Online Advent Calendar Promotes Prayer, Giving
Episcopal News Service. December 1, 2004 [120104-2-A]
The Episcopal Diocese of Washington unveiled its first online Advent calendar today as a joint venture with the National Cathedral's Visitor Programs office. The Calendar can be found on-line at: http://www.edow.org/spirituality/advent/index.html
The calendar was designed for three purposes: to promote the Cathedral's 15th annual crèche exhibit; to provide users with easy access to seasonal meditations and scripture readings; and to alert users to holiday giving opportunities through Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD).
The crèche exhibit includes 88 crèches from 45 countries, and is on display in the Rare Book Library on the first floor of the cathedral until January 15. It includes crèches made from seed pods, bread dough, beeswax, hand carved precious woods, delicate porcelain and recycled soda cans, said Mimi McNamara, communications coordinator for Visitor Programs.
The calendar was created by Amy Elliott, the diocesan web master, using the stained glass image of an angel visiting shepherds that is found in the Cathedral's Bethlehem Chapel. Various sections of the windows bear a number from one to 25. By clicking on a number, Web users will open a pop-up window containing a photograph from the crèche exhibit, background information on the item and links to a daily meditation, a daily cycle of prayers and a page from ERD's Gifts for Living catalog which offers giving opportunities that range from buying school furniture for a Haitian child to providing care for AIDS orphans in Africa. (http://erd.servicenetwork.com/Store/CatalogList.asp)
Coming up Friday, December 3, 2004...
LOS ANGELES - The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles will hold its annual convention in the Ben H. Lewis Hall of the Riverside Convention Center, 3443 Orange Street, Riverside, California, from Friday, Dec. 3 - Saturday, Dec. 4.
NEW YORK - St. James' Episcopal Church will host the annual city-wide 20s/30s Christmas Party at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3. Young adults from Episcopal churches in Manhattan will gather to celebrate the Christmas season with food, fellowship and Christmas carols. Further information: Katie Moorhead, katiemoorhead@stjames.org.
St. James' Episcopal Church, 865 Madison Avenue at 71st St., New York, NY 10021.
Coming up Saturday, December 4, 2004...
LEXINGTON, Kentucky - "Embraced by Love, An Advent Quiet Afternoon" will be held from 1:00-3:30 p.m. in the Parish House of Church of the Good Shepherd, Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday, Dec. 4. Organized by the Diocesan Prayer and Spirituality Commission, the event will be led by the Rev. Ginny Eklund, Deacon, and the Celebrant for the Eucharist will be the Rev. Jim Campbell.
For directions and map, please visit: http://www.goodshepherdlex.org/direct.htm. No registration fee or charge for the lunch; however, in recognition of this day of solidarity with the Diocese of Haiti, a contribution of $5.00 is suggested.
Church of the Good Shepherd, 533 East Main Street (at Bell Court), Lexington, KY 40508. Tel: 859.252.1744.
Coming up Sunday, December 5, 2004...
BOSTON - A special Sunday night forum, "The Music of Advent," will be held at 7:15 p.m. at Trinity Church, Copley Square, on Sunday, Dec. 5. The forum will immediately follow the 6 p.m. service, during which the choir will perform seasonal works.
The 10:15 a.m. Trinity Forum: "A Christian Looks at Success" will be presented by Laura Nash, Harvard Business School.
Trinity Church, 206 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116. Tel: 617.536.0944.
CHICAGO - A service of Advent Lessons and Carols will be held at St. James Cathedral, Chicago at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5.
St. James Cathedral, 65 E. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: 312.751.6723.
FALLBROOK, California - A service of Advent Lessons and Carols will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec 5.
St. John's Episcopal Church, 434 Iowa St., Fallbrook, CA 92028. Tel: 760.728.2908.
FARIBAULT, Minnesota - An Ecumenical Advent Festival at the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, Faribault will begin at 3 p.m. The third annual community-wide festival will include readers and musicians from six local church choirs. For more information, call the Cathedral office at 507.334.7732.
Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, 515 2nd Ave. NW, Faribault, Minnesota.
NEW YORK - Mass with a Beat -- an Advent hearth service -- will be held at Church of the Epiphany, New York, on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. The service will feature candles, cushions, and wassail, with a sermon by Bowie Snodgrass, web content editor for the Episcopal Church.
