Church of the Heavenly Rest is excited to launch a new concert series beginning with this summer season: Concerts with a Cause. We will present four mainstage performances a year featuring classical, choral, jazz and Broadway musicians. Each seasonal concert will benefit one of our partner organizations here in New York City.
Fall Concert with a Cause: Violin & Organ Duo
Eric Silberger & Janet Yieh
Eric Silberger and Janet Yieh made their Violin-Organ Duo debut on the Lincoln Center stage at Alice Tully Hall in 2013 - a performance broadcast on the National Public Radio show 'Pipedreams.' On Thursday, October 5th they present a concert program including the world premiere of new arrangements of classics by Bach, Brahms, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Amy Beach, Florence Price and more.
100% of every ticket purchased for this Concert with a Cause will be given to Church of the Heavenly Rest's Prison Ministry and Re-entry Outreach work - with partner organizations Hudson Link for Higher Education, Interfaith Prison Partnership, and Rising Hope.
About the Organizations:
About the Cause: Prison Ministry & Re-Entry at Church of the Heavenly Rest
The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world and extremely high rates of recidivism. Re-entry programs help individuals build strong community ties so that they can thrive in society once again. Churches have a unique role in providing care, resources, connections, and stability for folks coming home.
Learn more about our partner organizations below:
Hudson Link For Higher Education
Hudson Link is an education-focused nonprofit started and run by formerly incarcerated individuals, and they change lives. By partnering with New York Colleges, they provide undergraduate courses at six correctional facilities throughout New York. Their support continues after release with their Hudson Link Alumni Program. Hudson Link's impact is huge. In a three-year period, less than 2% of their graduates return to prison for a new crime.
We at CHR are so thankful to have a long and supportive partnership with them. We look forward to hosting their Christmas Party, supporting them on various projects, and more every year.
Interfaith Prison Partnership
Interfaith Prison Partnership (IPP) affirms the dignity and value of those in the justice system. They work inside prisons to help increase their quality of life while also working outside to help foster community connections. IPP hosts Thanksgiving Dinner inside Taconic, gives out care packages, and much more.
Our very own Angela James works with them on various events providing her photography skills. Heavenly Rest so values what IPP brings to the table-- their impact is astounding. We are blessed to call them a partner.
Rising Hope
Rising Hope offers college-level courses to those in state correctional facilities. Students of every faith background are welcome and encouraged to take Rising Hope classes which study the Judeo-Christian tradition from an academic perspective. They have courses on writing, theology, family counseling, ethics, and more. These classes allow students to explore and grow their faith and understanding of the world. Many of them go on to other institutions and are writers, performers, and much more.
Angela James connected CHR to Rising Hope through her photography-- taking headshots of alums for LinkedIn at alumni gatherings and more. Rising Hope's work is transformational, and we are so excited to support them.
The HOPE - Healing On Purpose and Evolving - Center is the manifestation of Senior Pastor Michael A. Walrond’s vision, to effectively support the vast mental health needs of the parishioners of First Corinthian Baptist Church, and the Harlem community at large. The center seeks to minimize the stigma around communities of color when seeking mental health services. It prides itself in having licensed clinicians who utilize evidence-based therapeutic practices to support a variety of daily living challenges including depression, trauma, sexual abuse and bereavement.