Date: September 1st 2009

September 2009

Both Judaism and Islam celebrate significant holidays in the month of September. The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, begins the High Holy Days, culminating in Yom Kippur. Muslims continue their fasting during the month of Ramadan, which will end around September 21st with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.

It is the custom during Ramadan for Muslims to host dinners for their families and friends to break the daytime fast. These are known as iftars. In recent years, many of the mosques in the Bay Area have extended this invitation to their non-Muslim neighbors and have held open house iftars. Several gatherings, from San Francisco to Oakland, to San Jose, are listed in this month's interfaith calendar.

The autumnal equinox is occasion for several festivals: the Buddhist Fall Ohigon, the Shinto Shuki-sorei-sai, and the Wiccan Mabon.

I have begun writing an occasional blog for Examiner.com, as their San Jose Interfaith Examiner. I'll be posting more extended articles there, and welcome your suggestions for events to publicize, interviews with interfaith leaders, and news about interfaith relationships.

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News & Notes, the occasional blog from Interfaith Space with information about events and commentary on interfaith/ multifaith/ interreligious issues, has received a face lift. Check out our new look at the Interfaith Space website: go to www.interfaithspace.org and click on "News & Notes." We invite your comments or responses.

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 (Sikh)
• 1 Orthodox Church new year (Eastern Christian)
• 3 Ananta-chaturdasai (Jain)
• 4 Ullambana (Buddhist)
• 4 Ksamavani (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)
• 16 Lailat al-Qadr (Muslim)
• 19 Navaratri (through Oct. 18) (Hindu)
• 19 Rosh Hashana (through Sept 20) (Jewish)
• 21 Eid al Fitr - Culmination of Ramadan (Muslim)
• 22 Mabon, Alban Elued, Haustblot / Harvest
  (Autumnal Equinox) Wiccan/Pagan
• 22 Fall Ohigon (Buddhist)
• 22 Shuki-sorei-sai (Shinto)
• 22 Death of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh)
• 28 Yom Kippur (Jewish)
• 28 Dasshera (Hindu)
• 29 St. Michael and All Angels (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)

[Interreligious Calendar events are taken from the Silicon Valley FACES Interfaith Calendar and the Multifaith Action Society Multifath Calendar 2008. 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-

Saturday September 5- September 13, Around the Bay

Bay Area Ramadan Iftars

• August 29th, San Jose
  Shia Muslim Association of the Bay Area (SABA)
  
• September 5th, Fremont
  Islamic Society of East Bay (ISEB)
  
• September 5th, Oakland
  Islamic Community Center of Northern California (ICCNC)
  
• September 12th, Santa Clara
  Muslim Community Assoc. (MCA)
  
• September 13th, San Francisco
  Islamic Society of San Francisco (ISSF)
  
• September 13th, San Jose
  South Bay Islamic Assoc. (SBIA)
  
• September 13th, Fremont
  Ta’leef Collective
  
• September 19, Sunnyvale
  Pacifica Institute
  

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.

Sunday, September 6, 2009, 6:30 pm, Sunnyvale

Pacifica Institute
Interfaith Conversations Series

Our distinguished guest for the evening will be Kabir Helminski.

Friday, September 11th, 2009, 7:00 pm, Campbell

Muslim and Christians Together
Celebrate Ramadan

This is an opportunity for Christians to “host” and celebrate their Muslim sisters and brothers during the holy season of Ramadan, sharing a fast-breaking meal after sunset.

Saturday, September 12, 2009, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Santa Clara

Annual Ramadan Open House

The Muslim Community Association invites you to learn about Islam, Ramadan and experience the breaking of the fast with Muslim neighbors.

Friday, September 25, 2009, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, San Jose

Spiritual Salons: Karen Armstrong

Karen Armstrong is one of the most illuminating spiritual writers at work today. A fascinating discussion of Armstrong's work in our 2nd Spiritual Salon.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Clergy Day and the Courts

Clergy Day is an interactive program designed to educate clergy about the state court system.

Thursday- Sunday, November 12-15, 2009, San Mateo

Engaging The Other:
The Power of Compassion

4th Annual International Conference– An International, Multidisciplinary, Multicultural Conference examining concepts of "The Other" from a universal, cross-cultural perspective to promote wider public dialogue about images of "Us and Them."

Meet Your Neighbors

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

Fridays, August 7 & September 4, 2009, 10:00-11:30am, Los Altos

Sacred Heart Yoga

The Christian approach to yoga simply allows us to combine two essential goals: becoming physically healthy and spiritually healthy.

Friday- Sunday, September 4-6, 2009, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, San Jose

Listen to Your Soul Song

Meditation Retreat in the Kriya Yoga Tradition.

Week of September 7, 2009, Sunnyvale

Zen Center Fall Classes 

A new series of classes on Zen meditation and Buddhism at different levels will start the week of September 7, 2009.

Tuesdays: 7–9 pm September 22–November 10, 2009

Live the Eternal Way:
An Invitation to Transform Your Life

Led by Ellen Grace O'Brian, the Live the Eternal Way course provides the resources to live in the highest way by clarifying your discernment, strengthening your faith, and deepening your commitment to live with the purpose and dedication necessary to fulfill your soul's destiny.

Saturday, October 17, 2009, 7:00 pm

All County Choir Concert

Each participating choir will sing their specialty and there will be a mass choral piece by all the choirs.

Take Action

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

Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

The Economic Crisis and a Moral Response

The Interfaith Council will sponsor a luncheon with Bob Brownstein, Policy Director, Working Partnerships USA and Professor David DeCosse, Director of Campus Ethics Program, Santa Clara University.

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And more...

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.