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Religion events in the San Fernando Valley area, Feb. 27-March 6

By
Holly Andres
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Religion events in the San Fernando Valley area, Feb. 27-March 6

Here is a sampling of upcoming services and events that are online, and some in-person, in the San Fernando Valley area.

Services with Temple Beth Hillel: Havdalah online, 7 p.m. Feb. 27 (click on the Facebook link from here: (bit.ly/3bF4irk). A  Shabbat service, 7 p.m. March 5 (bit.ly/3aQHHsF). The Reform Jewish temple is in Valley Village. tbhla.org

Reseda Church of Christ’s Sunday service: Online, 8 a.m. Feb. 28. The senior minister is the Rev. Dewayne Winrow. www.facebook.com/ResedaChurch; resedachurch.com

What Is in Your Hand? – 45th Anniversary of West Valley Christian Church: The Rev. Rob Denton delivers the message, 9 a.m. Feb. 28 (outdoors on the lawn; bring your own blanket or chair, shade umbrella, wear a mask and practice social distancing). Readings: Exodus 3:1-6, Matthew 25:14-30 and 1 Samuel 17:26-28 and 32-37. Also, an indoor and online service, 10:30 a.m. (link on the website). West Valley Christian Church, 22450 Sherman Way, West Hills. 818-884-6480. www.wvcch.org; www.facebook.com/westvalley.christianchurch

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church: Two services on Feb. 28: An outdoor, traditional service in the Serenity Garden, 9 a.m. (must make a phone reservation by noon Feb. 27 to attend; see website for rules to follow; bring your own Bible), and a contemporary and live stream service, 11:30 a.m. (register by phone for this service; click on the link found here: bit.ly/2Z5fhnF). 8520 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka. 818-341-3460. Facebook: bit.ly/2FhJvy1. www.our-redeemer.org

Rejoice in Suffering: Pastor Timothy Jenks explains the message, based on Genesis 17; Mark 8:27-38 and Romans 5:1-11, at the 9:30 a.m. Feb. 28 indoor service (masks and social distancing required). The sermon is available on the church’s Facebook (bit.ly/33bLo8k) or here www.cplchurch.org/worship-videos-2. Canoga Park Lutheran Church, 7357 Jordan Ave. 818-348-5714. www.cplchurch.org

Second Sunday in Lent with St. Luke Lutheran Church: The Rev. Janet Hansted delivers the message, 9:30 a.m. Feb. 28. Musical prelude, 9:25 a.m. Watch here on Facebook: bit.ly/3lJkVX4. St. Luke Lutheran Church is in Woodland Hills. Voice mail, 818-346-3070. Email: [email protected]. www.stlukelutheran.com

Seventy-Seven Times: The Rev. Joseph Choi explains the message, based on Matthew 18:21-35, 10 a.m. (in English) and 11:30 a.m. (in Korean) on Feb. 28. Watch here: youtube.com/numcvideo. The church’s February’s newsletter: bit.ly/39KZyks. 818-886-1555. Facebook: www.facebook.com/northridgeumc. www.northridgeumc.org

Give Up Worry for Lent: The Rev. Bill Freeman, of B Free Ministry, delivers the message, 10 a.m. Feb. 28. Find the Zoom link on the website. 616-796-5598. billfreeman.org

Second Sunday in Lent with Prince of Peace Episcopal Church: Watch the service on the church’s YouTube, 10 a.m. Feb. 28 (also available to watch later). The service bulletin and hymn page are available in advance on the website. The church is in Woodland Hills. Email: [email protected]. www.popwh.org

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles: Sunday Masses are live streamed, 10 a.m. (in English) and noon (Spanish) from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels: lacatholics.org/mass-for-the-homebound. The daily Masses are live streamed from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels, 8 a.m. (in English). For local parishes that live stream Mass: lacatholics.org/parish-livestreams. Facebook: www.facebook.com/lacatholics. For more information: lacatholics.org

Sunday with Woodland Hills Community Church (United Church of Christ): The Rev. Craig Peterson delivers the message, 10 a.m. Feb. 28. Piano prelude, 9:45 a.m. Watch the service from the church’s Facebook here: www.facebook.com/whccucc. Voice mail, 818-346-0820. Email: [email protected]. www.woodlandhillscommunitychurch.org

Choose Your Cross – Second Sunday in Lent: The Rev. Steve Peralta delivers the message, based on Mark 8:31-38, from a sermon series “The Choices of Lent,” at the 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28 online service. North Hollywood United Methodist Church. 818-763-8231. Email: [email protected]. Facebook: bit.ly/2BPcdo4. nohofumc.org

Journey to Freedom: The Rev. Michael McMorrow explains the message, based on the center’s February theme “One Journey, Many Paths,” 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28 (bit.ly/3riDsLZ). In addition, McMorrow gives a “Mid-Day Reset,” at noon Monday-Friday on the center’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/csl.granadahills). Center for Spiritual Living-Granada Hills. 818-363-8136. Click on the link to watch the service here: www.youtube.com/user/CSLGranadaHills. https://www.cslgh.org

Non Profit: The Rev. Beth Bingham explains the message, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28. Also, “10@10,” a devotional and prayer with either the Rev. Beth Bingham or associate minister the Rev. Curtis Peek, 10 a.m. Monday-Friday on the church’s Facebook. Congregational Church of the Chimes is in Sherman Oaks. Watch the service here: www.facebook.com/churchofchimes. Email: [email protected]. churchofthechimes.org

Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful You: The Rev. Stephen Rambo chats with Eugene Holden, a Centers for Spiritual Living licensed spiritual practitioner, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 28 (click to watch here: bit.ly/2MlDrYL). Center for Spiritual Living-Simi Valley. 805-527-0870. www.facebook.com/cslsimi; www.cslsimi.org

I Am Radiant with Health: The Rev. Greg Dorst gives his thoughts on the center’s February theme, 11 a.m. Feb. 28. Watch the service on Zoom here: bit.ly/2XuhaL9 and use ID: 3148040257. Unity Burbank – Center for Spiritual Awareness’s Facebook here: www.facebook.com/unityburbank. Sign up for the center’s “Words of Light” newsletter here: unityburbank.org

Lenten Worship Service at Canoga Park Lutheran Church: The Rev. Timothy Jenks delivers the message “Sleepy Eyes,” based on a series about fixing one’s eyes on Jesus, 6:30 p.m. March 3. The Lenten services run on Wednesdays through March 24. Masks and social distancing required. 7357 Jordan Ave. The message will also be available on the church’s Facebook  (bit.ly/33bLo8k) and website www.cplchurch.org

Shabbat with Shomrei Torah Synagogue: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat service, 6-7:15 p.m. March 5 and a traditional Shabbat morning service, 10 a.m.-noon March 6 (www.stsonline.org/calendar). The Conservative Jewish congregation is in West Hills. Voice mail, 818-854-7650. www.stsonline.org

Shabbat with Temple Ramat Zion: Evening service, 6 p.m. March 5, and the morning service, 9 a.m. March 6. The Conservative Jewish congregation is in Northridge. Voice mail, 818-360-1881. Watch on the YouTube link from the website. www.trz.org

Shabbat with Temple Judea: Use the Facebook link to watch the service, 6:15 p.m. March 5. The Reform Jewish congregation is in Tarzana. 818-758-3800. Email: [email protected]. The temple’s Facebook: bit.ly/3fEI0G5. templejudea.com

Shabbat with Valley Beth Israel: Rabbi-Cantor Mark S. Goodman leads the evening service, 7 p.m. March 5, and the morning service, 9:30 a.m. March 6. Watch on Facebook: bit.ly/3gTUZ8o. The independent Jewish congregation is in Sun Valley. Email: [email protected]. myvbi.net/home

Send information at least two weeks ahead. [email protected]. 818-713-3708.

Buddhist Times News – State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year

By
Shyamal Sinha
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Buddhist Times News – State Vesak festival to be held in Jaffna this year

By  — Shyamal Sinha

The State Vesak festival is to be held in Jaffna this year, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has given instructions to focus on the North and East during Vesak this year.

Accordingly, it has been decided to hold the State Vesak festival at the Nagadeepa Raja Maha Vihara Temple in Jaffna.

The Prime Minister’s Office said that 65 temples in the North and East and 35 Buddhist Sunday schools in the North and East will be involved in the State festival.

The State festival will also see the participation of other religions, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The Hindu, Christian and Muslim affairs departments operating under the Prime Minister will be involved in organising the event.

Last year the Government had decided to cancel the State Vesak festival in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vesak is celebrated once a year. This year, it falls on Thursday 7th May.

