Faith In Brooklyn for Oct. 27

October 27, 2014 By Francesca Norsen Tate, Religion Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Members of Grace Drums: JoAnna Powell, Arlene Hale, Gena Jefferson, Gabriella Dennery and Corey Myers-Jones (left to right). Photo by Tammy McLeod

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This week’s column explores music of all kinds as an inspiration for prayer and dialogue with God, and how some experience silent contemplation—the pause—also as a form of music. The reader can find events throughout the Borough this coming week.

Women Drummers Conquer Domestic Violence Through Music, Mission

Grace Drums, an all-female percussion and vocal ensemble, is fighting domestic violence through music. This New York-based performance group presents its second annual The Women Gather concert at Long Island University on Nov. 1.

Grace Drums has also performed in houses of worship. The ensemble gave concerts at Grace Church-Brooklyn Heights to support both local causes and international relief efforts, such as Water Is Life-Kenya.

Gabriella Dennery, Gena Jefferson, Arlene Hale, JoAnna Powell and Corey Myers are the dignified, spirited women of Grace Drums, a life-affirming percussion and vocal ensemble, founded in 2010, with the simple mission of making joy contagious. Inspired by African percussion, from the traditional to the contemporary, using instruments historically played by men, Grace Drums has as its goal to serve as an inspiration to women and girls everywhere by recognizing the gifts each person brings to the table and affirming that there is room for everyone.

Along with masterful guest artists from collaborating organizations and from the music world, The Women Gather Concert makes an empowering statement for living in dignity and for claiming one’s voice.

As a project, The Women Gather kicked off in 2013 with a sold-out first annual concert at the Actors’ Fund Arts Center in Downtown Brooklyn. Since then, Grace Drums has established collaborations with a number of NYC-based organizations to bring free group drumming workshops to survivors of intimate violence, as part of The Women Gather Project’s message of empowerment through creativity. Drumming workshops began in the winter of 2014. They will take place at shelters Brooklyn and Manhattan, all leading up to and continuing after the second annual concert. Originally scheduled for May, the concert has been moved to this coming Saturday, Nov. 1.

The Women Gather Project is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, as administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC), private donors and Grace Drums Co. Grace Drums’ recent past performances include: BAC’s Girls Hit the Street and Harborlore Festivals, Bronx Rising! At BMHC Lab, Women’s Center at City Tech, Black Women’s Blueprint Mother Tongue Monologues, Gustavus Augustus Lutheran Church, Union Theological Seminary and the Queens Borough Public Library’s 28th Annual World Music Series.

The second annual Women Gather Concert takes place at the Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts at LIU Brooklyn, on DeKalb Avenue. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children over 6 years, seniors and students with valid ID. Children under 6 are free. Tickets are available at www.kumbletheater.org, or Kumble box office at 718-433-1624.

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Jazz Vespers at Emmanuel Church Presents Worship with a New Beat

Experience the presence of God through the sounds and beat of jazz!

Emmanuel Baptist Church Jazz Vespers, which was launched in 2012, has quickly grown to become a faith-centered musical experience. Worship through a variety of jazz musical stylings nurtures a deep, impassioned way of praising God.

Currently in its second year, the Jazz Vespers series continues to secure well-respected jazz musicians who bring an unmistakable feeling of celebration for God and the jazz art form. With the artists expressing themselves through both passionate singing and instrumentation, the audience leaves feeling uplifted, fulfilled and eagerly awaiting the next Vespers.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for everyone from our New York City community to worship in a relaxed setting and find God in the spacious freedom of jazz music. It is a musical tradition that gives us a voice to the hopes, dreams, frustrations and pain that expresses the human experience. Simply put, jazz is the musical incense that collects and carries the prayers of a people,” stated Rev. Anthony L. Trufant, senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Past performers have included Antonio Hart, Jason Marshall, Tom Guarna, Naomi Johnson, Debbie Carter, Jimmy Heath, Wycliffe Gordon, Aziza, Winard Harper, Jelle Posse and Camille Thurman.

