Scientology in Harlem

The Church of Scientology continues to grow in Harlem. Recently I noticed a storefront on Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. in the lower 140s had become their latest home. Back in 2007, the church purchased property on 125th Street for $10.2 million. My memories of Scientology go beyond Tom Cruise and John Travolta. When I… [Read more…]

Win a free wedding ceremony at Riverside Church

The Riverside Church will make the life of one lucky Harlem bride-to-be that much easier, by providing the chance to win a free wedding ceremony at the historic Church during its annual Wedding Open House on Saturday, February 19 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive (bet. 120th & 122nd… [Read more…]

Hope Kidz Easter Egg Hunt

Metro Hope Church

Celebrate Jesus’ Birth

Come and join us for Live Music, Christmas Caroling, Dancing, Games and Creating Gifts for our Harlem Neighbors in Need!  It will be a great time for us to have fun and at the same time think of others in our community. Hot cocoa, warm cider & baked treats will be provided! **Suggested Donation: A brand new toy for… [Read more…]

Hope Kidz: Prayer Playground

We know that finding fun and engaging ways to pray can often leave families stumped and stuck for ideas. Come and join our Hope Kidz Team for an adventure in prayer, together we will explore why prayer matters and provide hands-on activities that will help you and your children weave prayer into everyday life! Lunch… [Read more…]

Brown Baggin’ It with Hope Kidz

Summer Dinner Discussion Groups

Summer Dinner Discussion Group Through Thursday, August 6 Presented by Metro Hope Church Join us on Thursday evenings @ 6:30PM, as we support  local businesses and discuss over dinner the intersection of faith with music, justice and film. Place: The Kiosk 116th Street between Madison & Park Avenue. Contact us at info@metrohopenyc.org

Summer is Here Family Celebration

National Black Theatre of Harlem 2nd Floor 2031-33 5th Avenue (BET 125 & 126th Street) When:Sunday, July 19, 1:00PM Email: info@metrohopenyc.org Website: Metrohopenyc.org Join Metro Hope Church’s  Family Day celebration! Come and celebrate the summer with food, games, prizes and music!

Evensong and Ecology

Sometimes I Cry

  The loves, lives and losses of women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS With Sheryl Lee Ralph The Original Dream Girl FREE ADMISSION to 2 Shows! Friday, April 24, 2009 6PM The Abyssinian Baptist Church 132 Odell Clark Place (formerly 138th Street) New York, NY 10030

Metro Hope Church

Praise the Lord and Green the Roof

Sister Claire Joy with her compost bucket. Among the convent’s environmental principles, she said, is “to make sure nothing goes to waste.” Read the whole story [NYT]

Harlem Hallelujah

Marian Wright Edelman at Riverside Church

MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN TO DELIVER SERMON AT SPECIAL GOD NOT GUNS SABBATH AT THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH Special Worship Service Will Culminate A Weekend of Events As The Riverside Church Observes God Not Guns Campaign Against Gun Violence     As part of the Brady Center To Prevent Gun Violence’s national God Not Gunscampaign, Mrs. Marian Wright Edelman, New York Times Bestselling… [Read more…]

Annual Outreach Crusade and Gospel Fest

Harlem Speaks Salsa Jazz

Jazz Vespers in Harlem

Faith & Film: Abyssinian Screens “Redemption”

Abyssinian’s Directed Paths Film Ministry will screen “Redemption” starring Jamie Foxx, as Stanly “Tookie” Williams (co-founder of the Crips Gang) on Saturday, June 21st @ 11 am. The film will be followed by an in-depth discussion about gang violence, incarceration, black identity, and redemption. For more info, contact Gregory Jones gsj963@gmail.com.

Money is a Terrible Thing to Waste

MSN Video – Harlem church marks 200 years of service

May 28: Abyssinian Baptist Church, located in New York’s historic center of Black cultural renaissance, has a lot to celebrate on its 200th anniversary. NBC’s Rehema Ellis reports. View video | digg story

Mother’s Day Origins

The second Sunday of May for as long as I can remember has always presented an interesting conundrum for me. It’s almost an early practice run for Christmas time. If you didn’t know, this Sunday the entire nation will be “celebrating” Mother’s Day. In Harlem, many will begin this day by accompanying their mother to… [Read more…]

James Brown Memorabilia Exhibition

Presented by: Museum of African American Cinema Thursday May 1 @ 6pm, Opening Reception Continues through June 1, by appointment only What: Over 400 items displayed including historic treasures such as James Brown’s Gold Records, posters, photos, autographs, legal documents, 8-tracks, clothes, concert footage, and much more! When: Thurs., May 1, 6pm-9:30pm; Fri., May 2… [Read more…]

Bloomberg Picks Parkes for Campaign Finance Board

Mayor Bloomberg today announced the elevation of the Rev. Joseph Parkes, president of Cristo Rey New York High School, to the position of chair of the city Campaign Finance Board to replace outgoing chairman Frederick A. O. Schwartz Jr. Father Parkes is the third chairman in the Board’s 20-year history.  The Board’s immediate past chairman,… [Read more…]

What’s Up with the Church of the Masters?

The former site of The Church of the Masters Now that this famous Harlem “Landmark” has been de-constructed, does anyone know what will be constructed on this site?

