c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for April and May. It will be updated each month.
March 30-April 1
International Forum on Christian Higher Education, sponsored by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Dallas. Contact: Kathy Smarrella at 202-546-8713; e-mail: ksmarrella(at)cccu.org; Web site: http://www.cccu.org/forum
Religion Communicators Council: annual convention, Grapevine, Texas. Wilbur Awards banquet on April 1. Contact: Shirley Struchen at 212-870-2402; e-mail: sstruchen(at)rcn.com; Web site: http://www.religioncommunicators.org
March 31-April 2
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Church Council, Chicago. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: news(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
April 1-2
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: annual general conference, Salt Lake City. Contact: Dale Bills at 801-240-4377; e-mail: billsdk(at)ldschurch.org
April 1-5
Gospel Music Association Week, annual convention sponsored by the Gospel Music Association, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Tricia Whitehead at 615-599-7746; e-mail: spinhouse(at)bellsouth.net; Web site: http://www.gospelmusic.org
April 2
Annual Dinner of Union of Orthodox (Jewish) Congregations in America, New York. Contact: Stephen Steiner at 212-613-8318; e-mail: steiners(at)ou.org
April 5
GMA Music Awards, sponsored by the Gospel Music Association, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Tricia Whitehead at 615-599-7746; e-mail: spinhouse(at)bellsouth.net; Web site: http://www.gospelmusic.org
April 5-7
“Spiritual Transformation: New Frontiers in Scientific Research,” sponsored by the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley and the Metanexus Institute, Berkeley, Calif. Contact: 212-967-8200; e-mail: dblehr(at)cs.com; Web site: http://www.metanexus.net
April 6-8
United Methodist Church and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Native PROUD,” a first-ever conference for Native American youth on AIDS and HIV, Oklahoma City. Contact: Rev. Alvin Deer at 405-634-2005; e-mail: deer4NAIC(at)aol.com or mhds39(at)yahoo.com
April 9
Palm Sunday
April 10
Mawlid al-Nabi (Muslim holiday commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad in approximately A.D. 570)
April 12-20
Passover (Jewish celebration of the exodus from slavery in Egypt; eight-day holiday begins at sundown)
April 14
Good Friday
Vaisaakhi (Sikh New Year)
April 14-16
American Atheists: national convention, San Antonio. Contact: Ellen Johnson at 908-276-7300; e-mail: ej(at)atheists.org
Islamic Society of North America: Islam in America Conference, Rosemont, Ill. Contact: Basharat Saleem at 317-839-8157, ext. 242; e-mail: convention(at)isna.net
April 16
Easter
Palm Sunday (Eastern Orthodox)
April 18-21
National Catholic Educational Association: annual convention, Atlanta. Contact: Barbara Keebler at 202-337-6232.
April 19-21
Gathering of Church Bookstores, annual meeting of managers of bookstores located in churches, co-sponsored by The Church Bookstore magazine, Houston. Contact: Dave Condiff at 407-333-7110; e-mail: dave.condiff(at)strang.com; Web site: http://www.thechurchbookstore.com
April 20-22
Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Mich. Contact: Festival office at 616-526-6770; e-mail: ffw(at)calvin.edu; Web site: http://www.calvin.edu/festival
“Domestic Abuse in the Church? Really!: Working Toward Solutions,” sponsored by the Ockenga Institute of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Peace and Safety in the Christian Home, South Hamilton, Mass. Contact: Anne Doll at 978-646-4141; e-mail: adoll(at)gcts.edu; Web site: http://www.peaceandsafety.com
April 20-May 2
Ridvan; begins at sundown and ends at sundown on May 2 (Baha’i celebration of the declaration of Baha’u’llah to his followers in 1863. Work is suspended on the 1st, 9th and 12th days.)
