A Special Call!

The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival 

April 14th, 4:00pm, St. Anthony Park Lutheran (2323 Como, St. Paul)

The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is building a broad and deep national moral movement - rooted in the leadership of poor people-to unite our country from the bottom up.  A local organizing meeting for the Minnesota Poor People's Campaign will convene on April 14th. This will be a great chance to keep the momentum as we organize in Minnesota, moving toward the June 15th Poor People's March on Washington. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. For more information email minnesota@poorpeoplescampaign.org.

Partner Article

"Follow the questions": Reflecting on the Annual Interfaith Symposium

Augsburg Professor Emerita and MnMN Board Member Martha Stortz shares her thoughts and reflections on Augsburg's Annual Interfaith Symposium last month. Read the article here!

From Our Partners

University of St. Thomas Selim Center: An Introduction to Hinduism

Tuesdays, beginning April 2, 2024, 10:00-11:45 a.m., O'Shaughnessy Educational Center Auditorium, University of St. Thomas St. Paul Campus & on Zoom. Fee for the series: $150.00 per person. www.stthomas.edu/selimcenter

Program Description: The objective of this course is to study some of the ways in which the traditions of Hinduism have understood and responded to fundamental questions concerning the nature and meaning of existence. We will be exploring teachings about the basic human dilemma and the solutions offered. We will investigate the Hindu understanding of the divine and the divine relationship with human beings. We will learn about Hindu rituals and the worship traditions, and study selections from Hindu sacred texts including the Upanishads and the Bhagavadgita.

Program Speaker: Anantanand Rambachan is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Saint Olaf College and Chair of MnMN's Board of Directors

To register on-line with a credit card on our secure page, click on this link: Epayment Site. To register by check or cash, or to redeem a voucher, please complete this registration form and mail back to the address on the form: Printable Registration Form. Link to campus map: Campus Map

Taking Heart Ramadan Interfaith Iftar Meals 

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.

Echoes of the Divine: A Dialogue between Jewish and Christian Musical Traditions

Concert and Conversation  -  Free and open to the public
Sunday, April 14, 3:00-4:15 p.m. at Saint John's University
Monday, April 15, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)

Music can be a potent meeting place between religious traditions, offering a portal for audiences and musicians into another culture. Echoes of the Divine, using a salon format that includes both performance and conversation, features pianist Amy Grinsteiner, violinist Stephanie Arado, and narrator David Jordan Harris. Among the composers whose work is performed are Arvo Pärt, Ofer Ben-Amots, Joseph Achron, Maurice Ravel, Gerald Cohen, and Isabella Leonarda. Click here for more information about the event on April 14  and click here for more information about the event on April 15.

Interfaith Just Peacemaking: Muslim and Christian Resources for Restorative Justice

Annual Terence Nichols Memorial Symposium featuring Najeeba Syeed
Wed., Apr 17, 7:00-8:30 p.m., University of St. Thomas, St. Paul campus

Drawing on Muslim and Christian perspectives, Professor Syeed will explore the concept of interfaith just peacemaking and share examples of restorative peace building and justice in violent conflicts that seek a third way to resolve controversies, instead of violence or inaction. Sponsored by the Encountering Islam Initiative in the Theology Department in collaboration with the Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies. Click here for optional registration and for more information.

Interfaith Action: Power-Up Free Legal Clinic

April 4th & 18th, 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 Power-Up 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).

Interfaith Action: Project Home
Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul. We are looking for overnight shelter host volunteers to provide warmth and hospitality to guests.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.

JRLC: Exodus Lending- Predatory Lending Practices
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 4^th 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. 

