A Warm Capitol Celebration

Despite bitter cold conditions following a blizzard in Madison, Wisconsin, more than 50 people of diverse faith traditions and religions gathered in the state capitol for the eighth consecutive year. It was a celebration of the twelfth annual Interfaith Awareness Week in Wisconsin. Rev. Anne Wynne did a great job as the coordinator of the capitol event which included almost 20 displays of the worlds religions in the rotunda. The theme was Compassion. Michael Dorn played the mandolin as gathering music.

After Rev. Wynne opened the event, the Governor's proclamation was read aloud by Cody Paske, a senior at Sauk Prairie High School in Sauk City. Then, Ken-Adi Ring played the Native American flute. Rev. Selena Fox gave a summary of international interfaith efforts that were coinciding with Interfait Awareness Week, including the Parliament of World Religions and the Interfaith Conference on Climate Change. She also encouraged people to attend the Madison Interfaith Dialogue Group which met at the capitol prior to the noon event. It meets monthly at Holy Wisdom Monastery on Hwy M. Then, George Hinger read a selection from Thomas Merton. Women With Wings finished the afternoon with interactive singing and dance.

JOIN THE CELEBRATION NEXT YEAR - FOR THE 13th ANNUAL INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK – DECEMBER 5-11, 2010 & 9TH ANNUAL CAPITOL CELEBRATION, DECEMBER 10, 2010.

[article written, photocollage design by Rev. John-Brian Paprock 12-11-2009]