The date of Vesak changes each year as it take places at the time of the first full moon of the ancient lunar month of Vesakha, which usually falls in May or early June.

Each Buddhist culture has its own traditions for the day, but it is celebrated in lots of different countries, including many across Asia such as: India, Thailand, and North and South Korea.

Many Buddhists will go to their local temple and some might even stay there throughout the day and night of the full moon.

Many will do good deeds, take part in chanting and meditation, reflect on Buddhist teachings, bring offerings to the temple and share food with people.

It’s believed that after six years of studying and meditation on his travels, he became spiritually aware and reached his goal of finding meaning in life. This is called enlightenment.

At this time, he became the Buddha and for the rest of his life he taught his followers of his experiences.

Buddha is a title, rather than a name, which means the enlightened or awakened one.

Instead the Buddhist community had been requested to observe Amisa-puja and Patipatti-puja only in the premises of their homes.

The public had also been requested not to involve anyone outside of the family for their religious activities at home.

source – colombogazette

Religion briefs, Feb. 27, 2021

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Newsdesk
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Religion briefs, Feb. 27, 2021

NORTH BRANFORD — Northford Congregational Church, 4 Old Post Road, North Branford, will have an Easter weekend flower/plant sale to benefit the church 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 2-3, and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 4, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be helping.

Masks and social distancing will be required for everyone’s safety. In the event of inclement weather, the flowers/plants will be sold inside the church social hall downstairs.

To reach the church, call 203-484-0795, go to www.northfordcongregational.church or email [email protected].

Temple Beth Sholom plans 75th Anniversary celebrations



HAMDEN — In fall 2021, Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Avenue, will celebrate its 75th Anniversary. Programming includes Friday Night Shabbat services to recognize congregants who joined during each decade, a special recognition of past Temple presidents, and much more. It will all lead up to a culminating event in November 2021. Details will be available on www.tbshamden.com.

Seeking memories: If you or your family were members of Temple Beth Sholom – or attended a special event at Temple Beth Sholom, email [email protected] your Temple Beth Sholom story. We will be compiling memories for a tribute book.

For more information, contact Lauren Piscitelle at [email protected].

North Branford Congregational Lenten schedule

NORTH BRANFORD — North Branford Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, 1680 Foxon Road, North Branford, announces its Lenten service schedule.

March 10 – Taize Service, 7 p.m. live streamed on Face book

March 24 – Taize Service, 7 p.m. live streamed on Face book

March 28 – Palm Sunday, 10 a.m., outdoor service

April 1 – Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m. in church service

April 3 – 9 a.m.-noon, Decoration of the Cross; bring cut flowers for outdoor decorating of flower cross.

April 4 – 9 a.m. Outdoor “mini” Easter Service; 10 a.m., Indoor Easter Sunday service

Shoreline Unitarian programs in February

Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society is inviting its members and the public to expand positive connections with others, in a socially-distanced way of course. Each week of February or “Fun-uary” has a different theme for connecting. Feb. 22-28 is “Random Acts of Kindness Week.”

Share experiences by joining the Zoom “Lunch Bunch” with Bracken, Rev. Terry Sweetser, and others each Monday. To access the Zoom link, go to www.shorelineunitarian.org and click on Calendar, then “Lunch with Rev.” Or communicate your experiences directly to Rev. Terry at [email protected]. The church has served the Shoreline since 1962 and a worldwide faith for more than 500 years. The church office can be reached at 203-245-8720.

Congregation Mishkan Israel holding services

HAMDEN – Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Rd, Hamden is conducting virtual services and events online.

For more information and list of events, visit cmihamden.org or call the office at 203-288-3877. For pastoral emergencies, call Rabbi Immerman directly on at 203-584-7396

Temple Beth Sholom service schedule

HAMDEN — Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Avenue, Hamden is conducting virtual services. For more information visit www.tbshamden.com or call the Temple Beth Sholom office at 203-288-7748.

Congregation B’Nai Jacob schedules services, events

WOODBRIDGE — Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, is continuing to hold services using Zoom. If you don’t know how to Zoom, visit https://www.bnaijacob.org/ or call 203-389-2111.

Weekday minyan services at 7:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Zoom

Saturdays, 9 a.m. Bread and Torah on Zoom

Shabbat morning service, 10 a.m. on Zoom

Rabbi Shapiro winter/spring class. Monday evenings 7:30-9 p.m. How did the siddur come to be the way it is?

