Out & About
LGBT-affirming D.C. churches, centers offer Christmas, Kwanzaa events
National City, St. Paul’s Episcopal among local gay-welcoming parishes
Foundry United Methodist Church (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Christmas Eve
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Rock Creek (Rock Creek Church Rd. and Webster St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve service today from 5-8 p.m.
St. Thomas’ Parish and St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) celebrate the Festive Holy Eucharist tonight from 11 p.m.-midnight. Rev. Alex Dyer will give the sermon. The service will feature special music.
Dumbarton United Methodist Church (3133 Dumbarton St., N.W.) has a Christmas Eve worship service at 6:30 p.m. There will be a children’s Christmas pageant, special Christmas music, blessing of children, carols and candlelight.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) holds a candlelight community worship service with prelude music at 7 p.m.
Seekers Church (276 Carroll St., N.W.) celebrates Christmas Eve with a dinner from 6-7 p.m. followed by a service of lessons and carols from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The service will feature homilist David Llyod.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) has events and services throughout the day and night. At 4:30 p.m., the church hosts its “Come as you are” family service which features an informal pick-up pageant, carols, children’s message and communion. A formal family service follows at 6:30 p.m. with a Christmas pageant, homily, carols, communion and music from the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. At 10 p.m. there will be a choral prelude with the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. They will be joined by the Christ Church choir. The Festival Eucharist follows at 10:30 p.m. with a candlelit sanctuary, sermon, communion, carols and music from the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. The final event is the festive reception at 11:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring food and drink to share.
Unity Fellowship Church (474 Ridge St., N.W.) has a Christmas Eve service from 3-5 p.m.
Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) holds a children’s Christmas Eve service today from 6-7 p.m. followed by a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service from 8-9 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) has a Christmas Eve service from 7-8 p.m.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (1525 H St., N.W.) has Christmas Eve services from 4:30-11 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. there will be carols and anthems followed by a pageant and the Choral Holy Eucharist at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m. there will be carols and anthems with the Festival Eucharist starting at 7:30 p.m. The last service of the night kicks off with carols and anthems at 10:30 p.m. and then Festival Eucharist at 11 p.m.
Christmas Day
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) holds its Christmas Day Holy Eucharist at 11:15 a.m. featuring scripture, season choral performance, instrumental music and hymns. Passes are not required. At 1:30 p.m. there will be a Christmas Day organ recital featuring organists Rev. Benjamin Pearce and George Fergus. There is a $10 recommended donation.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) has a Christmas Day service with the Holy Eucharist from 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Kwanzaa
Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum hosts a Kwanzaa celebration at Fort Stanton Recreation Center (1812 Erie St., S.E.) on Thursday, Dec. 27 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Melvin Deal African Heritage Drummers and dancers will perform. Admission is free but registration is required.
Kuumba Kids hosts its 48th annual Kwanzaa Children Party at Panorama Room (1600 Morris Rd., S.E.) on Friday, Dec. 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be African dance and drumming classes, storytelling, face painting, arts and crafts, candle-lighting ceremony, a Karamu feast and a performance featuring the Kuumba Kids, RBG and Imani Steppers. Admission is free. Every child will receive a Kwanzaa gift bag with goodies and a T-shirt.
Out & About
HRC’s National Dinner is back
LGBTQ rights organization’s annual gala features Rhimes, Waithe, Bomer
The Human Rights Campaign will host its annual National Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The dinner’s honorees include world-famous producers, actors and entertainers whose work spotlights the fight for civil rights and social justice, including Shonda Rhimes, Lena Waithe and Matt Bomer.
A new event, as part of the weekend, — the Equality Convention — will take place the night before the dinner on Friday, Oct. 13. The convention will showcase the power of the LGBTQ equality movement, feature influential political and cultural voices, and bring together volunteer and movement leaders from across the country to talk about the path ahead.
For more details about the weekend, visit HRC’s website.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library will host “A Conversation with Trung Nguyen, Novelist” on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
Nguyen’s book, “The Magic Fish” explores the LGBTQ experience and dives deep into Asian heritage and culture. United States Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius will attend the event and introduce Nguyen.
Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Friday, September 29
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Happy Hour” at 7 p.m. at DIK Bar. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, September 30
“September LGBTQ+ Climbing Day” will be at noon at Movement Columbia. LGBTQ+ and ally people 5 and up are welcome to attend a fun day to try out climbing and some climbing games. Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. Guests are encouraged to come enjoy brunch with other LGBTQ+ folk.. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, October 1
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Coffee & Conversation” at 12 p.m. at As You Are. This event is ideal for those looking to make new friends & connections in the DMV’s LGBTQ+ community. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
AfroCode DC will be at 4 p.m. at Decades DC. This event will be an experience of non-stop music, dancing, and good vibes and a crossover of genres and a fusion of cultures. Tickets cost $40 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Monday, October 2
“Reign: A Variety Drag Show” will be at 8 p.m. at Dupont Italian Kitchen. Logan Stone will host the event, featuring Dabatha Christie, Hennessey, Sirene Noir Sidora Jackson, and Anamosity. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Center Aging Monday Coffee and Conversation will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. LGBT Older Adults — and friends — are invited to enjoy friendly conversations and to discuss any issues you might be dealing with. For more information, visit the Center Aging’s Facebook or Twitter.
Tuesday, October 3
Pride on the Patio Events will host “LGBTQ+ Social Mixer” at 5:30p.m. at Showroom. This event is a weekly cocktails and dinner social mixer for the LGBTQIA community in Frederick, MD. Admission is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, October 4
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.
PRISM will host “LGBTQ+ History Tour & Happy Hour” will be at 5:30p.m. at Lafayette Square. Treasury Curator Jon Frederick will lead the group on an LGBTQ+ history tour of Lafayette Square. Thereafter, there will be happy hour at Trade at 1410 14th St NW. This event is free and details are available on Eventbrite.
Thursday, October 5
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be more fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. 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 with Charles M. will be at 12 p.m. online. This is a weekly class focusing on yoga, breathwork, and meditation. Guests are encouraged to RSVP on the DC Center’s website, providing your name, email address, and zip code, along with any questions you may have. A link to the event will be sent at 6 pm the day before.
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