Date: October 1st 2009

October 2009

PARTNER CITY: It's official! The Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions has designated San Jose/ Santa Clara County as the Inaugural City and County in the Partner City Network, joining the legacy Partner Cities Chicago, Capetown, Barcelona, and Melbourne. The Silicon Valley Partner City Group has worked for over a year to develop a profile that "has embraced the vision of interreligious understanding and global peace that is consonant with the vision, mission and work of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions to cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a more just, peaceful and sustainable world."

Members of the group will be traveling to the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne this December to receive the acknowledgement as a Partner City/County, and to present a workshop on "What We Learned from the Partner City Process." Members of the Group included Rev. Ellen Grace O'Brian and Rev. Ann Hayes (Center for Spiritual Enlightenment), Girish Shah (Jain Center), Joy-Ellen Lipsky (CSE and First Unitarian), Dr. Boo Riley and Rev. Aimee Moiso (Santa Clara University), Rev. Bruce Bramlett (SVFACES), Rev. Margo Tenold (Council of Churches), Delorme McKee-Stovall (County Office of Human Relations), and myself. Watch for announcements of upcoming events to further the work of building up our interfaith relationships.

DONT MISS THIS WORKSHOP: SVFACES is sponsoring a workshop for community leaders; city, county and government staff; and civic and religious leaders titled Orchestrating Powerful Community Dialogue. Facilitated by Shawn Spano, PhD Professor of Communications Studies, SJSU and Jennifer Mair M.A. Professor of Communications, Skyline College, workshop participants will engage in discussions, activities, and experiential exercises that will cover techniques in open communication, consensus building, conflict management and upstream policy development. SVFACES is offering a special discount rate for Interfaith leaders. See details.

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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.

 

 

 

 

October Religious and Cultural Observances

• 3 Sukkot (through Oct 9; special observance 3-4) (Jewish)
• 4 St Francis Day (Christian)
• 4 World Communion Sunday (Protestant Christian)
• 10 Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
• 11 Simhat Torah (Jewish)
• 12 Ghambar Ayathrem (through October 16) (Zoroastrian)
• 17 Diwali (Deepawali) (Hindu, Jain, Sikh)
• 17 Mahavira Nirvana Celebration (Jain)
• 20 Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
• 20 Guru Granth Sahib installation (Sikh)
• 23 Jnana Panchmi (Jain)
• 31 All Hallows Eve (Christian)
• 31 Reformation Day (Protestant Christian)
• 31 Samhuinn (Samhain) , Vetrnaetr / Winter Nights (Wiccan/ Pagan )

[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-

Sunday, October 11th, 2009 1:45-4:15 pm, Milpitas

Women’s Dialogue Encounter:
Holidays and Festivals
in your Religion and Culture

Women of all faith traditions are invited to the next Women's Dialogue Encounter. This celebration is intended to honor all holidays and festivals, so please feel free to dress up in special clothes which are part of these occasions.

Thursday, October 15, 2009, 8:00- 9:30 am, San Jose

Faith Leaders Appreciation Breakfast

Mayor Chuck Reed cordially invites religious leaders to the third annual Faith Leaders Appreciation Breakfast.

Thursday, October 15, 2009, 6:15 pm, Santa Clara

Pacifica Institute 3rd Annual
Dialogue and Friendship Dinner

Pacifica Institute, a non-profit intercultural dialogue organization, cordially invites you to join its Third Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner.

Thursday, October 29, 2009, 9:00 am -5:00 pm, San Jose

Workshop on
Courageous Public Conversations

Interfaith, governmental, civic and non-profit leaders are invited to join us for this day-long workshop on the skills for carrying out courageous public conversations around difficult topics and issues.

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.

Wednesdays, beginning September 9, 2009, 7:00 pm, San Jose

Comparative Religions

Dr. Matthew Whitlock, Professor at Santa Clara University, will present a series of eight sessions comparing Christian, Islamic and Jewish religions

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.

Friday-Sunday, October 9-11, 2009, Sunnyvale

Diwali Mela 2009

Celebrate the Festival of Lights !The highlights of the Mela include: Booths; Concerts by Bollywood Artists; Antakshari Comptetion; Cultural Programs by Children; Talent Comptetion. Ample Free Parking.

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.

Wednesday October 7th, 2009, 6:00 to 7:00 am, Santa Clara

Justice Quilt:
Interfaith Council Candlelight Vigil

Come hear the stories of Santa Clara housekeepers, as they tell of the dangers and injuries endured daily in their work. On display will be the Justice Quilt.

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.

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.