Events, Holy Days, Opportunities, Needs, and News (September - Early October)
Welcome to the AshevilleInterfaith.org email newsletter. A copy of this newsletter can also be found at http://www.ashevilleinterfaith.org/newsletter.html. To submit items for this newsletter, or for the calendar items, use one of the forms at http://www.ashevilleinterfaith.org/submissions.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.
For specific questions, suggestions, or corrections, contact Steve Hargadon ([email protected]) or Vicki Garlock ([email protected]).
Thank you!
EVENTS
This list looks short, but many holy days in late September/early October are multi-day events, making this a busy time in the faith world.
Note: Vicki Garlock will be leading a group to Sri Somesvara Vedic temple on Tuesday evening, Sept. 26 for one of their Mother Divine pujas. We'll meet at Earthfare-Westgate at 5PM and caravan/carpool to the temple. Contact Vicki at [email protected] with questions or to RSVP.
Save the Date: The Asheville/Buncombe CROP walk will be Sunday, October 29 and will start at First Baptist Church. Registration begins at 1PM; walk begins at 2PM. Join other faith communities in the fight to end hunger and poverty!
#CrecheFest Help Wanted: Asheville’s annual display of Christmas crèches (Nativity sets) from around the world will be held December 13 - 17, and partner churches/organization, committee members, volunteers, musical groups, and/or those willing to loan their creche sets are invited to email [email protected] for details.
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur
Wednesday Sept. 20 (evening) to Friday, Sept. 22 (evening) and
Friday, Sept. 29 (evening) to Saturday, Sept. 30 (evening)
Various services at all local synagogues. To reserve a seat and make a donation at Chabad House, visit http://www.chabadasheville.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/539821/jewish/High-Holidays-20175778.htm. For tickets to Congregation Beth Israel, contact Lee at 828-252-8660. For tickets to Beth Ha-Tephila, contact their office at 828-253-4911.
11 Days of Mother Divine @ Sri Somesvara Vedic Temple
Sept. 20-30, usually at 6PM, but also at 11:30AM
The Divine Mother has taken many incarnations (paths) to destroy Mahishasura (the great demon/identities/egos). Sharad Navaratri - Dussehra honors the nine incarnations. For more info. about each specific day and/or to make a donation, visit http://srisomesvara.org/s/sharad-navaratri-dussehra/
Moving Day for Urban Dharma
Weekend of Sept. 23-24
Urban Dharma is moving from 29 Page Avenue to 77 Walnut Street -- still in downtown Asheville. Their new entrance will be through the courtyard next to the entrance of Zambra's restaurant.
Harvest Labyrinth in Honor of Fall Equinox -- Mother Grove Goddess Temple
Sunday, Sept. 24, 7-10PM @ Cathedral of All Soul's, Fellowship Hall
Chant in the blessing of the harvest and walk the labyrinth of gratitude and celebration. Donations of non-perishable food items welcome. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to find parking in Biltmore Village. For more info., see https://www.facebook.com/events/328489980889904/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%224%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%22308%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Ikebana @ Great Tree Zen Temple
Sunday, Oct. 1, 9:30-AM-4PM
Norma Bradley, long-time student of Thich Nhat Hanh, will guide the class in meditation and the art of traditional Japanese flower arrangement. For more info., visit https://www.greattreetemple.org/event/spring-ikebana-with-norma-bradley-2-2/?instance_id=4397.
Fall Study Group @ Great Tree Zen Temple
Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 3, 3:30-5:30PM
The study group, led by the Rev. Teijo Munnich, begins with a period of meditation followed by reading/discussion of the writings of Dogen Zenji and others. Participate as your schedule allows. For more info., visit https://www.greattreetemple.org/event/tuesday-study-group-fall/?instance_id=2194.
SOME UPCOMING HOLY DAYS (see Interfaith Calendar)
(August)
* Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.
NEWS
Inside the Growing World of Christian Yoga. “Many Christians feel yoga's Hindu roots make it incompatible with their Christian faith. Some have set out to create their own alternative.”
