Religion

Religion Newsbriefs for week of April 10-16

April 11, 2013 By Francesca Norsen Tate Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Irvin_Dale_eB_photo courtesy of Plymouth Church.jpg
Irvin_Dale_eB_photo courtesy of Plymouth Church.jpg
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Plymouth Church Welcomes Back NY Theological Seminary President For Program on ‘Radical Holiness’

The Rev. Dr. Dale Irvin, the president of New York Theological Seminary, returns by popular demand to Plymouth Church, to discuss “Radical Holiness” and its contribution to the founding of this historic church.

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A recognized authority on world Christianity, Rev. Irvin last visited Plymouth in May 2012 to speak on the role of women in the Reformed tradition. This visit, Dr. Irvin will lead another stimulating conversation on religious history and culture. Plymouth’s Christian Spiritual Development Ministry invited him to discuss “Radical Holiness, Christian Perfection, and the Abolitionist Movement in the 19th Century,” a presentation on the religious currents that preceded and influenced Plymouth’s founding.

Dr. Irvin has served as President of New York Theological Seminary since 2006. Plymouth members who have studied or are currently studying at NYTS include the Rev. Al Bunis, seminary intern Rachael Huntley, and Katherine Bartley.

Dr. Irvin’s talk will take place on Sunday, April 21 at 12:30 p.m., in the Plymouth Reception Room. This event is free of charge and open to the community.

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Heights Synagogue Hosts Open House Shabbat Service

The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue invites the community to an Open House Shabbat Evening Service on Friday, April 19.  Come experience the joy and community of BHS as Shabbat is welcomed into the hearts and minds of all present.

BHS is a thriving inclusive Reform Jewish congregation of more than 440 member units: families, couples, and singles living in the nearby Brownstone Brooklyn neighborhood, and DUMBO, Lower Manhattan and other neighborhoods throughout the city. Congregants have shared celebration, learning, service, and worship since BHS’ founding in 1960.

The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue offers a full calendar of worship services, adult education programs, special events and opportunities to engage in Tikkun Olam (the Hebrew concept of repairing/healing the world) that reflects the diverse interests and needs of this community. BHS is also expanding its Early Childhood Education and Religious School programming.

All are welcome to attend and experience the heartfelt weekly Friday Evening services, which begin at 6:30 p.m.  BHS clergy and administrative staff, board and congregants will be present to greet visitors and answer any questions you might have during a post-service Oneg (reception). Babysitting is available. The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue is at 131 Remsen St. between Henry and Clinton streets.

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Alumni Cantors Welcomed Back For Arts Event, World Premiere

The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue makes music at its Annual Feldman Arts Event later this month.

The Feldman program will celebrate the musical talents of the BHS community beginning with the Havdalah rite. The evening includes the world premiere of a Gospel Ein Keloheinu written for and performed by the BHS choir, and songs from the American Song book, Broadway, cabaret favorites. The Feldman event will also mark a special blast-off farewell for Cantor Nancy Bach, who has served as the synagogue’s student cantor since August, 2010. She will join guest returning cantorial alumni Cantor Jonathan Comisar and Cantor Dan Singer as they perform these works. A reception follows the 8 p.m. program on Saturday, April 27, which is free and open to the public. Program sponsors are the Feldman Fund and the BHS Arts Committee.

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St. Dominic’s Church Presents Night Of Prayerful Song and Reflection

Father Charles and Laurie Mangano will be coming to St. Dominic’s Church in Bensonhurst next weekend.

Father Charles and Laurie have united their gifts to praise God and minister to His people in a very special way. They have been singing for the Lord since childhood, and together they have touched the hearts of thousands with their meditative and inspirational music.

This beautiful Night of Recollection on Friday, April 19, starting at 7:30 p.m., will feature Father Charles and Laurie speaking on specific scripture passages, reflection and singing songs from their albums.  As this program focuses on evangelization, there will be time provided for worshipers to venerate the Blessed Sacrament, in the hopes that all present may know Christ in a more personal way. The church is at 2001 Bay Ridge Parkway.

Submitted by Roseanne Bourke

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Travelers, Solider and Conscientious Objector Discuss Experiences in Israel-Palestine

Two members of Congregation Kolot Chayeinu who recently traveled to Israel with their families will share their experiences and reflections in a program that promises to be thought-provoking and engaging.