Feb. 27, Trivia Night Fundraiser.

Winter coat collection for Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen. The donation box is located between the outer and inner doors of the synagogue.

CBJ has also joined with the United Church on the Green to collect funds for Columbus House.

Temple Emanuel continues online services, events

ORANGE — Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven, 150 Derby Avenue, continues to conduct virtual services and events via Zoom and YouTube. “Stay connected with our community. Keep your physical distance while maintaining your social and spiritual connections,” members said.

Details are on the Temple Emanuel website, www.tegnh.org, or call 203-397-3000.

Christ Episcopal, Ansonia, resumes services

ANSONIA — Christ Episcopal Church, 56 South Cliff St., has resumed fall and winter hours for Sunday services at 10 a.m.

For more information, visit www.christchurchansonia.org/ or call 203-734-2715.

Beth Israel Synagogue is online

WALLINGFORD — Beth Israel Synagogue, 22 N. Orchard St., Wallingford, is continuing online services.

Torah teachings will be conducted online at www.bethisraelwallingford.org

The Rabbi will remain in contact on when and what time any events will take place online. The Board of Directors continues to meet monthly via tele/video-conferencing.

Visit www.bethisraelwallingford.org for more information.

Temple Beth David offers online programs

CHESHIRE — Temple Beth David, 3 Main St., Cheshire, is closed, but virtual events are being held on the online platform Zoom and on Facebook Live.

To reach the temple, email [email protected] or call 203-272-0037; Rabbi Micah is always available to talk at [email protected].

St. Andrew’s provides services, food pantry

NORTHFORD — St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Avenue, Northford, is located at the intersection of Routes 17 & 22.

The church is a member of the Middlesex Area Cluster Ministry Network, along with Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Killingworth and St. James Episcopal Church in Higganum. Rev. Bryan Spinks is Priest-in Charge at St. Andrew’s.

Due to the COVID pandemic, services are held on Zoom, and may also be viewed on the church’s Facebook page at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Northford CT.

St. Andrew’s is home to the Food Pantry of North Branford, located on the lower level of the church’s parish hall. The Community Dining Room uses the church kitchen and parish hall to prepare and deliver meals to the homebound in Northford and North Branford.

St. Andrew’s also partners with St. Pauly Textile in a broad outreach program to help people in need in the U.S. and around the world. Donations of usable clothing, shoes, belts, purses, sheets, blankets and stuffed animals may be made at the donation shed located in the church parking lot.

For more information contact Nan Monde, Sr. Warden, 203-710-7005; or MACM Network office, 860-345-0058; or Rev.Spinks, 860-304-5266.

EU leaders pledge to enhance autonomous defense capabilities

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Newsdesk
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EU leaders pledge to enhance autonomous defense capabilities

BRUSSELS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — Leaders of the European Union (EU) member states on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to increase the EU’s capacity to act autonomously in the context of their strategic debate on European security and defense policy, as well as the need for the bloc to take more responsibility for its security.

Concluding a two-day virtual summit, the heads of state and government agreed to enhance cooperation in beefing up the bloc’s own security by, among others, improving its partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the new U.S. administration.

“A good EU-NATO cooperation remains a top priority for the Commission,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at a press conference held jointly with European Council President Charles Michel after the summit.

“We want to increase defense investment, and we want to enhance civilian and military capabilities and operational readiness,” Michel said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg joined the video conference for a discussion on cooperation between the bloc and the defense alliance.

“We share the same population, the same members, the same neighborhood and the same challenges,” Stoltenberg said ahead of the meeting.

“For NATO, the main task during this pandemic has been to make sure that a health crisis doesn’t turn into a security crisis,” he said.

The 27 leaders also discussed ways to increase their countries’ resilience to cyberattacks and hybrid threats. They asked the EU executive to prepare a roadmap for boosting the development of strategic technologies.

Snubbed European Parliament enters final laps of Farm to Fork race

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Newsdesk
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Snubbed European Parliament enters final laps of Farm to Fork race

The EU’s new ambitious food policy is ready to face tough parliamentary scrutiny from lawmakers who feel being pushed aside by the European Commission.

Since the start of 2021, the European Parliament has been taking the long path to give its contribution to the agri-food part of the Commission’s flagship Green Deal.

