January Dinner Gathering - Interfaith Community of Schenectady · Gantan-sai (New Years) - Shinto Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - Orthodox Christian 5 Twelfth Night - Christian

January Dinner Gathering Tuesday, January 15, 2019

6:30pm Dinner ~ 7:30pm Program Dominican Retreat & Conference Center

1945 Union Street, Niskayuna, NY 12309

“Ministry in a Hospital Setting”

Father Tony Green, Director of Pastoral Care for Ellis Medicine.

Fr. Green has been a chaplain in hospice and hospital care for the past fifteen years. He is a priest with the Catholic Apostolic Church in North America and pastor of St. John of God Parish in Schenectady. Fr. Green is a board certified

clinical chaplain through the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy.

Dinner is $15 payable at the door. Program only is free. If you require a kosher meal,

please let us know at time of reservation. Reservations to the IFC office,

[email protected] or 370-2150 by noon, January 11.

*Because some staff and many retreatants have scent allergies, The Dominican Retreat and Conference Center practices a scent-free environment, please help them by not wearing scented lotion, perfume or

after-shave.

Interfaith News

Interfaith Community of

Schenectady, Inc.

~ Over Forty-five Years of Interfaith Partnerships ~ Est. 1971 ~

Jan/Feb 2019

Vol. 47, No.2

Goal:

Sharing together,

One God —

One Community

February Dinner Gathering

Wednesday, February 6, 2019:

“Stories of Adar”

Zipporah Harris, Costumed Storyteller and Judaics Instructor.

In addition to working in Schenectady synagogues teaching Hebrew to stu-dents of all ages, Zipporah has her own business: Your Personal Space which assists hoarders and people sorting through their personal possessions in preparation for downsizing. Zipporah is a gifted storyteller; with the added

mystique of costume, she brings Jewish religious traditions and folklore to life.

Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc. Vol. 47, No.2

Page 2

In December, two faith traditions mark celebratory holidays by lighting candles.

The Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, lights eight candles on eight consecutive nights to mark victory over oppression; the Christian celebration, Advent, lights four candles over the course of four weeks, adding one each week to mark the time on the church calendar when anticipation builds toward the birth of the one born to bring peace.

On Facebook recently, a friend posted an artistic interpretation of what the hanukklyah, (the special Hanukkah menorah), might look like if the candles had words on them. Reading from left to right, the candles’ titles were: Family, Gratitude, Love, Memories, Togetherness, Laughter, Sharing, Traditions, Smiles. Attributes, as the artist saw it, of the family-oriented, festive nature of the holiday.

In the Christian tradition the Advent candles marking the weeks leading up to Christmas have also been as-signed words, with each week’s candle representing an attribute of that holiday: Hope, Joy, Love and Peace. A fifth candle is lit on Christmas Day to commemorate Jesus’ birth.

In many cultures the turning from darkness toward light is celebrated with feasting and merriment as Winter Solstice (the day the tilt of the North Pole causes the least amount of daylight), is marked as a point from which each day will bring a greater amount of natural light.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find an article from Humera Khan about the first month of the Islamic cal-endar. Humera is secretary of our organization and an active member of the Islamic Center on Lansing Road.

To conclude my personal reflections, here is a poem and a prayer.

From ReformJudaism.org, a Hanukkah blessing, Hanerot Halalu:

We kindle these lights because of the wondrous deliverance You performed for our ancestors. During these eight days of Hanukkah, these lights are sacred; we are not to use them but only to behold them, so that their glow may rouse us to give thanks for Your wondrous acts of deliverance.

From Maya Angelou: a portion of the poem she read at the lighting of the National Christmas Tree, December 1, 2005, in Washington, D.C.

Amazing Peace; a Celebration:

Into this climate of fear and apprehension, Christmas enters,

Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope

And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the bright air.

The world is encouraged to come away from rancor,

Come the way of friendship.

Peace and love to all who celebrate, whatever their celebration may be called.

Miranda Rand, President

From our President

Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc. Vol. 47, No.2

Page 3

Muharram Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Calendar. It is one of the sacred months of the year dur-ing which warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month, after Ramadan. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

Tenth day of Muharram is referred to as the Day of Ashurah (the Tenth); the day on which Hussain Ibn Ali, (the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed) was martyred in the battle of Karbala by the forc-es of second Umayyad Caliph.

Shia muslims spend the day in mourning, while Sunni muslims fast on this day. Commemorating the rescue of the people of Israel by Musa (Moses) from Pharaoh.

(Submitted by Humera Khan, Islamic Center of the Capital District and Secretary of our Coordinating Council.)

