February 16, 200*
Page B4
--------------------------- (Jije ^Ja rlia n i ©beeruer
/Religion
U a rtla iib
M o n th
B lack H isto
--------- r
Aretha Franklin, the
“Queen o f Soul" had
dominated the music
charts in the 1960s
and 1970s with more
million-selling records
than any other woman
in music history. This
week’s observation o f
Black History covers
the years o f 1950-
2000. Can you name
the most successful
black-owned record
company Aretha
Franklin signed with
that helped launch her
career? For the
answer, look in Focus
under the header, M.
Center offers wisdom of the elders
t O w n U f TKUSmHY
The public is invited to attend “An
A fternoon w ith W isdom o f the
Elders,” the series o f four multi­
cultural celebrations being held
between February and May 2000. The
February 19 celebration honors elders
o f Native American and African-
American heritage and the richness
o f their cultures.
Margaret Carter, Interim Director of
the Urban League and former State
Representative, is a featured speaker
at the February 19 gathering. This
remarkable and inspiring community
leader has been guardian to her
community, raised nine children, and
been an advisor to the powerful and
d isad v an tag ed . E m erging as a
national leader in political and
professional circles, Margaret shares
how her grandmother, part Choctaw,
constantly reminded her family of
their history and their w om ens’
distinct legacy as mothers. “Her
wisdom was always one that guided
us and advised us o f how we leave
this world better than how we inherited
it, always cherishing the earth.”
A frican-A m erican h ig h lig h ts
include the Buffalo Soldiers, Pacific
Northwest Chapter, 9lh and 10th Horse
Cavalry, gospel music performances
by Harmony Expressions featuring
M attie N eal, and a dram atic
performance featuring The Drama
Queens o f Project Network.
EMO honors interfaith cooperation service
Ecumenical MinistriesofOregon will
honor interfaith and ecumenical
cooperation across the state during
its annual community celebration,
called “A Time for Jubilee: A Time for
New Beginnings,” on Thursday,
February 24, at St. Henry Catholic
Church, 346 NW First St., Gresham.
The celebration beings at 6 p.m. with
a n ecumenical service that includes
a homily by the Rev. Ronald Williams
o f B eth el A frican M eth o d ist
Episcopal Church and gospel music
by We 3, a multicultural Portland-
area trio whose original compositions
are designed to lift up the spirit. A
dinner and celebration will follow the
service, w ith a presentation o f
community m inistry awards and
installation o f new EMO board
officers.
The Ecumenical Service Award,
which honors special achievements
supporting community ministries in
Oregon, will be presented to two
o rg a n iz a tio n s:
th e
M uslim
Educational Trust, in recognition o f
th e
P o rtla n d -a re a
M uslim
com m unity’s work w ith E M O ’s
refugee and immigration ministries in
resettling refugees during the past
ten years and the com m unity’s
d ed icatio n to h elp in g K osovar
refugees last year, and Blue Sage
Ministries in Bums, for ongoing
interdenominational community work
in southeast Oregon.
The Two Pauls Award, presented in
honor o f individuals or groups that
promote ecumenical and interfaith
dialogue, service and relations, was
established in 1994 to honor two
significant Oregon clergymen, the
Rev. Dr. Paul Wright and the Most
Rev. Paul Waldschmidt. This year’s
T w o P auls aw ard is m ade in
recognition o f the October 1999
signing o f the Joint Declaration on
the D octrine o f Justification in
A ugsburg, G erm any, lifting the
condemnations between Lutheran
churches o f the Lutheran World
Federation and the Roman Catholic
C hurch. T he tw o ecu m en ical
communities that will receive the
award are Mission o f the Atonement,
a Rom an C a th o lic -L u th e ra n
community in Beaverton, and St. Like
Lutheran Church and St. John Fisher
C a th o lic C h u rc h , n e ig h b o rin g
congregations in southwest Portland
that gather frequently for shared
worship and outreach.
EMO is an association o f 15
Christian denominations including
Protestant, Orthodox and Roman
Catholic religious bodies that work
together to respond as a people of
faith to the needs o f Oregonians.
Tickets for the dinner are $25. Tables
seating eight can be purchased for
$200. To order tickets or for more
information, call (503)221 -1054.
This February celebration will be
held on Saturday, February 19
between 4-9 PM at Portland State
University’s Smith Memorial Center
Ballroom, on the third floor at 1825
S W Broadway in downtown Portland.
People o f all cultures are invited to
a tte n d
th e se
m u lti-c u ltu ra l
celebrations w hich extend from
February through May 2000.
Now in its second successful year,
these community celebrations offer
us a glimpse at the richness o f Native
American life by sharing prophetic
wisdom, folklore, and prophesy from
d istin g u ish ed N ative A m erican
elders, as well as tribal drumming,
dance, and music. Gatherings also
honor and celebrate the rich cultural
heritage o f other ethnic groups from
our region, giving an opportunity to
learn from the w isdom o f their
exem plary elders. By gathering
diverse community members together
to experience each other’s cultural
ric h n e ss and d iv e rsity and
acknowledge the values we all share
as human beings, WOTE aims to
a lle v ia te m isc o n c e p tio n s and
misunderstandings between racial
groups, and promote healing and
reconciliation.