Kolot Chayeinu, which for many years has worked for peace and understanding between Israelis, Jews and Arabs in Brooklyn, hosts a conversation that brings to the forefront different viewpoints—some of them controversial and unpopular— on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The program, on Tuesday, April 16, is titled “Conversations on the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe) / Israeli Independence Day.”

The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the families’ experiences in the Holy Land. Josh Rubin, a member of Kolot Chayeinu since 2004, is an attorney with the New York City Law Department’s Affirmative Litigation division and former Kolot board member who founded and chaired Kolot’s Education Committee, which supports Kolot’s Children’s Learning Program. Josh and his family spent nine days in Israel in December 2012. Bob Usdin is been a member of Kolot Chayeinu for 8 years, serves on the Kolot Board and currently serves as Vice-President. He is co-founder and President of Showman Fabricators, a leader in the scenic fabrication industry.

The evening’s second segment, beginning at 7:15 pm, is a dialogue with two young Israeli activists who will share their perspectives on Israel and Palestine. This segment of the evening is co-sponsored with Brooklyn For Peace, with the support of the Park Slope United Methodist Church Social Action Committee and the Park Slope Greens.

Maya Wind is a conscientious objector and refusenik who did time in military prison for her refusal to serve in the Israeli army. She has been active with Rabbis for Human Rights and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and been a co-leader of New Profile, a feminist movement for the demilitarization of Israel.

Eran Efrati was a soldier and commander in the Israeli army who did most of his service in Hebron and throughout the West Bank. When discharged, he joined Breaking the Silence, an IDF veterans’ organization committed to raising awareness about the Occupation, and worked as its chief investigator. Today he is active with Boycott from Within.

Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives is at 1012 Eighth Avenue, between 10th and 11th Streets in Park Slope (F/G train stop at 7th Ave.)

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Plymouth Church Offers New Member Classes

Plymouth Church’s Spring 2013 New Member Classes begin this Sunday, April 14.

Those interested in joining the Plymouth congregation are invited to attend New Member breakfast classes on Sundays, April 14 and 21, at 9:30 a.m. in the Reception Room. Candidates are expected to attend both meetings, but other arrangements can be made for those are unable to attend. Childcare will be provided. The congregation will welcome new members as they own the Plymouth covenant at the May 5 worship service on May 5. To RSVP and learn more about becoming a new member of Plymouth Church, those interested should contact Amy Talcott in the Church Office at 718-624-4743.

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Brooklyn Christian Center Hosts Family Health Fair

The Brooklyn Christian Center’s Kids for Christ Ministry (KFC) invites everyone—particularly families with children—to a Community Health Fair this Saturday, April 13th.  The fair, which starts promptly at 10 a.m., will provide fun, food and lots of prizes for children and adults, and of course health screenings, presentations and resources, talks with healthcare professionals, and free-giveaways. The Health Fair runs until 6 p.m. at BCC, 1061 Atlantic Ave., just west of Franklin Avenue, in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

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Maronite Chrism Mass Welcomes Clergy From Several Eastern States

The week before Holy Week is always a busy time at Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral and sister Maronite parishes. While Holy Week is a time to prepare one’s heart and mind for the solemn remembrance and reenactment of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ, the needs of the faithful are recognized also. Bishop Gregory Mansour gathered his faithful clergy to the Cathedral to celebrate the annual Chrism Liturgy on the week before Palm Sunday. The Chrism Mass is a liturgical rite to bless new Chrism (Holy Oil) for distribution to the parishes of the Eparchy. Oil from the previous year is kept, it has been for eons, and is used for continuity by pouring some into each of the oils used for baptism, anointing the sick and the chrism/myron. The blessed oils will be distributed to our Maronite parishes of the Eparchy for use in the new liturgical year.

Assisting Sayedna Gregory were Chorbishop Michael Thomas, Vicar General of the Eparchy. In attendance were fifteen priests hailing from Massachusetts to Florida and states in between, two Bishops, one abbot, two deacons, two sub deacons and laity from Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. It was an inspiring ceremony steeped in holy tradition.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and laity were invited to partake in a delicious buffet Lenten luncheon that the Cathedral housekeeper, Joan Napolitano and the ladies of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, prepared.


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