Ordo Virtutum, an allegorical morality play by 12th-century Benedictine nun, mystic, writer and composer Hildegard von Bingen, will be performed Friday and Saturday, April 24 - 25, at the ProCathedral of St. John in Los Angeles. Performances will begin at 7:30 both evenings. Ordo Virtutum ("The Way of the Virtues") tells of the struggles of a pure soul, Anima, as she wrestles with worldly temptations as urged on by Diabolus. Eighteen "Virtutes" help her resist. The play, accompanied by an ensemble of medieval instruments, will be presented by Cantoris Los Angeles, a sponsored by the Arts Guild of St. John's, and The Sorel Organization. Artistic director of Cantoris Los Angeles is Katina Mitchell; stage director is Patricia McKee. The play is a little more than an hour in length. Supertitles will assist the audience in following the Latin text. Tickets are $20 ($10 for students and seniors), and may be purchased at 213.747.6285, ext. 106, or make reservations at music@stjohnsla.org. (The performance times were omitted from a notice in last week's Update; The News regrets the error.)

Native American elder and Episcopal Bishop Steven Charleston will launch his latest book, The Four Vision Quests of Jesus, as a special event of The Guibord Center on Saturday, May 23, 4 - 6 p.m. at the Guibord Center at St. John's ProCathedral, Los Angeles. Charleston, whose daily spiritual writings on Facebook have thousands of followers, has also served as national director for Native American ministries for the Episcopal Church. A member of the Choctaw Nation, he is a former bishop of the Diocese of Alaska and president and dean of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Information and registration here.

Kairos USA and the Palestine Israel Network L.A. of Episcopal Peace Fellowship, with other faith groups, will co-sponsor a one-day conference, "People of God, Rise Up!" on Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1524 South Fremont Avenue, South Pasadena. People of faith who want to understand, educate others and work to bring a just peace to all in the Holy Land will gather for large group sessions, small group discussion, live musical performances by the Falafel Group, new video "Palestinian Voices" and workshops to increase their understanding of life in the Holy Land, explore the foundational Kairos Palestine document, and come away equipped for action. Speakers will include the Rev. Diane Dulin and the Rev. Jeff Wright of Kairos USA; Mike Coogan, legislative advocate in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation; the Rt. Rev. Alexei Smith, ecumenical and interfaith officer of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles; and other workshop leaders.  For tickets ($25 general; $15 student with ID), which include a light breakfast and a Middle Eastern lunch, click here. Further information is here.

Temple Beth Shir Shalo

ProCathedral of St. John

St. Edmund's Episcopal Church