Faith in the Public Square

The Albany Presbytery Peacemaking Task Force will present a gun violence prevention worship and discussion on Saturday, May 2 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut Street in Albany.   The guest preacher is Rev. Margery Rossi, Minister of Gun Violence Prevention for the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship. According to a news release, Rev. Rossi brings more than 15 years of experience in gun violence prevention ministry in congregational and church settings. In addition, she has played a crucial role in shaping and implementing the PC(USA) policy on gun violence prevention and intervention throughout these years.   Worship will be followed by a time of education, discussion, and refreshments.   More information and a link to registration is here .

 FOCUS Churches of Albany will have a Combined Winter Worship Service on Sunday, February 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85 Chestnut Street in Albany.  Featuring a joint choir directed by Christopher Price, they will gather to renew the FOCUS Covenant, acknowledging “our common calling to work together more effectively than we can separately.” Based in downtown Albany, FOCUS “brings people together to respond to hunger and basic needs with dignity and care.” People can participate either in-person or online via Zoom. Zoom details are available here .

The Capital Area Council of Churches invites the community to celebrate the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 15 at Macedonia Baptist Church, 26 Wilson Avenue in Albany. The program begins at 7 p.m. Held annually on January 15, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, this Interfaith Memorial Service brings the community together to honor his legacy by raising funds for graduating high school seniors that are attending college in the Fall. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship was established in 1973 to honor the memory of the life and work of Dr. King and to preserve the legacy of the nonviolent human rights movement as it was expressed in his life and teachings.   For more information, or to donate to the scholarship fund, click here .

Congratulations to all the honorees at last night's 84 th  Anniversary Awards Celebration of the Capital Area Council of Churches. The theme was “Building Bridges.” Here is a list the recipients.   Kathleen Burgess was awarded the Micah 6:8 Award. Kate is the founder and Regional Director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) in Albany, a ministry of the Jesuits.   The Rev. D. Lowell Chilton Pastor received The Rev. Joyce Giles Pastoral Award.  He is the pastor of First Lutheran Church, Albany, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Loudonville, and one of the chaplains of the Albany Maritime Ministry, offering hospitality, spiritual care, and shore leave transportation for seafarers on cargo ships visiting the Capital Region.   Kitt Jackson received the Evelyn C. Stone Lifetime Achievement Award. During her 17 years as the Administrative Director of the Council, she was part of the CROP Hunger Walk Committee, eventually becoming its chair. Kitt's efforts ...

The New York State Council of Churches is looking for sponsors for its 10th Annual Awards and Fundraising Gala to be on November 13 at the Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel, at 660 Albany Shaker Road in Albany. The evening will honor exceptional individuals with awards such as:      Excellence in Housing Justice Award    Excellence in Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations Award      Excellence in Social Justice Award      Excellence in Union Organizing Award      Edwin Muller Chaplaincy Award For more information on sponsorship opportunities, click here .

The annual John U. Miller CROP Hunger Walk, sponsored by the Capital Area Council of Churches, will take place at St. Vincent’s Roman Catholic Church, 900 Madison Avenue in Albany this Sunday, May 4.    Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. with the walk starting at 2:30 p.m.   According to the Council’s website, CROP stands for “Communities Respond to Overcome Poverty”. People of all ages collect pledges and walk in one of the CROP Walks that take place in the greater Capital District. The John U. Miller CROP Hunger Walk occurs each year on the first Sunday in May. Congregations throughout Albany County join together to end hunger, one step at a time.   To learn more, or to register on-line for the event, click here .