Weekend on Wednesday
Episcopal News Service. July 21, 2004 [072104-2-A]
Coming up Sunday, July 25, 2004...
BOSTON -- During next week's Democratic National Convention in Boston, Old North Church will host a welcome service for delegates at 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 25. A courtyard reception will follow the service, and all are welcome. Massachusetts Bishop Suffragan Gayle E. Harris will be the celebrant. Sponsoring the service with Old North Church are the Diocese of Massachusetts and its Episcopal City Mission agency, along with the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations.
Old North Church, memorialized in Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," is known for its famous steeple, where sexton Robert Newman on April 18, 1775, hung the two lanterns that warned Charlestown patriots of the advance of British soldiers, symbolizing the beginning of America's Revolutionary War. The historic church is located at 193 Salem Street in Boston's North End, just a few blocks from the DNC site.
Old North Church will be open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. during the July 26-29 convention. Through the summer, Old North Church also offers weekly "Paul Revere Tonight" shows. Information: 617.523.6676; http://www.oldnorth.com/.
Also in Boston this week: Wednesday, July 28, 4:30-6pm, the Rev. Dr. James Forbes, civil rights activist and senior pastor of Riverside Church in New York City will speak at an interfaith service and rally, "Let Justice Roll: An Interfaith Service," at the Old South Church (United Church of Christ) 645 Boylston St. (corner of Boylston and Dartmouth Streets, next to the Copley Square T station). Bishop Gayle Harris will participate in the service along with other religious leaders.
Sponsored by various organizations including the National Council of Churches, the event will encourage voter registration and participation and seek commitments from Democratic delegates to support policies that help meet the needs of the poor. Because space is limited, reservations are requested and should be placed by July 26 with the Episcopal City Mission by phone (617.482.4826, ext. 579) or e-mail (randerson@diomass.org).
NANTUCKET, Massachusetts -- The Rev. Dr. Peter J. Gomes of Harvard University's Memorial Church returns to St. Paul's Church (20 Fair Street) in Nantucket as guest preacher on Sunday, July 25, at the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services. Known for his dynamic preaching, Gomes is the author of "Strength for the Journey: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living"; "The Good Life: Truths that Last in Times of Need"; and "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart." Information is available from St. Paul's Church at 508.228.0916 or http://www.stpaulsnantucket.org/.
NEW YORK -- The New York City premiere of James Buonemani's "Missa Miamiensis" will be featured at 11 a.m. this Sunday, July 25, at St. Bartholomew's Church, 109 East 50th St. (at Park Avenue), New York, NY 10022; 212.378.0200; http://www.stbarts.org/. This Choral Eucharist continues the parish's on-going Summer Festival of Sacred Music directed by William Trafka.
The American composer, conductor and organist James Buonemani is the organist and choirmaster of St. James' Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. Composed in 1994 while Buonemani was on sabbatical in Miami, his Mass is scored for the unique combination of choir, organ, piano, soprano saxophone and percussion. The writing is at times rhythmically vital, at other times profoundly visionary, but always faithful to the meaning of the text.
WASHINGTON, D. C. -- State Day prayers this Sunday will remember New Jersey 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/.
Preacher for the cathedral's 11am Eucharist will be the Rev. Canon Samuel Van Culin, former Secretary General of the Anglican Communion.
Next Sunday, Aug. 1: State Day prayers will remember Georgia.
Washington National Cathedral also continues to honor "the Greatest Generation" with Veterans' Tours of War Memorial Chapel and other military-related features, now through Labor Day, and with the exhibit "Faith & Courage: U.S. Chaplains' Service in World War II," now through September 26, (Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, Saturday 10 am-4 pm; Sunday 1-4 pm) Rare Book Library Exhibit Room.
And on Wednesday, July 28...
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA -- "If Mel Gibson is Wrong, Are We Still Saved?" The Rev. Dr. Ellen K. Wondra, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary Professor of Theology and Ethics, will explore this question in a lecture on Wednesday evening, July 28, from 7-9 p.m., at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, on the hill above Lake Otis and Tudor.
Wondra will lead the group through an exploration of what it means to "be saved," and why the Mel Gibson movie "The Passion of the Christ" was "both helpful and very unhelpful to so many in their search for God and a deeper relationship with Christ," Wondra notes Dr. Wondra will look at Christian teachings as the group examines questions such as: "What exactly does it mean to be saved? ... and from what, (or is it whom?) Throughout Christian history, how have these questions been asked and answered differently than today?
Wondra was named as Professor of Theology and Ethics at Seabury Western Theological Seminary this past Fall, having been on the faculty of Colgate Rochester / Bexley Hall Seminary in Rochester, New York, since 1989. She earned a B.A. in Religion from Pomona College in 1972, M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in 1976, and a Ph.D. in Christian Theology from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago in 1991.
Author or co-author of more than 20 books, essays, articles, and ecumenical documents, Wondra has been an invited speaker at numerous theological forums. She has served the Episcopal Church both at the diocesan and national level and has been a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Consultation in the U.S.A. since 1992.
Contact person: the Rev. Michael Burke, rector, or the Rev. Connie Jones, associate rector, St. Mary's, 907.563.3341.
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