Brookings Interfaith Council: April 2014

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Next BIC Potluck to Feature "Years of Living Dangerously," Discussion

The public is invited to attend the next Brookings Interfaith Council gathering at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 1, at the Brookings Public Library.

Our evening will begin with a potluck. Please bring a dish to share, if able, or just show up.

Around 7:00 pm we will screen the series premiere of Years of Living Dangerously, a nine-part series just launched by Showtime about climate change and its effects on the human family. Produced by Oscar-winning James Cameron and other Hollywood icons, the ground-breaking series is being heralded as "perhaps the most important climate change multimedia communication endeavor in history." You may view the trailer below.

In this first of nine episodes, Don Cheadle reports on the severe droughts in the Southwest United States, following scientist and devout Christian, Katharine Hayhoe, as she tries to communicate to religious audiences the connection between extreme weather and climate change. Harrison Ford also visits Indonesia to learn about deforestation and the struggle to resist it. And Thomas Friedman investigates how drought contributed to the civil war in Syria.

Following the hour-long screening, we will discuss the film and some of the issues it raises from the vantage points of our various faith perspectives.

We hope to see you on May 1st!

Note: If you can't see the viewer above, click here to watch the trailer. You may also watch the first episode in its entirety here.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

A Lovely Celebration of the Hindu New Year & Lord Rama's Birthday

Last night the Brookings Interfaith Council gathered at the Brookings Islamic Center to celebrate with members of the Hindu community their New Year (Vikram Samvat 2017) and Lord Rama's birthday. After a splendid meal prepared by our Hindu friends, the significance of these holidays was explained briefly by Dr. Chandradhar Dwivedi. Then Dr. Sanjeev Anand delivered a short Powerpoint presentation that offered additional insight into Vikram Samat and the Hindu calendar.

You may view the Powerpoint presentation here.

Following some discussion of the presentation, the gathering adjourned so that individuals might either participate in or observe the Muslim community's evening prayers, being held at the Center. The invitation to non-Muslims to attend was received with gratitude by the Council, and many members were heard to say afterwards how moved they had been, witnessing the prayers.

It isn't often that a Muslim community hosts a Hindu celebration, especially with Jews, Christians, Baha'is, Buddhists and agnostics also present. The evening was a remarkable time of sharing across religious and cultural divides. BIC warmly thanks the Brookings Islamic Center for its hospitality and the Hindu community for both the incredible feast and the informative presentations it prepared for the gathering.

Happy Vikram Samvat, everyone! And may the blessings of Lord Rama be upon us all.

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Celebration with Hindu Community Rescheduled for 4/8

Our celebration with the local Hindu community of Lord Rama's birthday as well as New Year 2071, postponed tonight due to a winter storm, has been rescheduled. It will take place at 6:30 pm next Tuesday, April 8th, at the Brookings Islamic Center. The Brookings Interfaith Council is very grateful to the Muslim community for this expression of good will and hospitality.

The Brookings Islamic Center is located at 724 11th Avenue. We hope to see you there Tuesday night!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

April 3rd Celebration with Hindu Community Postponed

We regret that tomorrow night's celebration with the local Hindu community of Lord Rama's birthday as well as New Year 2071 must be postponed due to a winter storm. We hope to reschedule soon. Details will be announced as soon as we have them. Be warm and safe, everyone!