Monday, January 31, 2011

WCC NEWS: Interfaith Harmony Week to be celebrated

World Council of Churches - News

INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK TO BE CELEBRATED

For immediate release: 31 January 2011

The annual observation of a world-wide Interfaith Harmony Week has been
scheduled for the first seven days of February beginning in 2011. One of the
groups that has endorsed the initiative was a global consultation of Muslim
and Christian organizations addressing the topic "Transforming Communities"
in November 2010. The consultation was convened at the Ecumenical Centre in
Geneva and was jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the
World Islamic Call Society and A Common Word.

In his opening speech of the meeting in Geneva on 4 November, Jordanian
Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad bin Talal invited participating organizations to
become involved in the UN-supported Interfaith Harmony Week.

The prince observed that "His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein
proposed before the United Nations General Assembly the establishment of a
World Interfaith Harmony Week." On 20 October, the UN General Assembly
unanimously approved the resolution and adopted the first week of February
as Interfaith Harmony Week. Prince Ghazi described the concept as "an idea
which epitomizes the best of what this conference is striving to do."

The Transforming Communities conference members agreed to support and commit
themselves to promote the initiative.

The goal of the interfaith week, which is to be celebrated each year in
February, is to recognize "the imperative need for dialogue among different
faiths and religions in enhancing mutual understanding, harmony and
cooperation among people," according to the UN resolution, which is posted
on the World Interfaith Harmony Week website (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=6402c237302cf4b4c4b9 ).

"This is an important time for all of us involved in interfaith dialogue,"
said the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of
Churches. "By recognizing this week in our faith communities through prayer,
public statements and other expressions we will move toward promoting
inter-religious and intercultural dialogue."

"This is vital in times when there are many who seek to divide people of
faith instead of finding ways to enhance our lives together through the
elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination," he said in
comments on Monday.

The effort has received wide-spread support including endorsements from
religious and political leaders around the world.

Events being held around the world include interfaith luncheons in
Australia, prayers for peace and bell ringing in Austria, inter-religious
seminars in Pakistan, and an interfaith breakfast in Canada with Catholic,
Jewish, Muslim, Lutheran and Hindu leaders.

"We invite the member churches of the WCC to celebrate this week of
interfaith harmony by reaching out to people of other faiths in their
communities and thus showing the love of God and love of neighbour, the
primary themes of the week," Tveit said.

World Interfaith Harmony Week website (Link:
http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=87be92ebbd5ca720c8d3 )

More information on the Transforming Communities conference
(Link: http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?RDCT=fa719af6844976b4c38e )


The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and
service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches
founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox,
Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in
over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran]
Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Monday, January 24, 2011

    Interfaith Harmony Breakfast

    Another Madison area event for World Interfaith Harmony Week:

    As part of the World Interfaith Harmony Week, Prairie Unitarian Universalist
    Society, 2010 Whenona Drive in Madison, will host an interfaith potluck
    breakfast, Wednesday, February 2 from 7-8:30.

    Doors will open at 7 a.m. coffee provided, with breakfast starting at 7:30.
    Please bring a dish to share. If you are unable to please come anyway. This
    is a time for sharing and conversation and we welcome everyone. Music from
    different spiritual backgrounds will be played throughout the morning.

    For more information please contact Rebecca Malke at
    youthcoordinator@uuprairie.org or call Prairie UU Society at 271-8218. For
    directions please visit us at www.uuprairie.org.

    WIHW Breakfast
    Wednesday, February 2, 2011
    7:00am - 8:30am
    Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
    2010 Whenona Drive
    Madison, WI 53711-4843
    (608) 271-8218

    World Good Neighbor Interfaith Harmony Gathering
    Monday, February 7, 2011
    7:00pm - 8:pm
    Middleton Public Library
    7425 Hubbard Avenue
    Middleton, WI 53562-3196
    (608) 831-5564 (library)
    For more info about the event:
    Inroads (608) 242-4244

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Tuesday, January 18, 2011

    Good Neighbor Harmony Evening

    Come to the Good Neighbor Harmony Evening





    Join a fellowship hour with people of different faiths for World Interfaith Harmony Week
    as declared by the United Nations

