Tri-Faith News and Updates

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”.

The World Council of Churches held a youth gathering outside Geneva.

The three-week course, which had the theme “Building an Interfaith Community”, was attended by young Christians, Jews and Muslims from all over the world.

 Students heard presentations on Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and on the contributions of each of the religions to peacemaking. Daily morning prayers were prepared alternately by the Christian, Jewish and Muslim participants, and the group attended services in a church, synagogue and mosque in Geneva.

 Religion is so often seen as a barrier to peace, but peace is a central theme across the religions and a good basis for discussions about interfaith community-building, says Rabbi Delphine Horvilleur.

Read the complete story here:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article//theres-value-in-diversit.html

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.

We have posted a story from Great Britain about the effects of swine flu (H1N1 Virus) on religious practices, especially those that involve shared vessels, towels and other items in Christian and Muslim worship. Britain has been hard hit by the virus already — many believe it is because of its status as an international travel hub.

For the full story please see our NEWS page.  US religious bodies have been doing preliminary planning in case this flu virus becomes widespread in this country.  There is no need for panic or major concern, but we may all be called on to reconsider how we have traditionally practiced our religions

The Rev. Canon Judi Yeates of the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska posted this on the Nebraska Diocese blog from the Triennial General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Anaheim, CA last week:

Tri-Faith Initiative Day

July 15, 2009 by jyeates

Washington, D.C. – Interfaith Alliance President, Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy expressed his deep sorrow on the passing of Walter Cronkite, the organization’s honorary chair. Mr. Cronkite has been affiliated with Interfaith Alliance since 1997. Mr. Cronkite told Rev. Gaddy at their first meeting that “nothing less is at stake in the work of the Interfaith Alliance then the existence of democracy as we know it.”

Our sympathies are with all who knew and respected Mr. Cronkite and we honor his committment to interfaith work.

To read more, The Interfaith Alliance can be reached at www.interfaithalliance.org.  Rev. Gaddy did a broadcast about the Tri-Faith Dinner in Abraham’s Tent in April.  The replay is available on their website.

From our friends at Common Tables:

 

In the United States, we celebrate the signing of The Declaration of Independence on July 4.  It brings to mind the important contributions of all native peoples and immigrants over the centuries.  This morning, a bulletin from the Union for Reform Judaism highlighted the work of three Jewish authors whose words have become so associated with liberty in the U.S.:

A quote from Leviticus is inscribed on the Liberty Bell:  “Proclaim liberty throughout the land.”

A favorite patriotic song, “God Bless America” was written by Jewish composer Irving Berlin.

The words that welcome new immigrants through the Port of New York were written by Jewish poet Emma Lazarus:  “Send us your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”.

Have a blessed 4th of July everyone!

Families of our partners and supporters are invited to the Tri-Faith Family Picnic, Sunday, August 2, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 93rd and Blondo from 12:30 to 3:30.  Please bring a dish to share.  We’ll have a main dish and beverages for all.

This is a great time to learn more about the Tri-Faith and the food traditions of our Jewish, Christian and Muslim partners.  As you plan what to bring to share, please avoid all pork products (ham, bacon, sausages, hot dogs etc.).  In addition, many do not eat dairy and meat at the same meal, so we ask you to avoid dishes like lasagna (unless it is a vegetarian version) or casseroles that have meat and cheese, or meat and cream soups.

All of our faiths are based in an Abrahamic tradition of hospitality.  The tradition states that Abraham’s tent was open on all four sides to welcome people from all nations, all cultures and all religions.  The corollary to this is to provide foods and beverages which your friends can enjoy.  It takes a little thought but not a lot of extra effort, and in the process we learn more about the sacred traditions of our faith groups.

So what are good choices?  Fresh and dried fruits and fruit salads are always good at a picnic. Green salads and other vegetable salads work for everyone.  Pasta or rice salads mixed with vegetables and dressed with an oil and vinegar style dressing will be great choices (please use vegetable oils such as olive oil.)

Another problem food would be anything that includes gelatin which is an unacceptable food for Jewish participants — this would include Jello, aspics and marshmallows and any cakes that include gelatins in the recipes.  We’ll be publishing some great picnic recipes here on the site in the days ahead.  Stay tuned.

In the meantime, mark your calendars to join us on August 2. Plan to bring the kids — we’ll have lots of children’s activities plus a health fair from the Creighton School of Medicine.

Religous diversity raises issues in public education which affect teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals and students.  Educators will have the chance to explore these issues in an upcoming workshop presented by Project Interfaith.

One way we at Project Interfaith strive to be a leader and resources on interfaith and religious diversity issues is by offering an array of professional development programs and trainings that better prepare professionals to work with and serve people of diverse faiths and beliefs. The upcoming training listed below is open to all educators, paraprofessionals, volunteers, and administrators. Please contact Project Interfaith to register for this training. Educator Training on Religious Diversity Issues in the Public Schools Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:30 am-3:00 pm                       Location: UNO Thompson Alumni Center (6705 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE  68182) Cost: $50 per participant (includes, breakfast, lunch and resources)     Registration is required. Register by calling Project Interfaith at     (402) 933-4647     or email info@projectinterfaithusa.org. This day-long training will provide public school educators and staff with information and resources to:-Explore their own views about religion and identity and understand how these views may impact the teacher-student relationship;  -Learn about  when and how religion and religious materials can be used in a public school environment and what religious accommodations are allowed; -Find out about the basic beliefs, demographics and organization of select religious communities in the Omaha metropolitan area;       -Receive best practices for making your school and classroom inclusive of religious diversity;   -Get connected with helpful print and web-based resources on religious diversity and teaching about religion in the schools.          Registration is required. Register by calling Project Interfaith at     (402) 933-4647     or email info@projectinterfaithusa.org. This day-long training will provide public school educators and staff with information and resources to:-Explore their own views about religion and identity and understand how these views may impact the teacher-student relationship;  -Learn about  when and how religion and religious materials can be used in a public school environment and what religious accommodations are allowed; -Find out about the basic beliefs, demographics and organization of select religious communities in the Omaha metropolitan area;       -Receive best practices for making your school and classroom inclusive of religious diversity;   -Get connected with helpful print and web-based resources on religious diversity and teaching about religion in the schools.          We also work with organizations, corporations, and institutions to craft trainings and resources tailored specifically to their needs.  Please contact us at   40… or by emailing info@projectinterfaithusa.org to discuss how we can be of help to your organization.      Project Interfaith serves as a leader and resource on interfaith and religious diversity issues. We work with religious groups, educators, corporations, and all members of the community to promote a deeper understanding of and respect for religious diversity. We offer innovative, community-building programs that educate and engage audiences on issues of faith, religion, identity, and interfaith relations. For more information, visit our blog at projectinterfaith.blogspot.com or call    (402) 9…   1-402-9…     |     www.projectinterfaithusa.org