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7xxa3a/inside-the-growing-world-of-christian-yoga
White Christians are now a minority in America. “Religion in white America is dying, while religion in non-white America is holding strong. A new, sweeping report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) that surveyed 101,000 people across all 50 states reveals that a falling percentage of Americans now identify as white and Christian. Whereas in 1976, 81% of Americans described themselves as white and part of a Christian denomination, in 2016, only 43% said the same. What’s particularly noteworthy from the report is that religion is faring much better among non-white populations. In the US, the religions and denominations with the highest proportion of members aged 18 to 29 are Hinduism and Islam, whose members hail from communities generally not considered white. Meanwhile, white Catholics and Protestants have far fewer young people, which bodes poorly for these groups’ longevity.”
https://qz.com/1070418/america-is-less-white-and-christian-than-ever-before-and-non-white-religions-are-filling-the-gap/
Highland Views: An interfaith talk with a Jubilee! Leader. “I asked Vicki Garlock, nurture coordinator and curriculum developer at Jubilee! Community Church and a facilitator of Asheville Interfaith, to respond to a few questions. Asked how her faith tradition views nonbelievers, Vicki replied, “Jubilee! is a fully independent, ‘progressive-type’ Christian church” and “we have no idea” what members believe. I find that quite refreshing. She told me that one of her kids is drawn to Native American practices and another is an atheist. Young people in her congregation have many beliefs, from Sufi to evangelical.”
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2017/09/02/highland-views-interfaith-talk-jubilee-leader/613973001/
Five Centuries After Reformation, Catholic-Protestant Divide in Western Europe Has Faded. “As Protestants prepare to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that the prevailing view among Catholics and Protestants in Western Europe is that they are more similar religiously than they are different. And across a continent that once saw long and bloody religious wars, both Protestants and Catholics now overwhelmingly express willingness to accept each other as neighbors – and even as family members.”
http://www.pewforum.org/2017/08/31/five-centuries-after-reformation-catholic-protestant-divide-in-western-europe-has-faded/
State Department to keep anti-Semitism envoy but scrap many others. “The State Department will retain its special envoy on anti-Semitism, a position some Jewish groups feared the Trump administration would eliminate.”
http://religionnews.com/2017/08/29/state-department-to-keep-anti-semitism-envoy-but-scrap-many-others/
Hajj 2017: An in-depth look at the sacred journey. “Al Jazeera examines the religious excursion for nearly two million Muslims and where many pilgrims are coming from.”
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2017/08/hajj-2017-depth-sacred-journey-170824132159144.html
THE REV. GRACE BURFORD TO SERVE AS FIRST BUDDHIST CHAPLAIN. “The Rev. Grace Burford, an ordained Buddhist minister, is Davidson's new associate chaplain. A practicing Buddhist since her own undergraduate days at Swarthmore College, Burford holds a doctorate from Northwestern University in the history and literature of religions. In addition to providing a Buddhist presence on campus, Burford will focus on interfaith work in the newly created position, said Chaplain Rob Spach.”
http://www.davidson.edu/news/news-stories/170803-rev-grace-burford-to-serve-as-first-buddhist-chaplain
College chaplains move toward multifaith ministry. Today’s chaplains are moving out of the chapel and on to the quad in their focus on ministering to all of a university’s students.
http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201708/college-chaplains-move-toward-multifaith-ministry-31117
Children’s Books, Interfaith Education. “How do we educate interfaith children about the various religions in the family tree? These days, a child may have a Jewish father, Hindu mother, Buddhist uncle, and Christian step-grandparent. Such children benefit deeply from understanding the religions they encounter at home and at family gatherings. And many interfaith parents are on the lookout for supportive tools for interfaith education.”
https://onbeingboth.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/childrens-books-interfaith-education
Multifaith Curriculum: Living the Faith. “This lesson, Living the Faith, looks at the five major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and how they are practiced in the United States in various venues: at home, at school and at work, and in the larger community. It also looks at worship, practices, and religious holidays in each faith.”
https://ing.org/multifaith-curriculum-living-the-faith/
Morgan Jones: How Greg Madsen taught me how to live after he died. “On the first Saturday in August, hundreds of people lined the streets of 38th Avenue Beach in Santa Cruz, California. Many wore wetsuits and stood at attention with paddle and surf boards on their backs. People from all walks of life had gathered for a paddle out to honor and pay tribute to one man: Greg Madsen. Madsen is not famous. In fact, when I called to interview his wife, his daughter and a friend, they all asked the same question: ‘Why are you writing a story about Greg?’”