Jazz Vespers takes place at Emmanuel Baptist Church from 3 to 5 p.m., typically on the fifth Sundays, but, occasionally, additional dates are added in between. The next Jazz Vespers is offered on Nov. 9. While the Vespers is considered a worship service, the suggested offering is $20.

Emmanuel Baptist Church is 279 Lafayette Ave., near Washington Avenue, in Fort Greene, near Pratt Institute. For more information, visit http://ebcconnects.com/jazzvespers/, or call Emmanuel Church at 718-622-1107.

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The Heritage Ensemble’s Popular ‘We’ve Got Rhythms’ Concert

Will Debut ‘Mosaica’ Album

Jazz and worship have also married nicely in the form of beloved Hebrew melodies. Eugene Marlow and The Heritage Ensemble, who have, for many years, blended Hebrew songs with Latin jazz, release their latest compact disc in conjunction with their annual concert this Saturday at the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.

Marlow is a composer, pianist, educator and the multi-ethnic band’s leader. Their new compact disc is titled “Mosaica: Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble Reimagines Popular Hebraic Melodies.” Special guest vocalist Shira Lissek is no stranger to Brooklyn Heights, as she is a past cantor at Congregation Mount Sinai. Shira, whose name means “song” in Hebrew, brings a background in opera, musical theater, Klezmer and jazz.

The free “We’ve Got Rhythms” concert at the Brooklyn Heights Library, now in its fourth year, is an interactive musical performance of the Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian rhythms underlying The Heritage Ensemble’s arrangements. These first-rate musicians include bandleader Marlow on keyboard, multi-Grammy-nominated drummer Bobby Sanabria, the expressively melodic saxophonist Michael Hashim, virtuoso bassist Frank Wagner and two percussionists — Matthew Gonzalez and Oba Allende. They will play selections from their latest CDs “Celebrations” and “A Fresh Take,” as well as their forthcoming CD “Remembrance.”

This “We’ve Got Rhythms” program will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Brooklyn Heights Library’s auditorium, 280 Cadman Plaza West.

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Temple Beth Emeth Presents Israeli Songs for All Ages

Another form of Hebrew music comes to Congregation Beth Emeth in Ditmas Park on Sunday, Nov. 2.

This concert of Israeli song will invite families to take a musical journey through favorite childhood songs from Israel of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s. International solo artist Inbal Hever and Friends take to the stage for a toe-tapping, sing-along concert at Temple Beth Emeth, 83 Marlborough Road.

The kid-friendly show, titled “Songs From My Youth,” will incorporate animation, stories and translations from the original Hebrew. Accompanying Hever will be an ensemble featuring some of the best musicians on New York’s Israeli-Jewish musical scene: Uri Sharlin (piano and accordion), Nadav Lev (guitar) and Rich Stein (percussion).

The program will include classics from “The 16th Lamb” by Yonathan Geffen and Yoni Rechter and songs of Arik Einstein, Chava Alberstein, Yehudit Ravitz and more, dealing with themes that transcend language — friendship, love, growing up, parents, animals, imaginary friends, lullabies and seasons. The show will include original animations created especially for this program by the Israeli artist Nilli Avni.

Temple Beth Emeth’s very own children’s chorus will join Hever for two numbers — “Halleluya” and “Shir ha-Alef-Bet.”

Trained as a mezzo soprano, Inbal Hever boasts a repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary classical music and has performed as a soloist in her native Israel and Europe. She started singing at an early age and studied at the Buchmann-Mehta Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv University and the Royal Conservatory in the Netherlands, where she earned her B.A. and an M.A in early and contemporary music.

Tickets for the 4 p.m. Nov. 2 show are $18 in advance (suggested donation) and $5 (suggested donation) for kids under 12. A family package (two adults and a maximum of two children) is $40 (suggested donation). Tickets are available at bethemeth.net, or at the synagogue office. For more information, call 718-282-1596.

Temple Beth Emeth v’Ohr Progressive Shaari Zedek is an open, inclusive Reform synagogue with an active, diverse congregation and a growing religious school, serving greater Ditmas Park and neighboring communities.

