Arts & Entertainment
LGBT-affirming Christmas services
Many D.C.-area churches welcome gays
Metropolitan Community Church of D.C. (Washington Blade file photo by Callie Marie)
Many houses of worship in the Washington region are LGBT-affirming. Here are a few that are having holiday services.
Christmas Eve
Foundry United Methodist Church (16th and P streets, N.W.) holds a kid-friendly Christmas Eve service from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with interactive storytelling and glowsticks. At 8 p.m., the church will also hold a Christmas Eve service with scripture readings, music and a homily. For more information, visit foundryumc.org.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve worship service tonight at 8 p.m. Visit mccdc.com for details.
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) has carols by candlelight with Rev. Mariann Budde. At 10 p.m., there’s Festival Holy Eucharist with Budde and Rev. Gary Hall. For more information, visit nationalcathedral.org.
Dumbarton United Methodist Church (3133 Dumbarton St., N.W.) offers two Christmas Eve services today at 5 and 9 p.m. The first service is geared toward children while the later service is more formal and will feature Advent worship themes. Visit dumbartonumc.org for details.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) has a service tonight at 7:30 p.m. with a musical prelude starting at 7 p.m. For more information, visit nationalcitycc.org.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) holds a festival service at 10:30 p.m. with a choral prelude starting at 10. For details, visit washingtonparish.org.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) presents its Christmas Pageant today at 4 p.m. Later in the evening, there’s a Holy Eucharist service with choral prelude beginning at 8:30 p.m. Visit stjohnsgeorgetown.org for more information.
Seekers Church (276 Carroll St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve dinner and service beginning at 6 p.m. For more information, visit seekerschurch.org.
Church of the Pilgrims (2201 P St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service with performances by a choir, soloists and instrumentalists. Visit churchofthepilgrims.org for details.
Christmas Day
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) holds Festival Holy Eucharist this morning at 11 a.m. There is a Christmas Day service of lessons and carols today at 4 p.m. followed by an organ recital featuring organists Christopher Betts and Benjamin Straley at 5:15 p.m.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) has its Christmas Day breakfast and service this morning from 7:30-8:30 a.m. For more information, visit washingtonparish.org.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (3240 O St., N.W.) has a Christmas Day and Eucharist service at 5:30 p.m. For details, visit stjohnsgeorgetown.org.
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Gay Men’s Chorus celebrates 45 years at annual gala
‘Sapphire & Sparkle’ Spring Affair held at the Ritz Carlton
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington held the annual Spring Affair gala at the Ritz Carlton Washington, D.C. on Saturday. The theme for this year’s fete was “Sapphire & Sparkle.” The chorus celebrated 45 years in D.C. with musical performances, food, entertainment, and an awards ceremony.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Executive Director Justin Fyala and Artistic Director Thea Kano gave welcoming speeches. Opening remarks were delivered by Spring Affair co-chairs Tracy Barlow and Tomeika Bowden. Uproariously funny comedian Murray Hill performed a stand-up set and served as the emcee.
There were performances by Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington groups Potomac Fever, 17th Street Dance, the Rock Creek Singers, Seasons of Love, and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Anjali Murthy, a member of the chorus and a graduate of the GenOUT Youth Chorus, addressed the attendees of the gala.
“The LGBTQ+ community isn’t bound by blood ties: we are brought together by shared experience,” Murthy said. “Being Gen Z, I grew up with Ellen [DeGeneres] telling me through the TV screen that it gets better: that one day, it’ll all be okay. The sentiment isn’t wrong, but it’s passive. What I’ve learned from GMCW is that our future is something we practice together. It exists because people like you continue to show up for it, to believe in the possibilities of what we’re still becoming”
The event concluded with the presentation of the annual Harmony Awards. This year’s awardees included local drag artist and activist Tara Hoot, the human rights organization Rainbow Railroad as well as Rocky Mountain Arts Association Executive Director, Dr. Chipper Dean.
(Washington Blade photos and videos by Michael Key)
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(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)
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