JRLC: Multi-Faith Day of Prayer and Action

Thursday, April 18th at Christ  on Capitol Hill Lutheran Church, 8-11:15 am: Breakfast at 8:00, Programming at 8:30

"We hope you can join us in St. Paul on April 18 for a day of connection and advocacy. This event focuses on faith community leaders. We define “faith leaders” as clergy, community organizers, faith organization leadership, actively engaged congregants, and congregational leadership and staff. Does that sound like you? Please join us! Our goal is to provide an opportunity for faith community leaders to reconnect over their shared values and work together on advocating for social justice at the Capitol. Reach out to leah@jrlc.org with any questions."

Hamline University: 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

In today’s world, filled with war, religious strife, and conflict, it sometimes seems hard for people to connect and build relationships across differences. We're trying to change that.

On Tuesday, April 16, join us for Hamline's annual Mahle Lecture in Progressive Christian thought and workshop, focusing on a practice called Scriptural Reasoning. Two of the founders of Scriptural Reasoning will be with us: Dr. Peter Ochs of the University of Virginia and Dr. David Ford of the University of Cambridge. They will lead a workshop showing how this practice works. Then, after a meal, Dr. Ford will discuss this practice, how it works, and how it helps people of different faith traditions understand each other better in his keynote address entitled, "The Promise of Scriptural Reasoning." We all want peace. Why not try reasoning? The focus on interreligious dialogue through study is a way to become better at bringing such diverse views together through respectful, rich, and non-reductive thought, practice, and pedagogy. Learn more about the series.

MNIPL: Earth Month Events and Actions 
Sunday April 7th, 11am - 12pm, Valley Community Presbyterian Church, 3100 Lilac Drive N, Golden Valley

Happy Earth Month! Every year, April serves as an important time for us to pause and consider how we are living our lives in recognition of our interconnectedness with the world and with each other. Our love for the earth is deep, and our care for it is a reflection of that love. Join in at the Voices for Climate Song Circle. April is also a time for action! Our relationships with the earth and with each other need attention and care. In that spirit, we've created a few concrete actions you can take on your own or with your families and communities to show your love for the earth and the people in it.

MNIPL: Be the Spark Spring 2024 Series 
Session 1: Wednesday, April 10th, Noon-1 CDT and continues on Wednesdays every other week. 

Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light present a five session series of conversation and training that will help you grow your capacity to organize, build your skills through connection with other passionate people, and help you inspire others into climate justice work. 

Wisdom Ways: Morning Altars Class

April 20th, 9:30am-12:15pm, Outside Carondelet Center

"We will begin by centering ourselves in nature with awareness, playfulness, and appreciation. We will explore the interconnectedness of nature, beauty, mindfulness and art as ritual by creating soul circle mandalas (Morning Altars) with organic material found in nature.  We will use Day Schildkret's Morning Altars 7-Step process to nourish our spirit through, nature, art and ritual."
If you are interested in learning more,  you can look into Day Schildkret's Book "Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit Through Nature, Art, and Ritual" 

Hindu Society of MN: Tamil New Year Celebration

April 28th, 10:30am to 1:00pm, Hindu Society of Minnesota, 10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove

Join for religious, cultural, educational, and spiritual activities in Maple Grove, MN! Puthandu, also known as Tamil New Year, is the first day of year on the Tamil calendar and traditionally celebrated as a festival by Tamil People across the world. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the solar Hindu calendar, as the first day of the Tamil month Chithirai.

MUUSJA: Supporting Abuse Survivors in Congregational Communities 

Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-8:00pm, Online via Zoom 

Facilitated by Rebecca Donley, this workshop by the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance help us all build up our toolbox for supporting survivors of abuse, so we can create a larger pool of skilled advocates ready to hold space for survivors and their families.

International Day of Living Together in Peace

Saturday, May 11, 12:00 - 3:00 pm, Casperson Park, Lakeville, MN

All are welcome to attend this free event! Learn more about the history of the International Day of Living Together in Peace! We hope to see you there!

Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council's Festival of Nations

Saturday, May 18, 1:00 - 7:00 pm, 400 Union St, St Peter, MN 56082.

