A Christmas-Epiphany Vigil

The Twelve Days of Christmas, beginning Christmas Day and culminating Epiphany Day on January 6, are observed by the International Community of Christ in Reno.

On Christmas Day a traditional service is held at 11 am:
Chapel of the Holy Child
643 Ralston Street
Reno, Nevada 89503.

You are welcome to join us with your friends and family.

During the twelve days a Sunrise Divine Service
is held each morning:
Red Rock Consecrated Sanctuary
5015 Matterhorn Blvd.
Reno, Nevada 89506

RSVP. For more information, e-mail info@communityofchrist.org or call (775) 786-7827

Wear comfortable attire:
Because of the outdoor venue, we recommend hat, warm jacket, and depending on the weather, comfortable, warm shoes or boots.

DIRECTIONS TO THE RED ROCK CONSECRATED SANCTUARY:
Take 395 North to Lemmon Drive, Exit 74.
Turn Right on Lemmon Drive.
Go approximately 4 miles to Waterash Street.
Turn Right on Waterash Street to Chesapeake Drive.
Turn Right on Chesapeake Drive.
Immediately turn Left on Matterhorn Blvd.
Continue 2 to 3 miles to 5015 Matterhorn Blvd.
The sanctuary gate is located on the right hand side just past and across from Sugarland Ranch Animal Sanctuary.

The Nevada Clergy Association Presents
The Twenty-Fifth Annual Interfaith
Thanksgiving Eve Service

“A Quarter Century of Coming
Together in Gratitude”

A Worship Service of Prayers, Readings,
and Music from a Variety of
Faith Traditions

This Year’s Event Graciously Hosted By:
Trinity Episcopal Church
200 Island Avenue, Downtown Reno
(Free Parking on the Corner of Court & Sierra Streets)
Monetary Donations Will be Given to Family Promise
and Food Donations will go to The Food Bank of Northern Nevada

For Information call: (775) 786-7827
or email: gsavoyjr@communityofchrist.org

The Nevada Clergy Association is a nonprofit interfaith network of religious and spiritual leaders in Nevada.

The Salvation Army Annual Dinner & Christmas Kettle Kick-Off on November 5, 2010, at Harrah’s Reno was attended by several members of the International Community of Christ. The dinner program and auction, with celebrity mistress and master of ceremonies Shelby Sheehan and Bill Frankmore of KRVN-TV News 4, opened the Salvation Army’s holiday fund-raising season. Salvation Army captain Don Sheppard provided the keynote address. Other officers of the organization delivered the annual reports of the impressive list of services provided by the Salvation Army in Washoe County over the past year.

A table at the dinner was sponsored in The Church’s name. Contributors were Ms. Kelly Scott, a friend of The Church; the Reverend Robert Roy; the Reverend Deacons Stephan Fuelling and Robert Anderson; and the Rt. Reverend Rebecca Willis.

In attendance representing The Church were Ms. Scott; the Rt. Reverends Ileana Isfan, Robert Petrovich, and Sean Savoy; the Reverends Ben Hubbard, Barbara Whitney, and Robert Roy; and the Reverend Deacon Stephan Fuelling.

Members of the Nevada Clergy Association appeared October 8, 2010, on Nevada Newsline, a talk program on KUNR-FM 88.7, the local National Public Radio station in Reno. On this final edition of the program, host Dan Erwine interviewed a panel of interfaith clergy to talk about what issues divide us religiously and what issues bring us together. Also discussed were the upcoming Nevada Prayer Breakfast and the 25th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service. In the studio were the Right Reverend Sean Savoy, Chancellor of the International Community of Christ; the Reverend Stefani Schatz, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Reno; and Imam Abdul Barghouti of the Northern Nevada Muslim Community.

Link to the interview (54 minutes):

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kunr/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1710988/Nevada.Newsline/Nevada.Interfaith..Clergy.Panel.

The Nevada Clergy Association’s fall interfaith luncheon was held Thursday, October 14, 2010, at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. About forty clergy and other religious leaders and guests attended. Members gather at luncheons twice a year to meet and discuss upcoming events, programs, and other activities. The hosting group has the opportunity to make a presentation on their particular faith tradition or talk about other important issues. At this luncheon, St. Mary’s offered a presentation on end-of-life ethics and practices for the clergy and their congregations. Other topics included were the upcoming Nevada Prayer Breakfast, the 25^th Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service, and planning for the next luncheon, which will be held in the spring. The Sierra Foundation offered to host the spring event. Representing The Community at the luncheon were the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., the Rt. Reverend Robert Petrovich, and the Reverend Dr. Bill Bartlett.

