Weeks Ahead
Episcopal News Service. October 12, 2005 [101205-3-A]
This weekend, October 14-16, has been designated as the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths. Under the theme "Putting Our Faith into Action to Seek Justice for Children," the weekend of observances is set to generate new long-term efforts to meet the needs of children by raising awareness, serving children directly, and advocating on their behalf. The Episcopal Church's Children's Ministries is one of more than 200 denominations and religious organizations who unite on the third weekend in October to speak out and act faithfully for children and families.
* LONDON, ENGLAND: Two new books are launched
* WASHINGTON, D.C.: Danforth and Wallis to speak at Washington National Cathedral
* SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Diocese of Utah's 100th convention
* BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA: Diocesan Convention
* SPOKANE, WASHINGTON: Diocesan Convention
* SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA: Center to present healing mission with Bishop William Frey
* CLEVELAND, OHIO: Bishop Spong weekend speaker at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
* PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA: Pumpkins are in the patch
* NEW YORK CITY: Doing Church -- a Conference for Absolutely Everyone
* SCHNECKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA: Blue Mountain Gospel Singers
* LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Theatrical premiere of play based on the life of Bishop Spong
* NEW YORK CITY: Music is in the air at St. Bartholomew's Church
* NEW YORK CITY: Adult education forums in October at St. James Church
* PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Conference teaches church planting
* ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Virginia Theological Seminary event
* BETHLEHEM, PENNSLYVANIA: Trinity Episcopal Church offers music filled weekend
Today...
LONDON, ENGLAND: Two new books launched - - - A book signing and reception will be held at the Guard Room in Lambeth Palace from 6-8 p.m. for the launching of "Approaching Christmas" by Jane Williams and "St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas" by Jim Rosenthal and Joe Wheeler. RSVP to AUDE PASQUIER, SPCK Westminster 0207 799 5083 or email london@spck.org.uk
Coming October 13, 2005...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Danforth and Wallis to speak at Washington National Cathedral - - - Former Senator and UN Ambassador John Danforth and noted evangelical author Jim Wallis will speak at the "Values, Vision and the Via Media" conference at the Washington National Cathedral, October 13-15. The program will outline practical Christian approaches to topics ranging from economics, consumerism, and the environment to peacemaking and family values. For information and registration visit http://www.everyvoice.net/values
Coming October 14, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Diocese of Utah's 100th convention - - - The 100th diocesan convention of Utah will meet October 14-15 at the Davis Conference Center, in Layton, under the theme "Living Boldly."
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON: Diocesan Convention - - - Spokane's diocesan convention will meet October 14-16.
BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA: Diocesan Convention - - - Bethlehem's diocesan convention will meet October 14-16.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA: Center to present healing mission with Bishop William Frey - - - Scottsdale's Center for Health and Reconciliation at St. Anthony' on the Desert Episcopal Church will present Bishop William Frey, retired bishop of Colorado, at a weekend healing mission October 14-16. Frey will address the ways in which the quality of our relationships affect the quality of our health and preach at the various services. This event is free and open to the public. For registration and further information call 480.451.7792.
Coming October 15, 2005...
CLEVELAND, OHIO: Bishop Spong weekend speaker at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral - - - Bishop John Shelby Spong, former Bishop of Newark and incisive critic of Christian tradition and practice, will be the guest speaker at a day-long workshop at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. His morning lecture is titled "The Bible: The Word of God? and the afternoon lecture "God: Beyond Theism, but not Beyond God." Admission for the workshop is $25. To register, call 216.774.0414 or email mmetz@dohio.org. On October 16, Spong will also speak at a free forum titled "Christ: Beyond Incarnation, but not Beyond Divinity" and preach at the Cathedral's 11:15 a.m. service. He is the author of The Sins of Scripture and Why Christianity Must Change or Die.
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA: Pumpkins are in the patch - - - St. Margaret's Episcopal Church's Pumpkin Patch will open on the Karns Lawn at 9 a.m. Come enjoy pumpkin decorating, storytelling, browsing, or making pumpkin bread. The pumpkin patch will be open through October 30. For more information and hours call Chet Hecht at 760.346.2697 or visit http://www.stmargarets.org/StartPage/Ministries/ParishLife.html.
NEW YORK CITY: Doing Church -- a Conference for Absolutely Everyone! - - - Over 80 workshops will inform, priests, deacons, lay, and those just interested about new ministries and programs to expand some of those currently offered in their congregations. The day begins with worship at 9 a.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine with Bishop Suffragan Catherine Roskam celebrating and the Rev. Canon Pat Mitchell, Canon for Christian Formation, preaching. Workshops follow at 10 a.m. Visit http://www.dioceseny.org for workshop information, and registration.
SCHNECKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA: Blue Mountain Gospel Singers - - - St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church presents Blue Mountain Gospel Singers featuring southern and traditional country gospel music at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for general public and $4 for seniors and children. For more information call 610.530.1972.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Theatrical premiere of play based on the life of Bishop Spong - - - As part of EdgeFest 2005, Will & Company, a theatre ensemble based at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, present "A Pebble in My Shoe: The Life and Times of John Shelby Spong by Colin Cox, October 15, 16, 22 & 23, at 5:15 p.m. at the Tom Bradley Theatre. Spong, the former Bishop of Newark who ordained the first openly gay Episcopal priest in the United States, is one of the leading spokespersons in the world for an open, scholarly, and progressive Christianity. This full length play introduces you to this amazing man of the cloth who believes in the true spirit of humanity. Tickets are $15. For more information visit http://www.willandcompany.com/.
Coming October 16, 2005...
NEW YORK CITY: Music is in the air at St. Bartholomew's Church - - - There are five more opportunities this month to enrich your spirit musically at St. Bartholomew's Church, located at 109 East 50th Street. The "Bach Cantatas in Context," series that is devoted to the glorious sacred vocal music of Johann Sebastian Bach, continues on October 16 at 3 p.m. with Four Inauguration Cantatas, BWV 29, 69, 120, 193. These festive works offer praise and thanksgiving for past blessings and request guidance for all who govern. Concert tickets are $35, $25, and $15 students/seniors. The "Voices Recital Series" begins October 18 at 7:30 p.m. with Melissa Attebury, mezzo soprano and special guest Carol Ambrogio, soprano. Recital tickets are $20 and $15 students/seniors. The "Commuter Series" continues October 19 at 6:30 p.m. with Jon Manasse, clarinetist, performing Brahms’ Sonata No. 1 and Bassi's Rigoletto Fantasy. Tickets are $20 and $15 students/seniors. "Manhattan Voices" kicks off October 26 at 7:30 p.m. with "To B or Not to B" a primarily a cappella performance of the music of Bach, Brahms, Bernstein, Barber, Billings, Berkeley, Byrd and Benjamin Britten. Concert tickets are $20 and $15 students/seniors. The month concludes with the October 29, 7:30 p.m. performance of "The Pharos Music Project: New Choral Music." Vocal composers James Blachly, Patrick Castillo, and Martha Sullivan spearhead this new-music collective that features an a cappella choral. Tickets are $20 and $15 students/seniors. For more information on Pharos visit http://www.pharosmusicproject.org. For more information on music at St. Bartholomew's call 212.378.0248.
NEW YORK CITY: Adult education forums in October at St. James Church - - - Adult education forums continue in October at St. James Church, located at 865 Madison Avenue at 71st Street, at 10:15 a.m. in the East or Sunderland Halls. On October 16, "Reaching Out Beyond These Walls: St. James' Church and Childcare in the South Bronx" with John Sanchez, executive director, of the East Side House Settlement, will be held in the East Hall while "Tough Faith: The Sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22" will be the topic led by parishioner Susan Lee, in Sunderland Hall. October 23 brings "Parenting Book Discussion: J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye " with Dorothy Hutcheson, Head of School, the Nightingale-Bamford School, and the Rev. Craig Townsend to the East Hall and "On Christian Community" Sister Grace, Society of St. Margaret, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Sunderland Hall. The month of forums ends on October 30 with "Family Rituals" by Sybil Wolin, author, The Resilient Self in the East Hall and "Religion and the Press" by Jonathan Meacham, managing editor, Newsweek Magazine, in Sunderland Hall. For additional information, visit http://www.stjames.org.
Coming October 17, 2005...
PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Conference teaches church planting - - - The national offices of Congregational and Ethnic Congregational Development are sponsoring the "Plant My Church: Music and Worship in the New Start" conference October 17-18 in response to a growing and critical need for expertise and information on how to start and grow a church in varying contexts within the Episcopal tradition. The keynote speaker is Tex Sample, whose expertise is in American culture, social theory, and theological ethics. For further information visit http://www.episcopalchurch.org/23233_ENG_HTM.htm or call Sarah Johnson at 800.334.7626 ext. 6283.
Coming October 18, 2005...
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA: Virginia Theological Seminary event - - - The Very Rev. Richard Giles, dean of the Philadelphia Cathedral, will speak on "Repitching the Tent: Reordering the Church Building for Worship and Mission" at Virginia Theological Seminary in Addison 101 at 4 p.m. Admission is free. For addition information email sshillinglaw@vts.edu.
Coming October 22, 2005...
BETHLEHEM, PENNSLYVANIA: Trinity Episcopal Church offers music filled weekend - - - The 2005-2006 Concert Series at Trinity Episcopal Church begins next weekend with the golden anniversary celebration of their Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. On October 22, 7:30 p.m. sopranos Anneliese von Goerken and Linda Laubach and the Women of Trinity Choir, accompanied by Trinity organist Lorenz Maycher, will perform music by Bach, Fauré, Handel, Langlais, Vierne, Weinberger, and Widor. On October 23, 9:15 a.m., come hear the history of Trinity's pipe organ and the evolution of this instrument with Dr. Charles Callahan. In the afternoon at 3 p.m., stay for a concert of "Favorite Anthems" followed by a reception. All three events are free and open to the public. For additional information email lorenz@ trinitybeth.org.