BAIC September 2017

The Interfaith Center at the Presidio links the power of interreligious cooperation by welcoming, serving, and celebrating the diverse wisdom and faith traditions of the Bay Area.

IN THIS ISSUE: International Day of Peace | Responding to Hate |  Chapel Tours  |  Around the Bay| Parliament 2018 | Notes & Quotes | Send Us Your News | Bay Area Interreligious Calendar | Special Opportunities | Subscribe to BAIC
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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
September 21 again marks the International Day of Peace, declared by the United Nations and observed in many ways all around the world. This year’s theme is “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.”

A celebration of International Peace Day will take place at the Presidio Chapel, honoring the Roots of Peace “Mines to Vines” project that works to remove landmines and restore the soil with bountiful vineyards & orchards in war-torn regions worldwide. Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 4:00 pm, Presidio Chapel, 130 Fisher Loop, Presidio, San Francisco. Sponsors include ICP, the San Francisco Interfaith Council, and United Religions Initiative.

Learn more about the International Day of Peace, see a map of observances planned, and the U.N. “Join Together” program at internationaldayofpeace.org/

RESPONDING TO HATRED
The events in Charlottesville in August, potential demonstrations by “alt-right” groups in San Francisco and Berkeley, and vandalism against a synagogue in Alameda all prompted responses by the wider interfaith community. They declared their continued commitment to the work of building relationships of trust, respect and appreciation among the diverse communities of the Bay Area and across the nation. See more on the ICP website about these stories:

“Responding to Charlottesville” – statements from the Interfaith Council of Alameda County, the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, ING (Islamic Networks Group), Marin Interfaith Council, San Francisco Interfaith Council, Silicon Valley Interreligious Council and the United Religions Initiative.

A vigil in Alameda offered support after the synagogue was vandalized.
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An Interfaith Gathering for Peace and Against Hate drew over 1,000 people to Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco.

Over 350 people gathered for “Love Lives In Marin,” an interfaith prayer service.
In San Jose, interfaith leaders gathered with the Mayor of San Jose, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, US Representative Zoe Lofgren and other civic leaders for a Unity Prayer Service. See video here.

DOCENT TOURS OF PRESIDIO CHAPEL. Summertime is a great time to enjoy the Open House/Docent Tours at the Presidio Chapel each Sunday from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. Come and view the historic 33′ fresco painted by Victor Arnautoff, a protegé of Diego Rivera, and the stained glass windows created by Willemina Ogterop, the first woman stained glass artist west of the Mississippi to be inducted into the Stained Glass Artists Guild. Our docent, Daniel Johnson, serves to make your visit memorable and informative. The open house is listed on the Presidio Trust’s website with other guided tours. Learn more about the Presidio Chapel here and then plan to visit us and take a tour.
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AROUND THE BAY AREA:

• San Francisco Interfaith Council Executive Director Michael Pappas received a delegation from City College of San Francisco’s Interdisciplinary Studies Department to discuss ways in which the SFIC might be a resource, collaborate and promote course study of religion at this academic institution. Pictured left to right: Professor Emeritus Abdul Jabbar; Iftekhar Hai, President, United Muslims of America Interfaith Alliance; Professor Lauren Muller, Chair of the CCSF Interdisciplinary Studies Department; SFIC Executive Director Michael Pappas; and Professor Steve Georgiou, who teaches comparative religion and spirituality at CCSF.

• The current issue of “Argonaut,” the Journal of the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society features an article about Victor Arnautoff, the creator of the mural in the Presidio Chapel, and his work at another San Francisco landmark- Coit Tower.

PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD”S RELIGIONS
Toronto,  Canada
November 1-7, 2018

“The Promise of Inclusion & the Power of Love” will be the theme for the 125th anniversary gathering of the Parliament, Program proposals will be sought soon. Super-saver pre-registration fees are available until September 30. The Parliament is a unique opportunity to meet people engaged in interfaith work from around the world. Mark the dates now, and watch for more news to come! Find out more at the Parliament website.

NOTES & QUOTES:  Violence is what happens when we don’t know what else to do with our suffering ~Parker Palmer… “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war” – Maria Montessori…”‘We call each other Dear brother,’ and it’s not just a saying. We have such open, deep and affectionate conversations. We understand each other”- Rabbi Abraham Skorka, the “Pope’s Rabbi,” speaking of his friend Pope Francis…

SEND US YOUR NEWS! We at Bay Area Interfaith Connect make every effort to include upcoming interfaith events in our monthly calendar (which is always available on our website). Please be sure to send information about your upcoming events to @. We’d also like to share what happened at your events or celebrations with the wider interfaith community. Got a story you’d like to share? Pictures from that latest gathering? Send them along and let everyone know what’s happening!

BAY AREA INTERRELIGIOUS CALENDAR
Our searchable new calendar page offers listings of interfaith opportunities for learning, celebration, taking action, and celebrating the diverse religious traditions of the Bay Area. The calendar can be viewed as a list, as a monthly calendar page, or by the week.


SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

CHARTER FOR COMPASSION WEBINAR: Global Read: Arun Wakhlu — One Wholesome World Arun is a Charter for Compassion partner and founder of Compassionate Pune, India. Our identification with limited notions of who we are is at the roots of the present global crisis. We have forgotten our intrinsic Wholeness. The time has now come for a new paradigm of development. When we awaken to wholeness and live and work from a space of love, creative intelligence, freedom, and peace; we become instrumental in manifesting joy, peace, and abundance in our life and in the collective. This astonishingly simple and universally accessible discovery will transform lives in miraculous ways. September 19, 2017 8:00 AM, Pacific Standard Time. Register here.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SEEKS FAITH RELATIONS COORDINATOR.  Habitat for Humanity of the San Francisco Bay Area is seeking a Resource Development VISTA, with a focus area of Faith Relations. The primary responsibility will be to complete the development of their interfaith program. To find out more, go to www.habitat.org/about/careers/hfh-greater-san-francisco-vista-resource-dev-faith-relations

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS WEBINARS. Know Your Neighbors: Multifaith Encounters has launched a webinar series in an effort to share interfaith ideas and resources within and outside of the coalition. Past webinars and resources shared by the participants are available, as well as links to upcoming webinars that are available to join. Sessions now available include:

• Grounding, Re-focus, and Living the Best Expressions of our Faiths
• “Meet a Muslim” and Other Ways to Address Islamophobia in Your Community
• Interfaith 101: First Steps in Building Interfaith Relations
• Interfaith Dinner Dialogues: How to Host in Your Community
• Demystifying Sikhism, Hinduism, and Islam
• How to Engage in Interfaith Work During Ramadan: Know Your Neighbor Webinar

BAY AREA INTERFAITH CONNECT is sent each month to nearly 2,000 subscribers, and is available online at the Interfaith Center at the Presidio website.
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About the Editor: D. Andrew Kille is director of Interfaith Space in San Jose, working to develop and strengthen interfaith relations throughout the Bay Area.

Send your calendar items, comments and suggestions to calendar@interfaith-presidio.org. We try to keep the ICP Update and Calendar as current as we can, but if you want your item included in the monthly newsletter, it needs to be in our hands a week before the end of the month.