Link to the article in the Tahoe Daily Tribune:

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20101022/NEWS/101029926/1068&parentprofile=1056

Father George and Mrs. Bratiotis

Members of the International Community of Christ and Rabbi Myra Soifer, emerita rabbi of Temple Sinai in Reno, accepted the invitation of Saint Anthony Parish to join them in giving thanks to their pastor Father George Bratiotis for his years of dedication to God’s ministry as he conducted his final services as Protopresbyter of Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church, Reno, Nevada. These clergy attended the event as representatives of the Nevada Clergy Association to honor the many years of work Father George gave to the interfaith movement in Reno.

The luncheon program and celebration at the Cladianos Center to mark the retirement of the beloved priest and pastor was held Sunday, October 3, 2010. Father Bratiotis himself said at the event that he was honored by their presence and by the presence of the many members of his congregation, or “vineyard,” as he called them, by the memories shared, by the cards and generous gifts given, and by the many acts of kindness and remembrances displayed. The event, which included a delicious chicken dinner and dancing by the young people of the church, was inspiring, poignant, and humorous.

The Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr., as president of the newly formed Nevada Clergy Association, presented a certificate to Father George on behalf of the association for his many years of participation in interfaith events; and as a gift of the International Community of Christ, Bishop Savoy presented Father George with an icon of the Byzantine monk Symeon the New Theologian, who is recognized as a saint by the Orthodox Church and was enshrined in 2004 by the Advocates for Religious Rights and Freedoms.

Although Father George is retired from active duty as pastor of Saint Anthony’s, he will continue to celebrate the Divine Liturgy for the parish and will be at the church during the remainder of the month of October until the appointment of a new pastor.

In attendance representing the International Community of Christ were the Right Reverends Gene and Sean Savoy and the Reverend Robert Petrovich.

Symeon the New Theologian. IMAGE BY ZENOS

November 16, 2010

The Nevada Clergy Association

together with

Robert L. Crowell, Mayor of Carson City,
Robert A. Cashell, Sr., Mayor of the City of Reno, and
Geno R. Martini, Mayor of the City of Sparks

request your presence at the

Second Floor Ballroom ~ Atlantis Casino Resort Spa

Reno, Nevada

The Nevada Clergy Association

will present its first-ever Vision Award to

The Reverend V. James Jeffery

Rector Emeritus, Trinity Episcopal Church, Reno

The Nevada Prayer Breakfast, a Nevada Tradition, has been revived by the Nevada Clergy Association for the gathering of citizens, as well as civic, business, and community leaders who are devoted to prayer on behalf of our State, and for the sharing of inspiration and ideas on the crucial need to bring the spiritual resources of the faith community to bear on issues that face Nevadans. While each segment of the faith community believes ardently in its approach to the Divine, we gather at the Nevada Prayer Breakfast as equals. Together, we devote our energies to the good of the State of Nevada. Together, we pray.

View flyer: PrayerBreak2010_invite

The Nevada Clergy Association is a nonprofit interfaith network of religious and spiritual leaders in Nevada.

The Right Reverend Sean Savoy was approached in early May by Rebecca Gasca of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to help arrange a meeting of local clergy with her exchange partner from Turkey, Hilal Kaplan, an advocate of women’s rights and religious freedom. Ms. Kaplan, who was visiting Reno in early May through arrangement with the U.S. Department of State, was interested in getting the perspective of religious leaders who operate under a secular government and are still able to create social change. Ms. Kaplan, a journalist, intends to write about her experiences.

Members of the Nevada Clergy Association are endeavoring to resurrect the old Nevada tradition of the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in a new form: the Nevada Prayer Breakfast.

Following a number of preliminary meetings in February and March of this year, The Reverend Sean Savoy was appointed chair of the organizing committee, which hopes to hold the event sometime in the autumn of 2010.

Years ago, the Reno-Sparks area interfaith community had sponsored the Governor’s Prayer Breakfasts for a period of several years under the auspices of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ). When that organization disbanded, the prayer breakfast went with it; however, the concept of renewing a community prayer breakfast resurfaced among members fo the interfaith community a short time ago.

Prompted by Bishop Gene Savoy Jr., president of the Nevada Clergy Association, a delegation of local religious leaders was formed to meet the mayors of Sparks, Carson City, and Reno to discuss their participation in the event and their endorsement. When the delegation was well received in each case, Bishop Savoy began to take the necessary steps to organize, oversee and sponsor the event. It is planned the breakfast will take place in November of this year.

Reverend Rhys Andrews at Church of the Americas

On April 23, 2010, St. Mary’s Hospital, located down the street from the Chancellery of the International Community of Christ, held a “Heart of Gold” luncheon to show appreciation for its volunteers. At this event, the Reverend Deacon Rhys Andrews (pictured) was one of the volunteers who was presented a silver pin award for appreciation of her work as a volunteer chaplain in the emergency room in excess of one hundred hours.