Interfaith JAZZ VESPERS

Transcription

1 Interfaith JAZZ VESPERS Honoring International Women s Day March 5, :00 pm Stories of Sanctuary and Solidarity Amy Dabalos, Vocalist Jenelle Roccaforte, Bass Nichole Boaz, Piano Reflectors: Rabbi Melanie Aron, Shir Hadash Congregation, Los Gatos Maha Elgenaidi, Islamic Network Group The Rev. Dr. Liliana DaValle, Grace Baptist Church, San Jose "I raise up my voice not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." Malala Yousafzai 1

2 Whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here. Saint Jude s is a spiritual oasis where lives are transformed. WELCOME Wilma Jakobsen Minister: Let us pray. (Silence is kept) Loving God of all that is, help us to be still. Loosen our grip on our cares and concerns; clear away all stresses and frustrations. Quiet our busy minds; open a space deep within us; fill us with your grace. Help us to see all you have made as holy, the earth and people as sacred. Help us to live our lives with you at the center. Guide us, encourage us, resource us to articulate your kindom, in partnership with those who differ most from us. Surround us with your love that casts out fear. Fill us with hope for the world as it might be. Amen. Deborah Hirt, Intern at Franciscans International Lord, make me an instrument of peace: Bless all women who daily strive to bring peace to their communities, their homes and their hearts. Give them strength to continue to turn swords into plowshares. Where there is hatred, let me sow love: We pray for all women who face prejudice, inequality and gender disparities. Help us see and to face the discrimination against women in all the many forms it may take. Where there is injury, pardon: Comfort all women who suffer from the pain of war, violence, and abuse. Help them to become instruments of their own reconciliation and peace. Where there is division, unity: Forgive all women and men who let differences breed hate and discrimination. Let your example of valuing all of creation help us to see that we are equal partners in the stewardship of your world. Where there is darkness, light; where there is untruth, truth: Comfort all women who struggle in the darkness of abuse, poverty, and loneliness. May we stand with them in light to acknowledge their suffering and strive to remove the burdens of shame or embarrassment. Where there is doubt, true faith: We pray for all women who live in fear of their husbands, fathers, partners and forces that control their lives. Help them to be empowered to be their true selves through your everlasting love and faith. Where there is despair, hope: We pray for all women who live in the despair of poverty, violence, trafficking, slavery, and abuse. May the light of your love bring them hope. 2

3 Where there is sadness, new joy: Help us to see the strength and goodness in all women and men. Transform our hearts to celebrate the love and grace of all people. And may we be blessed with the courage of St. Clare of Assisi to follow our own path of love for you and all sisters and brothers. READING: Deuteronomy 23:15; 24: Slaves who have escaped to you from their owners shall not be given back to them. You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow s garment in pledge. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. REFLECTION: Rabbi Melanie Aron When evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope, When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fail, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide! That we may find serenity in your presence, and purpose in doing your will. We pray, above all, for peace throughout the world. READING: Saying of Prophet Muhammad Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you. RELECTION: Maha Elgenaidi Oh God, You are peace. From you comes peace, To you returns peace. Revive us with a salutation of peace, And lead us to your abode of peace. - Prophet Muhammad 3

4 READING: Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. REFLECTION: The Rev. Dr. Liliana Da Valle : Lord of love and mercy. We come to your throne of grace for the help we need in the season of fear and anxiety. We come on behalf of those who seeking a better future for their children have bravely crossed all boundaries and left their homelands behind. We pray for them, Lord, that they may find justice in this precious land of ours. The land of the free, where freedom is at stake these days for many feel threatened. But we also pray for us, those who are American citizen, those who need not to fear, those who have homes and jobs and a sense of security. Let us all understand that there is no justice if others are suffering rejection. Allow us to see that we cannot enjoy our comfortable lives while others fear persecution, family separation, and a life of uncertainty. Lord God, bless your children as they strive to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Amen! O God, illuminate our hearts with light, our eyes with light and our ears with light; and let there be light on our right and light on our left. Let there be light above us and light below us; let there be light in front of us and light behind us. O God, make us a light. - Prophet Muhammad UNIVERSAL PEACE Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth. Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe. FOR THE NIGHT Lord it is night. The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God. It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; Let it be. 4

