Arts & Entertainment
Ready to worship
A bounty of gay-welcoming local parishes have holiday services planned
Today (Friday)
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.
The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Music & Concerts
Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’
Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co.
Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.
For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.
Friday, May 2
“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected].
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, May 3
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.
LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.
Sunday, May 4
“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite.
Monday, May 5
“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” 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 details, email [email protected].
Tuesday, May 6
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 details, email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 7
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. 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 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected].
Thursday, May 8
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. 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 with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.
South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected].
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