Arts & Entertainment
Ready to worship
A bounty of gay-welcoming local parishes have holiday services planned
Bet Mishpachah is having its Hanukkah Erev Shabbat Service tonight from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. at the D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) with Allan Armus leading. Attendees are asked to bring a menorah and candles. For more information, visit betmish.org.
Saturday, Dec. 24
Bet Mishpachah is having its Shabbat morning service and Hanukkah luncheon today at the D.C. Jewish Community Center (1529 16th St., N.W.) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Larry Neff leading the service.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) is having its Christmas Eve worship tonight at 7:30 p.m. with prelude music beginning at 7 p.m.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) is having a children’s service with Christmas carols and the Holy Eucharist today at 5 p.m. There will be a choral prelude at 10:30 p.m. and the solemn high Christmas Eucharist with choir, incense and sermon at 11 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.), the region’s largest mostly gay church, is having its Christmas Eve worship tonight at 8 p.m.
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ (3845 South Capitol St., S.W.) is having its Christmas Eve service today at 7 p.m.
Georgetown Lutheran Church (1556 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) is having its Christmas Eve service tonight at 8 p.m.
Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) is having a children-and-family Christmas Eve service at 6:30 p.m. and a music-and-candlelight service at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25
Bet Mishpachah is having its annual movie and Chinese dinner tonight. For full details, visit betmish.org.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) is having its all-church Christmas worship today at 10 a.m. followed by service in Spanish in Phillips Chapel at 11 a.m. and an Elder’s service in the Thomas House at 2 p.m.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) is having the Holy Eucharist with carols and homily today at 10 a.m. Dignity/Washington is having its Christmas Mass here at 6 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) is having its Christmas worship today at 10 a.m. followed by a morning brunch.
Georgetown Lutheran Church (1556 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) is having its Christmas service today at 10 a.m.
Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) is having multiple services today. There is a service at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., both followed by a coffee hour and an evening service at 5:30 p.m.
Other LGBT-welcoming and affirming houses of worship with special services planned this week include All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church (2300 Cathedral Ave., NW; allsoulsdc.org); Asbury United Methodist Church (926 11th St. NW; asburyumcdc.org);Dignity of Northern Virginia, a gay Catholic group that meets at Immanuel Church On the Hill (3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria;dignitynova.org); Dignity Washington, the D.C. gay Catholic group, meets at St. Margaret’s Episcopal (1820 Conn. Ave. NW;dignitywashington.org); Faith Temple (1313 New York Ave. NW); Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist (3401 Nebraska Ave. NW;nationalchurch.org); More Light Presbyterians (opendoorsmlp.org); Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington; rockspringucc.org); St. Mark’s Episcopal (3rd and A streets, SE; stmarks.net); St. Thomas’ Parish (1772 Church Street, NW; stthomasdc.org); The United Church (1920 G Street, NW; theunitedchurch.org) and Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ (1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda; westmorelanducc.org). Visit their respective websites for service times. The Blade regrets that space does not permit complete listings of service times or all LGBT-affirming parishes in the region.
Catfish Comedy will host “2026 Queer Kickoff Show” on Thursday, Feb. 5 at A League of Her Own (2319 18th Street, N.W.). This show features D.C.’s funniest LGBTQ and femme comedians. The lineup features performers who regularly take the stage at top clubs like DC Improv and Comedy Loft, with comics who tour nationally.
Tickets are $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Arts & Entertainment
Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star and celebrated queer ally, dies at 71
Actress remembered for memorable comedic roles in ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Home Alone’
Catherine O’Hara, the varied comedic actor known for memorable roles in “Beetlejuice,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Home Alone,” has died at 71 on Friday, according to multiple reports. No further details about her death were revealed.
O’Hara’s death comes as a shock to Hollywood, as the Emmy award-winning actor has been recently active, with roles in both “The Studio” and “The Last of Us.” For her work in those two shows, she received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and outstanding guest actress in a drama series.
In 2020, O’Hara won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series award for her work in the celebrated sixth and final season of “Schitt’s Creek.” She was also known as a queer ally and icon for her theatrical and often campy performances over multiple decades. In “Schitt’s Creek,” she played Moira Rose, the wig-loving mother of David Rose (played by series creator Dan Levy). David is pansexual, but the characters around him simply accept him for who he is; the show was embraced by the LGBTQ community with how naturally David’s sexuality was written and portrayed. That show ran from 2015 to 2020 and helped bring O’Hara and her co-stars into a new phase of their careers.
In a 2019 interview with the Gay Times, O’Hara explained why the show got LGBTQ representation right: “Daniel has created a world that he wants to live in, that I want to live in. It’s ridiculous that we live in a world where we don’t know how to respect each other and let each other be. It’s crazy. Other shows should follow suit and present the world and present humans as the best that we can be. It doesn’t mean you can’t laugh, that you can’t be funny in light ways and dark ways. It’s all still possible when you respect and love each other.”
Additional credits include “SCTV Network” (for which O’Hara won a writing Emmy), “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Six Feet Under,” “Best in Show,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and “Dick Tracy.” O’Hara also lent her voice to “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Chicken Little,” “Monster House,” and “Elemental.” O’Hara was expected to return for Season 2 of “The Studio,” which started filming earlier this month.
Friday, January 30
Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).
Spark Social will host “RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Watch Party” at 8 p.m. This event will be hosted by local drag queens TrevHER and Grey, who will provide hilarious commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, January 31
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, February 1
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, February 2
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@thedccenter.org).
Tuesday, February 3
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, email [email protected].
Wednesday, February 4
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, February 5
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
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