United Religions Initiative North American - Briefings

Margi Coles of the Interfaith Council of Washington, a URI Cooperation Circle based in Seattle, Washington, writes in about an event covered in their local newspaper: Saturday Presentation in Bremerton: ‘We Have a Lot in Common’ Between Islam, Christianity: “This event was sponsored by the KUUF Social Justice Committee and the Interfaith Council of Washington. These are the sorts of events the ICW has been fostering here for a couple years now, and this is the best attended one ever, due to the excellent organization and preparation of KUUF and the Islamic Educational Center of Seattle. This is the kind of event that opens doors to understanding and peace.”

NAIN Connect will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next summer, hosted by the Interfaith Center at the Presidio (at the University of San Francisco). Paul Chaffee shares more details about the program for this banner interfaith conference.

The International Day of Peace is on Friday, Sept 21. Thank you to all CCs who are planing to observe the day. I am including a copy of the statement from the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for the International Day of Peace. You may use his statement as a reading at an event you are doing and to publicize the day in your area.

Please join us in a Minute of Silence at 12 noon your time to be part of the wave of prayer embracing the Earth to call for peace, justice and ceasefires. Your prayers are especially needed this year as the Secretary-General will be holding high level talks for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine, and Darfur over the International Day of Peace weekend.

I encourage all of us to keep in mind the quote of Native American Elder, Grandfather Harry Bird. ed. His quote is a guiding force for the Prayer Vigil for the Earth and an inspiration for the IDP. "A heartfelt prayer is more powerful than an atom bomb." May our prayers assist the high level talks for peace and show the impact of people praying together around the world for peace on the International Day of Peace and throughout the following weekend.

The URI as an organization has used the IDP as a shared time to promote prayers, meditations and actions for peace around the world. May we all be linked together this week in this shared intention.

May Peace Prevail on Earth.
Love, Monica Willard
URI NGO Representative to the United Nations

Share your International Day of Peace stories on the radio with the Think Peace Hour.

On June 20, 2006, The Global Council Trustees, on behalf of the members of the UNITED RELIGIONS INITIATIVE (URI) throughout the world, issued a Peace Proclamation, joining with the United Nations in proclaiming September 21 as The International Day of Peace (IDP). We urge all our members to encourage all citizens of this world to work together to create peace, justice and healing for the Earth and for all living beings.

“The 11th International Forgiveness Day will be celebrated this year on August 5, 2007. Forgiveness Day Events will be held in California, Hawaii, Washington, England and elsewhere. We encourage others to start Forgiveness Day Events throughout the world. In addition, this year, anyone with internet access can participate in our “Send a Message” program. Visit our website, www.forgivenessday.org for details. International Forgiveness Day is sponsored by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance CC.”

Next month, July 12-16, interfaith folks from across the US and Canada will be traveling to Richmond, Virginia, for the 2007 NAINConnect gathering. NAIN? Another one of those alphabet-soup names that seem so common in interfaith circles, NAIN stands for North American Interfaith Network. It is a coalition of over 65 interfaith organizations from Canada, the United States, and Mexico that cooperate together to “Build Bridges of Inter-religious Understanding, Cooperation and Service.”

Dave Randle, of the Utah URI CC and the Global Healing MCC, writes in to tell about "World Water Day" events sponsored by Global Healing, saying "Tomorrow, Global Healing will launch the first of four International days celebrations with a program on World Water Day. http://globalhealing.net/id/worldwaterday.html". Read on for more details.

Registration is now open for the NAIN Connect 2007. Being held in Richmond, Virginia from July 12 - 16, this year’s gathering is centered on the theme of Embracing Religious Freedom: Past, Present & Future. I’ve been to and greatly enjoyed the past two years’ events (2005 was co-hosted by the URI), and encourage all CC members in North America to consider joining NAIN and/or attending the Connect.

The Southern California chapter of the Parliament of the World’s Religions will be holding a “pre-Parliament” day long conference in Los Angeles on April 28. Current URI Global Council chair Yoland Trevino has been among the organizers, which also includes a number of other URI supporters. Sounds like a great day of interfaith exchange for the people of Southern California!