South Bay Interfaith

Saturday, December 13, 2008
9:00 am- 1:00 pm

Make a World of Difference:

Community Conference
at Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

An introduction to the Parliament of the World's Religions to convene in Australia in December 2009.

Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, the former Director of the World YWCA and now the Director of the Population Program for David and Lucille Packard Foundation is one of the keynote speakers addressing the empowerment of women and the impact that improves whole communities.

Topics to be addressed at our gathering:

• Healing the earth with care and concern: focus on the environment
• The role of women in local and global healing
• Overcoming poverty and the millennium development goals
• Social cohesion in communities

Come together to reflect on issues of mutual concern, explore the good work that is currently being done in our community, imagine possibilities, and discover the inspiration to take simple but profound steps toward hearing each other and healing our earth. Keynote speakers, break-out panels, workshops and discussion groups will all provide opportunities for dialog.

This event is offered in collaboration with the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions and is sponsored by Carry the Vision Community Nonviolence Conference, Santa Clara University and a host of partnering organizations.

Carry the Vision Community Nonviolence Conference has annually brought together over 50 participating organizations, consisting of religious, nonprofit, education, government and business groups with over 500 in attendance. See www.carrythevision.org for program and registration information.

The cost of conference attendance is $10 for general admission paid in advance; $15 if paid at the door.

Take a look at what we've done over the past three years, sign up to receive notes of interfaith activities, or drop us a note at southbayinterfaith@yahoo.com

previous years: 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Video of the 2006 Breaking Bread Together is now online!

About South Bay Interfaith

Growing out of three decades of Interfaith Dialogues in the South Bay Area, a group of faith leaders joined together to bring the joy of community-wide celebration to the public. South Bay Interfaith (SBIF) involves clergy, staff, and lay leaders from many religions, interfaith organizations, and faith-related educational institutions. SBIF events are designed to be apolitical and non proselytizing. They are comfortable for anyone to enjoy, with the expressed purpose of bridging the gaps of understanding between people of faith. SBIF is dedicated to the proposition that people of good will can and do get along well together by engendering respect and a channel for the people to become involved with their community.

Want to receive news and information about interfaith events in the South Bay Area? Subscribe to our e-mail list SBInterfaith.

Simply send a message to:
SBInterfaith-subscribe@topica.com

Third Annual Interfaith Gathering: a great celebration of the religious richness of the Silicon Valley!

"Keep the Diversity; Seek the Harmony," the third annual Community Interfaith Gathering in San Jose on October 2, 2007 was a great success. From the opening drumming and chanting by the Buddhist Monks of the Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale to the buzz of conversation on into the evening, the Circle of Palms echoed with the sounds of religious diversity and mutual appreciation.

Under the able guidance of Emcee Bart Charlow of the Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice, musical and chanting groups from Jewish, Unitarian, Roman Catholic, Mormon, and Hindu traditions shared their singing, culminating in the whole gathered assembly singing “A Song of Peace,” set to the tune of “Finlandia” by Johan Sibelius.

Over 200 people shared with the Muslim community in breaking the Ramadan fast and then continued in conversation over samosas, pakoras, and zen cookies, making new friends and learning about each other’s religious customs and traditions.

Thanks to all who make the evening a great success!

Be sure to see the Photos of the event

Also on this site you can find:

• the Program for the evening
• a list of Sponsoring Organizations,
  and thanks to supporters
• Links to Interfaith groups in the South Bay
  and how to become more involved
• an explanation of the SouthBay Interfaith Logo
• The original invitation to participants
• Flyers

2006: Breaking Bread Together:
An Interfaith Reunion

Responding to the invitation of the SouthBay Interfaith group, many individuals from the various religious communities of the South Bay Area gathered together at the Circle of Palms in downtown San Jose to meet one another, pray, and break bread together. Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Wiccan, and more gathered to celebrate and affirm the unique religious diversity of our South Bay Community.

On this site, you can find:

• Photos of the 2006 gathering
• A brief video
• the flyer for the 2006 event
• the Program for the 2006 event
• a list of Sponsoring and Participating Organizations

2005 Fasting & Feasting Together:
A Family Reunion of Abraham's Children

Some 250 people— Christians, Jews, and Muslims — gathered together to mark the conjunction of Ramadan, Rosh Hashana, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and World Communion Sunday. We shared in a brief service of prayers and blessings, and then joined in breaking the fast at sundown.

See the article that appeared in Pakistan Link.

Click here for some pictures of the event: