|
Youth Rise Up for Peace
by Rev. Leland Stewart
 The change that is taking place at this time is that the new peace leaders are not those with deep-seated anger about the world condition, but rather individuals who have a more developed moral and spiritual awareness. They are servers of the Most High, and therefore they work from a sense of joy and well-being. The net result is that they do not further increase conflicts but help to resolve them. Full article…
Apocalypse Does Not Mean War
by Dr. George Wolfe
 Welcome to 2012, the year of the apocalypse, or so it is for those who interpret the Mayan calendar to mean that December 21 will bring on the end of the world. This prophecy is nothing new. Since the year 1800, there have been well over 100 predictions of Judgment Day. Continued…
Letter from Goa
by Linda Lauretta
 February brings with it the winter doldrums for many of us in the northern regions of North America as winter seems to be overstaying its welcome. And while Valentine’s Day captures the attention of many, the global interfaith community has a new focus for this month, The World Interfaith Harmony Week, initiated by King Abdullah of Jordan and established by the UN. This year, our own URI-NA and URI-UN colleagues Deborah Moldow and Monica Willard organized a stellar event “Common Ground for the Common Good”. Read the full letter from Goa here.
The End of the Killing Fields
by Emi Miller
 So many millions of tongues pray each day, and their prayers contain the words that speak of all things which are “created”, as Being imbued with The Ever-Living, Divine One. If one-s eyes could see this, for Real, what do you think would happen? For example, if we actually could SEE and KNOW the Being we were going to harm — through our thought, word or deeds — *AS BEING* The Divine One, what do you think would happen? Really. Pause for a brief moment. Think about it. What would you do if The Holy of Holies were standing right before you? Saints have these Eyes, and have all-Ways spoken to us of this Reality. The full article…
Reinventing Love and Marriage
by Dr. David Thompson
 Agape Love is patient. Agape love is kind and envies no one. Agape love is never boastful, nor conceited, never selfish, nor quick to take offence. Agape love keeps no score of wrongs, doesn’t gloat over the other’s difficulties, but delights in the truth. There is nothing Agape cannot face. There is no limit to its faith, its hope or its endurance. [In your marriage] put Agape love first! Complete sermon…
The Arizona Interfaith Movement (AIFM) warmly invites you to attend the 7th Annual GOLDEN RULE AWARDS BANQUET, Thursday, March 29, 2012, 5:30 – 8:30 pm, Mesa, AZ. Honoring, amongst others, Mussie Hailu, URI Africa Continental Coordinator. Full Details...
San Francisco, CA: THE CIRCLES OF LIGHT GALA: Music Without Boundaries: Saturday, March 17, 2012, 6:30pm, Westin St. Francis, San Francisco, CA. Join us for a festive evening of food and music with Musaique, a URI Cooperation Circle that brings together Middle East musicians of diverse faiths to bridge differences in the region. For more information, contact Brittany Hutchison at 415.561.2300 ext 10 or bhutchison@uri.org.
Earth and Peace Education International offers an online course good for two National Peace Academy certificate points, February 27 – March 30. Approaches to Mitigating Global Warming.
Forgiving the Unforgivable, Free Global Video Webcast – Thursday, February 23 at 2:00pm Eastern time and rebroadcast at 8:00pm Eastern time. Join Master Charles Cannon, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, Kia Scherr (co-founder of the One Life Alliance) and Robert Plath (founder of the World-Wide Forgiveness Alliance).
There is now a URI in North America youtube channel with several videos from videographer volunteer Fred Fielding – thank you, Fred!. We expect to post interviews with the North America Trustee candidates here in the next month or two.
April Halprin Wyland & Phee Shoreline made beautiful music at the 10th Anniversary of the murder of Daniel Pearl on February 1st 2002. Harmony for Humanity Concert with yahrtzeit candle and memorial in the Sanctuary of the Santa Monica Synagogue.
Saraswati Puja is celebrated on January 28th by Hindus all over the world. This festival glorifies the Hindu Goddess Saraswati, Patron of knowledge, music and the arts. A children’s choir sings a prayer to the Goddess. (sent by Emi Miller)
Who knew that the Crickets sing like humans? (also from Emi Miller – Thank you Emi!)
Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds. After a year of exploring digital Islamic communities, Carnegie Council Senior Fellows Joshua S. Fouts and Rita J. King present their findings, along with video of their virtual explorations on the diplomatic frontier, and a few songs from Iranian hip hop artist Yas.
Submit your ad of 40 words or less for possible inclusion in this new section of the Bulletin. Donations welcome, but not required.
Dr. Emi Miller’s Integrative, Natural and Holistic Medicine Clinic serves localities in and near Charlotte, NC.
I am pleased to announce that the new web site of the Association of World Citizens is now online. –Rene Wadlow, AWC President
Karma Web Designs: Lance Trumbull’s web company designed our URI North America website; he can create yours at a very reasonable rate. To learn more, please see KarmaWebDesigns.com.
|
Katie Ward
Regional Coordinator
Burlingame, CA
kward@uri.org
(619) 804-6882
Roger Eaton
Communications Coordinator
San Francisco, CA
reaton@uri.org
(415) 933-0153
|
|
CC Contacts: Please forward to your email list. Help us reach our goal of 1000 “opens” per issue by the end of 2012.
Forwarded? Subscribe yourself so as not to miss an issue. Keep up with the expanding URI in North America community.
|
|
World Interfaith Harmony Week
By Laura Steffen, who was there: February 7, 2012 is a day I will remember always. “Common Ground for the Common Good” at the United Nations, during Harmony Week, brought together many different people, and united us as one. This, in itself, seems to be the grandeur that we are trying to achieve. The energy in the room was powerful, as love truly brought out the best in all of us. Having felt so disconnected in the past, because of my passion to care about every human being, I thought I was so isolated in many ways. I now feel a closer connection to the energy that bonds us all. The assembly room was charged with such grace. When we ALLOW love to GUIDE us, layers of fear melt away, as does an ice cube melt from the energy of the sun. Read more…
For the same event we also have a very professionally done report from the Women Transcending Boundaries CC, who sent a delegation to NYC on Feb 7 just to attend. A webcast of the full event is available.
News from URI North America
 Leadership in a Changing Scene by Anne Roth, URI Global Trustee for North America: “For those of us in leadership positions within the North America region of URI, all kinds of things are changing. We have a new Regional Coordinator, Kathryn Ward, whose background and style will be very different from what has gone before. We have new members of the Leadership Council who bring to us a wealth of community organizing background. Both Sande Hart and Danya Wellmon, who actually met before as part of the Pluralism Project studies at Harvard, have joined us with large, vibrant organizations that have become CC’s. Both S.A.R.A.H. in southern California and Women Transcending Boundaries in Syracuse, NY, are multi-armed groups with deep connections within their local areas, and both have received awards for their work.” The full article.
Anne Roth’s January article got lost in the shuffle and is being included here in the February Bulletin with apologies: Taking the Pulse of the Region. Please read this article in conjunction with Anne’s February article listed above.
Bainbridge Island, WA: 90 people crowded into a church hall in Bainbridge Island, WA on Sat Feb 4 where Agate Passage Friends Peace and Social Concerns presented a panel discussion called “Occupy movement: What does it mean to you?” Continued…
Beverly Hills, CA: With support from California and programs in the Middle East, Salaam Shalom begins the New Year with a New Name: reGENERATION and a new website: http://regenerationedu.org. Please save the evening of Sunday, March 18 for the interfaith benefit: THE reGENERATION CONCERT FOR POSSIBILITY at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills.
Charlotte, NC: The Charlotte CC of URI has written to the local newspaper against capital punishment a good strong letter signed by the members of the CC: Time to Abolish the Death Penalty in North Carolina. Read the letter here.
Santa Monica, CA: The Daniel Pearl Yahrtzeit Harmony for Humanity Concert in recognition of United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week, commemorating the 10th Anniversary of his passing with Yahrtzeit candle and Yizkor Prayer, February 1, 2012. The write up also includes the words of Daniel’s father Dr. Judea Pearl for the Feb 7th UN General Assembly WIHW event.
Sebastian, FL: Prayers for Ma’s health.
