Date: July 1st 2010

If this message does not display correctly, click here.

July 2010

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .
First Amendment, United States Constitution

On the 4th of July many will be celebrating the Declaration of Independence of 1776. That declaration, however, was only the first step in the creation of this nation. It was not enough to want to be free of English rule; it then fell to those first Americans to determine how they would live together as one. The core necessary , they declared, is freedom of conscience, and that freedom extended to faith and the practice of religion. We have much to be grateful for, and still much work to do, as each generation is challenged to understand more deeply what freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of conscience mean for all the people of the USA.

- - -

Creating a New Multifaith Organization: The next gathering of people interested in creating an interfaith organization for the South Bay will be on Thursday, July 22nd, 11:45 am - 1:30 pm, at the Antioch Baptist Church, 268 East Julian Street in downtown San Jose. Our guests for this meeting will be Rabbi Jay Miller of the Peninsula Clergy Network and Rev. Carol Hovis of the Marin Interfaith Council. They will share from their experience in creating and directing significant interfaith groups in their areas. Any interested religious leaders are welcome. Please RSVP to southbayinterfaith@yahoo.com.

At the last session, we heard from Michael Pappas, Rita Semel, and Jim DeLange of the San Francisco Interfaith Council, and Rev. Brian Stein-Webber of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. A report of that session, along with other notes and background documents can be found on the SouthBay Interfaith website, www.southbayinterfaith.org, under "Links > Discussion Documents."

Members of the Planning Group would very much like your input into the process. There is a questionnaire available at the SouthBay Interfaith site; please take a few minutes to download it and return it with your comments and suggestions.

Watch these monthly notes and the Interfaith Space website for updates and announcements as our work takes shape.

---

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.

 

 

 

 

July Religious and Cultural Observances

• 3 Ghambar Maidyoshem ends (Zoroastrian)
• 4 Independence Day (US Civil)
• 6 Dalai Lama's Birthday (Buddhist)
• 8 Lailat al Miraj (Muslim)
• 9 Martyrdom of the Bab   (Baha’i)
• 11 St Benedict Day   (Roman Catholic)
• 12 Birthday of Henry David Thoreau (Unitarian Universalist)
• 13 Obon (Ullambana) (Buddhist, Shinto)
• 20 Tisha B'av   (Jewish)
• 24 Pioneer Day (Latter Day Saints)
• 25 Asalha Puja Day (Buddhist)
• 25 Guru Purnima   (Hindu)
• 25 St. James the Great Day   (Roman Catholic, some Protestant)
• 27 Lailat al Bara'ah   (Muslim)
• 30 O-harai-taisai (Shinto)

[Interreligious Calendar events are taken from the Silicon Valley FACES Interfaith Calendar and the Multifaith Action Society Multifath Calendar 2010. 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-

Sunday, July 18, 2010 5:00 to 8:00 pm, Palo Alto

American Muslim Voice Friendship and Peace Open House

You are cordially invited to Samina Sundas' home for American Muslim Voice's 7th annual friendship and peace open house.

Thursday, July 22, 2010, 11:45 am - 1:30 pm, San Jose

Interreligious Leaders' Dialogue Group

Hear from Rabbi Jay Miller of the Peninsula Clergy Network and Rev. Carol Hovis of the Marin Interfaith Council.

Sunday, August 1, 2010 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, San Jose

Beyond Partition: A daylong workshop for Hindus and Muslims from the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani American Communities

This workshop offers Hindus and Muslims from the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani American communities, an opportunity for connection, exploration of identity, and healing through storytelling, role-play and other experiential processes.

Saturday, October 2, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Santa Clara

SAVE THE DATE!
Carry the Vision: Community Nonviolence Conference

Keynote Speaker Fr. John Dear, Peace Activist, Organizer, Lecturer, Retreat leader, and author/editor of 20 books on peace and nonviolence.

Meet Your Neighbors

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

July 10, 2010, 12:00 noon- 10:00 pm, San Jose
July 11, 2010, 12:00 noon - 8:00 pm

Obon Festival

The San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin sponsors this annual Obon celebration, featuring Japanese food, traditional dancing, games, and Taiko drumming.

Take Action

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

September 3-5, 2010, South Bay

Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/
in the Minbar

This annual program by the Interfaith Council on Economics and Justice arranges for speakers or preachers who represent Labor to come to your place of worship.

Tuesday, September 21, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm Cupertino

Protecting Our Elders Summit Meeting

This meeting is open to both clergy and lay leaders.

==

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.