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Events
Is your organization sponsoring an Interfaith event or opportunity in the Bay Area? To have your event listed here, send the information to calendar@interfaithspace.org; please include the name, date and time, description, cost (if any) and contact information.
Bay Area events focused on developing and strengthening interfaith relationships.
Sunday, July 12, 2009, 4:00-7:00 pm, San Francisco
Taking It to Melbourne:
Preparing for the Parliament of Religions
- What do Chicago, Cape Town, and Barcelona have in common?
- How did a 19th century Hindu teacher change world religion?
- What happens when 10,000 people from different spiritual traditions converge in one place?
- To whom did the Australian government offer a collective apology?
- And what are we taking to Melbourne, and why?
Join us for Taking It to Melbourne, a pre-Parliament event, and find out! We’ll feature videos and photos, along with personal stories of people who have journeyed to past Parliaments of the World's Religions. And especially, we will feature brief presentations from those in our area who have proposed workshops for Parliament, which will take place December 3-9, 2009, in Melbourne, Australia. LOCATION: Interfaith Center at the Presidio, Interfaith Chapel, 130 Fisher Loop in the Presidio of San Francisco. Information: call 415.775.4635.
LIVE WEBCAST – If you can’t come to San Francisco, go to www.interfaith-presidio.org and click on the Video Center button to join the event at 4:00 pm (PST).
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 9:30 am- 11:30 am, San Leandro
Interfaith Community Breakfast:
Youth Serving Our Community
and Our World
More and more, young people are taking the lead in breaking down the barriers that divide us from one another. Come, find out more! Hear inspiring stories of service, connection, and transformation from:
- Theodore Timpson, founder of Young Spirit Foundation, and a co-leader of recent and upcoming Days of Interfaith Youth Service.
- Tesia Bobrycki, International Service Coordinator for the Next Generation Academy
- Plus, a video about Majlis Khuddam-ul Ahmadiyya, the youth of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Sponsored by Interfaith America. LOCATION: Bay Area Family Church, 2305 Washington Ave., San Leandro. 10$ suggested donation. For more information contact Rev. Mark Denni, 510-417-5115; Dr. Hanif Koya, 510- 677-4488; or David Rosenblum, 510-517-0398.
Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6, 2009, Santa Clara County
Labor Day Speak Out
On September 4th through 6th, over 70 congregations in Santa Clara County will participate in The Interfaith Council's 11th annual Labor in the Pulpits (LITP) program. LITP involves congregations of different religious traditions in over 130 cities across the nation. Along with connecting different faiths, LITP creates real change for working families. Last year, LITP gathered over 7,000 pledges to support hotel workers in San Jose and Santa Clara in their struggle for better working conditions. Soon afterwards, the Marriott hotel negotiated a strong contract, with better wages, affordable health care and respect in the workplace.
This year's LITP message emphasizes the need for people of faith to stand with hotel workers. We are calling on people of faith to act by signing our "Statement of Principles" in LITP 2009. To learn more about the national program, please visit the Interfaith Worker Justice website. If you are interested in bringing the LITP program to your congregation, or have questions, please email aimee@atwork.org.
Public events sponsored by specific religious groups that may help others understand their tradition and concerns more fully.
English Meditation Classes
at the Zen Center
The Chung Tai Zen Center in Sunnyvale is beginning their Summer series of meditation classes for all levels. See more information at their website.
Saturday July 11, 2009 6:00 to 9:00 pm, San Jose
Pilgrimage of the Heart:
Labyrinth Evening with Rev. Sylvia Lunt
"Make a pilgrimage today to the shrine of your heart where God dwells." ~~Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian
The labyrinth is an ancient spiritual tool for meditation, prayer, and contemplation. This evening pilgrimage includes an opportunity to reflect upon what has heart and meaning and open ourselves to divine inspiration for our lives. With music, poetry and sharing with others in community, come and experience an evening of inspiration and communion with Spirit. Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, 1146 University Avenue, San Jose. Please preregister and prepay $20.00 at CSE Website, or call 283-0221 ext. 30
Saturday - Sunday, July 11-12, San Jose
San Jose Obon Festival
Traditional dance, food, music and games for the whole family at this Japanese Buddhist festival. Noon- 10:00 pm, Saturday, July 11, noon- 8:00 pm, Sunday,July 12. In Japantown, on Fifth Street between Jackson and Taylor. Free admission. More information here. Sponsored by San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
Events that address issues of public concern with an alliance of people from different religious traditions.
