Ph.D. Candidate, Graduate Division of Religion, Emory University; and Imam Plemon El-Amin, the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam.
The Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Tel: 404.365.1000. www.stphilipscathedral.org.
Coming up Saturday, January 15, 2005...
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - The Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Steenson will be consecrated Bishop Co-adjutor of the Diocese of the Rio Grande by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold during a special service at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15, at the Cathedral Church of St. John, Albuquerque. Steenson will be the 1000th bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.
Due to space limitations, reservations and tickets are required and are no longer available. Those interested in observing and participating may do so by connecting to a live webcast of the consecration service. Full details on how to access the webcast can be found online at: http://www.stjohnsabq.org/Contacts/Diocesan.htm#consecration.
The Rev. Dr. Steenson, 52, has served the diocese as canon to the ordinary, or executive assistant to the diocesan bishop, since 2000, gaining a wide knowledge of the diocese, including its larger parishes and many rural missions.
From 1989 to 2000, Steenson was rector of St. Andrew's Church in Fort Worth, Texas, and previously served as rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pennsylvania. He has been a board member of the Living Church Foundation since 1987. He holds a doctorate in theology from Oxford, a master's in divinity from Harvard Divinity School, a master's in church history from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a bachelor's in history from Trinity College.
Married to Debra J. Arnold since 1974, Steenson is the father of three adult children. He will begin ministry as diocesan bishop following Bishop Terence Kelshaw's retirement effective July 31, 2005. Kelshaw has been bishop of the Rio Grande since 1989.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota - A concert, "Music for Midwinter," will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15, at St. Mark's Cathedral, Minneapolis.
The vocal ensemble Virgin Ground will perform songs, carols, and chants, from Hildegard von Bingen to Houston Bright. The concert will also feature the ensemble's premiere commission: a setting by St. Paul composer David Moore of Tom Hennen's "The One and Only Day." Tickets: $15 for adults; $10 concessions; children 12 and younger, free.
St. Mark's Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove St, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403. Tel: 612.870.7800. http://www.st-marks-cathedral.org.
Coming up Sunday, January 16, 2005...
BOSTON - This week's Trinity Forum, "Faith and the City," will be presented by the Rev. Hurmon E. Hamilton, Senior Pastor of the Roxbury Presbyterian Church (RPC) and CEO of RPC Social Impact Center, Inc., at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, at Trinity Church, Boston.
Hamilton, a leader of Boston's African-American religious community, discusses new spiritual forces alive and at work today in the city of Boston and how they affect his faith and ours.
Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Tel: 617.536.0944. http://www.trinityboston.org/default.asp.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio - The Rev. Angela Ifill will speak about her experiences in the field as national missioner for the Office of Black Ministries in the Episcopal Church at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. A reception with refreshments begins at 6:00 p.m.
Taking as her text a passage from the Letter to the Hebrews [4:16], "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need," Ifill will share how all Christians are called to follow Christ in the new, living way as God's pilgrim people.
On Sunday morning, Ifill will be guest preacher at 9:00 a.m. at St. Paul's, and at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Church, Shaker Heights. The evening's event is sponsored jointly by both parishes.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, 2747 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106. Tel: 216.932.5815.
NEW YORK - The Rev. Canon Nan Peete will be the guest preacher at St. Paul's Chapel and Trinity Church on Sunday, Jan. 16. She will preach at the 8 a.m. service at St. Paul's, and at both the 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services at Trinity. Additionally, she will lead an adult forum at 1 p.m. in the second-floor parlor at 74 Trinity Place.
Peete, who previously served as associate for Pastoral and Outreach ministries at Trinity, is currently Canon for Deployment and Ordination for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, D.C. She was one of the keynote speakers at the Afro-Anglican conference held in Cape Town, South Africa in 1995, and participated in the first Afro-Anglican conference in Barbados in 1985. She is regularly invited to share her wisdom and discuss her experiences at both national and international assemblies, conventions and meetings.
St. Paul's Chapel, 209 Broadway, New York, NY 10007. Tel: 212.233.4164. http://www.saintpaulschapel.org.
Trinity Church, 74 Trinity Place, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212.602.0800. http://www.trinitywallstreet.org.