Although it might have been somewhat overshadowed by the recent focus on the ongoing negotiations to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy remains a crucial blueprint to test the level of ambition for making Europe’s food systems more sustainable.

The set of measures included in the strategy, as well as targets – for some welcome, for others controversial – represents the vision for European agriculture in the decades to come.

The vote in the two relevant parliamentary committees is provisionally scheduled for early May, but according to an EU source, MEPs are planning on having the final approval at the June plenary.

The European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) agreed to share the competence on the file with their colleagues on the agriculture committee (COMAGRI), in a sign of appeasement after recent bickering over the reform of the EU’s farming subsidies programme.

EU lawmakers bicker over CAP reform

Lawmakers on the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (AGRI) reacted angrily as their colleagues on the Environment Committee (ENVI) decided to halt cooperation on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) file.

Bad mood

Two joint debates have been already dedicated to the many outstanding issues, but F2F’s main topics continue to pop up in other hearings as well.

The most recent was a debate on the revision of the EU’s agriculture promotion policy, in which COMAGRI chair Norbert Lins publicly complained about the fact that the Parliament was not properly consulted on the strong push on organic farming that the Commission is putting in every policy, and which derives from the F2F.

“You have always told us that the F2F strategy is an open debate, that you wanted to hear out at our arguments, and yet the Parliament has not really spoken to this file as yet,” he told the director-general of Commission’s DG AGRI, Wolfgang Burtscher, in a hearing.

The majority in the European Parliament voted against the inclusion of the F2F objectives and targets in its mandate to negotiate the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), currently in the so-called trilogue talks between MEPs and EU ministers.

Lawmakers of the three biggest groups – Christian-democrats, socialists, and liberals – have repeatedly affirmed the lawmaking competence of the Parliament, stressing that the F2F is a Commission strategy and, as such, represents a political commitment for the coming years, but is not a binding text.

The ‘amendment’ battle

The first hardship lawmakers have to face is the impressive amount of amendments – a ground total of 2,297 – that have been filed so far.

“I guess a lot of them will be identical so the number will be reduced,” Herbert Dorfmann, one of the Parliament’s two rapporteurs on this sensitive dossier, told EURACTIV.

According to an EU source, the first screening showed that over 200 amendments are references to other documents in a clear attempt to slow down the process, but more clarity is expected in the next weeks with a verdict from Parliament’s legal service.

“More than 2,000 is a lot. We will try to deal with it,” Dorfmann said, putting this huge number of amendments down to the fact that the F2F covers many interests, from farmers to the processing industry, to the retailers to the consumers.

This will be the main task of the two rapporteurs on the file, Dorfmann and German MEP Anja Hazekamp, the ENVI rapporteur.

The two have different personalities and different worldviews: Hazekamp is a member of the Dutch Party for the Animals and keen on topics such as environment and animal protection, while Dorfmann is an agronomist perceived as much closer to farmers’ interests.

What to expect?

The diversity in the rapporteurs is, however, key to ensuring that all sides get heard.

Over the past few months, in the focus of this F2F battle were several specific bones of contention; the targets on pesticide, the possible shift toward more plant-based diets, or the never-ending row over mandatory front-of-pack labelling.

But also the farmers’ role in this transition toward more sustainable food systems is so far being highly considered in the debates among the MEPs.

Although the Parliament is ready to send its contribution, there is a caveat: MEPs are not going to change the strategy itself.

“We do not have this capacity, so the strategy will remain as it is,” explained Dorfmann.

According to the Italian lawmaker, the final report should make clear to the Commission for which ideas there is a majority in the European Parliament.

The main goal of the lawmakers is, therefore, not to influence the strategy, but the 37 pieces of legislation that will come after to implement the strategy in the next years.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

On Religion: Are America’s battles over ‘reindeer rules’ in the past?

By
Terry Mattingly
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On Religion: Are America’s battles over ‘reindeer rules’ in the past?

Year after year, the Lion’s Club sets up wire-frame Christmas decorations on the lawn of the historic Jackson County courthouse, facing Main Street in Brownstown, Indiana.

The display, which belongs to the local ministerial alliance, glows from dusk to dawn from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, with the county providing the electricity.

This led to yet another “Christmas Wars” dispute, with the recent Woodring v. Jackson County court decision offering a precise description of this tableau.

