Date: September 3rd 2008

September 2008

During this month, Muslims are observing the month of Ramadan by fasting from sunup to sundown. It is a custom during this time to invite others to break the fast together at an evening iftar meal, and this has become an opportunity in recent years for non-Muslims to learn about the meaning of Ramadan. Note below the interfaith iftar being sponsored by the South Bay Islamic Association in San Jose; we'll list others that come to our attention on the Events page at www.interfaithspace.org.

Also this month, Sikhs commemorate their scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, as the guru (sacred guide) for the community. The Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) declared that the scriptures would be his successor.

September also marks the United Nations International Day of Peace. First declared in 1982, the Day of Peace is observed by communities around the world in a variety of ways. To find out what's happening, or to suggest an event of your own, see www.internationaldayofpeace.org

Hindus celebrate the elephant god of good fortune, Ganesha, and Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu. And at the end of the month, as Eid al Fitr closes the month of Ramadan, Rosh Hashanah begins the "Days of Awe" for Jews leading up to Yom Kippur.

Send your news! Let the community know about events that are open to the public and are either interfaith or offer an opportunity for others to learn about your faith community. Send information to calendar@interfaithspace.org.

 

 

 

 

September Religious and Cultural Observances

• 1 Installation of Guru Granth Sahib (First Parkash) (Sikh)
• 2 Ramadan begins (through Oct. 1) (Muslim)
• 3 Ganesha Chaturthi (Hindu)
• 5 Paryushana Parva end (Samvatsari) (Jain)
• 8 Nativity of Mary (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)
• 12 Ghambar Paitishahem (through Sep 16) (Zoroastrian)
• 14 Exaltation of the Life Giving Cross (Eastern Christian)
• 14 Holy Cross Day (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)
• 21 United Nations International Day of Peace
• 22 Death of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh)
• 22 Mabon, Alban Elued, Haustblot / Harvest (Autumnal Equinox) (Wiccan/Pagan)
• 23 Janma Ashtami (Krishna Janmashtami) (Hindu)
• 29 St. Michael and All Angels (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)
• 30 Eid al Fitr - Culmination of Ramadan (Muslim)
• 30 Rosh Hashana (through Oct 1) (Jewish)

[Interreligious Calendar events are taken from the Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice Interfaith Calendar and the Multifaith Action Society Multifath Calendar 2007. See also the Online Interfaith Calendar] NOTE: Jewish Holidays begin at sundown the day before. Buddhist holidays are observed on many different days, according to local tradition.

Upcoming Interfaith Opportunities

"Interfaith Opportunities" focuses on specifically interfaith events; "Take Action" offers opportunities to take action on issues of concern with people from other religious traditions, and "Meet Your Neighbors" includes events that are sponsored by a specific religious group but which are open to the wider community. Items for the calendar can be sent to calendar@interfaithspace.org

Click on highlighted links below for more information-

Thursday- Sunday, September 4 - 7, 2008, San Mateo

"ENGAGING THE OTHER" CONFERENCE:
The Power of Compassion

An international, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary conference examining concepts of "The OTHER" from a universal, cross-cultural perspective to promote wider public dialogue about concepts of "Us and Them."

Meet Your Neighbors

Public events sponsored by specific religious groups that seek to help others understand their tradition and concerns more fully.

Sunday, September 7, 2008, 9:30 am, Sunnyvale

Summer Social and Vegetarian BBQ

Dharma gathering at 9:30 a.m. at the Zen Center, followed by the BBQ at a nearby park. Our special guests will include Rev. Heng Sure and members of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, as well as board and staff members of the Jewish Community Relations Councils of the Peninsula and the Silicon Valley. 

Sunday, September 14, 2008, 5:30 pm, San Jose

Interfaith Iftar

The South Bay Islamic Association will host an Interfaith Iftar (breaking the Ramadan fast).

Sunday, October 5, 2008, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, Santa Clara

Telling Our Stories;
Transforming the World
ING Supporters Dinner and Eid Celebration

Featuring: speaker Dr. John Esposito, Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University; comedian Maz Jobrani, Iranian-American comedian.

Take Action

Events that address issues of public concern with an alliance of people from different religious traditions.

Sunday, September 7, 2008, 2:00 to 4:30 p.m., San Jose

Interfaith Congregational Training
for No on Proposition 8 

Led by California Faith for Equality’s Kerry Chaplain and Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry—Action Network’s Christy Baker.

Faithful Citizens Go to the Polls: A series of events sponsored by Multifaith Voices for Peace

For more information go to www.multifaithpeace.org or call 650-569-3416.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 7:00 pm, Palo Alto

"Soldiers of Conscience" Film & Discussion

Filmed with the permission of the US Army, this documentary tackles the question every soldier must ask - is it ever acceptable to kill another human being?

Monday, September 15, 2008, 7:00 pm, venue tba

Climate Change - Faithful Advocacy

Sponsored by California Interfaith Power and Light, this working group meeting is open to the public and will feature leaders of their political team discussing challenges and strategies for getting congregations involved.

Thursday, October 2, 2008, 7:00 pm, Palo Alto

Immigration

Speakers: Rev. Will McGarvey and Maria Sanchez of the New Sanctuary Movement; other immigrants telling their own stories; Palo Alto Weekly Reporter Sue Dremann.

Monday, October 20, 2008 7:00 pm, Palo Alto

Globalization, Immigration & the Food Crisis

Raj Patel, writer, activist, academic and author of "Stuffed and Starved" is a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and a Fellow at the Institute of Food and Development.

===

And more...

News and Notes from Interfaith Space is an occasional blog with information and commentary on issues related to interfaith relations in the South Bay, the Nation, and around the world.

You can find News and Notes by going to the Interfaith Space website (www.interfaithspace.org) and clicking on "Notes," or simply going to www.revdak.com/wordpress/. I invite you to add your comments or responses; together we can create an online "dialogue on dialogue"!

Help us share your good news! If you know of interfaith opportunities that are coming up- please let us know so they can be included on the Interfaith Space Calendar. Send information to calendar@interfaithspace.org.