The “Multifaith Leadership and Engagement in a Fractured World” workshop on March 3 celebrated a remarkable turnout with 200 registrants, half of whom were college students. This diverse group of participants showcased the workshop's commitment to fostering dialogue across different generations and among people who orient around religion differently. The enthusiasm and active participation were highlighted by Dr. Hans Gustafson, Executive Director of the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies and professor at St. Thomas, who remarked, “it’s lifegiving to see so many students, with over 60 Tommies, travel to Northfield, join their fellow college students from other institutions, engage the wisdom of older generations, and gain tools for engaging with the emerging religious diversity of our state, and for their futures.” Diana Tewelde, first year St. Thomas student Interfaith Fellow, remarked, “I felt so inspired to be in the same space as all those religious scholars of different traditions and hear them talking about building a better world together.” The event featured and insightful keynote conversation facilitated by the Lutheran Center's director Dr. Deanna Thompson with Rabbi Dr. Rachel S. Mikva and Professor Najeeba Syeed, whose expertise and perspectives were central to exploring the workshop's themes of religious diversity and interfaith leadership.
Augsburg University's Interfaith Spring Symposium: Building Trust in Divisive Times
Thursday, March 7, 10:30 am – 2:00 pm, Foss Center in theHoversten Chapel, Augsburg University, 2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454
2024 Interfaith Spring Symposium: Building Trust in Divisive Times, Thursday,March 7, 2024 at 11 a.m., Foss Center in the Hoversten Chapel, Augsburg University 625 22nd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55454 The 2024 Interfaith Symposium Host Committee invites you to join us for the second annual Interfaith Spring Symposium. This event convenes a group of leaders, philanthropists, and citizens interested in interfaith peacebuilding and partnership.Hear from an inspiring keynote speaker, Manu Meel from BridgeUSA. Then join us for a special luncheon and panel discussion featuring exceptional leaders in the community.
Common Good Webinar Series: JRLC Webinar with Exodus Lending- Predatory Lending Practices
First Thursdays - Thursday, March 7 & April 4th, 7 - 8pm Webinar
This virtual event will showcase Exodus Lending, speaking on the practice of predatory lending in our state. To sign up, click here and join us Thursday evening.
In a month, the April 4th webinar will address mental health and housing, with input from the North American Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Please check out our agenda for the 2024 legislative session in preparation for both webinars.
Multiple dates during Ramadan. In 2024 Ramadan falls between March 10 and April 9. Locations throughout the state. Additional sites will be added to the registration list as the information becomes available
Ramadan is a blessed month of the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the “five pillars” of Islam and is performed to learn piety, self-restraint, compassion, and generosity.
Iftars will include opening remarks and welcome with a recitation of the Quran and the call to prayer; a presentation on Islam and Ramadan and its customs; breakout groups where a number of topics can be discussed.
Tuesday, March 12, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (specific times TBD) | Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55155
Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light will be participating in this year's Rally & Lobby Day in partnership with Rise & Repair. This is the biggest day of the year when it comes to pushing for Indigenous Rights and climate justice during this upcoming Legislative Session! We need you there! The event will include training, visits with legislators, a march, and a rally in the rotunda to advance the movement around Indigenous rights and climate justice.
March 14 & 28, 12:30 - 3:00 pm, Progressive Baptist Church, 1505 Burns Ave, St Paul, MN 55106 (or you can call 651-222-5863 starting at 12:30 pm)
Interfaith Action's PowerUp program provides free legal assistance and practical educational opportunities and resources that help people build economic mobility. Our free legal clinic is available twice every month (on Thursday afternoons).
Zen Buddhist Insights for Self-Awareness, Mental Health, and Wellness; Presented by Busshō Lahn
Tuesday, March 19, 12:00 - 1:10 pm, Iverson Center for Faith, Schoenecker Multipurpose Room C (LL16C) University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus MAP
The benefits of meditative practices have been intuited for millennia, but now science has clearly observed the connection between mental wellness and curious self-awareness. The practice of mindfulness is now mainstream, and we're beginning to ask deeper questions about what it really is, and about what it might be able to show us: What is the relationship between our mental health and our spirituality? What do words like compassion and wisdom mean for me in this age of anxiety? How are qualities like resiliency, courage, clarity, and kindness made available to us? In this program, Busshō Lahn draws upon insights from the Zen Buddhist tradition to address possible approaches to these questions based on his new book, Singing and Dancing Are the Voice of the Law(2022).