There is a “waving Santa Claus with his sleigh, a reindeer, seven large candy-striped poles, the nativity scene … and four carolers standing in front of a lamppost,” noted Seventh Circuit Judge Amy Joan St. Eve. “Santa Claus and the reindeer are on the left. … To their right are three gift-bearing kings (Magi) and a camel, who look upon the nativity. On the right side of the sidewalk, Mary, Joseph and infant Jesus in the stable are flanked on each side by trumpet-playing angels. To their right are several animals facing the nativity. The carolers stand in front of the animals, closer to Main Street.”

Before the 2018 lawsuit, the Freedom From Religion Foundation warned that the nativity scene needed to come down. County officials responded by moving Santa and other secular symbols closer to the telltale manger.
That move was clearly linked to what activists call the “reindeer rules,” in which secular and sacred symbols are mixed to honor guidelines from the Supreme Court’s Lemon v. Kurtzman in 1971. The “Lemon test” asks if a government action’s primary effect advanced religion, as opposed to a secular purpose, thus entangling church and state.

But the majority in a new 2-1 decision in Indiana argued that the “nativity scene is constitutional because it fits within a long national tradition of using the nativity scene in broader holiday displays to celebrate the origins of Christmas.”

This post-Christmas decision in the heartland may have been a turning point.

“To the degree that the reindeer rules were based on Lemon, this decision said that we now have a new Supreme Court precedent. The reindeer rules appear to be gone,” said Diana Verm, senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which filed a brief in the case.

Verm bluntly told the press afterwards: “It turns out the ACLU can’t cancel Baby Jesus.”

Judge St. Eve cited the 2019 American Legion v. American Humanist Association ruling in which the U.S. Supreme Court said a 40-foot cross could remain on public property because it was a longstanding memorial that had become part of a “community’s landscape and identity.”

While the Jackson County holiday display may not be old enough to be truly historic, the display was part of a community celebration of a national holiday. The fact that some people opposed parts of the display didn’t change the essential facts, said the judge.

In his dissent, Judge David Hamilton said the American Legion case should not be seen as a “revolution in Establishment Clause doctrine.” While there is more to this debate than “counting whether there are more shepherds and angels than elves and snowmen,” he added, it’s clear that if a “display is dominated by religious symbolism, with only minor or token secular symbols and symbols of other faiths, the message of endorsement calls for court intervention.”

No one expects protesters to stop being offended by public displays of religious symbolism and, thus, to stop filing lawsuits.

But in the future, it will be easier to argue that Americans – secular and religious – celebrate Christmas and that themes and symbols from Christian history are undeniably part of those traditions, said Verm in a telephone interview. Hopefully, there will be fewer fights over whether Jesus is “a little bit too prominent” in community holiday decorations.

“What matters is whether the government can recognize the traditions we have in this country, and that includes symbols from secular culture and religious cultures,” she said. “Americans tend to be religious people and you’re not establishing any particular religion if you acknowledge that fact. … Religion doesn’t need to be scrubbed out of the public square if it has been there a long time and it has become part of our culture’s history and traditions.”

Terry Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.

Tribute Special Honoring Jazz Legend Chick Corea to Stream on Scientology Network

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Newsdesk
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Tribute Special Honoring Jazz Legend Chick Corea to Stream on Scientology Network
Jazz Legend Chick Corea
Jazz Legend Chick Corea

LOS ANGELES, CA—24 February, 2021—Celebrating the life and incomparable musical genius of Chick Corea, Scientology Network presents a 3-hour tribute special, including two full-length documentaries, chronicling his legacy with highlights of his storied career and a never-before-seen performance.

The Chick Corea Tribute Special is streaming now on Scientology Network.

Chick Corea, the iconic instrumentalist, composer and bandleader, won 23 Grammy Awards and was known for his awe-inspiring command of the piano. Having pioneered the category of jazz fusion, Chick was an astonishingly prolific composer whose ingeniousness influenced a wide range of top musicians across all genres, from Herbie Hancock and Gary Burton to Bobby McFerrin.

“My mission has always been to bring the joy of creating anywhere I could, and to have done so with all the artists that I admire so dearly—this has
been the richness of my life.” —Chick Corea

The 3-hour tribute special features:

Chick Corea: In the Mind of a Master—A one-of-a-kind experience
documenting the creative process of Chick Corea as he writes, arranges and records Antidote, the album that earned him his 23rd Grammy Award.