Save the date for the 2nd Annual St. Peter Festival of Nations! Brought to you by the Saint Peter Good Neighbor Diversity Council and community partners.
Johnson Hall and Nicollet County Fairgrounds for both indoor and outdoor festivities. All are welcome, always. Stay tuned for all the details, performances, foods, arts, music, vendors, international fair, and more!

More Events

• 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
• Riverview Theater Movie Screening: God & Country Sunday April 14th, 5:00pm. A look at the implications of Christian Nationalism and how it distorts not only our constitutional republic, but Christianity itself. Featuring prominent Christian thought leaders, ‘God & Country’ asks this question: What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism? Get tickets here.

• MARS, 2024 Annual Summit: Rebuilding Community- Developing Alternative Ways to Resolve Conflict April 25, 8:30am-4:00pm, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids. Mediation and Restorative Services 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. Learn more. Register here

• ICJS: Reparations through an Interreligious Lens Thursday April 25th, 12:00-1:00pm ET, Zoom. Representatives from three congregations—Cathedral of the Incarnation, Hinenu Baltimore, and St. Matthew United Methodist Church—participated in the ICJS Congregational Leaders Fellowship and collectively established an interreligious working group that studied reparations. Through thorough examination of their respective religious backgrounds, alongside analyses of past political examples, the representatives collaboratively developed a comprehensive guide. During this panel discussion, representatives from these congregations will introduce their guide and help congregations explore the concept of reparations. Register here.
• 2024 Annual Summit: Rebuilding Community- Developing Alternative Ways to Resolve Conflict April 25, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids 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. Learn more. Register here.
• Big View Community Engagement: Sparking Individual & Systemic Change Tuesday, April 30th, 9:00am-3:30pm, Timberlake Lodge, Grand Rapids, $80. Join us on April 30th for Urgency of Awareness: Creating an Inclusive Environment for Diverse Populations, a full day workshop with Jodi Pfarr. Jodi Pfarr is a nationally recognized motivational speaker who began her work with Ruby Payne, then went independent many years ago to build Jodi Pfarr Consulting. If you haven't been to a Jodi Pfarr workshop you are missing out! Registration: In person or by mail at 811 NE 4^th Street, Grand Rapids. Questions: Contact Amy Blomquist at 218-212-2810 or Amyb@kootasca.org

Mark Your Calendars

• Minnesota Orchestra and University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing Thursday May 9th, 2024 The Music and Mindfulness series explores the intersection of music and mindfulness while allowing audience members to experience performances by Minnesota Orchestra musicians in an intimate and engaging setting. This year, each evening of the series will highlight one of the foundational aspects of mindfulness: intention, attention and attitude. The interplay of music and mindfulness will be explored through Orchestra performances, informative presentations, brief guided meditations and discussion. Learn more. 
• Wisdom Ways: Annual Summer Solstice Festival June 21, 2024. Join us for food trucks, music, community, and more! If you are interested in tabling at the Summer Solstice Festival, please enter your information here. If you are interested in volunteering at the festival please complete the form here.

In the News

• Views of religion's influence in American public life. Pew Research Center's Religion and Public Life Newsletter. March 20, 2024. A new survey finds that 80% of US adults say religion's role in American life is shrinking-- a percentage that's as high as it's ever been. Most Americans who say religion's influence is shrinking are not happy about it. Overall, 49% of US adults say both that religion is losing influence and that this is a bad thing.

Opportunities & Resources

• Interfaith America: Ramadan Storytelling Campaign. Join our Ramadan Storytelling Campaign! Share your photos of interfaith iftars on social media and tag Interfaith America (@interfaithusa) and Shoulder to Shoulder (@s2Scampaign). Leave a comment on our social media posts with your interfaith iftar stories!  All contest entries will be selected for a raffle draw, and we will pick three winners. Each winner can choose a $50 Visa gift card, or we will donate on their behalf to a selected charity.