Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia

External Events

Upcoming Events

Philadelphia Children's Interfaith Festival

September 25, 2010
11:00 AM
New Covenant Campus
7500 German town Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19119

Sponsoring Group: Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia
Registration Fee: Free

Join the Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia in partnership with faith-based, interfaith and community organizations to celebrate the Philadelphia Children's Interfaith Festival (PICF) on Saturday September 25, 11:00- 5:00 pm and Sunday September 26, 2010, 12:00 noon- 4:00 pm. The PICF is a free outdoor festival for children and youth, celebrating diverse faiths traditions and highlighting community programs that enhance the spirits, minds and bodies of young people. The weekend activities include kiddie land, dancing, baby massages, 3k Run/Walk/ Roll; Petting Zoo; Basketball Tournament; Arts & Crafts, Urban Gardening, International Food Court (free) and more. The PICF is handicapped accessible and a rain or shine event.

For more information:

Link:http://interfaithchildrensfestival.com
Phone Number: (215) 247-4022
Email: picf@mccp.org

Empowering Your Congregation: Emergency and Disaster Planning for Chronic Illnesses

September 29, 2010
8:30AM – 1:00 PM
Holiday Inn Philadelphia
Historic District
400 Arch Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19106

This is a free event. Breakfast and lunch will be served.

Download Flyer and Registration Form

Past Events

Sacred Earth: Spirituality And Sustainability Conference

June 11-13, 2010

Chestnut Hill College is responding to calls from environmental, scientific, and religious organizations and leaders to “cultivate the ecologically enlightened citizen” by sponsoring a June 11-13, 2010 conference on spirituality and sustainability. The Sacred Earth: Spirituality and Sustainability conference (www.chc.edu/SacredEarth) will bring together people from diverse backgrounds who are exploring the role of spirituality in responding to global environment crises
and supporting ecologically sustainable lifestyles. Recognizing the need to convert both minds and hearts, Chestnut Hill College is introducing a new graduate certificate in Spirituality and
Sustainability.

The Sacred Earth conference will support an atmosphere of shared learning by offering speakers, an interfaith panel discussion, workshops, films, outdoor experiences, and dialogue sessions. The conference will unfold around three daily themes:

Day 1: From Cosmos to Chestnut Hill: The Universe Story and Knowing Your Place

Day 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives: Interfaith focus on Spirituality and Sustainability

Day 3: Sustaining Ourselves for the “Great Work” Ahead. Sr. Miriam Therese MacGillis, co-founder of Genesis Farm, a pre-eminent ecological learning center where people of good will
search for more authentic ways to live in harmony with the natural world and each other, will kick off the conference with a keynote speech entitled, “Unveiling the Sacred, Exploring the Spirit: Laying the Foundation of a Sustainable Future.”

The conference also will offer the opportunity to explore the local Wissahickon Watershed; includes a Market Place featuring local foods, beverages, and fair trade products; and incorporates the dedication of the new home of the SSJ Earth Center.

Based at Chestnut Hill College’s new Sugarloaf Hill Conference Center, the three day event will unfold in an elegant, retreat-like atmosphere in a gorgeous natural setting. For those who respond in time, there will be opportunity for overnight lodging at Sugarloaf.

Inside Islam Film Screening

June 5, 2010
2:00 PM
International House Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Sponsoring Group: CAIR-PA, ICNA-NJ

Screening and discussion of the new film, Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think.

Event Link: http://pa.cair.com/inside-islam/
Contacts: Phone Number: (215) 592-0509 | Email: rconteh@cair.com

Families in Crisis - A Spiritual Response

Date: 13 May 2010
Time:  7:00:00 PM
Location: Settlement Music School, Presser Hall, 416 Queen Street, Philadelphia.
Parking available at SMS.  Child care provided on site.

Sponsoring Group: First Church of Christ, Scientist in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bible Society

Registration Fee: Free Event Description

Interfaith panel discussion sharing effective ideas on how turning to God can help solve problems facing families.  Speakers include:
1) Christine Driessen CSB, Christian Science practitioner and teacher,
2) Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell PhD, Worship Specialist Congregational Consulting Group, Union for Reform Judaism, and
3) Father Michael Hricko, Pastor of Old St. Joseph's Church.

For more information contact:
Phone Number: (215) 922-0828
Email: kim.ludtke@wachovia.com

Healing with Scientific Certainty through the Christ

Date: 14 May 2010
Time:  7:00:00 PM
First Church of Christ, Scientist, 1915 Pine Street, Philadelphia

Parking available on street and nearby lots.  Child care provided onsite.