    Monday, February 7, 2011

    6:30 PM Gathering
    7:00 PM Fellowship Event

    Archer Rooms
    Middleton Public Library
    7425 Hubbard Avenue
    Middleton, Wisconsin


    Sponsored by Inroads Ministry
    For more information, call 608-242-4244 or email, inroads@minister.com



    LETTER OF SUPPORT OF WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK - displayed at the WIHW site
    JANUARY 17, 2011
    268.  Rev. Fr. John Brian Paprock
    http://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/category/letters-of-support/


    Every week should be World Interfaith Harmony Week. What a wonderful opportunity to begin a week focused on harmony. As one of the founders of Interfaith Awareness Week in Wisconsin (the week of the UN Declaration of Human Rights), I can see a future where it is not strange or unusual to discuss our individual faith without fear of reprisal or ridicule with others who believe differently.


    My book ”Neighbors, Strangers, and Everyone Else” deals with the complex issues of peace and harmony from an Eastern Christian perspective. (available on amazon.com)

    We have just finished our 13th annual Interfaith Awareness Week and every year seems to have a life of its own. We have wondered how to extend the peaceful and harmonious vibrations that our Capitol Celebration evokes.

    Locally, the Greater Madison Inter-religious Association has started an Interfaith Thanksgiving event in November.

    This World Interfaith Harmony Week will be a welcome addition to our calendar of ongoing dialogue and discussion to bring the high ideals of our spiritual ancestry into fruition.

    May God bless this effort and all efforts of peace and harmony throughout the world.

    Country: United States
    Organization: Inroads Ministry

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Wednesday, January 12, 2011

    An Interfaith Holiday Season: Interfaith Awareness Week 2010

    An Interfaith Holiday Season
    Interfaith Awareness Week at the Capitol

    WTDY - 1670 AM Radio, Madison, Wisconsin
    by Lindsay Adjavor, news reporter - lindsay@wtdy.com

    Originally four segments aired December 20-23, 2010 during the 12:30pm hour and the 5:30pm hour on WDTY - Madison 1670 AM


    Listen to the four segment as a single ~17 minute podcast or streaming audio which features Rev. Fr. John-Brian Paprock, Rev. Anne Wynne, Ken-Adi Ring, Rev. Selena Fox, and Dr. Charles Cohen as well as the Call to Prayer chant from Dialogue International.

    PODCAST
    Podcast Title: Interfaith Society
    Podcast RSS Feed: http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/interfaithsociety.xml

    OR Listen to the AUDIO STREAM, here:


    You can also listen to each segment separately through these links - these pages include the anchor lead for each segment, written by Lindsay Adjavor, which will give you more of the original airing.

    PART 1 aired 12-20-10: http://interfaithsociety.blogspot.com/2011/01/interfaith-holiday-season-part-1.html
    PART 2 aired 12-21-10: http://interfaithsociety.blogspot.com/2011/01/interfaith-holiday-season-part-2.html
    PART 3 aired 12-22-10: http://interfaithsociety.blogspot.com/2011/01/interfaith-holiday-season-part-3.html
    PART 4 aired 12-23-10: http://interfaithsociety.blogspot.com/2011/01/interfaith-holiday-season-part-4.html

    Please feel free to email Lindsay Adjavor with any feedback at lindsay@wtdy.com

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • Wednesday, January 05, 2011

    World Interfaith Harmony Week, Feb 1-7, 2011

    From: inroads@minister.com
    Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2011 10:48 AM
    [edited for interfaith society blog] 



    The first World Interfaith Harmony Week will take place in just four weeks. You are invited to be a participant and a leader in turning this new UN Resolution into a worldwide success.  
    HM King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan proposed World Interfaith Harmony Week to the United Nations in September.  It was adopted on October 20 after HRH Prince Ghazi's speech supporting this new global effort.  This Resolution recognizes the importance of dialogue among different faiths and religions.  It calls for participation of the world's churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship to share from their own traditions or convictions, their "love of God and love of one's neighbour or on love of the good and love of one's neighbour."
    The URI has officially endorsed World Interfaith Harmony Week. Charles and Yoland sent a letter of support that is posted on both our site and the official website for the Week, http://worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com/. This website also contains the resolution, background information and resources.  In addition, this website offers you 2 ways to participate in this first observance.
    1.  You can send a short message of support for the first World Interfaith Harmony Week
    2.  Share your plan for an event that will take place during the first week of February.  You may plan something specific for World Interfaith Harmony Week or you may hold a regular [interfaith] meeting during this time frame. 
    May Peace Prevail on Earth,

