South Bay Interfaith

 

Keep the Diversity; Seek the Harmony

October 2, 2007 | Circle of Palms, San José

July 20, 2007

Dear Religious Leader,

Peace and blessings to you and your community.

We invite you and your congregation to join us for our third annual interfaith celebration in the South Bay: Keep the Diversity; Seek the Harmony. Last year, over 300 people displaying the religious diversity of Silicon Valley gathered for “Breaking Bread Together: An Interfaith Reunion,” sharing prayers, music, food, and conversation as a sign of respect and appreciation for one another as people of faith. This year, we will be highlighting music from different religious traditions.

We are in the planning stages for our third gathering, set for Tuesday, October 2, 2007, again at the Circle of Palms. We invite your congregation, seminary or religious student organization, or religiously affiliated organization to join us in planning and preparing for this event as a Sponsoring or Participating Organization. Sponsoring and Participating Organizations will be listed on our website, in publicity materials, and in the program. Application forms for both types of participation are available by clicking the link.

• Sponsoring Organization: willing to enter a formal agreement to send representatives to the planning team, to assist with logistics, promotion and recruitment for the event, and to contribute $150 to help defray expenses. Sponsors already include the Cantor/Rabbinic Association of Greater San Jose, the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, Council of Churches of Santa Clara County, Catholic Diocese of San Jose, First Unitarian Church of San Jose, Interfaith Space, Jewish Community Relations Council of the Peninsula, Jewish Community Relations Councils of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara University, Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice, and the South Bay Islamic Association. Deadline is August 21, 2007 to be listed in publicity materials.
• Participating Organization: willing to publicize the event and recruit people to attend, and to contribute $60 to help defray expenses. Deadline is September 21, 2007 to be listed in the program and on the website.

Our gathering is intended to be joyous—a family reunion, not a political rally— and so we ask that there be no political agendas, no petitions, posters or demonstrations. We want the wider community to know that we will not permit our differences of opinion divide us from each other.

Details of the gathering will be posted at our website as they become available. If you are interested in participating or want more information, contact us at southbayinterfaith@yahoo.com, or telephone the Council of Churches at 408-297-2660.

We hope to hear from you soon, and look forward to seeing you at the Circle of Palms on October 2nd!

Sincerely, SouthBay Interfaith Steering Committee