Religion Notebook: St. John’s, Buddhist Temple offer New Year’s Eve services

With the holiday season winding down, many churches are taking a break this week, but there are a couple of places you can ring in the New Year with spirit.

“The Episcopal Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., will offer its New Year’s Eve Celebration Monday.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with an open labyrinth walk for visitors to come and go as they please.

There will be a traditional Harmony Walk at 10 p.m., a traditional walk of Veriditas, the Worldwide Labyrinth Project.

There will also be a service of Healing and Holy Communion at 11 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Jewitt House on the cathedral campus, due to construction in the cathedral.

Refreshments will be served in the Guild Rooms of the building following the service.

For more information, call the church office at 838-4277.

“The Spokane Buddhist Temple, 927 S. Perry St., will offer a Bell of the Last Night, or Joya-e service Monday at 7 p.m.

The service helps to express gratitude for living another year and provides an opportunity to reflect on both the happy and sad occasions of the last year.

The service will include a ringing of the temple bell 108 times. The ringing represents “ringing out” the 108 delusions or passions that afflict human beings. The service should last 30 to 45 minutes so attendees can celebrate the New Year with friends and family.

For more information, call the temple office at 534-7954.