Date: November 1st 2009

November 2009

Thanksgiving Day is perhaps the oldest interfaith celebration in the U.S. For many years it has provided an occasion for people of diverse religious traditions to gather together. I believe, for example, that the Community Thanksgiving service in Saratoga is marking its 44th year.

Thankfulness is a value that seems to be common to many, if not most, religions. We may be thankful for different things; we may send out thankfulness in different directions, but there is something deep in the human soul that leads us to pause and be grateful for life and what it brings.

One on whom We bestow kindness
But will not express gratitude,
Is worse than a robber
Who carries away our belongings.
Yoruba proverb

The worthy person is grateful and mindful of benefits done to him.
Buddhism. Anguttara Nikaya i.61

Abraham said, "Surely it is of what belongs to God that you have eaten. So praise and bless Him by whose word the world was created."
Judaism, Talmud, Sota 10b

Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is Him that you worship.
Islam, Qur'an 2.172

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
Cicero

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.
Christianity, Meister Eckhart

Gratitude is the most potent magick!
Starhawk, Wicca

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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.

 

 

 

 

November Religious and Cultural Observances

• 1 All Saints' Day (Christian)
• 2 All Souls' Day (Some Christian)
• 2 Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh)
• 12 Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha’i)
• 15 Fast of Nativity begins Orthodox (Christian)
• 22 Christ the King Some (Christian)
• 24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikh)
• 26 Day of Covenant (Baha’i)
• 26 Hajj begins (Muslim)
• 26 Thanksgiving (InterFaith)
• 27 Eid al Adha (Muslim)
• 29 Advent Sundays (Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, 20) (Christian)
• 30 St. Andrew's Day (Christian)

[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-

Thursday, November 5, 2009 11:45-1:30pm, Campbell

Religious Leaders Interfaith Dialogue Group

Discussion Topic: The Partner Cities Project of the Parliament of the World's Religions and the future of the Interfaith movement in the South Bay area.

Thursday and Friday, November 5-6, 2009, Santa Clara

Teaching for Global Peace, Sustainability
and Conflict Transformation

Strategies for Understanding Arab and Muslim Realities Using Dialogue and Media.

Sunday, November 8, 2009, 3:00- 5:00 pm, San Jose

Bay Area Satsang

Satsang members make a serious commitment to: * their personal growth in spiritual awareness and practice * helping remove barriers of prejudice and ignorance * building up relationships of compassion and appreciation across frontiers of race, language, culture and religion.

Thursday, November 12, 2009, 8:00 -9:30 am, San Jose

Partner City Celebration

Supervisor Dave Cortese and the Silicon Valley Partner City Group invite you to a reception to learn about how Partner City Status with the Parliament of the World's Religions presents unique opportunities for developing interfaith relationships in the Valley and around the world.

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."

Saturday, November 21, 2009, 7:00 pm, Palo Alto

Music for a United Earth

A benefit concert of diverse culture for a new project-based charter school in Silicon Valley, featuring local Bay Area performers,

Tuesday November 24th, 2009, 7:30 pm, Los Gatos

Los Gatos Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

The diverse religious congregations in our community organize this special worship gathering to which the entire community is invited.

Thursday, November 26, 2009, 10:00 am, Saratoga

Saratoga Community Thanksgiving Service

Join us on Thanksgiving Day as we worship together as a community. We will join together for an hour of music, prayer and devotion as we give thanks for our many blessings.

Meet Your Neighbors

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

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9:30 am- 12:30 pm, San Jose

Dreams as Creative Spirit Workshop

This will be an experiential workshop, a time and space to enter more deeply into the world of our dreams.

Friday, November 13, 2009, 7:00 pm, Palo Alto

The Four Pillars of a Spiritual Life

Speaker: Swami Chetanananda, resident of Portland and Katmandu, member of the Young Spirit Board of Directors, and author of several books on spiritual practice.

Spirituality Tuesday

Learn the difference between Meditation, Centering Prayer, and Contemplative Prayer.

Take Action

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

Monday, November 2, 2009, 6:00 pm, San Jose

Keeping the Faith for Marriage Equality

Interfaith Candlelight Rally to San Jose City Hall. Dramatic Reading of Harvey Milk’s Hope Speech by professional actor Aldo Billingslea.

Sunday, November 15, 2009, 6:30 pm, Santa Clara

Interfaith Council Dinner with Hotel Workers

The Interfaith Council on Economic Justice would like to invite you to a dinner with the faith community and hotel workers.

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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.