Events, Holy Days, and News (December 2016)

​Welcome to the AshevilleInterfaith.org email newsletter. A copy of this newsletter can also be found at http://www.ashevilleinterfaith.org/newsletter.html.

The AshevilleInterfaith.org project is an effort to support and promote faith-based activities, events, connections, and conversation in the Asheville area. We focus on uplifting events that are open to the public and specifically intended to help bring together individuals from diverse faith-based communities.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone you think might also be interested. Anyone wishing to also receive future newsletter emails may email [email protected]. To be removed from future emails, please email [email protected] and we’ll do so immediately.

To submit a calendar event, use the form at http://www.ashevilleinterfaith.org/submit-event.html. For specific questions, suggestions, or corrections, contact Steve Hargadon ([email protected]) or Vicki Garlock ([email protected]).

Thank you!

EVENTS
  • Friday, Dec. 3, 2016 | 3:00 - 7:00pm & Saturday, Dec. 4, 2016 | 10:00am - 4:00pm (ceremony at 2:00pm). Location: Urban Dharma, 29 Page Ave., 28801. Great Tree Zen Temple: Art/Craft/Bake Sale and Buddhist Enlightenment Ceremony. Contact info = 828 645-2085 or [email protected] http://www.greattreetemple.org/events
  • Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016 | 9:30am - Noon, Location: Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock, 28804. Congregation Beth Israel: Hanukkah Sing-Along. Penny White leads songs to get everyone into the spirit of Hanukkah. Bring your favorite instrument and family/friends! http://www.bethisraelnc.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&category=Family%20Education&refno=25207
  • Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 | 3:00pm, Grail Moviehouse. Israeli Film Series: The Green Prince.  Discussion to follow. http://www.grailmoviehouse.com/special-events//israeli-film-series
  • Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016 | 7:00 pm, Location: The Basilica, 97 Haywood St., 28801. Basilica of St. Lawrence: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
  • Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 | Time TBA, Location: Mother Grove Goddess Temple, 70 Woodfin Place, Suite 1 (downstairs), 28801. Mother Grove Goddess Temple: Full Moon and Feast of Guadalupe.
  • Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 | 3:00 - 6:00pm (other details TBA). Chabad House: Chanukah Live. Asheville's largest Hanukkah party with fun for all ages!
  • Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016 | 7:00 - 8:00pm. Location: Parish Hall of Cathedral of All Souls, 9 Swan St., 28803. Mother Grove Goddess Temple: Solstice Ritual.
  • Saturday, Dec. 24, 21016. Christmas Eve & Sunday, Dec. 25. Christmas. Nearly all Christian churches in the area offer services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Go to specific church websites for details on dates/times.
  • Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 | 5:00 - 8:00pm. Location: Congregation Beth Israel, 229 Murdock, 28804. Congregation Beth Israel: Hanukkah Party. Music, dancing, community candle lighting, vegetarian potluck dinner, family menorah design competition, kids' Hanukkah gelt hunt, and more!
  • Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016 | 4:00pm - Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016 | 11:30am. Location: Great Tree Zen Temple, Alexander, NC. Great Tree Zen Temple: New Year Sesshin. Details and registration at http://www.greattreetemple.org/event/new-year-sesshin/?instance_id=1972
  • Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016 | 7:00pm - Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 | 1:00am. Location: Great Tree Zen Temple, Alexander, NC. Great Tree Zen Temple: New Year's Eve Celebration -- 108 Bells. http://www.greattreetemple.org/events.

DECEMBER HOLY DAYS (taken from the Interfaith Calendar)
  • 6
    • Saint Nicholas Day - Christian
  • 8
    • Bodhi Day  (Rohatsu) ** - Buddhism
    • Immaculate Conception of Mary - Catholic Christian
  • 12
    • Feast day - Our Lady of Guadalupe - Catholic Christian
    • Mawlid an Nabe * - Islam
  • 16-25
    • Posadas Navidenas - Hispanic Christian
  • 14
    • Mawlid an Nabi * - Islam
  • 21  Solstice
    • Yule * - Wicca/Pagan northern hemisphere
    • Litha * - Wicca/Pagan southern hemisphere
    • Yule - Christian
  • 24
    • Christmas Eve - Christian
  • 25
    • Christmas * - Christian
    • Feast of the Nativity ** - Orthodox Christian
  • 25-Jan 1
    • Hanukkah * - Jewish
  • 26
    • Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra) ** -  Zoroastrian
    • St Stephen's Day - Christian
  • 28
    • Holy Innocents - Christian
  • 30
    • Holy Family - Catholic Christian
  • 31
    • Watch Night - Christian

NEW ARTICLES (posted on the Facebook Group Page)
  • Guest column: Can secular people also have devotion? By Chris Highland. Citizen Times, November 4, 2016. “The secular community cares about our shared world too, since it’s the only world we know for sure (secular means ‘this present world’). Seculars are not all anti-religious. We are already your neighbors, and maybe your friends and family. We are Americans too. The growing number of those who are unaffiliated with any one faith group (the ‘nones,’ including atheists, agnostics and freethinkers) don’t wish to silence those who believe in other worlds — we simply want a voice at the table here and now, in this world.”
  • Jewish-Muslim Alliance Formed Against Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia. By Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service, November 15, 2016.  “The American Jewish Committee and the Islamic Society of North America, on Nov. 14, launched the new national group: The Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council. Though Jewish and Muslim groups have cooperated before, the size and influence of these two particular groups — and the prominence of the people who have joined the council — marks a milestone in Jewish-Muslim relations.”
  • Wanted: Leaders to Turn Interfaith Conflict Into Trust. By David Bornstein, The New York Times, November 29, 2016. “Four years ago, I reported on the Interfaith Youth Core, which trains leaders to build relationships and respect between diverse faith communities. The work has expanded considerably. The organization now has more than 350 active campuses in its network, and more than 1,000 colleges have used its resources. This year its founder, Eboo Patel, explained in a book, Interfaith Leadership , what this type of leadership entails and why he considers it vital in today’s world. Patel, who is Muslim, recently spoke with me about democracy, the responsibilities of citizens, and his fears and hopes after this year’s election.”
  • Ramayana Translation Project turns its last page, after four decades of research. By Kathleen Maclay, Media relations. Berkeley News, November 17, 2016. “During his original reading of the Valmiki Ramayana, he wished for a more readable English translation of the nearly 3,000-year-old classic, with its 24,000 verses constituting some 50,000 lines mostly in a 32-syllable meter. It seemed a worthy idea, considering that the legend, translated and transformed from Sanskrit into all Indian and Southeast Asian languages, sheds light on an ancient world and still influences Indian art, religion, politics and life today.”
  • Warm Cheeks. By Husnaa Hashim, Kid Spirit, November 28, 2016. “Proceeding to the basement of the synagogue, the large group of high school students and mentors of various religious backgrounds and traditions form a circle. I take my place. During this particular session we go on learn about food insecurity, de-poverty, and reformed Judaism. We make challah bread, my brown hands dipping into white flour and braiding a strand that will be baked and shared with the other students. Little did I know this introduction to The Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia’s ‘Walking The Walk’ program nearly three years ago would result in my love of interfaith work.”