Donations o f $5-$20 are accepted,
yet nobody is turned away for lack of
funds. Wisdom o f the Elders, Inc. is
primary sponsorof this series o f multi­
cultural celebrations.
A N ative A m erican non profit
corporation, their mission is the
cultural preservation and sharing
indigenous e ld e rs’ w isdom and
cultural values.
WOTE is sponsoring this series in
partnership with Meyer Memorial
Trust, Oregon Arts Commission,
P S U ’s U ISH E (U n ited Indian
Students in H igher Education),
National College o f Naturopathic
M edicine, O regon U niting, and
Metropolitan Human Rights Center.
February 15,2000 through February 29,2000
ALL FABRIC
Sale includes: Calicos, Home Dec (Drapery and Upholstery)
• Special Occasion • Children's Wear • Active Wear
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ALL NOTIONS
Gospel Jamboree to draw in big names
CONTRIBUTED STORY
eor T he P ortland O bserver
Organizers o f the Sankofa Cultural
Arts Festival today announced that
G ram m y A w ard-w inning gospel
recording artists Shirley Caesar, Take
6, and hezwkiah Walker as well as the
female group Trin-I-Tee 5:7 will
headline its Thomas Dorsey Gospel
Jamboree. Set for April 14 at 7PM in
New Haven, Connecticut, the gospel
concert will take place at Yale
University’s Battell Chapel. “All o f
us have grown up singing or listening
to Thomas A. Dorsey’s music” say’s
Crystal Emery, Artistic Director o f
the Festival. “The artists scheduled
to headline the gospel Jamboree
represent the history and future o f
gospel music, and all them have been
influenced by his work in some way!”
Thomas A. Dorsey’s unique style of
infusing jazz and blues with sacred
music created a revolution in the Black
Church and transformed the way
African-Americans worshiped God.
When asked to describe his music,
D orsev an sw ered , “ g o sp e l,” a
response that earned him the tittle,
‘Father o f Gospel Music’
As a leader and a visionary, Thomas
A. Dorsey was the first to organize a
female gospel quartet, and in 1932, he
co-founded the National Convention
o f gospel Choirs and Choruses, Inc.
(NCGCC)in Bridgeport Connecticut.
“We wanted to acknowledge his
contribution to our musical and
cultural landscape,” says Emery, “so
w e ’ve jo in in g in the yearlong
centennial celebration and presenting
the Gospel Jamboree as tribute to his
memory.”
Bom in July, 1899, Thomas A. Dorsey
had composed nearly a thousand
songs before his passing in 1993, the
most famous being “Precious Load,
Take My Hand,” “Search Me, Load,’
and “ There’ll be Peace in the Valley.”
Proceeds from the Gospel Jamboree
will be used to create the Thomas A.
Dorsey Legacy Scholarship, a four
year college scholarship to be awarded
to an outstanding African-American,
H isp an ic A m erican or N ative
American high school music major to
attend a college o f their choice.
Includes • Thread • Zippers • trims (face and Ribbons)
• Dril/ • Rolan Supplies • Bullous • U rights Package Tape
ONE D U ONIA
Monday February 21,2000 Presidents Day
DRITZ NOTIONS
50% OFF Regular retail price
ONE D \Y ONIA
BE SURE TO CHECK OUR STORE FOR “MANAGER'S SPECIALS"
♦Discounts do nol apply io previously discounted or marked down items. 2/15/00 thru 2/29/00
RETAIL - WHOLESALE
700 S.E. 122nd Ave.
Portland, OR
252-9530
Visit our website at
www.fabricdepot.com
1-8OO-392-3376
Eamestine Banks (Willis)
Sunrise
February 6,1932
Sunset
February 11,2000
Services will be held, February 18,2000, at Maranatha Church, Minister Rev.
John Parker.
Viewing will be held at Cox Funeral Home on February 17,2000.
Eamestine leaves to cherish her memory:
Veronica C a n tu e -H ill Daughter Atlanta, GA
Teresa Banks Daughter Atlanta, GA
Clarice Banks Daughter Atlanta, GA
Luther Banks, Jr. Son Portland, OR
Paul Banks Son Reno, NV.
Sarah Deadner Sister Ogden, AR
Lafayette Allen Sister Texarkana, AR
Vester Willis Sister Reno, NV
Joe Louis Willis Brother Texarkana, AR
J. W. Willis Brother Detroit, MI
Homer Lee Willis Brother Toledo, OH
Larry Dean Willis Brother Toledo, OH
Carl Lee Willis Brother Toledo, OH
L.W. Willis Brother Toledo, OH
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