By Dennis Kucherawy
Following its 25th anniversary last year, the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto (MCC Toronto) will return to Roy Thomson Hall a week from tomorrow for its annual Christmas Eve Service and Celebration. It is a much-anticipated, inclusive event that is a popular tradition of Toronto’s festive time of year, attracting people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes will officiate, delivering a Yuletide message “When You Believe”: “At MCC Toronto, we focus on the ways in which we can make a difference – in our own lives and in our world. We find that it makes a difference for us and for others when we can believe in the power of spirituality in our lives.
“This service brings together people from not only our church, but also many who never have been to MCCT,” he said. “They gather to celebrate Christmas Eve. We consistently get feedback about our great music, wonderful atmosphere and the amazing feeling people have when they leave the building at midnight.”
When he led the state funeral for federal opposition leader Jack Layton who, with his wife Olivia Chow, was a member of MCC Toronto, Canadians everywhere saw firsthand what an extraordinary spiritual and community leader he is.
He received widespread praise for his gentleness and spirituality, especially bringing together intransigent political opponents to celebrate the life and mark our nation’s loss of a dedicated leader.
Canadian jazz/blues and soul singing great Jackie Richardson will perform as well as Toronto singers Jeigh Madjus, who recently appeared off-Broadway in the Fatboy Slim/David Byrne musical “Here Lies Love” and in Toronto’s Young People’s Theatre’s “Jacob Two Two and the Hooded Fang,” Kelly Holiff, who recently appeared in Charlottetown and actor/singer Dale Miller.
The celebrated Choir of MCC Toronto under the leadership of music director Diane Leah will accompany them and also perform.
Richardson, a beloved national treasure, has thrilled audiences throughout Canada this past year with highlights including her sensational, sold-out performances in Soulpepper’s “The Nina Project” and last weekend in Koerner Hall’s tribute “Sinatra at 100.” This Saturday, Dec. 19th, she returns to Soulpepper’s Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the Distillery District to join the company of “A Very Soulpepper Christmas” for a week-long engagement.
What makes Jackie Richardson so universally admired? Toronto singer Micha Barnes, who has performed with her, simply answers “She is made of love!”
“Her heart is completely in everything she does, she can’t sing a false note. In working with her I have learned a lot about our job as communicators of the human condition, the human spirit. (She) is a walking talking example of being committed to (her) job as an artist.”
Information:
Thursday, December 24th at 10:30 p.m.
Roy Thomson Hall
60 Simcoe St., Toronto, ON
Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased by calling the Roy Thomson Hall box office at (426)872-4255 or online by visiting www.roythomson.com.
Wheelchair accessible, ASL Interpreted, childcare provided.
About Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes
Born in Bath, New Brunswick, he is a gay rights activist as well as a clergyman. Throughout his career, that includes 37 years as Senior Pastor at MCC Toronto, he has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBT rights. He is widely regarded and admired as a pioneer, supporting such additional issues as anti-racist initiatives, poverty and housing for the poor, and advocating for the ordination of female priests.
In 2001 in Toronto, he performed what is regarded as the first gay wedding and in 2011 he officiated at the state funeral of Jack Layton, leader of Canada’s Official Opposition and the NDP. It was seen by hundreds of thousands of Canadians throughout the country.
In addition to his numerous awards, Rev. Dr. Brent Hawkes was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2008 for his achievements as “a champion of human rights and social justice for decades.”