Sponsoring Group: First Church of Christ, Scientist in Philadelphia

Registration Fee: Free Event

Christine Driessen, CSB, a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, will share effective ideas on healing problems, such as illness, drug addiction, hopelessness, by turning to God.
Your Phone Number: (215) 922-0828

Interfaith Green Fair

May 16, 2010
1:00 PM
Mishkan Shalom,
4101 Freeland Ave,
Philadelphia, PA 19128
(corner of Shurs Lane & Freeland Ave in Manyunk)

Sponsoring Group: Over 20 faith and environmental communities

The Interfaith Green Fair will be an opportunity to learn about an exciting array of environmental programs, services, and goods that can help us to create a more sustainable world.  Visit vendor booths, participate in workshops, and hear how you can green your home, congregation and the world.  Join us and make the connection between values and the environment.  The Interfaith Fair will run from 1-5 PM on Sunday, May 16.

Phone Number: (215) 247-9169
Email: mlenzi@comcast.net

A “Walking Dialogue” among Jews, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs Buddhists, Baha’i, Hindus and Others

Sunday, April 25, 2010
Starting at 2 PM

Beginning at Hickman Temple AME Church, 5001 Baltimore Avenue
in West Philadelphia, walking to St. Francis de Sales R.C. Church, 4625 Springfield Avenue, then to Clark Park and ending with food and fellowship at Calvary Center for Community and Culture, 801 S. 48th Street.  Prayer, song and conversation at each venue.  

• A bus will follow for those who need to ride.
• Emergency medical assistance will be available.
• Please wear white as an expression of unity.
• No political banners, please!

Pre-Walk Gathering for people from downtown at 12:30 pm at Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, 1501 Germantown Ave (3rd & Jefferson Sts). Buses will be available to take people to the walk’s starting point at Hickman Temple.

Download the Flyer

More information at www.InterfaithPeaceWalk.org
Watch Movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyHM3llAiUA

HEART OF STONE: What happens when Blacks and Jews work together to give gang members a better education and a better future?

April 1, 2010
5:30-9:15 pm
Temple University

Tzedek Philly, The Feinstein Center for American Jewish History, and The School of Education at Temple University Present - HEART OF STONE: What happens when Blacks and Jews work together to give gang members a better education and a better future?
The evening's program is geared toward examining the relationship (and possibilities for relationship) between Jewish communities who have historic ties to our inner cities and the plight of our inner city schools today.  We hope that the dinner talk and the film screening will be a poignant call to action.

KOSHER FOR PASSOVER DINNER AND LECTURE
5:30pm - 6:30pm,
Edward H. Rosen Hillel Center, Temple University (1441 West Norris Street)
Join the Temple University Jewish community for dinner and a special presentation on Jews, white flight, and urban life with with Professor Lila Corwin Berman of the Feinstein Center for American Jewish HIstory at Temple University.  Beth Toni Kruvant, Director of our featured film, Heart of Stone, will also be on hand for dinner.  Cost for Dinner is $15, or meal equivalency for students.  Advanced registration suggested for dinner:  http://templehillel.com/node/28971

FILM SCREENING and DIRECTOR'S Q & A
7pm-9:15pm, Walk Auditorium (Ritter Hall), Temple University - Free
(advanced registration appreciated: http://templehillel.com/node/28972)

HEART OF STONE a film by Beth Toni Kruvant
The film, HEART OF STONE, directed by BETH TONI KRUVANT, focuses on Jewish and African American Alumni who come together to give back to the current students at Weequahic High school. Before 1960 Weequahic High School (WHS) in Newark, New Jersey was known as one of the top schools in America. By 2000 it was one of the most violent schools in the 12th most dangerous city in the country. HEART OF STONE is the true story of Weequahic High School's quest to return to its former glory.

The Weequahic High School experience as portrayed in the film, is a model for other inner city schools to follow to rejuvenate their schools by reaching into their own past. Inner cities were once proud downtown districts with excellent education programs that graduated professionals who long ago moved to the suburbs. HEART OF STONE shows how disparate groups can join together to give their old communities something they haven’t had for generations - a future.
HEART OF STONE won the "Audience Award" for "Best Documentary" at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah; the Kaiser Permanente "Thrive" Award and ”Best Documentary Feature” at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, CA;”Best Documentary Feature” the "Best Feature Award" at the Philadelphia Film Festival, "Best Documentary" at the New Jersey International Film Festival; "Best Documentary" Urban Suburban Film Festival; and the "Award of Merit."

For more information please contact Isabel de Koninck, idekoninck@phillyhillel.org

This program is sponsored by Tzedek Philly: The Service Learning Initiative at Hillel of Greater Philadelphia, The Feinstein Center for American Jewish History and The Temple University School of Education

Religious Diplomacy in the Middle East (and around the world) - Presentation  and Conversation with Professor Ben Mollov 

Monday, Feb. 22, 10 am - Noon
Anderson Hall 821, Main Campus, Temple University
Dialogue Institute at Temple University

Prof. Mollov is on the Faculty of the Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, and directs the Project for the Study of Religion, Culture and Peace.  He initiated a Project for Arab-Jewish Dialogue under the auspices of the Program in Conflict Resolution of the Dept. of Political Science at Bar-Ilan.