NEW YORK - Episcopal Asian American Ministry-New York will hold a special Requiem Mass for the Tsunami Victims in Asia at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, at the Church of Our Savior in Chinatown.
A special collection will be offered for relief and rehabilitation efforts in South Asia through Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) and the Diocese of Madras. "We wish to invite you and your congregation to come and be in solidarity as we pray for the victims, their families and the efforts at rehabilitation."
Episcopal Church of Our Savior, 48 Henry Street, New York, NY 10002. Tel: 212.233.2899. http://www.ecoserve.org.
SAN FRANCISCO, California - The Forum at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, will feature Kevin Starr from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, at Gresham Hall, on the Crypt Level of the Cathedral. Author and USC professor, Starr is one of California's premier historians. His latest book, "Coast of Dreams: California on the Edge," is a reflection of the Golden State's last decade.
Starr will share an in-depth, contemporary look at California, exploring politics, the multifaceted business landscape, its stunning natural environment, controversial icons and California's rich cultures and diversity.
Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. (at Taylor St.), San Francisco, California 94108. Tel: 415.749.6300. http://www.gracecathedral.org.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - State Day prayers this Sunday will remember Iowa in liturgies at Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues Northwest (Mount St. Alban), Washington, D.C., 20016; 202.537.6200; http://www.cathedral.org. The Rev. Eugene T. Sutton, Canon Pastor & Director of the Center for Prayer & Pilgrimage, will be the preacher at the 11 a.m. service. Next Sunday, Jan. 23: State Day prayers will remember Texas.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A jointly sponsored Benefit Concert for the Victims of the Tsunami Earthquake will be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan 16, at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb Street. Donations are requested at the door, with all proceeds going to the Washington Hebrew Congregation Ritzenberg Humanitarian Fund or Episcopal Relief and Development for victim assistance.
Featured artists will be Otoniel Gonzaga (tenor), born in the Philippines, and well known as Prince Souchong in Franz Lehár's The Land of Smiles, and whose active career has included an appearance as guest artist at the 50th anniversary celebration of the United Nations, Barbara Dever (mezzo-soprano), who made a debut in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida at the Metropolitan Opera in 1994, and whose extensive career since has included a concert with Luciano Pavarotti on Pavarotti Plus, Great Performances at Lincoln Center, and Scott Hanoian, Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at Washington National Cathedral, who has performed widely in evensongs and concerts at cathedrals throughout Europe, including St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Notre Dame Cathedral, Chartres Cathedral, and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Please note: This concert takes place at the Washington Hebrew Congregation, located at 3935 Macomb Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20016, not at the Cathedral. Since parking at the concert site is limited, however, we encourage you to park at the Cathedral and take a healthy stroll (less than half a mile) to the concert.
ANGLICAN COMMUNION - Following the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, this Sunday (2 Epiphany) will honor the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Pray for the World Council of Churches and all institutions and organizations promoting Christian unity and for the healing of all schisms within the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Pray especially for the Anglican Centre in Rome, Bishop John Flack, director, and the work of the Ecumenical office in London and the various commissions of the Anglican Consultative Council.
Give thanks for Lincoln -- (Canterbury, England) -- and the Rt. Rev. John Charles Saxbee, bishop. The Anglican Cycle of Prayer can be accessed online at: www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/main.cfm.
Coming up Monday, January 17, 2005...
NEW YORK - Episcopal parishes in the Bronx will gather together for their annual celebration of the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 17. This year the service will be held at St. Luke's Church, 777 East 222nd Street. Bishop Mark Sisk of New York will be the celebrant; preacher will be the Rev. Canon Edmond Desueza, Pastor of Buen Pastor/Good Shepherd, Newburgh.
As a further tribute to Dr. King, the Bronx Council has established a Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Offering received on the day of the celebration goes towards this Fund. This year, scholarships were awarded to six deserving students from Bronx parishes. For those unable to attend the Service, gifts to the Scholarship Fund may be made payable to the Northwest Bronx IPC, earmarked: MLK Scholarship Fund, and sent to the Church of the Holy Nativity, 3061 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467. Attention: Richard Kelly, Treasurer.
St. Luke's Church, 777 East 222nd Street and Barnes Avenue, Bronx, New York.