Marin Interfaith Council Newsletter

March 15, 2017

Welcome to the semi-monthly bulletin of news and events from the Marin Interfaith Council.

For more information visit our website at www.marinifc.org. Thank you for your interest in MIC.

News

MIC News

Canal Alliance #GetthePicture

The Marin Interfaith Council hosted its 2nd Gather Together, Sing Together event at First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, on February 28th, with speakers Omar Carrera, Executive Director of Canal Alliance and Rev. Floyd Thompkins, Director, Center for Innovation in Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Both speakers addressed the need for communal unity amidst the po litical climate that is changing the quality of life for our neighbors in the immigrant community and other communities nationwide.

"These actions are constructed to divide us," said Carrera. "We must stand and work together." Carrera emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship within the immigrant community, and how their work, dreams, and gifts contribute to the greater community.

Rev. Floyd Thompkins urged faith communities to speak up and take action. "It's about standing in your faith when the moment needs it," said Thompkins. "Let us make humanity's voice rise. If we keep singing they have to listen, we begin to shift things, we create a new reality."

The Canal Alliance has launched their #GetThePicture Campaign to invite individuals and groups to stand together to celebrate the shared values of diversity, acceptance and inclusion. The video above is their campaign song to help promote this movement.

You can also learn more about immigration laws, rights, and various resources HERE.

MIC Events

MIC Religious Leaders Gathering

Racism/Implicit Bias

Tuesday,

March 21st

12:00 - 2:00 pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church

240 Tiburon Blvd.

Tiburon, CA 94920

Most faith communities desire diversity, but many struggle to become inclusive. YWCA's new Inclusion Inventory, bridges the critical gap between diversity and inclusion. Come network with other religious leaders, experience this new tool, and learn how you might use it to help your faith community become truly inclusive.

Facilitated by:

Laura Eberly, YWCA Community Organizer

Cost: L ove Offering at the door

Please bring your lunch. MIC will provide light snacks.

RSVP Here

MIC & First Presbyterian Church

of San Rafael present:

Gather Together/Sing Together

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

5:30-6:30 pm

First Presbyterian Church, Sanctuary

1510 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael

This new political era is giving rise to energetic grassroots responses. But how will we remain energized and motivated?

Join us for "Gather Together - Sing Together". Martha Wall and fellow musicians will lead singing. Interfaith speakers will offer hope and timeless insight.

Speakers Include :

Rev. Ruth West - Director of Advanced Pastoral Ministry, SFTS, & Pastor, New Liberation Presbyterian Church

Rabbi Henry Shreibman - Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Dominican University

Cost : Donation to MIC at the door.

No RSVP necessary. Come one, come all!

Marin Interfaith Council

Monthly Interfaith Meditation

Mark Noguchi

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

5:30-6:30 pm

First Presbyterian Church Chapel

1510 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael

Donation to MIC at the door.

Every Second Wednesday of the month, a leader from a different spiritual community will offer a meditation or spiritual practice and explain how it flows from the basic tenets of his/her faith tradition. Each gathering will include time for questions and insights that emerge from our shared time of intentional spiritual practice.

This month will be led by MIC Board Member Mark Noguchi.

Mark Noguchi grew up in the Shin Buddhist tradition. He continues to study the dharma (teachings) as well as maintain a regular meditation practice. His teachers include Thich Nhat Hanh and Sylvia Boorstein, both proponents of interfaith study and espousing the belief that Buddhism can be woven into different faith traditions. He joined the MIC board of directors in 2016 and continues his interfaith journey believing that looking deeply into other faith traditions promotes a sense of connection with others as well as bridging our faith traditions into common goals of bringing more compassion and kindness into our communities.

Save the Date!

18th Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast

Wednesday, May 3rd,

8:00 - 10:00 am

Congregation Kol Shofar

215 Blackfield Drive

Tiburon, CA 94920

Please join us for a celebration during the week of the National Day of Prayer. This year we pose the question, how are you praying in this new political reality?