The Musician—A feature-length documentary exploring Chick Corea’s legendary month-long set of performances in the epicenter of the jazz universe, the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City. The film captures the essence of the maestro and Chick’s profound influence on some of the musical giants who join him onstage.

“Future Sweet”—Chick Corea teams up with instrumental virtuosos Béla Fleck on banjo, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Carlitos Del Puerto on bass on his never-before-released song, “Future Sweet.” In his inimitable style, Chick takes us on a musical journey where the final destination is impossible to predict but always a delightful
adventure to experience when the maestro leads the way.

Watch it here: ChickCoreaTribute.tv/FutureSweet

Both Chick’s approach to creating music and how he handled life left an indelible mark on his friends and fellow musicians he performed with.

Spanish jazz musician Jorge Pardo says in The Musician, “He’s always eliminated barriers. I think he’s a little bit like Miles [Davis] in that regard, that, you know, it’s just music. His energy is amazing. And it’s like this momentum.”

“The thing that I like, working with Chick, probably the most is how music unfolds before our eyes and before our ears, you know? We’re all experiencing this music at the same time, simultaneously. Everyone, whether you’re participating in the music, if you’re just a passive listener and listening to it, we’re all discovering this music at the same time,” said Bobby McFerrin in the documentary.

Grammy Award winner Rubén Blades thanked Chick Corea in an interview after recording and collaborating on Antidote, “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to learn and to leave my comfort zone and come to a different area of music. Thank you for the respect and for all your kindness, actually.”

Watch the Chick Corea Tribute Special at chickcoreatribute.tv.

—

The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the
Scientology Network has been viewed in 240 countries and territories
worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about
Scientology, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting
the everyday lives of Scientologists; showing the Church as a global
organization; and presenting its social betterment programs that have
touched the lives of millions worldwide. The network also showcases
documentaries by Independent filmmakers who represent a cross section of cultures and faiths, but share a common purpose of uplifting
communities.

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EU seeks more autonomy but pledges close cooperation with US, Nato

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Newsdesk
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0
EU seeks more autonomy but pledges close cooperation with US, Nato

Brussels, Feb 26 (efe-epa).- The European Union on Friday repeated its goal of becoming more autonomous in military and strategic defensive areas and reducing its reliance on the United States, while also underlining its intentions to continue working closely with Nato and Washington.

“We need to increase our ability to act autonomously and to strengthen our cooperation with our partners. We are committed to cooperating closely with Nato. A stronger Europe makes a stronger Nato,” European Council president Charles Michel told a press conference at the end of the second day of a virtual summit with EU leaders, which focused on defense and security.

The impetus behind pursuing more autonomy in defense took on more importance during the previous four years, when Donald Trump occupied the White House and threatened to destabilize the trans-Atlantic alliance.

The EU still holds onto those plans, despite an expected improvement in their relationship now that Joe Biden has taken over from Trump.

“Last week, President Biden said: ‘America is back.’ We in Europe are ready – to do our part, to be a strong and reliable partner,” Michel said.

Meanwhile the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said cooperation between the EU and Nato is “a top priority” but said that there were several “scenarios where Nato was not engaged” where the EU would need to rely on itself.

“Europe needs to develop its own capabilities,” she said. “That is why we have set up the first building blocks of the European Defense Union.”

“We have the industry, we have the knowledge. What we need is to put this innovation and these talents at the service of common European capabilities.” EFE-EPA

jug/ks

EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement: Council requests European Parliament’s consent

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Council of the EU and European Council
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EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement: Council requests European Parliament's consent

The Council has today requested the European Parliament’s consent to its decision on the conclusion of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement and a security of information agreement.

Once the European Parliament has given its consent and once all 24 language versions of the agreements have been established as authentic and definitive, the Council will be in a position to adopt the decision on the conclusion of the agreements, allowing their entry into force. This will be the last step for the EU in the ratification of the agreements.

Background

The United Kingdom left the European Union at midnight (CET) on 31 January 2020 and the Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2020, with a transition period running until 31 December 2020.

Negotiations on the future partnership between the EU and the UK started on 2 March 2020. Negotiators reached an agreement on an EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement and a security of information agreement on 24 December 2020.