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865688599/Morgan-Jones-How-Greg-Madsen-taught-me-how-to-live-after-he-died.html?user=app
Bahrain and Jewish rights group lead effort to call out extremist clergy. “Leaders of the tiny but religiously diverse kingdom of Bahrain are joining forces with a prominent Jewish human rights group to urge clergy worldwide to sign a new declaration that supports religious freedom and condemns extremism.”
http://religionnews.com/2017/09/14/bahrain-and-jewish-rights-group-lead-effort-to-call-out-extremist-clergy/
EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT ACTS TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS MINORITIES. Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities' Project Sector has given its approval to restore Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Alexandria. Funds amounting to $22 million have been released for this purpose. The concerned synagogue is dated to be 160 years old. The Eliyahu synagogue is the largest in the Middle East. It can seat a total of 700 people.
http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/egyptian-government-acts-support-religious-minorities
World History Moment: Inaugural Meeting Of The Parliament of the World's Religions. “As Chicago hosted the iconic 1893 World’s Fair (Columbian Exposition), social movements capitalized on the event to launch ideas into the public sphere that still exist today. A group of the world’s religious leaders used the opportunity to begin an organization for ecumenical dialogue. For our World History Moment, historian John Schmidt tells us about the inaugural meeting of the Parliament of the World's Religions.”
https://www.wbez.org/shows/worldview/world-history-moment-inaugural-meeting-of-the-parliament-of-the-worlds-religions/125dadc7-8831-4684-a4df-b20034f5f606
VOLUNTEER / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Homeward Bound’s Welcome Home Program is looking for volunteers with a truck to go and pick up furniture from our community and then take the furniture back to Homeward Bound’s new donation center. Contact: Ashley Campbell at [email protected] or call (828)777-1886. (Flyer at http://www.ashevilleinterfaith.org/resources.html.)
The LDS Family History Center on Sweeten Creek Road in Arden is looking for genealogy / family history volunteers. Training is provided. A German speaker is also needed. Contact: Cynthia Rush at [email protected].
DONATIONS NEEDED
The greatest needs for Homeward Bound’s Welcome Home Program right now are bed frames, side tables, coffee tables, lamps, small dressers, coffee pots and microwaves. These items can be new or gently used. An Amazon wishlist is at https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3IQSHZXPALDES/ref=cm_wl_list_o_1.
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.
- Website: http://www.AshevilleInterfaith.org (basic information)
- Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ashevilleinterfaith (for article posting, conversations, and event listing)
- Join the Meetup.com Group: http://www.meetup.com/AshevilleInterfaith (specifically for organized, interfaith events)
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.
For specific questions, suggestions, or corrections, contact Steve Hargadon ([email protected]) or Vicki Garlock ([email protected]).
Thank you!
EVENTS
This list looks short, but many holy days in late September/early October are multi-day events, making this a busy time in the faith world.
Note: Vicki Garlock will be leading a group to Sri Somesvara Vedic temple on Tuesday evening, Sept. 26 for one of their Mother Divine pujas. We'll meet at Earthfare-Westgate at 5PM and caravan/carpool to the temple. Contact Vicki at [email protected] with questions or to RSVP.
Save the Date: The Asheville/Buncombe CROP walk will be Sunday, October 29 and will start at First Baptist Church. Registration begins at 1PM; walk begins at 2PM. Join other faith communities in the fight to end hunger and poverty!
#CrecheFest Help Wanted: Asheville’s annual display of Christmas crèches (Nativity sets) from around the world will be held December 13 - 17, and partner churches/organization, committee members, volunteers, musical groups, and/or those willing to loan their creche sets are invited to email [email protected] for details.
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur
Wednesday Sept. 20 (evening) to Friday, Sept. 22 (evening) and
Friday, Sept. 29 (evening) to Saturday, Sept. 30 (evening)
Various services at all local synagogues. To reserve a seat and make a donation at Chabad House, visit http://www.chabadasheville.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/539821/jewish/High-Holidays-20175778.htm. For tickets to Congregation Beth Israel, contact Lee at 828-252-8660. For tickets to Beth Ha-Tephila, contact their office at 828-253-4911.
11 Days of Mother Divine @ Sri Somesvara Vedic Temple
Sept. 20-30, usually at 6PM, but also at 11:30AM
The Divine Mother has taken many incarnations (paths) to destroy Mahishasura (the great demon/identities/egos). Sharad Navaratri - Dussehra honors the nine incarnations. For more info. about each specific day and/or to make a donation, visit http://srisomesvara.org/s/sharad-navaratri-dussehra/
Moving Day for Urban Dharma
Weekend of Sept. 23-24
Urban Dharma is moving from 29 Page Avenue to 77 Walnut Street -- still in downtown Asheville. Their new entrance will be through the courtyard next to the entrance of Zambra's restaurant.