April 21
Holy Friday (Eastern Orthodox)
April 21-23
Alliance of Baptists: convocation, Birmingham, Ala. Contact: Rev. Stan Hastey at 202-745-7609; e-mail: shastey(at)allianceofbaptists.org; Web site: http://www.allianceofbaptists.org
April 23
Easter (Eastern Orthodox)
April 23-26
Associated Church Press: annual convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Mary Lynn Hendrickson at 608-877-0011; e-mail: acpoffice(at)earthlink.net; Web site: http://www.theacp.org/Orlando2006.htm
April 24
Yom Hashoah (Jewish remembrance of the Holocaust, begins at sundown)
April 25-29
Azusa Street Centennial, celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Pentecostal revival that led to the formation of the traditional Pentecostal denominations, Los Angeles. Contact: Giles Hudson at 972-267-1111, ext. 223; e-mail: ghudson(a)alarryross.com
April 26-29
United Methodist Church: Judicial Council, Kansas City, Mo. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; e-mail: ddenton(at)umcom.org
April 26-27
Community of Sant’Egidio and Georgetown University: “2006 International Prayer for Peace: Religions and Cultures: The Courage of Dialogue,” Washington. Co-sponsored by Archdiocese of Washington, Catholic University and Georgetown University. Contact: Jacques Arsenault at 202-687-4328; e-mail: arsenauj(at)georgetown.edu
April 26
“Day of Silence” among students nationwide to protest hostile treatment toward gays and lesbians. Sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Contact: Nick Sakurai at 212-727-0135; e-mail: info(at)dayofsilence.org.
April 27
“Day of Truth,” initiative by Christian high school students to provide an alternative to “Day of Silence” marked the previous day, sponsored nationwide by the Alliance Defense Fund. Contact: Greg Scott at 480-444-0020, ext. 8111; Web site: www:dayoftruth.org
April 27-30
Baha’i: national convention and election of National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is of the United States, Wilmette, Ill. Contact: Glen Fullmer at 847-733-3411.
April 28
The Catholic University of America: American Cardinals Dinner, Washington. Contact: Chris Harrison at 202-319-5600.
April 29
“Out of the Closet: Can Christians Save Hollywood?”, conference sponsored by Biola University for people active in the entertainment field and their Christian faith, La Mirada, Calif. Contact: Anita Crawford at 615-353-9021; e-mail: anita(at)springboardentertainment.com; Web site: http://www.biolamedia.com
April 30
“Rally to Stop Genocide,” sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, including faith-based and humanitarian groups, Washington. Contact: Sean Crowley at 202-478-6128; e-mail: scrowley(at)mrss.com; Web site: http://www.SaveDarfur.org
April 30-May 2
WordAlone Network: annual convention of a conservative movement within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Golden Valley, Minn. Contact Betsy Carlson at 651-633-1512; e-mail: bcarlsons5(at)aol.com
May 4
National Day of Prayer
National Day of Reason, observance designed as an alternative to the National Day of Prayer, co-sponsored by American Humanist Association. Contact: Roy Speckhardt at 202-238-9088; Web site: http://www.nationaldayofreason.org
May 5-7
Friendship Fest, American Christian and Moroccan musicians gather for second annual meeting, sponsored by American Committee for Friendship Fest, Marrakech, Morocco. Contact: Bob Thompson at 757-259-0918; e-mail: bobthompson121(at)yahoo.com; Web site: http://www.friendshipfest.com
May 7
Ten Commandments Day, observance by churches and synagogues of national campaign designed to restore the Ten Commandments to a place of respect in America. Contact: Susan Zahn at 877-862-3600; e-mail: pr(at)wdcmedia.com
May 7-10
Evangelical Press Association: annual convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Doug Trouten at 763-535-4793
May 11-12
World Council of Churches: annual meeting of the U.S. Conference, San Jose, Calif. Contact: Deborah DeWinter at 212-870-2522; Web site: http://www.usa.wcc-coe.org
May 15
Lag B’Omer (Jewish day of celebration, marking the cessation of a second-century plague that killed 20,000 disciples of Talmud scholar Rabbi Akiva, begins at sundown. The day also marks the death of Jewish mystic Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.)
May 16
2006 Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, presented by the Center for Christian Statesmanship, Washington. Contact: Rebecca Coons at 202-547-3052, ext. 105; e-mail: letters(at)statesman.org; Web site: http://www.statesman.org
May 21-23
National Council of Churches: Governing Board, Washington. Contact: Vicki Manning at 212-870-2025; e-mail: vmanning(at)ncccusa.org
May 22
Baha’i: Declaration of the Bab (begins at sundown)
May 23-25
Orthodox Church in America: Spring Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Syosset, N.Y. Contact: David Lucs at 516-922-0550, ext 128; e-mail: dlucs(at)oca.org
May 28
Baha’i: Ascension of the Baha’u’llah (begins at sundown)
May 29-June 1
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel: annual convention, Washington. Contact: Brad Abare at 888-635-4234, ext. 4218; Web site: http://www.foursquareconvention.com
KRE/JL END RNS Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