On 29 December 2020 the Council adopted the decision on the signing of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement and a security of information agreement and their provisional application as of 1 January 2021. The agreements were then signed by the two parties on 30 December 2020. The agreements have been provisionally applied since 1 January 2021.

The agreements provided for a time-limited provisional application until the end of February, unless a later date was agreed by the parties. On 23 February 2021, the EU-UK Partnership Council decided, at the EU’s request, to extend the provisional application until 30 April 2021 to allow sufficient time to complete the legal-linguistic revision of the agreements in all 24 languages.

Croatia: How to use EU funds?

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Newsdesk
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Croatia: How to use EU funds?
                      <h3><i>

Croatia is expected to receive a good wealth of EU funds in the coming years. However, the strategic priorities doesn’t appear very bold and clear, and the plan for the use of the Recovery Fund is not ready yet

(This article was originally published by H-Alter, as part of the European Data Journalism Network)

Even more than this summer’s hot sun, the good news warmed the hearts of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, his ministers, economists and journalists. 22 billion euros of EU development funds were secured for Croatia for the 2021-27 period.

This comprise about €12.7 billion intended for development, coming from the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and about €9.4 billion of pandemic-related transfers from the fund called “Next Generation EU”. There is an additional €683 million from the EU Solidarity Fund, meant at helping Croatia to rebuild after this spring’s earthquake in Zagreb. How Croatia plans to spend such huge sums of money is not much clearer today, months after the happy news of their approval.

In November 2020, the Croatian Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds released its National Development Strategy for public discussion. The document, entangled in bureaucracy since 2017, is claimed to be the basis for future decisions on the aforementioned €12.7 billion of EU funds. In addition to the National Strategy, there is also the so-called National Recovery and Resilience Plan concerning the €9.4 billion from the “Next Generation EU” fund. Going by the prime minister’s latest announcements , this plan will be “ready at the beginning of next year, by April at the latest”.

Time for reconstruction in Zagreb

A law on the earthquake reconstruction of Zagreb and surroundings was passed by the Croatian parliament in September. 60 percent of the funds for the renovation of private housing will be provided by the state, 20 percent by the City of Zagreb and the counties, and 20 percent by their owners. The estimated amount needed for reconstruction is just over €1.1 billion , half of which should come from the EU Solidarity Fund.

The minister of Construction, Darko Horvat, announced that the renovation of the buildings will start only in the spring, a full year after the earthquake, dismissing complaints that twelve whole months will have been wasted by then. Reconstruction is a hot topic ahead of the local elections, also due to take place in the spring, with populists trying to buy off voters with public and EU funds.

The National Development Strategy

The National Development Strategy itself has largely disappointed those who believed that it would be key to decisions over the aforementioned €12.7 billion from the MFF. In the public debate so far, the document has been seen as rhetorically ambitious but essentially conservative, a compilation of hollow phrases that its authors believe will have a place in EU forums. Important issues such as immigration policy are completely omitted from it. €4.5 million was nonetheless paid out to the authors of the text.

The document lists 13 strategic goals, including “a competitive and innovative economy”, “an educated and employed populace”, “an efficient and effective judiciary”, “global recognition of Croatia”, “healthy, active and quality life”, “demographic revitalization and stronger families”, national security or “Security for sustainable development”, climate neutrality” to be achieved by “ecological and energy transition”, “food self-sufficiency and development of the bioeconomy”, ” sustainable mobility”, “the digital transition”, development of so-called “assisted areas and areas with development specifics” and “strengthening regional competitiveness”, meaning investment in the development after decades of neglect in the Croatian provinces.

Throughout the document the COVID-19 pandemic is cast regularly as a cause of the slowdown following the “positive trends” that preceded it, such as the alleged fall in unemployment and high economic growth.

Not much to add

This strategy document would probably not exist if its very existence were not a precondition for drawing EU funds. “We want 37 percent of the projects that we will present to be financed out of the European Green Plan, while another 20 percent of them relates to digitalization,” Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said succinctly , demonstrating that the real “development strategy” was in his head and is not too sophisticated.

It turns out that the most interesting part of the Croatian Development Strategy is its analytical part, entitled “Description of development needs and development potentials”. Not a cent of the €4.5 million spent on the shaping of the strategy was invested in researching the statistics here: they were mostly taken from the World Bank, the European Commission, Eurostat and similar bodies. In the cold language of figures and graphs, the section shows how far Croatia lags behind the other EU countries economically and socially.

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