Date: March 1st 2010

March 2010

The Spring Equinox on March 20-21 marks the time when the days begin to get longer than the nights, the earth starts to warm (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), and new sprouts and blossoms begin to appear. So it is not at all surprising that this month brings many religious observances that center on new beginnings.

Several take place around the equinox itself: Ostara (Wiccan), Ohigon (Buddhist), Nav Ruz (New Year)(Baha'i and Zoroastrian), and Setsubun-sai (Shinto). Others are more subtly linked to the equinox: Passover (Jewish) falls on the first full moon following the equinox; Easter (Christian) is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox. Palm Sunday is commemorated on the Sunday before Easter.

March 8 has been observed as International Women's Day since 1913. It was originally established on March 19 by the International Conference on Working Women, led by Clara Zetkin, a German activist, as a day for press for women's rights. It was recognized by the United Nations in 1975, and is observed in some countries as a national holiday. Also in March, the Women's World Day of Prayer is celebrated around the world by groups of Christian women who come together across denominational lines to pray together. Services are created each year by a specific county; this year it is Cameroon.

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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.

 

 

 

 

March Religious and Cultural Observances

• 1 Hola Mohalla (Sikh)
• 1 St David of Wales (Roman Catholic; some Protestant)
• 2 Nineteen Day Fast (through March 20) (Baha’i)
• 3 Hina-Matsuri - Festival of Dolls (Shinto)
• 5 Women’s World Day of Prayer (Ecumenical Christian)
• 8 International Women's Day (Multicultural)
• 13 Birthday of L. Ron Hubbard (Scientologist)
• 14 New Year, Nanakshahi Calendar (Sikh)
• 15 Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem (Zoroastrian)
• 16 Vaisakhi (New Year) (Hindu)
• 17 St Patrick's Day (Roman Catholic, some protestant)
• 20 Ostara, Alban Eiler, Eostre (Vernal Equinox) (Wiccan/ Pagan)
• 20 Spring Ohigon (Buddhist)
• 21 Nav Ruz, Naw Ruz, Norooz (the new day) (Zoroastrian, Baha’i)
• 21 Setsubun-sai (Shinto)
• 24 Rama Navami (Ramayana reading) (Hindu)
• 25 Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
• 25 Annunciation of the Theotokos (Eastern Christian)
• 26 Khordad Sal (birth of prophet Zaranhushtra) (Zoroastrian)
• 27 Lazarus Saturday (Eastern Christian)
• 28 Mahavira Jayanti (Mahavira’s birthday), (Jain)
• 28 Palm/Passion Sunday (Christian)
• 29 Fast of the Firstborn (Jewish)
• 30 Hanuman Jayanthi (Hindu)
• 30 Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)
• 30 Theravada New Year (Buddhist)
• 30 Pesach (Passover) (first two days especially; through April 6)
  (Jewish)
• 30 The Lord's Evening Meal (Jehovah’s Witnesses)

[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 and the BBC 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, 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.

Thursday, March 11, 2010, 11:45 am - 1:30 pm, location TBA

SVFACES Interfaith Religious Leaders Dialogue

This ongoing dialogue group meets monthly.

Sunday, March 14, 2010, 2:30 - 4:45 pm, San Jose

Women's Interfaith Dialogue Encounter

Please join us as we welcome women of all faiths for an interfaith dialogue. We will learn about the Parliament of the World's Religions and our own Silicon Valley Partner City Group.

Sunday, March 14, 2010, 3:00 - 5:00 pm, San Jose

Bay Area Satsang

Satsang is an assocation of individuals from different religious traditions who commit themselves to building up relationships of compassion and appreciation across frontiers of race, language, culture and religion.

Saturday March 20, 2010, $;00 -9:00 pm

American Muslim Voice 2010 Peace Convention

From Fear to Friendship: Replacing the culture of despair, division and violence with a culture of hope, inclusion and peace.

Meet Your Neighbors

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

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.

March 18—Concert of Byzantine Melkite Liturgical Music

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.

Sunday, April 11, 2010, 7:30 pm, Los Gatos

Community Yom HaShoah Service:
Ledor Vador- From Generation to Generation-
Passing on the legacy of the Holocaust

The Community Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial) Service will be held this year at Congregation Shir Hadash. Rabbis from all of our local congregations have been invited to participate in the service and a joint choir under the direction of Cantor Felder-Levy will participate.

Take Action

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

Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Santa Clara

"Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat":
A Child Nutrition Seder

The Child Nutrition Seder is a special Passover seder that leads to a call to action: urge Congress to provide sufficient funding for the Child Nutrition Programs to meet President Obama's goal of ending child hunger by 2015.

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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.