Thursday, July 16, 2009, 7:30 pm, Palo Alto
Reducing the Danger of Nuclear Weapons
Speaker: Dr. William J. Perry, Hoover Institute, Stanford University. Dr.Perry is a former US Secretary of Defense (1994 to 1997). His work with other Cold War statesmen has revived interest in ridding the world of nuclear weapons. LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto. Free event. His talk is sponsored by Interfaith Voices for Peace and Justice, the Council of Churches of Santa Clara County, and others. Info: http://www.uucpa.org/events_news/EventsFaith.html
Sunday, August 16, 2009, 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Day of Interfaith Youth Service 2009
Place: Half Moon Bay; Project: Coastal restoration. Join us individually or as a youth group for this extraordinary experience of serving with those of different backgrounds who share common values. Non-native species are the second largest threat to biodiversity next to direct habitat destruction. Restoration improves the health of all coastal wildlife. Demonstrate the power of a pluralistic society, in which all communities are welcomed and accepted. Contact: now@youngspirit.org 650-284-8979. Check it out at youngspirit.org/gobeyond.
Ongoing opportunities to learn more about other religious traditions from a variety of speakers and activities.
San Jose, Wednesday evenings 7:30- 8:30 pm
Interfaith Devotions and Prayer
Consort with the followers of all religions
in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.
-- Baha’ullah
Bring your earnest prayers, your best-loved devotions, meditations, and scriptures and join us in devotion and prayer for the peace and unity of our families, our communities, our nation, our world. Location: San Jose Bahá’í Center, 945 Willow Street. San Jose CA 95125.
San Jose
The Dances of Universal Peace meet the First Friday of every Month at 8:00 PM on the Labyrinth under the dome of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, 130 North Third Street, across from St. James Park. There is free parking on the street and in the parking garage at the corner of St. John Street and Third Street.
ALL ARE WELCOME! Beginners and experienced dancers join the circle together with simple movements and the singing of sacred chants and songs from the many faith traditions of Earth. No experience is necessary - just an open heart and mind.Each dance is taught as we go. Comfortable clothing and footwear are recommended. There is no charge, however, donations are welcome to International Network of the Dances of Universal Peace and the First Unitarian Church.
Matthew Fox has said “The Dances of Universal Peace put into our hearts and bodies the awe of living, the love ot the universe, the experience of community, the delight at the breath we all share, the coming together of cosmos, psyche and deep ecumenism that the human race yearns for today. They provide empowerment to heal and to celebrate, to pray in a curved and cosmological manner, to include body at the center of worship once again.” -Matthew Fox
For more information, contact Patrick Smiley or telephone 408-265-8937 and leave a message with your telephone number.
Stanford
Walk the Labyrinth
Our Friday labyrinth is the perfect way to begin calming your mind as you greet your well-deserved weekend. If life has you wandering aimlessly in circles, embark on a personal journey that's stood the test of time for thousands of years. Enter the labyrinth and discover that walking in circles can actually put direction back in your life - that the rhythm and simplicity of following a clear path can quiet your mind, help you find balance, facilitate meditation, insight and celebration. Wander aimlessly no more. Come: Walk the labyrinth and discover how truly liberated your mind and spirit can be! All are welcome to enjoy its benefits at no cost. Friday, September 28, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm, Memorial Church, Stanford Quadrangle.
Common Tables
We know that we always enjoy getting together, but how can we make connections with those outside our usual circles of acquaintance? How do we find that Buddhist, those Hindus, the Jain couple or the Muslim co-worker who might also be interested in sitting down with us? A new organization, Common Tables, is drawing on the capabilities of the internet to make it possible to connect with others in your area who are likewise interested in bridging the divides. To become a part of Common Tables, one simply goes to their website (www.commontables.org), and signs on (there is a $25 annual administration fee). Common Tables sends the names of three other diverse faith couples and a guide to help get the group going. The group meets four times in six months, not so much for heavy religious discussion, but for simple getting-to-know-you conversation.
Online
Interfaith Sacred Space Design Competition
Is genuine interfaith space possible? What might a space designed to accommodate the needs of all faiths look like?
Winners of the United Religions Initiative competition to design genuinely interfaith space can be seen at www.interfaithdesign.org. A book about the competition is now available through the Interfaith Center at the Presidio.
Online
Interfaith Events Calendar
Other Interfaith Events in the wider San Francisco Bay Area are regularly listed on the Presidio Interfaith Center Calendar of Events.
