c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for March and April. It will be updated each month.
Feb. 27-March 1
The General Council of the Assemblies of God: Prayer Summit for Pentecostal Preachers, Springfield, Mo. Contact: Juleen Turnage at 417-862-2781, ext. 2115.
March 1
Ash Wednesday and beginning of Lent (40 days)
March 2
Christian Film & Television Commission’s Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, Beverly Hills, Calif. Contact: Sandra Bell at 770-886-8598.
March 2-7
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Conference of Bishops, Lake Geneva, Wis. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: news(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
March 3
World Day of Prayer, sponsored by Church Women United. Observed in more than 170 countries. Contact: Elizabeth Calvin at 212-870-2466; e-mail: wdpusa(at)churchwomen.org; Web site: http://www.churchwomen.org
March 3-5
Interfaith Alliance: 10th Annual National Leadership Gathering and Skills Building Institute: “Righteous Anger: Renewing the Struggle, Growing Hope,” Nashville, Tenn. Contact: Jenny Davis at 202-639-6370; e-mail: jdavis(at)interfaithalliance.org; Web site: http://www.interfaithalliance.org/nlg
March 6
Lent begins (Eastern Orthodox)
March 9
White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives: national conference, Washington. Contact: Alyssa J. McClenning at 202-456-6708; e-mail: Alyssa_J._McClenning(at)who.eop.gov; Web site: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci
March 9-10
National Association of Evangelicals: Board of Directors meeting, Dallas. Contact: Kyle Fisk at 719-268-8211.
March 10
“West Coast Christianity,” faith and culture conference sponsored by California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif. Contact: Lynda Paige Fulford at 805-493-3151; e-mail: fulford(at)clunet.edu; Web site: http://www.clunet.edu
March 10-13
Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace with Justice: “Challenging Disparity: The Promise of God _ The Power of Solidarity,” Washington. Contact: Michael Neuroth at Michael_Neuroth(at)hotmail.com; Web site: http://www.advocacydays.org
March 11-13
Church of the Brethren General Board: spring meeting, New Windsor, Md. Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, ext. 260.
March 13
Purim (Jewish celebration of the story of Esther; begins at sundown)
March 14
Holi (Hindu festival of spring)
Sri Gaura Purnima, worldwide observance of birth celebration of Lord Chaitanya, pioneer of the Hare Krishna tradition. Contact: Vyenkata Bhatta at 973-471-2335; e-mail: vbd(at)iskcon.com
March 15
Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries About Spiritual Realities: News Conference Announcement of 2006 Templeton Prize Laureate, New York. Contact: Donald Lehr at 212-967-8200; e-mail: dlehr(at)templetonprize.org
March 17-22
Episcopal Church: House of Bishops meeting, Hendersonville, N.C. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5383; e-mail: jnunley(at)episcopalchurch.org
March 18
Techvangelism ’06, conference on merging technology and evangelism, sponsored by Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Menlo Park, Calif. Contact: Angela Hey at 650-796-2377; e-mail: amhey(at)techvangelism.org; Web site: http://www.techvangelism.org
March 19-22
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association Convention, Deerfield Beach, Fla. Contact: Rabbi Richard Hirsh at 215-576-5210; e-mail: rhirsh(at)therra.org
Second World Congress of Imams and Rabbis for Peace, sponsored by Hommes de Parole, Paris-based humanitarian organization, Seville, Spain. contact Nayla Khalek at 011-33-1-42-22-71-11; e-mail: nkhalek(at)hommesdeparole.org; Web site: http://www.hommesdeparole.org
March 20
Naw-Ruz (Baha’i New Year’s Day, begins at sundown; also Zoroastrian New Year, celebrated on March 20 or 21)
March 21-22
“The Bible and Archaeology: How to Read the Bible in a Whole New Way,” conference sponsored by Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Mass. Contact: Anne Doll at 978-646-4141; e-mail: adoll(at)gcts.edu
March 21-24
Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops: annual congress, Cleveland. Contact Minette Jackson: 216-721-5934; e-mail: mjackson1530(at)sbcglobal.net
March 22
International Conference on Faith and Service: “Building Bridges Through Interreligious Dialogue and Youth Civic Engagement,” sponsored by the National Conference on Citizenship, Washington. Contact: Donna Selig at 240-274-1745; e-mail: donnaselig(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.faithandserviceconference.com
March 23-25
Society for Pentecostal Studies: annual meeting, focusing on the centennial of the Azusa Street Revival, Pasadena, Calif. Contact: David G. Roebuck at 423-614-8576; e-mail: droebuck(at)leeuniversity.edu; Web site: http://www.sps-usa.org
March 24
“State of the Black Church” Summit, sponsored by Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas. Contact: Stacey Floyd-Thomas at 817-257-7140; e-mail: s.floyd-thomas(at)tcu.edu; Web site: http://www.brite.tcu.edu
Roanoke College Center for Religion and Society: “The Explosion of Christianity in the Global South,” featuring historian Mark Noll of Wheaton College, Salem, Va. Contact: Teresa Gereaux at 540-375-2282; e-mail: gereaux(at)roanoke.edu
March 24-25
“The Faith-based Initiative: Past, Present and Future,” sponsored by the Center for Public Justice, Washington. Contact: Stephen Lazarus at 866-275-8784; e-mail: stephen(at)cpjustice.org; Web site: http://www.cpjustice.org/civitas
March 27-28
“The War on Christians and the Values Voter in 2006,” conference sponsored by Vision America, Washington. Contact: Don Feder at 508-405-1337; e-mail: dfeder(at)rcn.com; Web site: http://www.visionamerica.org
March 28-31
Christian Churches Together in the USA: organizational meeting, Atlanta. Contact: Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson at 616-698-7071. Note: Meeting is closed to all media.
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 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
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 and Catholic University. Contact: Jacques Arsenault at 202-687-4328; e-mail: arsenauj(at)georgetown.edu
April 27
“Day of Truth,” initiative by Christian high school students to provide an alternative to “Day of Silence” marked the previous day by pro-gay students, 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
MO/PH END RNS
Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
