From Memory to Hope: A Service of Poetry and Prayer to Honor the Ancestors (People’s Poetry Gathering)
About
Join a special All Saints’ Day service and community sing to honor and celebrate those we have loved and lost, and whose lives continue to inspire us. A collaborative presentation by St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, NEWorks Productions, the People’s Poetry Gathering, and Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, the service will weave together liturgy from the Episcopal tradition and original music by American composer Nolan Williams, Jr., rendered by the NEWorks Voices of America, the St. Mark’s Choir, and the gathered assembly. Through poetry, prayer, and song, we will lift our voices in remembrance and gratitude, honoring those who have gone before us and celebrating the love, courage, and hope that continue to connect us across generations. The service is open to the public and everyone is welcome. Nolan Williams, Jr.—multihyphenate creative and chief music editor of the landmark, bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal —has become a preeminent leader of community sings that bring together people across generations, cultures, faiths, and backgrounds. Through these shared musical experiences, he creates spaces that celebrate our common humanity while honoring the distinct voices, traditions, and stories that shape our communities.