5 The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you. The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us, and all who have no peace. The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities. In your Holy name we pray. Amen. BLESSING The blessing of God, the eternal goodwill of God, the shalom of God, the wildness and warmth of God, be among us and between us, now and always. Amen. Please join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments following the service. Amy Dabalos As a San Jose native, Amy Dabalos has established herself as a mainstay in the Bay Area music scene. Her voice is both powerful and luminescent: imbued with influence from legends Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson. Elements of soul, R&B, and popular music decorate her distinctive repertoire, as inspired by contemporary artists. At a young age, Dabalos was inspired by the creative power of music while a student in the Alum Rock Jazz Program. She currently fronts R&B and soul band The Vibrant Things, and lends her voice to John Worley s Mo-Chi Quintet and The Bad Ones. Nichole Boaz Nichole Boaz is a pianist and music teacher located in the South Bay Area. She received both her B.M. and M.A. in Jazz Studies from San Jose State University. Currently, Nichole teaches jazz, piano, and general music courses at SJSU. She also teaches private piano lessons at Tavan Music in Los Gatos and at Music Village in San Jose. Her past teaching experience includes work at the Harker School and at the San Jose Jazz Camp. Nichole performs frequently in the San Jose area with groups such as the 7th Street Big Band and The Killer Queens. Jenelle Roccaforte Jenelle Roccaforte is a San Francisco Bay Area upright bassist and guitarist. Born in Los Angeles, CA she grew up listening to jazz at her family's restaurant and jazz club, Colombo's in LA, and gained a strong affinity for the music. Jenelle plays a wide variety of music including jazz, funk, soul, Brazilian music, and blues and enjoys blending genres. She studied music at the California Jazz Conservatory and has performed at many local venues and festivals in the bay area and around California. Note worthy performances and venues include the Eureka Jazz festival, San Jose Jazz Winter Festival, Eagle Rock Music Festival, The Chapel, El Rio, Brick and Mortar, Santa Clara Convention Center, and more. 5

6 Maha Elgenaidi is the founder of ING, (Islamic Network Group.) She is an author and trainer for American Muslims and public institutions on developing cultural competency with the American Muslim community. She was named one of Silicon Valley s Women of Influence by the San Jose Business Journal. Maha has been recognized with numerous civil rights awards, including the Civil Rights Leadership Award from the California Association of Human Relations Organizations and the Citizen of the Year award from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. She earned a master s degree in Religious Studies from Stanford University, and a bachelor s degree in Political Science and Economics from the American University in Cairo. Melanie was raised in New York and Cincinnati. Her family was involved in the Conservative movement. Being part of a participatory Havurah style congregation encouraged her interest in Judaism. Meeting faculty members from the Reform movement s seminary in Cincinnati influenced her towards Reform Judaism. Melanie became Rabbi of Shir Hadash in July of She serves on the boards of The American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley, the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, and on the Project Advisory Board of the Elder Abuse Initiative of Santa Clara County, also, the national board of the Union for Reform Judaism and chair of the Committee on Adult Jewish Learning. Currently she is part of People Acting in Community Together, Silicon Valley Faces and in interfaith dialogues with the Muslim community. The Rev. Dr. Liliana Da Valle was born in Argentina where she grew up as an abused child and an atheist. At the age of 18, she became a Christian, later married and immigrated to the United States. Liliana worked at a Domestic Violence agency in Northern California and Illinois. She has Master of Divinity from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lombard, IL. For the last three years, Liliana has served as pastor of New Horizon Baptist Church in San Jose. Dr. Da Valle is a well-known international speaker. Liliana has taught Practical Theology at Andover Newton, Newton Centre, MA, Gordon Conwell, Boston, MA, and the Hispanic Summer Program at Brite Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. Currently, she is supporting the Practical Theology. She is a member of the Board of Governors of the ABC Ministers Council, and she has a Doctorate in Business Administration. St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church office@saintjudes.org 6