Tri-Faith News and Updates

This article from the New York Times tells of a friendship between and Sufi sheik, a UCC pastor and a Rabbi in Washington State who are deeply examining their own and each other’s faiths, much as we are in the Tri-Faith Initiative.

Read more about their experiences here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/us/24amigos.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

While Thanksgiving in the United States is officially a secular holiday, for people of faith it is a time to express our gratitude to God for all the blessings in our lives.  It is celebrated on Thursday, November 26.

Immediately afterwards, the winter holidays of the Abrahamic faiths begin:

Eid al-Adha is celebrated on November 27 this year — although officially it starts at sundown on November 26. Christians start observing Advent on November 29.  This period of four+ weeks of waiting and anticipation leads to Christmas, observed on December 25.

Chanuka, the Jewish Festival of Lights, starts on Saturday, December 12 and is observed for eight days ending on Saturday, December 19.

Each of these holidays is marked by traditional celebrations, special foods, hospitality and religious worship.  A great way to get to know more about the faiths other than your own is to learn the meanings and traditions of their holidays (holy days). Consider attending a worship service of another faith to observe and learn.  As we do this “the others” become “the friends.”

One of the observations I hear often, is that learning more about another religion deepens our curiosity and commitment to learning about our own faith and its traditions.

If you collect American Express points through their reward system, you can support the Tri-Faith Initiative youth programs by using points to purchase small Flip video cameras for our youth group to use and for college students who are working on the web site to borrow.

Through today Amex is having a 25% off sale on cameras.  The Flip MinoHD chrome is available for 26,000 points rather than 34,600.  The item number is PRM2949. To order one, call 1-800-297-3276.

The cameras will be checked out to specific students who will be responsible for caring for them and returning them.  Ideally we would like to have six cameras eventually.

If have points you can donate to help make this happen we will appreciate it greatly.

If you have questions, feel free to send an email to the office: nancykirk@trifaith.org.

Today bloggers around the world are participating in Blog Action Day for climate change to get the message out that climate change is one of the most important issues facing us in the world today.  The implications of climate change transcend all boundaries of nationality, gender, religion and politics, and only by working together can humans address this issue and hope for success and survival.

People of the Abrahamic faiths have a shared belief that humans have been entrusted by God with the care of the earth.  We have a special responsibility as individuals and faith communities to commit ourselves to the effort to repair the damage already done and avoid behaviors which negatively affect the climate.

Sukkot is a Jewish Festival being celebrated this week to mark the final harvest of the year.  This year the Union for Reform Judaism is urging everyone to spend some time learning more about our food supplies, to consider how we can live healthier and greener lives while being ever more appreciative of God’s bounty in our lives.

The Union for Reform Judiasm publishes a daily reflection called “Ten Minutes of Torah”, which covers Torah passages from a wide variety of perspectives.  To subscribe to the daily email go to http://www.URJ.org.  The Torah is the first five books of scriptures sometimes referred to as the Old Testament by Christians.  Because it is a fundamental scripture to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, studying Torah is something all people of the Tri-Faiths are called to do.

The holy month of Ramadan began in the U.S. on August 21.  Observant Muslims fast during the day.  As one friend explained, “for a few hours we get to experience the hunger that the poor feel all the time.”  At the end of the month, Muslims make a charitable commitment to of a prescribed percentage of their wealth, so fasting helps remind the believers of the needs that exist in the world.

At night, Muslims break the fast with a dinner known as Iftar, often shared with friends and neighbors. Iftar dinners are often opportunities to invite interfaith friends to share dinner and learn more about Islam and Muslims’ faith and practices like the Friendship Dinner sponsored on August 27 by the Niagara Foundation.

When greeting a Muslim friend during the month of Ramadan, the standard greeting is “Ramadan Mubarak”.

TRI-FAITH FAMILY PICNIC

Celebrating Health and Wellness

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2009

12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Rain or Shine

All Saints Episcopal Church, East Lawn

93^rd and Blondo

Please RSVP by email to info@trifaith.org

Main dish and beverages will be provided.  Please bring a dish to share – salad, side dish or dessert.  Because our three faith groups have a variety of dietary restrictions, good choices are fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, salads with veggies, pasta and rice, breads, chips, salsa and any dishes you would serve on Jewish or Muslim holidays.We ask that you do not bring a dish with pork in it, or a dish which combines meat and dairy in one dish (a meat casserole with cheese, lasagna, etc.) 

Activities for children and adults

Sports, bounce castle, therapy dogs and more

Health fair provided by Creighton Medical School

Free blood pressure screenings, osteoporosis information.

The Undercroft will be available for those who need air conditioning as a respite from the heat.