Celebrate Abyssinian at 200

Click image to enlarge

Pieces of History for New Churches

The Apostle in Harlem The Harlem church, St. Thomas the Apostle, is an exquisite piece of neo-Gothic architecture, its spiky terra-cotta crown resembling a wedding cake. Finished in 1907, the church first served Irish parishioners and then a black congregation that waned and withered, its Sunday Mass sparsely attended, its building in dire need of… [Read more…]

Sexual Healing: What’s Going On?

The Abyssinian Baptist Church HIV/AIDS and Health Ministries will host an informative and enlightening forum Sexual Healing, What’s Going On? A Seminar on Sex in the 21st Century on Saturday, March 29, 2008 from 11AM-3PM at Nubian Heritage/ Boma Coffee & Tea which is conveniently located at 2037 5th Avenue on the corner of 126th… [Read more…]

Say Yes!

Donald Hilliard, Jr. a renown minister of 25 years, teacher, community leader, lecturer, – Senior Pastor of Cathedral International with three locations throughout New Jersey has written a series of powerful books that have empowered the lives of people across the country. He has opened a new chapter in his life and ministry as a visual artist –… [Read more…]

Exhibition Traces Abyssinian’s Legacy and Work in Harlem

In honor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church 200th year anniversary, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture will host an exhibition tracing the evolution of the church from its founding in Lower Manhattan in 1808 as the first African-American Baptist Church in the State of New York through its current work as an agent for positive social change… [Read more…]

Weekend Reading: Hair Wars, Tough Travels, Harlem Rent Strike and Black Hockey Players

This is hair! There’s a new coffee table book called Hair Wars and it’s all about these over the moon hairstyles stylists come up with for black hair trade shows. Okay, this is not really about Uptown, but it’s fun and interesting. Narmer sent me this info and I thought I’d post it…especially since I’m… [Read more…]

The Scoop

Having problems with your child’s school? So are parents at this $18,000/year pre-school in Morningside Heights. {New York Times} Councilwoman Inez Dickens fined for fundraising and spending missteps during 2005 campaign. {Columbia Spectator} The Church of Scientology looks to strengthen its presence in Harlem. Maybe Tom Cruise will start hanging out on 125th Street. {Columbia… [Read more…]

Metro Hope Church Celebration

On Saturday, September 8th, from 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m., Metro Hope Church (a new church in Harlem) will be having a Back to School Celebration at Marcus Garvey Park. There will be arts & crafts, face painting, a school supplies giveaway, as well as food and drink for children and parents. They will be… [Read more…]

Celebration of Mass – Music of Mary Lou Williams

CELEBRATION OF MASS WITH JAZZ MUSIC Fr. Peter F. O’Brien, S.J., the Executive Director of The Mary Lou Williams Foundation, will celebrate Mass at The Fordham University Church on the Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, N.Y. on Friday June 15, 2007 at 11:30AM. This liturgy is part of a workshop exploring the Arts conducted… [Read more…]

Fit for God’s Kingdom

Bethel Gospel Assembly’s Annual Health Fair 2-26 E.120th Street Bet. Fifth and Madison Avenues New York,NY 10035 (212)860-1510 Sponsored by Bethel’s Kingdom Minded Health & Human Services Professionals Sunday, May 20, 2007 10:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Open to the entire community! Come and find out about: Cholesterol, Diabetes, Hypertension, Nutrition, HIV Testing, Cancer Screening,… [Read more…]

No bling bling or sweet thing

Franciscan Monks who listen to funk and play punk? Anything is possible in 2007. At a time when parishioners are fighting to keep their churches open in Harlem, the friaries are continuing to grow. In an average year, several hundred potential candidates discover the order through its Web site, www.franciscanfriars.com, or its television show on… [Read more…]

Easter in Harlem: Pictorial

A pictorial of Easter in Harlem then and now. Easter Sunday in Harlem, April 26, 1943   Easter paraders in Harlem made a fine showing with new suits and dresses. These girls were photographed as they left the Abyssinian Baptist Church. All Harlem churches were packed with worshippers. Photo by Weegee (courtesy of ICP)  … [Read more…]

Mary Lou Williams Spiritual Sounds

The Sacred Music of Mary Lou Williams at The Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family 405 West 125th St. at Morningside Ave. New York (Harlem), N.Y. Mass at 10:00AM sharp Easter Sunday – April 8, 2007 Aaron J. Diehl – piano and musical director Etienne Charles – trumpet David Wong – bass Carmen… [Read more…]

Cardinal Chased Out of Harlem Church

A flustered Edward Cardinal Egan fled through an underground tunnel at an East Harlem church last night to escape the wrath of protesters furious about closures of their parishes. “Egan, Egan, open our church!” screamed some 30 people from the shuttered Our Lady Queen of Angels parish and other churches as he quickly strode past… [Read more…]

Renaissance Groundbreaking

After years of talking and wading through political red tape, a Groundbreaking ceremony for Harlem’s historic Renaissance Ballroom Complex will finally happen.The Renaissance, located between 138 and 139th Streets, and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Lenox Avenues, was formerly known as The Renaissance Ballroom and Casino or “The Renny.” If you remember last month The… [Read more…]