Date: February 1st 2010

February 2010

The recent events following the earthquake in Haiti have once again demonstrated both the ability of people to act compassionately toward others and the reality of interfaith cooperation in the face of the world's needs. Rev. Ben Daniel of the Foothill Presbyterian Church in San Jose remarked during a panel discussion on Christian Unity that "the center of the Ecumenical movement today is in Haiti." This has proved true not only of the ecumenical Christian, but of interfaith efforts as people across religious traditions have stood up to fund, donate, and deliver much-needed aid to that devastated nation.

February in the U.S. is time, of course, for St. Valentine's Day. The celebration was originally a religious holiday dedicated to St. Valentine, or Valentinus. It is not known exactly who was commemorated on this day, as the name "Valentinus" was common in early Rome, and many early martyrs bore the name. It is thought that the evolution of the day into a time for highlighting romantic love took place in the 18th century. Although St. Valentine remains on the official list of Roman Catholic saints, St. Valentine's Day was removed from the official church calendar in 1969.

The Parliament of the World's Religions has created PeaceNext.org, a social networking site devoted specifically to help bring together the global interreligious community every day. You don't need to wait another five years to connect with people from around the world, to share wisdom and understanding, and to have our souls touched. Take a look and join the conversation!

NOTE! The community gathering originally scheduled by the Silicon Valley Partner City Group on February 11th has been postponed. Details about a coming opportunity to take the next steps in living out our status as a Partner City of the Parliament of the World's Religions will be available soon.

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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.

 

 

 

 

February Religious and Cultural Observances

• 1 St Brighid of Kildare (Celtic Christian)
• 2 Brigid / Imbolc / Oimelc / Candlemas (Wiccan/ Pagan)
• 2 Presentation of Jesus in the Temple - Candlemas
  (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)
• 3 Birthday of Horace Greeley (Unitarian Universalist)
• 3 Setsubun Sai (Shinto)
• 7 Four Chaplains Sunday (Interfaith)
• 7 Meatfare Sunday (Eastern Christian)
• 10 Chinese New Year/Tet (Buddhist, Chinese/ Vietnamese)
• 12 Mahashivaratri (Shivarat) (Hindu)
• 14 Transfiguration Sunday (Christian)
• 14 Cheesefare Sunday (Eastern Christian)
• 14 St. Valentine’s Day (Cultural)
• 15 Parinirvana Day (Chinese) (Buddhist)
• 16 Shrove Tuesday/ Mardi Gras (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)
• 17 Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent) (Western Christian)
• 21 First Sunday of Lent (Western Christian)
• 21 Orthodox Sunday (Eastern Christian)
• 21-27 Brotherhood/ Sisterhood Week (Interfaith)
• 26 Mawlid an Nabi (Prophet Mohammad's birthday) (Muslim)
• 26 Ayydm-i-Hid (Intercalary Days) (Baha’i)
• 28 Holi (Hindu)
• 28 Purim (Jewish)

[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-

Month of February

Ashure Distribution

Every year, around this time, the Pacifica Institute community (mostly Turkish Americans) prepares a special dessert called ashure (also called as the Noah's pudding) to be distributed to friends and neighbors (a common practice in Turkey).

Saturday, January 30, 2010- Sunday, April 4, 2010 Nationwide

A Season for Nonviolence

A Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities.

Friday, February 5, 2010, 3:30 pm, Stanford

Religion in the Marketplace

In this panel discussion four prominent speakers will weigh in on Pope Benedict's recent encyclical on the global economy.

Meet Your Neighbors

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

Saturday, February 6, 2010, 3:00 pm, Santa Clara

INSIDE ISLAM LECTURE SERIES:The Muslim Jesus (pbuh)

Speaker: Ali Ataie is the President and Founder of Muslim Interfaith Council and has been involved in interfaith activities for over ten years.

Friday, February 12, 2010, 7:30 pm, San Jose

Shabbat Open House Service

Come visit a synagogue and learn a little bit about Judaism. After a service (with explanations of its component parts) there will be tables of information and food which includes the festivals/holidays and some of the life cycle events in the Jewish tradition.

Thursdays, October 15, 2009- May 13, 2010, 7:30 pm, San Jose

Melkite, Byzantine, Catholic, Christian—Church And Identity

St Elias the Prophet Melkite-Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern Catholic parish in the Alum Rock area of San Jose, will sponsor a series of monthly presentations exploring the idea of Christian identity from the perspective of the Melkite-Greek Catholic Church.

February 19—The Meaning of Great Lent.

March 18 – 20, 2010, San Jose

Infinite Life: Third International Kriya Yoga Congress

The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment is co-sponsoring this conference at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose.

Take Action

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

Friday, February 5, 2010, 8:00-9:30 pm, Los Gatos

Poverty Simulation

In conjunction with Step up Silicon Valley, Congregation Shir Hadash will be holding a Poverty Simulation evening event.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 5:30 pm, San Francisco

Interfaith Call to Justice: Prayerfully Stand for Immigration Reform

Join Northern California Religious Leaders and others working for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

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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.