News
MIZERO Children
of
December 20, 2008
The message of forgiveness coming from the mouths of
babes! These young orphans and vulnerable children from the beautiful African
country of
New York, N.Y.
– On December 20th, the day following their performance at the United
Nations, a group of Rwandan children, many of whom are orphans who survived the
genocide in 1994, will perform at St. John’s Lutheran Church (83 Christopher
Street, NYC) at 7:30 PM, taking audiences on a journey into the lives of the
Rwandan people through music, dance, costumes and drumming. The group is known
as the MIZERO Children of Rwanda - in Kinyarwanda, the language of their home
land, “MIZERO” means “HOPE.”
The group is on their
While many organizations are helping
The UN has declared the year 2009 as the Year of
Reconciliation.
Samputu and MIZERO have embarked on an impassioned
2009 schedule filled with activities that focus on ‘Forgiveness as a Step to
Reconciliation’.
This includes the ‘Forgiveness Tour’, various
conferences and concerts, and global conferences called ‘Gathering of
Forgiveness: A Step to Reconciliation’ to be held in
MIZERO Children of Rwanda believes that through music and arts, youth receive self-confidence, life skills and creative expression to help them heal and go forward. These children are sharing their gifts of music and performance while raising awareness about the 1 million other Rwandan orphans. Please visit the Web sites for MIZERO Children of Rwanda (www.mizerochildren.org) and Jean Paul Samputu (www.samputu.com) to learn more.
Recent Events at St. John's
St. John's celebrated its second annual Dickens party, Saturday, December 13th, to raise funds for those who come to our doors throughout the year in need of assistance. It was a joyful night - full of good food and good cheer! We thank everyone who put in effort to make the evening so special. A special thanks to Myers of Keswick in Greenwich Village for their generous donation of delicious food!
Soon we will have wonderful pictures to share from our 2008 Dickens Party... Stay tuned!
St. John's college students had a magical day ice skating in Central Park!
St. John's Vacancy Pastor Lyndon Harris (Director of the Garden of Forgiveness) dedicated a Garden of Forgiveness in Stuyvesant Square Park for It's My Park Day (October 25, 2008) in partnership with the Friends Seminary Peace Club and the Stuyvesant Square Park community. St. John's very own Craig Snoke, a garden designer, created the Garden of Forgiveness, working with Peace Club students. Craig's design includes white mums in the shape of a dove of peace opening its wings. Below are photographs from the event: one of Pastor Harris with Peace Club leader Claire Brennan, and the other of Craig Snoke with Claire. To learn more about this garden, please visit: http://gardensofforgivenessnetwork.pbwiki.com/Stuyvesant+Square+Park,+NYC
St. John's recently had a pizza party with its college students at John's Pizza on Bleecker Street! Good food and good fun!
Join us in celebration of
the Jewish High Holidays
of
Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur
September 29 - October 09, 2008
Please visit http://www.villageyontif.com/ for a printable schedule of the services
On Sunday, April 13th, we enjoyed a delightful afternoon of
instrumental and vocal chamber music played by The Y Chamber Ensemble, the
resident chamber group of the Suffolk Y Jewish Community Center. They play everything
from Bach to Be-Bop, Rags to Ravel, and Broadway to Bernstein!
The concert featured selections
for Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute and Guitar. Soprano, Karyn Stewart joined the
Ensemble to perform the lovely Schubert concert piece Der Hirt auf dem Felsen.
On March 6th, St. John's welcomed four inspiring farmers from
Be sure to keep an eye out for the upcoming documentary, "Delicious Peace Grows in a Ugandan Coffee Bean" by filmmakers Ellen Friedland and Curt Fissel.
For more information about "Delicious Peace," visit: http://www.deliciouspeace.com/
To support this fair-trade, interfaith initiative for peace, consider starting a Monthly Buying Club at your local church, synagogue, mosque, community center, or other community group. The coffee, as its name promises, is absolutely delicious.
Please contact Holly at (800) 462-1999 ext 49, or holly@thanksgivingcoffee.com for further information.
Sunday, October 21st, 4pm
Choral Music of Switzerland,
Solo songs of the Hebrides
and much more!
Featuring the Queens College Vocal Ensemble,
Guest Conductor Raphael Immoos, from the Hochschule für Musik – Basel, Switzerland
&
Karyn Stewart, Soprano
H. William Glazier, Piano
Emily John, Harp
At St. John’s Lutheran Church
81 Christopher St., Manhattan
Donations gratefully accepted at the door
Proceeds to purchase a new carillon
for St. John’s Lutheran Church
Subway: 1 to Christopher St./ Sheridan Square
A,B,C,D,E,F or V line to West 4th St./Washington Square.
Walk up West 4th St. towards 7th Avenue and cross it.
Marlene Paul and Friends
Samson
and Dalila Act 2 (Concert Version)
November
4th at 5:00 P.M.
St.
John's Lutheran Church
$10.00
donation
Samson
- David Ekstrom - Tenor
Dalila - Marlene Paul -
Mezzo Soprano
High
Priest - Tim Hill - Baritone
A Night of Remembrance: A Candle Light Vigil to Commemorate Kristallnacht
November 8, 7:00 p.m.
On the evening of November 9, 1938, the Nazi German Government began burning down synagogues and smashing the glass fronts of Jewish shops in Berlin and other large cities in Germany and Austria. That night has been called Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass. From that time onwards, the momentum of the Holocaust gathered force and led to the wholesale persecution and the killing of six million Jews, as well as civilians, service men and women, and partisans during WWII.
On November 8th at 7pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church in the Village will present a candle light service of remembrance commemorating Kristallnacht. The service will take participants on a journey back to the nightmarish beginning of the Nazi persecution of the Jews, probing the horrors resulting of intolerance and hatred. The service will end with an active commitment to love, healing and peace in the world. A reception will follow.
The Stonewall Chorale will perform, along with members of the Musica Bella Orchestra of New York founded by Anahit Harutyunyan Gaskill and conducted by Phillip Gaskill. Saint John’s own talented soloists will also perform, including Cantor George Reid, Marlene Paul, Karen Stewart, and Susan Crowson, accompanied by H. William Glazier, organist. Originated at last year’s remembrance, The Dance of the Broken Glass will be performed again this year.
St. John’s Vacancy Pastor, the Reverend Lyndon Harris, who directed the relief operation at St. Paul’s Chapel after 9/11, and currently directs the interfaith Garden of Forgiveness initiative, will preside at the service.
