Views from the Pews

Jew in the Pew” is a monthly series on worship communities East of DC’s Anacostia River appearing in Capital Community News’ East of the River magazine.

“Spiritual Life on Capitol Hill” appears in the 2016 Fagon Guide.

East of the River magazine is publishing a series of articles exploring worship communities in DC’s Wards 7 and 8. The series began in October 2015, and most installments take the perspective of a participant-observer, a roving Jew in the pew….

On-line versions of the stories are linked below. Print versions, which can be downloaded as PDF or read on-line, are available through ISSUU.

All stories and photos are copyright: Virginia Spatz, 2015-2016.

INSTALLMENT 1

Peace_Spatz3.jpg
Peace Fellowship Church, Ward 7

Moving Toward New Neighborhood Commitments.
October 2015 East of the River.

INSTALLMENT 2

AIHM3_Spatz
America’s Islamic Heritage Museum, Ward 8

Learn. Build Community. Hang Out:
City Sundays and America’s Islamic Heritage Museum
November 2015 East of the River.

INSTALLMENT 3

St.Luke3_
Fr. Cornelius, St. Luke, Ward 7

St.Luke Catholic Church:
A Close-Knit Community of Many Doors.
December 2015 East of the River.

INSTALLMENT 4

Yoruba1_Ananda
Yoruba Priest Ananda Free, Ward 7

The Bigness of God: A Yoruba Priest
Shares Struggles, Healing, Purpose.
January 2016 East of the River.

INSTALLMENT 5

SederFeb.jpg
“Seeds, Roots, and Fruits” East of the River

From Frozen to Bloom:
Snowzilla and the Jewish New Year for Trees.
February 2016 East of the River.

INSTALLMENT 6

Lent1_Atonement-1
Stations of the Cross, Ward 7

In and Outside Church Walls: Two Communities Share Approaches to Lent.
March 2016 East of the River

INSTALLMENT 7

Spatz_StopViolence2LR
Peace March, border Wards 7/8

At the Crossroads: To ‘Change in Our Streets.’
April 2016 East of the River