Prayer service for Women of the Wall

DURHAM -- Judea Reform Congregation, 1933 W. Cornwallis Road, will hold a prayer service at 7 p.m. today in solidarity with Women of the Wall, as a response to the recent arrest of Nofrat Frankel, a 25-year-old Israeli medical student who wore a tallit (prayer shawl) and carried a Torah scroll in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Women of the Wall seeks the right for Jewish women from Israel and around the world to conduct prayer services, read from a Torah scroll while wearing prayer shawls, and sing out loud at the Western Wall. They are affiliated with the Israel Religious Action Center. Women of the Wall holds prayer services on the first of every Hebrew month in front of the Western Wall and at a nearby plaza called Robinson's Arch, where women wear prayer shawls and read from the Torah. But on Nov. 18, they attempted to do so at the Western Wall, and Frankel was arrested.

The Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which is in charge of ritual observance at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, prohibits women from reading Torah and wearing a tallit. In Orthodox communities, women are excluded from leading some or all of the worship service publicly.

Judea Reform respects the rights of other denominations to maintain their customs within their own communities and houses of worship, Rabbi Leah Berkowitz said. But they also believe that the Western Wall is a public space and a holy site to Jews of all denominations and from all cultures, and thus space needs to be created where women can be full participants in prayer and worship how they choose, she said.

"It is our belief that women should not be harassed or penalized for lifting their voices in prayer. We are hoping this event will help us to make this statement to the Israeli government, and also show our support for Ms. Frankel and Women of the Wall," Berkowitz said.

Both men and women are welcome to come and pray at the service at Judea Reform. It will be followed by writing advocacy letters to Israeli leaders. For information, call 489-7062.

'Black Nativity' at Hillside High

DURHAM -- The third annual presentation of Langston Hughes' gospel play of the birth of Jesus Christ, "Black Nativity" will be performed this weekend at Hillside High School, 3727 Fayetteville Road. Show times are 8:15 p.m. Friday, 3:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday, and 3:15 p.m. Sunday. Performers include Hillside students and alumni as well as members of the community. The production is produced by Wendell Tabb and Xavier Cason.

This year's "Black Nativity" features gospel artist Reginald Boney and Sustained. The cast includes school board member the Rev. Fredrick A. Davis as the elder and Rev. Milton Lewis as the narrator. Tickets are $20 and available online at www.blacknativitydurham.com or by calling 451-4753 or 906-0840.

Filipino Simbang Gabi Mass Friday

DURHAM -- The Filipino community in the Triangle is organizing a Simbang Gabi Mass to be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 810 W. Chapel Hill St. A potluck reception featuring traditional Filipino food associated with the Simbang Gabi will follow in the Olive Tree Building. Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, of the Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi in Raleigh, will preside over the Mass, which will be celebrated in Filipino and English.

The Simbang Gabi Mass is a Filipino Advent tradition dating to the mid-1850s, when a Novena of Masses was celebrated in preparation for Christmas. It was celebrated outside at dawn and followed by a breakfast that included rice cake, rice porridge and ginger tea. The public is invited to attend. For more information, call Fr. Julian Jagudilla at 847-8205, ext. 241.

Choir cantata at Fletcher's Chapel

DURHAM -- The adult choir of Fletcher's Chapel United Methodist Church, 1919 Fletcher's Chapel Road, will present its Christmas Cantata, "Glorious Impossible," at 11 a.m. Sunday during the worship service. The choir is led by Elizabeth Weatherspoon. Everyone is invited, and a nursery will be provided. For more information, call 688-3186.

Food market this Saturday

DURHAM -- West Durham Baptist Church, 1901 Athens St., will hold a Community Open Food Market Give-Away at 10 a.m. Saturday to provide for Christmas. For more information, call 682-4453.

Pastor to sign new his book

DURHAM -- James Banks, pastor of Peace Covenant Church, will sign copies of his new book, "The Lost Art of Praying Together," from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Family Christian at The Streets at Southpoint.

United Voices of Praise to sing

DURHAM -- The United Voices of Praise, the joint gospel choir of United Church of Chapel Hill and Fisher Memorial United Holy Church in Durham, will present a Christmas concert at 4 p.m. Sunday at Fisher Memorial United Holy Church.

Center to honor birth of Christ

DURHAM -- Bethel Christian Center, 3518 Rose Of Sharon Road, invites the public to its annual Christmas celebration of Jesus Christ's birth at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. There will be choir singing, a special children's program, liturgical dance and the "Miracle of Christmas" with Pastor Don Westbrook.

UUMC Moravian feast on Sunday

CHAPEL HILL -- University United Methodist Church, 150 E. Franklin St., will hold its 36th annual Moravian Love Feast at 7 p.m. Sunday. The UUMC Chancel Choir, Covenant Handbells and Love Feast Band will lead the music for the celebration of the season featuring Christmas carols, beeswax candles and traditional sweet Moravian coffee and buns.

University United Methodist Church will host a "Longest Night" service at 7:30 p.m. Monday for those who are facing difficulties and sorrow during Christmas. The worship service will be a time to acknowledge pain, hear the promise and encouragement of Scripture and light candles of hope.

For more information, visit www.chapelhilluumc.org or call 929-7191.

Three services at Evergreen UMC

CHAPEL HILL -- Evergreen United Methodist Church, 11098 Highway 15-501 N, will hold three Christmas services beginning Sunday. At 10 a.m. Sunday, the Advent series, "In the Waiting..." concludes with the sermon titled, "Celebrate," in the regularly scheduled contemporary worship celebration. At 7 p.m. Sunday, the Third Watch Band will present a contemporary music program of carols and scripture, "Rockin' Christmas."

A Candlelight Christmas Eve service will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 24. The Rev. Donna Banks is pastor. For information, contact 919-968-0198 or info@evergreen-umc.org.

Christmas Eve at Amity UMC

CHAPEL HILL -- Amity United Methodist Church, 825 N. Estes Dr., invites all to a Christmas Eve communion and candlelight celebration worship service at 7 p.m. Dec. 24.

Amity is a certified "welcoming congregation" of the United Methodist Church, and describes itself as a warm, progressive Christian community that is actively seeking diversity and inclusiveness. For more information, visit www.amityumc.org or call 967-7546.

'Evening of jazz' New Year's Eve

CHAPEL HILL -- A New Year Eve's concert to benefit the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services, "An Evening of Jazz with the Bradshaw Quartet and Christen Campbell," will be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 31, United Church of Chapel Hill, 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Christen Campbell of Chapel Hill has performed as a jazz singer around the world. The Bradshaw Quartet of Chapel Hill and Durham was founded in 2003 to further extend the musical fellowship they enjoy as the United Voices of Praise Gospel Choir rhythm section. Charles Bradshaw, keyboards; Matthew Busch, tenor and soprano saxophone; Brad Kintner, upright and fretless bass; and Odessa Shaw, drums, each bring more than 20 years of musical experience and training from a broad range of musical styles. The quartet l will be showcasing selected jazz standards, new interpretations of rhythm and blues and pop classics and original compositions.

For more information, call 942-3540 or visit www.unitedchurch.org.

Durham author at Sign of the Fish

RALEIGH -- Durham resident Pamela Y. Smith will read from her book, "Exposure: Revealing God's Will to His People," published by The Way Ministries in Durham, at noon Saturday at the Sign of the Fish book store, 1657 N. Market Dr., Raleigh. Smith writes about her belief that bringing worldly ideas into churches deteriorates them.

Send items for Belief Briefs to Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan at dvaughan@heraldsun.com.