| Events & News | |
IP reactivates St. Louis Interfaith Disaster Relief Network (SLIDRN) in the aftermath of the Hurricane Disaster
In response to the Hurricane Disaster we have reactivated SLIDRN, which was created in 1993 to respond to the flood of 1993. Now a collaboration between Interfaith Partnership and Faith Beyond Walls which comprises the majority of our religious communities throughout the region we will assist the St. Louis region with resettlement efforts for hurricane survivors.6 apartment units in the City of Kinloch will offer survivors long-term sustainable housing options for rent-free up to 6 months. Over 500 interfaith volunteers were recruited to assist with the rehab process. We appreciate all of our donors who allowed for this project to come to fruition.
IP Celebrates 20th Anniversary!
In the midst of suffering and intolerance, we have worked for twenty years to instill hope and healing among St. Louis’s faith communities. The best is yet to come! You have been a part of our mission to transform heads and hearts, and have affirmed our commitment to promote healing and love. We hope you will join us as we celebrate this huge milestone at one of our many events planned for the coming year.20th Anniversary Recommitment Ceremony
Interfaith Partnership Cabinet and Board members will join together to recommit to the cause of building bridges of peace, respect, and understanding in the St. Louis region. They will also commemorate the work IP has accomplished in the past 20 years.Kick Start Your Heart: Congregational Fitness Challenge
In 2006 we will be celebrating our 20th Anniversary, in which we are kicking off the year with a Congregational Fitness Challenge through Abraham’s Children, a health program of Interfaith Partnership. The challenge entitled “Kick Start Your Heart: 2006 Congregational Fitness Challenge” will be 12 weeks. The purpose of the fitness project is to promote the benefits of physical activity throughout St. Louis city congregations, as a means of reducing the risks of health conditions associated with physical inactivity like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. The program is designed as a point challenge where participants receive points for every thirty (30) minutes of physical activity they engage in. Their will be 10 congregations with at least 10 people per team. Incentives will be awarded every four weeks to the individual with the most points at each congregation. Additionally, the congregation with the highest point average at the end of the 12-week challenge will receive an incentive.
Interfaith Collaboration: Three West County Congregations
The Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis, Manchester United Methodist Church and United Hebrew Congregation have come together to work toward becoming better acquainted with one another. Toward this objective, United Hebrew will host an educational forum on January 31, 2006. Imam Muhammed Nur Abdullah, Rabbi Howard Kaplansky and The Rev. Dr. Carl Schenck will address the topic, “Children of Abraham: Three Siblings—Christian, Jewish, Muslim.” The forum will serve as a springboard from which a dialogue group will be formed. After a period of time, members of this dialogue group will plan and execute a community service project in which all three congregations participate.Hope UCC and CAJE Educational Series
Educational and thought-provoking seminars were upon us in the fall of 2005. Hope United Church of Christ in partnership with IP sponsored a “Wednesday Nigh of Hope” series. Religious seminars addressing Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Catholicism were discussed each Wednesday throughout the month of October.The Central Agency for Jewish Education also partnered with IP to sponsor “Understanding the Children of Abraham.” Reservations were required for the interesting topics addressed by Imam Nur Abdullah, Rev. Tim Carson, Rev. Dr. Warren Crews, Rabbi Mark Fasman, and Dr. Waheed Rana.
Abraham’s Children sponsored a Mental Health Breakfast
Abraham’s Children offered a breakfast and workshop, 8:00am on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at the Salad Bowl, 3949 Lindell Blvd. “Dispelling Mental Health Myths: An Interfaith Perspective,” was designed to increase mental health awareness. This program was offered free to all interested participants and was made possible through Eli Lily and Company.Many Faces of Catholicism: General Background plus Dispelling Myths and Perceptions
On December 1, 2005, over 100 guests attended this forum. The opening prayer was offered by The Most Rev. Raymond Burke. The event was moderated by The Rev. Vincent Heier, Director Archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs. Panelists included St. Carla Mae Streeter, Professor, Aquinas Institute of Theology; The Rev. Eugene Morris, Professor, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary; and The Rev. Msgr. James Telthorst, Pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.Nostra Aetate(NA) event was a hit!
Nostra Aetate was issued by the Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church, which said that it was okay for Catholics to get involved in inter-religious dialogue. This document had implications not just for Catholics, but also for other Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindu's and other faith groups. Dr. John Borelli, a Catholic theologian and professor at Georgetown University explored what “NA” looked like today in light of the changes that have taken place in society. We had over 100 people attend the event.14th Annual Dinner was the largest SUCCESS in IP’s history!
We were pleased that 500 people registered for the event, making this the most attended fundraiser in Interfaith Partnership’s history. The event, hosted this year by the Muslim community, included representatives of many faith groups, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Baha’i, Hindu, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, Christian Science, Lutheran, Christian Methodist Episcopal, Episcopal, and numerous other Protestant denominations. It was heartening to see the diversity represented in the room that evening.Month of Unity Picnic – fun and relaxing interfaith afternoon
IP enjoyed an afternoon out of the office and out of meetings in Stacey Park with 60 other IP members. Our guests especially enjoyed the treasure hunt, which included a red, white, and blue team, quickly finding puzzle pieces that came together to form an interfaith poem. Good job red team!
Celebrating 20 Years of Strengthening Faith, Sharing Faith, and Serving Faithfully