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Finding True Happiness Is Focus of New Course

How does happiness think? How can one obtain happiness?

Congregation B’nai Avraham is hosting a six-week course, through the Jewish Learning Institute, with the aim of bringing true joy into people’s lives.

According to the course overview, this series is “much more than a tool to boost your happiness.”

“How Happiness Thinks” will be presented with a Jewish emphasis and sources, such as classical and mystic teachings. The goal is to present each person “with a deeper understanding of yourself and help you flourish by suggesting practical advice which, when implemented, will radically enhance the happiness quotient of your life.”

Participants will “also learn how the science of positive psychology is now corroborating what Judaism has always known about what makes us happy.” Sessions include themes of “The Joy of Being You,” “The Joy of Purpose,” “The Joy of Having” and “The Joy of Struggle.”

Congregation B’nai Avraham, Brooklyn Heights’ Orthodox synagogue, presents “How Happiness Thinks” on six Wednesdays, starting Nov. 5, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The course fee is $65. For more information, contact Congregation B’nai Avraham at 718-596-4840, or visit www.myjli.com.

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‘Listening with the Ear of the Heart’ Is Focus of ‘Lectio Divina’ Workshop

Grace Church-Brooklyn Heights will host an exploration of Lectio Divina, an ancient practice, with Benedictine roots, of listening to sacred texts with the ear of the heart.

This two-hour workshop on Nov. 8 will offer an introduction to Lectio Divina, which can be used by individuals or groups. Participants will explore the history and basic movements of this contemplative listening practice and experience a session of the practice.

Leading the workshop will be Steve Standiford, a psychotherapist and longtime teacher with Contemplative Outreach, and Lindsay Boyer, a spiritual director, adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary and facilitator of the weekly Tuesday night contemplative prayer group at Grace.

This workshop may be of particular interest to those who attend, or would like to attend, the Grace Church Brooklyn contemplative prayer group on Tuesday evenings, since the practice of Lectio Divina is a part of this ministry.

Standiford is a longtime centering prayer practitioner, retreat leader and certified presenter with Contemplative Outreach, an international organization devoted to promoting Christian meditation. He is a psychotherapist in private practice in Manhattan and Westchester County. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, he was a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C. and a federal prosecutor in Manhattan. He lives with his wife and two adopted daughters from China in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.

Boyer is a spiritual director who specializes in working with those who are uncomfortable with institutional religion, or who have more than one faith affiliation, or no faith affiliation. She is an adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary and can be reached at her website questioningminds.com. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two dachshunds.

The workshop begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8. Grace Church is at 254 Hicks St. in Brooklyn Heights.

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Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church Celebrates ‘Pastor Appreciation Day’

By Bob Adamski, Contributor, Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church

The Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church participated in Clergy Appreciation Month during October. This annual observance is also marking its 18th year at Focus on the Family (www.focusonthefamily.com). The congregation in Bay Ridge honored the church pastor, the Rev. David Aja-Sigmon.

This year, a struggling economy is putting more demands on pastors than ever before. Individuals and congregations are encouraged to use Clergy Appreciation Month as an opportunity to offer support and appreciation to their pastors and church leaders in the midst of trying times. Today’s pastors accomplish invaluable work within their churches and communities. But they often face very real hardships in their own families, financial situations and daily responsibilities. A recent Focus survey of more than 2,000 pastors showed that the majority of respondents work more than 50 hours per week and have difficulty building close, accountable relationships.

In light of this, Clergy Appreciation Month serves as a time for church members to find creative, helpful ways to lift up their pastors and show them they are loved, valued and needed. Focus on the Family’s Church and Clergy division works year-round to do the same.

The Rev. David Aja-Sigmon has been serving Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church for seven years. Originally from North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, he followed calls that led him to Guatemala (serving as a Young Adult Volunteer), the southside of Chicago (Morgan Park Presbyterian Church) and Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue (Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago) before joining us here in Brooklyn. He is a graduate of McCormick Theological Seminary.

The Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church of the USA. It is located at 6753 Fourth Ave. Sunday School is at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and worship is at 11:00 a.m.