Harvest Labyrinth in Honor of Fall Equinox -- Mother Grove Goddess Temple
Sunday, Sept. 24, 7-10PM @ Cathedral of All Soul's, Fellowship Hall
Chant in the blessing of the harvest and walk the labyrinth of gratitude and celebration. Donations of non-perishable food items welcome. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to find parking in Biltmore Village. For more info., see https://www.facebook.com/events/328489980889904/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%224%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%22308%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Ikebana @ Great Tree Zen Temple
Sunday, Oct. 1, 9:30-AM-4PM
Norma Bradley, long-time student of Thich Nhat Hanh, will guide the class in meditation and the art of traditional Japanese flower arrangement. For more info., visit https://www.greattreetemple.org/event/spring-ikebana-with-norma-bradley-2-2/?instance_id=4397.
Fall Study Group @ Great Tree Zen Temple
Tuesdays, beginning Oct. 3, 3:30-5:30PM
The study group, led by the Rev. Teijo Munnich, begins with a period of meditation followed by reading/discussion of the writings of Dogen Zenji and others. Participate as your schedule allows. For more info., visit https://www.greattreetemple.org/event/tuesday-study-group-fall/?instance_id=2194.
SOME UPCOMING HOLY DAYS (see Interfaith Calendar)
(August)
- September
- 21-22 | Rosh Hashanah * - Jewish | New Year - Hijra * - Islam
- 21-29 | Navaratri ** - Hindu
- 22 | Equinox | Mabon * - Wicca/Pagan northern hemisphere | Ostata * - Wicca/Pagan southern hemisphere
- 25 | Ganesh Chaturthi ** - Hindu
- 27 | Meskel - Ethiopian Christian
- 29 | Michael and All Angels - Christian
- 30 | Yom Kippur * - Jewish | Dasara - Hindu
- October
- 1 | Ashura * - Islam
- 4 | St Francis Day - Catholic Christian | Blessing of the Animals - Christian
- 5-11 | Sukkot * - Jewish
- 9 | Thanksgiving - Canada - Interfaith
- 12 | Shemini Atzeret * - Jewish
- 13 | Simchat Torah * - Jewish
* Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.
NEWS
Inside the Growing World of Christian Yoga. “Many Christians feel yoga's Hindu roots make it incompatible with their Christian faith. Some have set out to create their own alternative.”
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7xxa3a/inside-the-growing-world-of-christian-yoga
White Christians are now a minority in America. “Religion in white America is dying, while religion in non-white America is holding strong. A new, sweeping report from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) that surveyed 101,000 people across all 50 states reveals that a falling percentage of Americans now identify as white and Christian. Whereas in 1976, 81% of Americans described themselves as white and part of a Christian denomination, in 2016, only 43% said the same. What’s particularly noteworthy from the report is that religion is faring much better among non-white populations. In the US, the religions and denominations with the highest proportion of members aged 18 to 29 are Hinduism and Islam, whose members hail from communities generally not considered white. Meanwhile, white Catholics and Protestants have far fewer young people, which bodes poorly for these groups’ longevity.”
https://qz.com/1070418/america-is-less-white-and-christian-than-ever-before-and-non-white-religions-are-filling-the-gap/
Highland Views: An interfaith talk with a Jubilee! Leader. “I asked Vicki Garlock, nurture coordinator and curriculum developer at Jubilee! Community Church and a facilitator of Asheville Interfaith, to respond to a few questions. Asked how her faith tradition views nonbelievers, Vicki replied, “Jubilee! is a fully independent, ‘progressive-type’ Christian church” and “we have no idea” what members believe. I find that quite refreshing. She told me that one of her kids is drawn to Native American practices and another is an atheist. Young people in her congregation have many beliefs, from Sufi to evangelical.”
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/2017/09/02/highland-views-interfaith-talk-jubilee-leader/613973001/
Five Centuries After Reformation, Catholic-Protestant Divide in Western Europe Has Faded. “As Protestants prepare to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that the prevailing view among Catholics and Protestants in Western Europe is that they are more similar religiously than they are different. And across a continent that once saw long and bloody religious wars, both Protestants and Catholics now overwhelmingly express willingness to accept each other as neighbors – and even as family members.”
http://www.pewforum.org/2017/08/31/five-centuries-after-reformation-catholic-protestant-divide-in-western-europe-has-faded/
State Department to keep anti-Semitism envoy but scrap many others. “The State Department will retain its special envoy on anti-Semitism, a position some Jewish groups feared the Trump administration would eliminate.”
http://religionnews.com/2017/08/29/state-department-to-keep-anti-semitism-envoy-but-scrap-many-others/
Hajj 2017: An in-depth look at the sacred journey. “Al Jazeera examines the religious excursion for nearly two million Muslims and where many pilgrims are coming from.”
