Week Ahead: Episcopal Urban Caucus to Meet in Newark
Episcopal News Service. February 16, 2005 [021605-1-A]
The Episcopal Urban Caucus has scheduled its 25th national assembly for February 23-26 in Newark, New Jersey, under the theme "Returning to Our Roots: American Cities in an Age of Globalization."
Planners say the urban context of the city and Diocese of Newark will provide a "striking example of the effects of globalization on life today." Caucus members have long been involved in addressing peace-and-justice and anti-poverty issues in U.S. metropolitan areas.
Historian Clement Price will deliver a keynote address titled "Newark Since the Riots" and lead a dialogue on urban ministry in the age of globalization. Local site visits will introduce participants to some of the solutions to problems with which Newark residents and leaders are coping.
Workshops in the form of "hearings" will addresss issues of immigration, jobs, health care, education, housing, economic justice, labor and environment from global and local perspectives, planners say.
U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine (D-New Jersey) has been invited to address in a plenary session issues from government and economic perspectives.
A youth track will be offered for high-school-age Caucus members. Youth will have $15-per-night accommodations at the Seafarer's Institute and visit local points of interest and education in the Newark-New York City area. Scholarship money has been made available for youth members.
During the assembly, the Caucus plans to honor to work of outgoing coordinators Emmett Jarrett and Anne Scheibner. Current Caucus chairperson is Suffragan Bishop Wilfredo Ramos-Orench of Connecticut.
The Urban Caucus has been headquartered in recent years at St. Francis House in New London, Connecticut. Further information and registration details can be found online at: http://www.episcopalurbancaucus.org/. The conference will be held at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark.
[ENS thanks the Episcopal Peace Fellowship for providing information for this story.]
Coming up Saturday, February 19, 2005...
NEW YORK - A service of remembrance and solidarity for victims of the tsunami in South Asia will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City.
Open to the diocese and community, the service and will offer meditations, prayers and a performance of Faure's Requiem by a combined Asian chorus from the Metropolitan area.
Donations will be accepted for the relief effort.
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025. Tel: 212.316.7540. http://www.dioceseny.org/.
Coming up Friday, February 18, 2005...
WASHINGTON, D.C. - "Sacred Circles: A Celebration of Women's Spirituality 2005," will be held at Washington National Cathedral February 18-19.
Fashion designer Eileen Fisher will give a keynote address about compassion in the workplace. Other keynote speakers Friday night and early Saturday morning will include Marianne Williamson, the bestselling author of self-help books on themes such as moving from fear to forgiveness; Zainab Salbi, an Iraq native honored by President Clinton for her organization's work with women on the front lines of 18 war-torn countries; and Sharon Salzberg, a meditation teacher who, together with Jack Kornfield, introduced many Americans to Buddhism.
Salzberg, who has led retreats on compassion worldwide for more than 30 years, will also lead a workshop that is the top draw among early registrants. Several others of the three dozen workshops -- on topics ranging from money to leadership at work -- are already fully booked.
The Sacred Circles conference, which typically draws 1,000 participants, has been offered seven times since it was first conceived in 1996.
Further information: Grace Ogden, 202.537.6240 or gogden@cathedral.org.
Coming up Sunday, February 20, 2005...
BOSTON - This week's Trinity Forum, "Prayer in My Spiritual Journey," will be presented by Lauren Winner, author of "Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath," at 10:15 a.m. in the Church. Winner will speak about the role of prayer in her own remarkable spiritual journey, which is the topic of her best-seller, "Girl Meets God." Copies of Winner's books are available in The Shop, and she will be signing books following this Forum.
This week's Sunday Night Forum, "Staring into the Mystery: Ways of Reading the Bible," will be held from 4:30-5:45 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20, in the Commons of Trinity Church, Boston.
The Sunday Night Forum series during Lent, "Dust Off Your Bibles: Basic Bible Literacy," will be conducted by parishioner H. Mark Smith, who promises these sessions will be "less about dumping data, and more about unlocking mysteries."
Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116. Tel: 617.536.0944. http://www.trinityboston.org/default.asp.
SAN FRANCISCO, California - The Forum at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, will feature former Giants and A's baseball player Vida Blue, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 20, at Gresham Hall, on the Crypt Level of the Cathedral.
One of the most popular athletes in Bay Area sports history, Vida Blue now pitches gems for the community. As a representative for the San Francisco Giants outreach program, Blue now plays a major role in coaching kids on how to be better people. His "Junior Giants" youth baseball program helps youngsters gain confidence, self-esteem, and better athletic skills, but the true reward is becoming a better citizen, not a professional athlete.
Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St. (at Taylor St.), San Francisco, California 94108. Tel: 415.749.6300. http://www.gracecathedral.org/.
SANTURCE, Puerto Rico - The Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac, interim bishop of the Virgin Islands and retired bishop of the Dominican Republic, will be the celebrant and preacher at a Black History Month's Eucharist commemorating Bishop James Theodore Holly (1829-1911) at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Santurce on Sunday, Feb. 20 from 3 - 5 p.m.
In 1874, James Theodore Holly was consecrated the first bishop of Haiti and thus became the Episcopal Church's first black bishop and the second black bishop of a major Christian denomination. In 1878, Holly became the first black bishop present at a Lambeth Conference.
During his episcopacy, Holly also was in charge of the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic, and in 1897, he ordained its first priest.
Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 1401 Ponce de Leon Ave., Santurce, Puerto Rico.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, the new dean of Washington National Cathedral will deliver his first sermons as dean at the Cathedral at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services on Sunday, February 20. Lloyd is the 10th dean of Washington National Cathedral and will be formally installed in his post at a service scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 23.
State Day prayers this Sunday will remember Oregon in liturgies at Washington National Cathedral. Next Sunday, Feb. 27: a major State Day celebration will remember Utah.
Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues Northwest (Mount St. Alban), Washington, D.C., 20016; 202.537.6200; http://www.cathedral.org/.
ANGLICAN COMMUNION - Following the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, this Sunday (2 Lent) will give thanks for the Diocese of Manchester - Hulme - (York, England) and the Rt. Rev. Stephen Richard Lowe, bishop. The Anglican Cycle of Prayer can be accessed online at: www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/main.cfm.
Coming up Monday, February 21, 2005...
NEWCASTLE, Northern Ireland - The Primates of the Anglican Communion will meet at the Dromantine Conference Centre near Newry, Northern Ireland, February 21-25 to receive and discuss the Windsor Report, the culmination of almost a year's dialogue between the 17-member Lambeth Commission on Communion. The report, which was officially released in October 2004, includes recommendations on how the 38 Anglican and Episcopal provinces can remain in communion, especially amid differing viewpoints.
The meeting of the 38 provincial Primates of the Anglican Communion will be centred on Bible study, Eucharist and retreat led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams.
Chairing the meeting will be Archbishop Williams and it will be hosted by the Primate of All Ireland and chairman of the Lambeth Commission, the Most Rev. Robin Eames. The recently commissioned Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, will act as the meeting's secretary.
As at former meetings, the discussions held over these five days are closed. At the end of the meeting, it is expected that the Primates will issue a communiqué, and that a press briefing will be scheduled at the Dromantine Conference Centre.
All journalists wishing to be considered for invitation to the final briefing must complete the accreditation process. A web site containing extensive information regarding the meeting, the Primates, and related material is now online and can be found at: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/primates.
A photocall for the Primates will be held after Evensong at Armagh Cathedral on Tuesday 22 February. Journalists who have sought accreditation for the final briefing will automatically be accredited for this event, and any other additional briefings.
During the meeting, requests for information can either been gained from Canon Jim Rosenthal on +44 7803 894751, who will be at the Dromantine Centre, or from Michael Craske at the Anglican Communion Office in London, on +44 20 7313 3922.
Requests for information concerning the Archbishop of Canterbury should be addressed to the Rev. Jonathan Jennings on +44 7801 964644 or Sarah Williams at Lambeth Palace on + 44 20 7898 1280.
RICHMOND, Virginia - The Lenten 2005 series at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, will welcome the Rev. Dr. John Kinney, dean of the School of Theology at Virginia Union University, as a guest speaker February 21-25.
Kinney, a distinguished systematic theologian, academician and administrator, serves as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaverdam, Virginia.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 815 E. Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Tel: 804.643.3589. stpauls@stpauls-episcopal.org.
Coming up Tuesday, February 22, 2005...
GROSSE POINT, Michigan - "Purple Perspective: A Lenten journey with Bishops of the Church," will be held 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at Christ Church Grosse Point on Tuesdays during Lent. Next Tuesday, Feb. 22, Bishop Wendell Gibbs of Michigan will offer an address titled "Our Gospel Calling: Unity or Unanimity?"
Christ Church Grosse Pointe, 61 Grosse Pointe Boulevard, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan 48236. Tel: 313.885.4841. http://www.christchurchgp.org/.