"Living, Working, Learning: Indonesians and Americans"
Prof. Alwi Shihab, special advisor to the President of Indonesia

February 26, 2010
7:00 PM
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Halls
NW Corner of 17th and Morris
Philadelphia 19145

Sponsored by: Temple University Relgion Dept and Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Event Details:
7:00 PM -7:15 PM - Mingle/Light Food
7:15-7:30 PM - Introduction/children leave
7:30-8:00 PM - Prof. Alwi Shihab's presentation on what Indonesia is like today and how the Indonesian diaspora contributes to Indonesia
8:00-8:30 PM - Breakout groups
8:30-9:00 PM - Groups reporting
9:00-9:15 PM - Children's presentation
9:15-9:30 PM - Wrap up presentation

For more information:
Phone Number: (215) 587-3624
Email: srjkreip@adphila.org
Link: http://www.adphila.org

NEVER AGAIN

A Commitment to Keep and Not Just an Empty Promise An event to support, protect, and assist the global community a Featuring a conversation with Mark Hanis, Founder and President, Genocide Intervention Network.

Thursday, February 11th, 2010
7:00 PM
3723 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Please RSVP to:

Angela Cressy Deane, Development Director
Genocide Intervention Network
1200 18th Street NW, Suite 320
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202.559.7405
Deane@genocideintervention.net
www.genocideintervention.net

Idealist.org Global Volunteering Fair

On Wednesday, February 3rd, Idealist.org will be coordinating a Global Volunteering Fair in Philadelphia. Hosted by and at the University of Pennsylvania, this free event will offer individuals the opportunity to meet one-on-one with organizations that coordinate volunteer projects around the globe as well as attend free workshops on topics like the basics of volunteering abroad and strategies for making volunteering in another country affordable.

Here are the details of the event:

What: Idealist.org Global Volunteering Fair
When: Wednesday, February 3rd, 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Where: University of Pennsylvania in the Houston Hall, Hall of Flags at 3417 Spruce Street in Philadelphia
Cost: FREE!

More Information: For a schedule of the day and a list of organizations that’ll be at the event, as well as to register, please visit http://www.idealist.org/globalvolunteering.

If you have any questions about this event or Idealist.org in general, please don’t hesitate to contact Erin.

Erin Barnhart
Director, Volunteerism Initiatives
Idealist.org
erinb@idealist.org

Principles of Inner & Outer Peace

January 31, 2010
10:00 AM
Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship
5820 Overbrook Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(One block from City Line Ave, near St. Joseph’s University)

Sponsoring Group: Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship

Registration Fee: Free

Jonathan Granoff (Ahamed Muhaiyaddeen) lived and studied with Sufi master Bawa Muhaiyaddeen from 1971 until his passing in 1986. Now a leader in the international peace and security community, he continues to study the Teaching and how it applies to service in the world. Join us as he reports on recent presentations at:

• The Hiroshima Peace Center in Japan with Hiroshima Mayor Tadokoshi Akiba,
• The Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Berlin, on a panel with Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev andWillem de Klerk,
• The Carter Center, chairing the opening session with President Carter.

Jonathan will read from a transcribed conversation between Robert Muller, former United Nations Assistant Secretary General, and Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.

You can also hear Jonathan on the next broadcast of Deepak Chopra's weekly radio show on the Sirius Radio Network.

A kosher vegetarian lunch will be served afterwards and an opportunity to speak with Jonathan and others.

Event Link: http://sites.google.com/site/sufistudy/
Your Phone Number: (610) 384-8760
Your Email: sufistudycircle@gmail.com

MLK Interfaith Program & Community Service Award Ceremony

January 21, 2010
6:00 PM
Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall (3417 Spruce St)
on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania (Open to the Public)

Sponsoring Group: The Office of the Chaplain at the University of Pennsylvania

The Office of the Chaplain is proud to host this annual event as part of the University of Pennsylvania's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium of Social Change (1/18/10-2/1/10)

The Interfaith Program includes song, dance and readings as well as remarks from our special guest speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, the gifted poet, essayist and playwright who made history in 2009 as the fourth poet to compose and deliver a poem at a presidential inauguration.

The event also provides an opportunity to recognize the outstanding work and dedication of those committed to community involvement.

A reception follows the program.

Event Web Site: http://www.upenn.edu/chaplain/events/MLK2010.html
Phone Number: (215) 573-4214
Email: skocher@pobox.upenn.edu

Note: The Interfaith Center is not responsible for the accuracy of the calendar listing. Interested persons are encouraged to confirm the event, the location, date and time with the posting organization.