2024 Mahle Lecture Series: Interreligious Peacebuilding Through Study
Tuesday, April 16, 5:00 - 9:00 pm, Kay Fredericks Room, 1537 West Taylor Avenue 3rd Floor of Klas Center Saint Paul, MN 55104
Let's learn together how to bring diverse views together through respectful, rich, and non-reductive thought, practice, and pedagogy. Reach out to University Chaplain Kelly Figueroa Ray if you have questions.
Schedule:
5:00pm: Doors open
5:15pm: Gathering and introductions
5:30pm: Scriptural Reasoning Workshop, led by Dr. Peter Ochs and leaders in the Society of Scriptural Reasoning
6:45pm: Dinner for workshop participants
7:30pm: Keynote Lecture: "The Promise of Scriptural Reasoning" with Dr. David Ford, one of the founders of the Scriptural Reasoning Practice
Religions for Peace: A Call for Peace in Israel and Gaza. A Statement from the Religions for Peace Executive Committee, February 28, 2024, New York, NY . Religions for Peace is the world's largest and most representative multi-religious coalition for peace.
Interfaith Action has launched Faithful Hospitality, an initiative to provide mobile shelter to help Hennepin County shelters deal with an overflow of families experiencing homelessness. Houses of worship will offer shelter, as they did prior to the pandemic, as well as volunteers to help guests feel safe and welcome. In addition, Interfaith Action will collaborate with community partners to provide supportive legal, housing, and employment services to families in Faithful Hospitality shelters. The initiative, supported by the State of Minnesota, is designed to alleviate capacity challenges in shelters, decrease costs of serving families experiencing homelessness, and empower interfaith partners to live out their faith values.
ReligionsGeek, February 29, 2024, by Brian Carwana. Shinto is an unusual religion. There is no founder, no scriptures, no real doctrines and no historical focus on morality. But it has been a powerful cultural force in Japan for millennia. Below, let’s explore the key features of this religion and its influence in the land of the rising sun.
We are looking for overnight shelter host volunteers to provide warmth and hospitality to guests.Project Home, Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul. Overnight hosts are on duty 7pm-7am weekdays and 7pm-8am weekends. Details and shareable resources can be found on our website: https://interfaithaction.org/what-we-do/projecthome/faithful-hospitality. Ready to sign up? Please fill out our volunteer form HERE.
North Star Act From Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) and the North Star Act (NSA), if you or your faith community would like to engage in making Minnesota safer for immigrants and for everyone, the North Star Alliance (NSA) (https://www.northstaract.org) is an immigrant-led, multicultural, multifaith coalition that believes every person and family in Minnesota deserves to live, work, worship, and play, without fear of detention or being reported to federal agents, when they've done nothing wrong other than their immigration status.
More Events
This is the Minnesota Saints Chorale and Orchestra’s 11th year performing Lamb of God, Easter Oratorio. March 15th & 16th, 7:30 pm, Benson Great Hall, Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Drive, Arden Hills, MN 55112. Learn more and buy tickets here!
On April 13, Minnesota Women’s Press will be commemorating "39 Years of Voice & Vision" and honoring the rich legacy of the country's longest running feminist publication through inspiring stories, diverse voices, and collaborative vision alongside its community partners. Learn more: tinyurl.com/mwp39years
2024 Annual Summit: Rebuilding Community- Developing Alternative Ways to Resolve Conflict Mediation and Restorative Services (MARS) is excited to present timely topics in conflict resolution, mediation, and restorative practice, industry-leading speakers, stellar networking opportunities, broaden your horizon by collecting and sharing information, cultivate and catalyze sustained learning for professional development and CLE opportunities. April 25, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids. Learn more. Register here.
Submissions to the Newsletter
All are welcome to submit events and news for inclusion in our newsletter. To make a submission, please email us. Submissions for the next newsletter are due Friday, March 15. MnMN Organizational Partners and Individual Members have first priority. If you are not yet an Organizational Partner or Individual Member, we encourage you to join us!
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