Music by Isaac Everett, composer and pianist, will be performed on piano, concertina, viola, bass, and drums. Artist-in-residence at the Church of the Epiphany, a company member of Storahtelling: Jewish Ritual Theatre Revived, and a performer in the off-Broadway show, Automatic Superstar (Club El Flamingo), Everett's work has been described as "exquisite and evocative" by NYTheatre.com and "compassionate and brusquely humorous" by New York Press. (http://www.isaaceverett.com/)
Further information about Mass with a Beat can be found on-line at: http://www.masswithabeat.org/.
Church of the Epiphany, York Avenue at 74th St, New York, NY 10021. Tel: 212.737.2720.
PASADENA, California - An Advent Festival and Lessons & Carols will be held at All Saints Church, Pasadena, at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. Coventry Choir performs music by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Frank Ferko, William Byrd, Elizabeth Poston, Franz Biebi and Herbert Howells. For information on music events, contact Melissa Hayes at 626.583.2725 or mhayes@allsaints-pas.org.
All Saints Church, 132 North Euclid Avenue, Pasadena, California 91101-1796. Tel: 626.796.1172.
PORTLAND, Maine - The Harvard-Radcliffe Collegium Musicum, under the direction of Dr. Jameson Marvin, will present a concert of German choral music at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in Portland, Maine. The program will include works of J. S. Bach, Schuetz, Herzogenberg, and Rheinberger. Further information: amelton@cathedralofstluke.org.
Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 143 State St., Portland 04101. Tel: 207.772.5434. http://www.cathedralofstluke.org/.
SAN FRANCISCO, California - The forum at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, will feature Heather Fong, San Francisco Chief of Police, from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, at Gresham Hall, on the Crypt Level of the Cathedral.
Chief Heather Fong represents a new regime in the San Francisco Police Department. The police department was at the forefront of controversy with allegations of police misconduct right before Fong took on the task of Chief of Police. Since coming into power, the 27-year department veteran has made a positive impact with a range of reforms designed to make officers more accountable to the general public. How does she plan to rebuild the department's reputation and what is her response to the recent surge in homicide within San Francisco borders?
Moderated by the Very Rev. Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral, the forum is free, donations accepted. Further information: 415.749.6360 or email Larry Bisagni at larryb@gracecathedral.org.
Grace Cathedral, 1100 California Street, San Francisco, California 94108. http://www.gracecathedral.org/.
STILLWATER, Minnesota - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held at Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Stillwater, at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5. Joining the choirs of Ascension will be Gary Bordner and Lynn Erickson on trumpet, and organist J. Michael Compton. This service has been a tradition at Ascension since 1983. Further information: Nancy Whipkey at 651.439.2609.
Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 214 North 3rd Street, Stillwater, Minnesota.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - State Day prayers this Sunday will remember Mississippi 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 Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, Episcopal bishop of New York, guest preacher, 11 a.m. Next Sunday, Dec. 5: State Day prayers will celebrate South Dakota.
J. Reilly Lewis will conduct the Cathedral Choral Society at this year's annual Messiah concert at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, in the Nave of Washington National Cathedral. The concert will feature soloists: Soprano Kendra Colton, Countertenor Daniel Taylor, Tenor John McVeigh and local favorite, Bass Jon Bruno. To order tickets please call: 202.537.5527.
ANGLICAN COMMUNION - Following the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, this Sunday (2 Advent) will give thanks for Puerto Rico (Province IX, USA), the Rt. Rev. David Andres Alvarez-Velazquez, bishop. The Anglican Cycle of Prayer can be accessed online at: www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/main.cfm.
Coming up Monday, December 6, 2004...
SAN DIEGO, California - The Pacific Academy of Ecclesiastical Music (PACEM) will perform Benjamin Britten's cantata "Saint Nicolas" at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 6, (Saint Nicolas' Feast Day) at St Paul's Cathedral, San Diego.
PACEM was founded in 1998 as an ecumenical center for church music and musicians and sponsors many performances and events, as well as classes and workshops for both children and adults throughout the year. Further information: http://www.pacem-music.org/
St. Paul's Cathedral, 2728 Sixth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103. Tel: 619.298.7261.