    Monica Willard
    United Religions Initiative
    United Nations NGO Representative
    http://www.uri.org/ 
     
    The purpose of the United Religions Initiative is to promote enduring, daily interfaith cooperation, to end religiously motivated violence and to create cultures of peace, justice and healing for the Earth and all living beings.

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • An Interfaith Holiday Season - Part 4

    Segment number three:
    WTDY - 1670 AM Radio
    Madison, Wisconsin

    Original air date:
    December 23, 2010 during the 12:30pm hour and the 5:30pm hour

    Anchor lead:
    "A few weeks ago, one event here in Madison aimed to bring about a broader understanding of that familiar holiday saying, peace on earth, and goodwill towards men. There were over twenty religious groups represented at Interfaith Awareness Week in the Capitols Rotunda,
    many of them Madison-based. Today Lindsay Adjavor wraps up with part four of An Interfaith Holiday Season."

    Listen to the AUDIO STREAM, here:

    OR PODCAST
    Podcast Title: Interfaith Society
    Podcast RSS Feed:
    http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/interfaithsociety.xml

    Please feel free to email Linday Adjavor with any feedback at lindsay@wtdy.com

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • An Interfaith Holiday Season - Part 3

    Segment number three:
    WTDY - 1670 AM Radio
    Madison, Wisconsin

    Original air date:
    December 22, 2010 during the 12:30pm hour and the 5:30pm hour

    Anchor lead:
    "December is upon us, and while everyone is in full holiday mode, celebrations around Christmas and New Years aren't the only ones happening. Interfaith Awareness Week brought all this to light a few weeks ago, with displays around the Rotunda made by local religious groups. Right now - Lindsay Adjavor continues with part three of An Interfaith Holiday Season."

    Listen to the AUDIO STREAM, here:

    OR PODCAST
    Podcast Title: Interfaith Society
    Podcast RSS Feed:
    http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/interfaithsociety.xml

    Please feel free to email Linday Adjavor with any feedback at lindsay@wtdy.com

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • An Interfaith Holiday Season - Part 2

    Segment number two:
    WTDY - 1670 AM Radio
    Madison, Wisconsin

    Original air date:
    December 21, 2010 during the 12:30pm hour and the 5:30pm hour

    Anchor lead:
    "Madison is well-known for its cosmopolitan vibe, but in the same respect, Madison *also* has a lot of religious diversity. Highlighting this diversity was the focus of the 13th annual Interfaith Awareness Week, which was held in the Rotunda just a few weeks ago and the underlying message of the event fits right in with the holidays. Lindsay Adjavor continues with part two of An Interfaith Holiday Season."

    Listen to the AUDIO STREAM, here:


    OR PODCAST
    Podcast Title: Interfaith Society
    Podcast RSS Feed:
    http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/interfaithsociety.xml

    Please feel free to email Linday Adjavor with any feedback at lindsay@wtdy.com

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock
  • An Interfaith Holiday Season - Part 1

    Segment number one:
    WTDY - 1670 AM Radio
    Madison, Wisconsin

    Original air date:
    December 20, 2010 during the 12:30pm hour and the 5:30pm hour

    Anchor lead:
    "It's the holidays and most folks are rushing to get their shopping done and making plans with family and friends. But one annual Madison-based event, is encouraging folks to look at this season of peace on earth and good will toward men, from a different angle. Today, WTDY's Lindsay Adjavor begins her series on An Interfaith Holiday Season."

    Listen to the AUDIO STREAM, here:

    OR PODCAST
    Podcast Title: Interfaith Society
    Podcast RSS Feed:
    http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/interfaithsociety.xml

    Please feel free to email Linday Adjavor with any feedback at lindsay@wtdy.com

  • Buy "Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else" a book by Rev John Brian Paprock