News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
INTERFAITH AIDS MEMORIAL SERVICE
On Saturday June 1st, we were honored to participate in the Annual Interfaith AIDS Memorial Service, held at the St Marks Episcopal Church in Jackson Heights, Queens. It was our extreme pleasure to participate and represent Earth Religion to this very diversified congregation, unified in the struggle against AIDS/HIV and grief in our shared losses over the years. In addition to the wide spectrum of clerics, we also had the pleasure of sharing the altar with High Priestess Wendy Moscow who presided over the Blessing of the Sacred Space, We were also very pleased to share the altar with the very amazing Rainbow Voices, who further blew us away by telling us we were awesome! It is always very gratifying to make a good impression on people who impress us!
We sang some of our favorite and most spiritual pieces, During the Blessing we sang Invocation/Air I Am to call the directions and honor the elements. We learned the Apache Honor Song for last Septembers World Trade Center Healing Circle. We shared it here to honor the spirits and memories of the departed,. To honor and empower the living, we offered Spirit of The Wind prior to the closing song of the Service
We had prepared Angel of Bells for the Prelude, but the rabbinical participants were time pressured and the prelude was skipped and the order altered to accommodate them. A Wedding. Mazel tov! But opening with the Shofar and A Hebrew prayer beautifully sung by a cantor was powerful and stirring. There was also a piper who played Amazing Grace and a lovely air to remember the 9/11 Victims. Prayers were made in Spanish, Sanskrit, Japanese, an amazing and uplifting unity of spiritual purpose. The atmosphere of respect and acceptance of the diversity of spiritual pathways was just plain refreshing and amazing. This represents some of the highest expression of our Mission and why we particularly enjoy this type of work. We would like to give special thanks to John Azzali, the Names Project and Q*GLU, Queens Gays & Lesbians United, Inc. for inviting us.
Special thanks to participating members for their special commitment to this event, one of the most gratifying ones we have done. You performed marvelously and made wonderful impressions, the extra work you folk put in is deeply appreciated. Kudos to Elsbeth, Athena, Athallia, Richard, Erica and especially Jodi, for who ALL the material was new! Washite Aloh! It was also an amazing beautiful summer night as we retired for an outstanding feast of Indian food. Hoka hey!
INANNA ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM IN PRODUCTION
Click for Larger version
CD final cover Art,Isiris, Elsbeth, Jezibell and Athallia Portray the Sumerian Goddesses Nammu, Ereshkigal, Inanna and Ninshubur. Photo by Susan Sylvester. Art and Graphic Design by Fantastic Realities StudioThe music and the production is now all done The original cast recording of Inanna:Journey of Darkness & Light, was been sent off to to Oasis CD Duplication, who treated us so well with We Each Send A Voice. With a little luck, we ought to have product in hand for the Grove Bardic Ritual on June 8. Above is a preview of the final art. Overall we think it came out pretty nice, and is a wonderful way to commemorate this amazing project.
The CD features both original cast members and Members we draft... er, recruited to help us get the music together. It was a learning experience as well and we are totally psyched about the possibilities of future projects. And now... a few credits.
Original Cast RecordingCombat Wedding Song Call of The Below Descent Locked Away Confrontation Lament For Inanna Lament For Ereshkigal Ascent Darkness and Light Epilogue
Music and Lyrics Jezibell Athena, Athallia, Alexandria Bowman, Erica Bonilla, Richard Courage, Jezibell, Jodi Kanger Paula Reich, Susan Sylvester, Kurt Talking Stone, Joseph Zuchowski Paula Reich Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone Ira Weitz Paula Reich Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone Jezibell Jezibell, Paula Reich crafted by Heather Griffith Jezibell BOSS BR-532, Danielle Boucher
iMac dv+, Kurt Griffith/Talking StoneKurt Griffith/Talking Stone Fantastic Realities Studio Susan Sylvester OASIS CD Duplication
UPCOMING
Here's what's on our horizon. Details will come when we get then and posted to the Schedule Page. And keep checking back with us, things always come up. We are also officially on Summer Hiatus until after Labor Day and Stones Rising. but we'll going to keep on singing, you betcha!
Grove Bardic Ritual
Saturday, June 8, 2002 2pm. Enchantment's Grove , FREE
Courtyard at Enchantments, 341 East 9th Street, NY, Info : 212 228-4394
(Members please arrive @ 1:00pm)We will be returning to Enchantment's Grove to support their annual Bardic Ritual, This event introduces the ritual use of the Bardic Arts in a working ritual. Free and open to the public. We have been here many years and always a good time and spiritually uplifting This is a free, open event, and all attendees will be encouraged to sing. And if the Gods are kind, we will have the new INANNA CDs!
NYC's 2nd Annual Pagan Pride Day
Saturday, September 28, 2002, 11:00am - 5:00pm, Battery Park, NYC2nd Annual Pagan Pride Event Harvest Celebration and Food Drive
(RainDate Sunday 9/29/02)Kurt's situation with getting relocated and schedule conflicts prevented us from participating last year. But we were invited again and have accepted. So make your prayers for good weather.
Click here to the PPD organizers' pageMitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen * Om
Kurt Griffith/Talking Stone
Choral Director