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2017/08/hajj-2017-depth-sacred-journey-170824132159144.html
THE REV. GRACE BURFORD TO SERVE AS FIRST BUDDHIST CHAPLAIN. “The Rev. Grace Burford, an ordained Buddhist minister, is Davidson's new associate chaplain. A practicing Buddhist since her own undergraduate days at Swarthmore College, Burford holds a doctorate from Northwestern University in the history and literature of religions. In addition to providing a Buddhist presence on campus, Burford will focus on interfaith work in the newly created position, said Chaplain Rob Spach.”
http://www.davidson.edu/news/news-stories/170803-rev-grace-burford-to-serve-as-first-buddhist-chaplain
College chaplains move toward multifaith ministry. Today’s chaplains are moving out of the chapel and on to the quad in their focus on ministering to all of a university’s students.
http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201708/college-chaplains-move-toward-multifaith-ministry-31117
Children’s Books, Interfaith Education. “How do we educate interfaith children about the various religions in the family tree? These days, a child may have a Jewish father, Hindu mother, Buddhist uncle, and Christian step-grandparent. Such children benefit deeply from understanding the religions they encounter at home and at family gatherings. And many interfaith parents are on the lookout for supportive tools for interfaith education.”
https://onbeingboth.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/childrens-books-interfaith-education
Multifaith Curriculum: Living the Faith. “This lesson, Living the Faith, looks at the five major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and how they are practiced in the United States in various venues: at home, at school and at work, and in the larger community. It also looks at worship, practices, and religious holidays in each faith.”
https://ing.org/multifaith-curriculum-living-the-faith/
Morgan Jones: How Greg Madsen taught me how to live after he died. “On the first Saturday in August, hundreds of people lined the streets of 38th Avenue Beach in Santa Cruz, California. Many wore wetsuits and stood at attention with paddle and surf boards on their backs. People from all walks of life had gathered for a paddle out to honor and pay tribute to one man: Greg Madsen. Madsen is not famous. In fact, when I called to interview his wife, his daughter and a friend, they all asked the same question: ‘Why are you writing a story about Greg?’”
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865688599/Morgan-Jones-How-Greg-Madsen-taught-me-how-to-live-after-he-died.html?user=app
Bahrain and Jewish rights group lead effort to call out extremist clergy. “Leaders of the tiny but religiously diverse kingdom of Bahrain are joining forces with a prominent Jewish human rights group to urge clergy worldwide to sign a new declaration that supports religious freedom and condemns extremism.”
http://religionnews.com/2017/09/14/bahrain-and-jewish-rights-group-lead-effort-to-call-out-extremist-clergy/
EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT ACTS TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS MINORITIES. Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities' Project Sector has given its approval to restore Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue in Alexandria. Funds amounting to $22 million have been released for this purpose. The concerned synagogue is dated to be 160 years old. The Eliyahu synagogue is the largest in the Middle East. It can seat a total of 700 people.
http://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/egyptian-government-acts-support-religious-minorities
World History Moment: Inaugural Meeting Of The Parliament of the World's Religions. “As Chicago hosted the iconic 1893 World’s Fair (Columbian Exposition), social movements capitalized on the event to launch ideas into the public sphere that still exist today. A group of the world’s religious leaders used the opportunity to begin an organization for ecumenical dialogue. For our World History Moment, historian John Schmidt tells us about the inaugural meeting of the Parliament of the World's Religions.”
https://www.wbez.org/shows/worldview/world-history-moment-inaugural-meeting-of-the-parliament-of-the-worlds-religions/125dadc7-8831-4684-a4df-b20034f5f606
VOLUNTEER / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Homeward Bound’s Welcome Home Program is looking for volunteers with a truck to go and pick up furniture from our community and then take the furniture back to Homeward Bound’s new donation center. Contact: Ashley Campbell at [email protected] or call (828)777-1886. (Flyer at http://www.ashevilleinterfaith.org/resources.html.)
The LDS Family History Center on Sweeten Creek Road in Arden is looking for genealogy / family history volunteers. Training is provided. A German speaker is also needed. Contact: Cynthia Rush at [email protected].
DONATIONS NEEDED
The greatest needs for Homeward Bound’s Welcome Home Program right now are bed frames, side tables, coffee tables, lamps, small dressers, coffee pots and microwaves. These items can be new or gently used. An Amazon wishlist is at https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3IQSHZXPALDES/ref=cm_wl_list_o_1.
