CANTON, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Conference on Church Music and Liturgy is celebrating its 30th annual conference now through August 7 at the Duncan M. Gray Conference Center, meeting under the theme "The Church Musician as Pastor: Spirituality and Resources." The conference was founded in 1975 by Leslie N. Casaday, principal parish musician at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Begun as a weekend workshop for the St. Philip's Choir, the Mississippi Conference has, for more than 25 years, provided for the church's musicians and clergy from all over the country a time away for spiritual renewal and professional development. Most participants are not full-time musicians serving large congregations. They serve smaller communities on a part-time basis, earning their livelihood in other ways. There are services daily, evensong to be held at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, and the concluding service at the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew in Jackson. Further information: http://www.mississippiconference.org/.



Coming Thursday, August 4, 2005...

SEATTLE, Washington -- Bruce Gagnon, head of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, will explore "Star Wars" and related topics from 7-9 p.m. in Bloedel Hall at St. Mark's Cathedral. Gagnon has been working since 1982 against the proliferation of the United States' military industrial complex into space. Hear him explain the connections between President Bush's "Star Wars" project and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. For information: Bob Beveridge, rbbeve@yahoo.com; Josh Hosler, 206-323-0300, ext. 297 or jhosler@saintmarks.org or visit http://www.saintmarks.org/.


STUDIO CITY, California -- Choral Singing 101, a four-week Thursday course taught by director of music J. Wingate Greathouse, will take place at St. Michael & All Angels Church, 3646 Coldwater Canyon Avenue. The class is expected to be fun and non-threatening, and will focus on posture, breathing, creating a tone, reading music, and singing by sight. Each session will end with the preparation of a hymn that will be sung at St. Michael's the following Sunday. Cost: $5 per session ($20 total) for materials. Advance reservations requested. For information: 818.763.9193 or email@stmikessc.org.



Coming up Friday, August 5, 2005...

RICHMOND, Virginia -- The 80th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration at Shrine Mont will take place at 5 p.m. For information: Carolyn Chilton at cchilton@thediocese.net or call 540.856.2141.


BRONX, New York -- HipHopEMass.org will continue its 1st Birthday Celebrations this summer with a Street Mass at Trinity Avenue at 166th Street next to its home, Trinity Episcopal Church of Morrisania in the South Bronx. The celebrant will be the Rev. Kurt Dunkle of Florida and preaching will be Sue Carmichael of St. Mary's, Jacksonville, Florida. For information: 718.542.1309 or email worship@HipHopEMass.org


AUSTIN, Texas -- St. David's, 304 East 7th Street, will hold Labyrinth Walks the first Friday of each month 6-8:30pm. Music, candles provided; facilitators will be present. Labyrinth also available 8am-6pm daily. For information: 512.472.1196.


SAN FRANCISCO, California -- Eth-Noh-Tec at Grace Cathedral will present Takashi's Dream, a true and inspiring story of Takashi Tanemori, an atomic bomb survivor, through spoken work, movement, theatre, song, taiko drum, and shakuhachi flute at 7pm. A dialogue on the issue of non-violence, the current and growing threat of nuclear weapons, and the power of forgiveness will follow. This event is part of Coming Home to Peace: The Hiroshima and Nagasaki 60th Anniversary Commemoration. For information and reservations: Rebecca Nestle at 415.749.6355 or rebeccan@gracecathedral.org



Coming up Saturday, August 6, 2005...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Trinity Cathedral's Gallery at Trinity Commons presents truart: the art of TrU2U-the first show of visual art done by TrU2U's teenagers and parents, featuring nearly 50 pieces of art. The program was designed to reduce behaviors that put African- American youth ages 11-14 at risk for contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The exhibit runs Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesday through Sunday, September 25. For information: http://www.mandpa.org/ or call 216.771.3630.



Coming up Sunday, August 7, 2005...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Anne Horsch of Grünwald, Germany will be the featured organist at Washington National Cathedral's Organ Recital. These recitals are played on the Cathedral's 10,650-pipe organ on most Sundays at 5 p.m., immediately following Evensong. These recitals include guest artists and Cathedral musicians. For information: http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/music/organrecitals.shtml


NEW YORK CITY -- The Rector's Forum of Saint Bartholomew's Church will present the "Nottingham Report from the Episcopal Church's Favorite Mom." Jane Tully, wife of Bill Tully, rector, will discuss her experience as a member of the Episcopal Church's delegation to Nottingham, England, for the Anglican Consultative Council. She is the founder of CFLAG (Clergy Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and spoke on behalf of families who are affected by the church's current imbroglio over issues of sexuality. For information: email haddad@stbarts.org.



Coming up Saturday, August 13, 2005...

HOUSTON, Texas -- Christ Church Cathedral invites people of all ages to Game Night in the Great Hall from 6-9pm. Pizza and snacks are available! There will be all kinds of games to play and learn to play including Scrabble, Monopoly, checkers, dominoes, bridge and chess. So bring your kids, your friends, your neighbors and your parents and join the fun!
For information: Call 713.222.2593 or email office@christchurchcathedral.org



Coming up Thursday, August 18, 2005...

SALTER PATH, North Carolina -- The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina will host the 17th annual Conference on Church Music at Trinity Camp and Conference Center, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, August 18-21, 2005. Guest clinician will be David Flood, organist and master of choristers at Canterbury Cathedral in England. In addition various workshops will be offered including motet performance, playing the service, improvisation, handbells, developing a children's choir, vocalization, and anthems for choirs. A children's music conference for fourth through ninth graders will occur simultaneously with clinician Ginger Wyrick, professor of music at Queens College in Charlotte, NC. For more information, e-mail stthomas@hotmail.com or call 252-332-3263.