Guest Speakers:

Imam Fasih ~ Islamic Center of North Marin

Rabbi Stacy Friedman ~ Congregation

Kol Shofar

Rev. Floyd Thompkins ~ San Francisco Theological Seminary

Reservations:

Sliding fee scale

Individual tickets: $50 - $35

Table of eight: $350

Catered by Mangia Nosh

REGISTER

Co-Sponsored Events

Marin Organizing Committee

Say Yes! In My Backyard

Addressing Marin's Housing Crisis One Step at a Time

Sunday, April 30, 2017

2:30 pm Registration and Coffee

3:00 - 6:00 pm Program

Congregation Kol Shofar

215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon

Join MOC for a workshop on realistic strategies for ordinary homeowners, renters, and landlords to work together on solutions.

Community Events

Community Events are always displayed on our MIC website here . Feel free to submit your own event at any time using the online form here . The deadline for submissions is the 10th and 25th of every month.

2017

March -

Day of Prayer, Wednesday, March 15, 9:30 am - 2:15 pm, Santa Sabina Center, San Rafael.
Film Night - Gun Safety, Wednesday, March 15, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael.
Sing the Music of Hildegard of Bingen, Wednesday, March 15, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Santa Sabina Center, San Rafael.
Luck o' the Irish Luncheon at Whistlestop, Thursday, March 16, 11:30 am - 1:50 pm, Whistlestop, San Rafael.
Borders and Identity: 2017 Earl and Boswell Lectures, Friday, March 17, 18, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley.
Yes We Can! The Marin Solution for Housing, Saturday, March 18, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, The Bay Model, Sausalito.
Songs of Hope & Freedom- The Music of Aliza Hava & Rita Glassman, Saturday, March 18, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Homestead Valley Community Association, Mill Valley.
Never Alone: How Spiritual Ideas Work In Us, Sunday, March 19, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Marin Art and Garden Center, Ross.
ABBA-IMMA QIGONG An Embodied Lord's Prayer, Sunday, March 19, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Community Congregational Church, Tiburon.
Interconnectivity: Where Do We Go from Here?, Presented by the SFTS, Center for Innovation in Ministry, Monday, March 20, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto or online.
5th Annual Faith, Farms & Food Access Conference, Tuesday, March 21, 1:30 pm - 7:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley.
Marin Baroque Chamber Choir, Welcome to All Pleasures, Saturday, March 25, 8:00 - 10:00 pm, First Presbyterian Church, San Anselmo.
Dharma Study and Discussion, Sunday, March 26, 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, Buddhist Temple of Marin, Mill Valley.

April -

NAMI Marin Family-to-Family Education Course, Tuesday, April 4 - Tuesday, June 27, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm, Marin Nonprofit Resource Center, San Rafael.
Parental Loss Support Group for Adults, Monday, April 17, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Hospice by the Bay, Larkspur.
Spousal/Partner Loss Support Group, Tuesday, April 18, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm, Hospice by the Bay, Larkspur
Marin Earth Day & Green Fair, Saturday, April 22, 23, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, The San Rafael Elks #1108, San Rafael.
What Color is Your Grief? Children/Teen Grief Support Group, Friday, April 28, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, Hospice by the Bay, Larkspur.

May -

Spousal/Partner Loss Support Group, Monday, May 1, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Hospice by the Bay, Larkspur.

If you have an event that has a deadline, please let me know when submitting event. Thanks!

For more community events click here

Community Announcements

The Center for Innovation in Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary invites you to "Interconnectivity: Where Do We Go from Here?" Join Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr, Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Jr., and Annanda Barclay on March 20, in person or online, as they discuss the connections between LGBTQ rights, racial equality, and a variety of other justice issues. Find out more at http://innovation.sfts.edu/events/

You can also join the Center in seeking to change the social media conversation by using #shifttohope

to share on Twitter how you are going to work for peace, justice and inclusion. Join the movement!

North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) Young Adult Scholarship

The scholarship is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 who is currently involved in some form of interfaith or other social justice work. Scholarship recipients receive a $500 stipend to attend the annual NAINConnect conference, which will take place this year from August 6-10, 2017 in San Diego. A reduced registration fee is available for young adults, which will come out of the final scholarship award of $500. The remainder of the scholarship fees can be used to help reduce the flight costs to attend the NAINConnect.The application deadline is Wednesday, April 5th. Please contact Jason at smith.jason.william@gmail.com with questions.

Here is the direct link to the scholarship application page: https://form.jotform.com/ssaeed01/2017-nain-young-adult-scholarship-a