Brookings Interfaith Council

At 6:30 pm, this Thursday, October 3, BIC will celebrate the life and witness of Mohandas Gandhi in the Cooper Room of the Brookings Public Library.

Led by our local Hindu community, we will celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (which is Oct. 2). Come prepared to share in some delicious Indian food, to watch a short film about the life of the Mahatma and to honor one who respected all of the world's faith traditions.

Our meal will begin at 6:30 with the program to follow.

On Wednesday, November 20, BIC will screen "The Cup" in partnership with the Common Good Film Series.
 
We will begin the evening with a potluck at 6:30pm, Cooper Room, Brookings Public Library. The film will start around 6:50. Bring a dish to pass if you are able, or just show up. There will time for discussion following the film.

"The Cup" explores what can happen when an ancient religious tradition meets modernity. World Cup soccer fever sweeps into a remote Himalayan monastery, and centuries-old traditions are threatened. The young monks will do just about anything to watch the final match, posing a unique challenge to the venerable lamas in charge. It's an inspiring tale of colliding cultures, midnight escapades and daring secret plots. A true story, filmed on location at Chokling Monastery, India, this award-winning film was made by Bhutanese filmmaker Khyentse Norbu, who is also one of the most important incarnate lamas in contemporary Tibetan Buddhism.

Watch the film's trailer.

Our first BIC gathering of the season is this coming Thursday evening at the Brookings Public Library. Please join us for a potluck meal at 6:30 pm, with conversation to follow.

Our suggested theme for the evening is "race." This grew out of a conversation in the planning committee, especially as the George Zimmerman trial (being prosecuted for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin in Florida) was in the news at the time. On Thursday evening we might ask the question, "How does race impact relationships between faiths, for better or worse?"

The planning committee would also like to take some time to discuss the recent threat to bomb Syria. Is there a consensus in our group about how such situations should be handled? Would we want to go on the public record?

We will gather in the Cooper Room on the second floor of the library. We would enjoy your presence even if you are unable to bring a dish to pass. Please feel free to invite others.

You are warmly invited to participate in the Interfaith Prayer & Meditation Group, which has just reconvened after a summer hiatus.

With the exception of holiday weekends, the group meets each Saturday morning at the Brookings Public Library. The schedule is casual but the general format is as follows:

9:00 am to 9:15 Gathering time, checking in with one another
9:15 Bellsound, followed by silence, members praying/meditating in their own way
9:45 Bellsound, ending the time of silence, followed by fellowship
10:00 Leave-taking

Our leave-taking happily coincides with the opening of the library (and sometimes, even more happily, with the opening of Mango Tree).

Please join us!

If you have a question about the group, or wish to join its mailing list to receive scheduling updates, please contact facilitator.