Toronto, ON: The latest issue of the Interfaith Unity News edited by Rev Terry Weller.
Vancouver, BC: On January 25th the Vancouver InterSpiritual Center hosted author Kathe Schaaf co-author of, Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power at the launch Women of Spirit and Faith Canada. Read Rebecca Tobias’ report on the event.
Washington, DC: President Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast highlighted the Golden Rule: “Treating others as you want to be treated. Requiring much from those who have been given so much. Living by the principle that we are our brother’s keeper. Caring for the poor and those in need. These values are old. They can be found in many denominations and many faiths, among many believers and among many non-believers. And they are values that have always made this country great — when we live up to them; when we don’t just give lip service to them; when we don’t just talk about them one day a year. And they’re the ones that have defined my own faith journey.” The
full text of the President’s speech and
the video.
News from URI Global
World Interfaith Harmony Week was celebrated around the world by URI Cooperation Circles. See photos and stories.
Funding Peacebuilding
Each month in this section, we list a few of the fund raising efforts of URI in North America Cooperation Circles and Affiliates.
URI Principle #17: We have the responsibility to develop financial and other resources to meet the needs of our part, and to share financial and other resources to help meet the needs of other parts.
Orange County, CA: S.A.R.A.H. Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope. Your support helps us be sustainable, responsible and effective in our communities. 100% of your donation goes to our programs and empowerment opportunities. Please see our Mission Statement for more about our values.
Sacramento, CA: The Experience depends on contributions from people like you to keep bringing the faith communities in Sacramento together in worship and service.
San Francisco, CA: “Celebrating our diverse faiths and spiritual traditions, the San Francisco Interfaith Council brings people together to build understanding and serve our community.” Contributions to the San Francisco Interfaith Council help us fulfill this important mission and provide programs and services, most of which are offered at no charge. Your gift supports the ongoing health and vitality of this unique San Francisco collaboration. The SFIC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Thank you for your support!
Syracuse, NY: Women Transcending Boundaries is officially a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. This allows us to qualify for some grants and also allows US residents to deduct contributions from US income tax. We welcome donations and encourage you to talk to a member of the Council if you’re interested in supporting the exciting work of WTB.
URI in North America is in search of a volunteer grant writer to work with us in building our region’s capacity. This might be an internship opportunity for a student, or a way to contribute life experience and expertise to help in building URI’s strength throughout the US and Canada. Please contact Ardey Turner, (559) 434-8128, for more details and to explore the possibilities.
The URI in North America Region also seeks your help. When you buy from Amazon, please always go in through the N.Am. website. Look for the Amazon search link on the right at urinorthamerica.org.
New Resources
 Forgiving the Unforgivable: Experience the Power of Holistic Living. The True Story of How Survivors of the Mumbai Terrorist Attack Answered Hatred with Compassion, by Master Charles Cannon with Will Wilkinson. One of the survivors was Kia Scherr, who went on to found the One Life Alliance, a URI in N.Am. Affiliate, with Master Charles Cannon. And here is a
video about the book.
The Islamic Shariah – an Overview – another good talk by Dr Zahid with audio.
Thirteen Golden Rule texts are now available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Hebrew and Urdu.
The North American Interfaith Network Scholarship for young adults (16-35) for the NAINConnect 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia, July 15-18 is available online. This scholarship recognizes young adults across the continent who are actively engaged in and passionate about interfaith work. You do not need to be part of a NAIN member organization. Apply by April 15.
Technical Tips from Mark Mancao Hub web guru
|
Leadership Spotlight
Director of URI
We work with interfaith communities (individuals and organizations) in cities to create cultures of compassion. We create materials and trainings to look at how to address social issues using compassionate action. For example, we are developing an educational curriculum for use in Pakistani schools. We have formed strong partnerships with Stanford University who is offering a training program that focuses on compassion as part of their teacher’s education program, TED (a website that has remarkable talks given by remarkable people doing great work in the world); Karen Armstrong and Louisville (a model Compassionate City), which is an active interfaith community. See website for more.
of us. I wish there were a 
e blessed to have tremendous female visionaries and leaders 