IFC lost three of its long-time members recently, Ralph J. Boyd Sr., 99, in September and this Octo-ber, Marvin Garfinkel, 67, and Sondra Christian. Our condolences to their families. Ralph, always with his loving wife Catherine at his side, will be remembered for his positive and cheerful remarks at all our dialogue gatherings and his steadfast support of all activities. For his leadership and involvement both in his church and community, Ralph was named a Patroon of Sche-nectady in 2008. A proud veteran and recipient of numerous medals, he was, among his many achievements, co-founder and president of NAACP Schenectady, president of the Community Action Program and Head Start, co-founder of the Baptist Retirement Center where he died, and chair, Board of Deacons, First Baptist Church, Schenectady. A GE retiree, he was also a delegate in 1968 to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. His sister-in-law, Paulin Cox, has been a member of the IFC Board and Corresponding Secretary for many years. Marvin, whose wife Cecelia was IFC president, served on the IFC Board following her death. His depth and insights were valuable. Considered a passionate and active pillar in the Jewish communi-ty, he served on many Boards, particularly those dealing with the aging, nursing home growth and interfaith dialogue. He will be remembered by many for his work as a religious teacher at Agudat Achim and Gates of Heaven and for his teaching many generations of students of all ages the ability to chant the weekly readings from the Torah scroll at Shabbat Services. We will all remember his wit and charm. Sondra graced almost every Dialogue dinner with her presence for the past twenty years. A member of the Secular Franciscan community and active in many social justice causes, she was buried from St. Katerie Tekakwitha Church, Niskayuna. Submitted by Audrey Hughes

2018 Annual Friendship Celebration THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who supported our annual celebration – it was a joyous occasion with an international buffet supper, silent auction and entertainment by Rikud Albany, Temple Israel's Community Dance Program.

After expenses were cleared we netted approx. $1761.00 to-wards ongoing operating costs.

IFC Mourns the loss...

Congratulations On May 8, 2018, Helga was honored as Schenectady County’s Older New Yorker of the Year when Schenectady joined New York State and the rest of the country in celebrating the 53rd anniversary of the Older Americans Act, an act that supports older people’s right to enjoy secure and equal opportunities for healthy lives.

Helga was a long-time supporter of Interfaith Community of Sche-nectady, an active and very involved member.

For more than 49 years Helga served in leadership positions in or-ganizations dedicated to the betterment of the Schenectady com-munity, including SiCM (Schenectady Community Ministries), the

Schenectady County League of Women Voters, Schenectady Community Action Mentoring Program, Girls Inc., Schenectady County Human Rights Commission and Committee for the Modern Courts.

Congratulations, Helga! Well deserved!

Schenectady Clergy Against Hate

On November 25, 2018, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Schenectady Clergy Against Hate hosted their annual Thanksgiving service at the Muslim Center of the Capital District.

Founded in 2016 in response to escalating religious hated in the Capital Region and beyond, Sche-nectady Clergy Against Hate (SCAH) says, "No to hatred. No to violence. No to fearing one another." At the core of all faith traditions is the attempt to bring love, justice, compassion, and understanding to the world.

Members of more than 20 faith traditions participated in the hour-and-a-half long service of music, song, dance, storytelling and recitation of sacred texts by clergy and laity. Humera Khan and Rev. Bob Long (secretary and immediate past co-president respectively of the Coordinating Council of IFCS) are both members of the organization.

Highlights for me were a young member of the Sikh Temple singing a traditional religious song, “You Are My Father, You are My Mother, You are My Friend” to the accompaniment of a harmonium pump organ, a recitation from the Hebrew scriptures in the oral tradition by Rev. Tim Coombs (Trinity Presbyterian Church, Scotia) and a story, “A Tail Wag of Thanks” told by Unitarian Universal-ist pastor, Rev. Lynn Gardner.

The service closed with a collection of non-perishable food for SiCM (Schenectady Community Minis-tries) and an affirmation:

“

We go from this place knowing that in our diversity as in our unity, we are strong. Together we can and do say “No” to hate, so that we might invite more to say yes to love, yes to kindness, yes to connection. Tonight, we af-firm our common identity as residents of this land, challenging ourselves to live more fully into the vision of a nation where all people can live in peace, where all can have enough to live, and none may be afraid.”

Miranda Rand

Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc. Vol. 47, No.2 Page 4

1 Mary, Mother of God - Catholic Christian Feast Day of St Basil - Orthodox Christian Gantan-sai (New Years) - Shinto Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus - Orthodox Christian 5 Twelfth Night - Christian Guru Gobindh Singh birthday - Sikh 6 Epiphany - Christian Feast of the Epiphany (Theophany) - Orthodox Christian Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) - Christian Nativity of Christ - Armenian Orthodox 7 Feast of the Nativity ** - Orthodox Christian 8 Feast of the Holy Family - Catholic Christian 13 Maghi - Sikh Baptism of the Lord Jesus - Christian 17 Blessing of the Animals - Hispanic Catholic Christian 18-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Christian 19 Timkat - Ethiopian Orthodox Christian 20 World Religion Day - Baha'iTu BiShavat * - Jewish 21-23 Mahayana New Year ** - Buddhist 25 Conversion of St. Paul - Christian

Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc. Vol. 47, No.2

Page 5 January Interfaith Calendar

February Interfaith Calendar

2 Candlemas - Presentation of Christ in the Temple - Christian Imbolc - Lughassad * - Wicca/Pagan - Northern and Southern hemispheres Saint Brighid of Kildare - Celtic Christian 3 St. Blaze Day - Christian Setsebun-sai (beginning of spring) - Shinto

Four Chaplains Sunday - Interfaith 5 Chinese New Year - Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist 8 Nirvana Day - Buddhism 10 Cheesefare Sunday

Orthodox Christian 14 St. Valentine's Day - Christian 15 Nirvana Day ** - Buddhist - Jain 17 Triodion begins - Orthdox Christian 26 Intercalary Days begin - Baha'I * Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.

** Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date.

Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc. Vol. 47, No.2

Page 6

The Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc. was established on November 17, 1971. It is the first organization in New York State to encourage membership of di-verse religious institutions and organizations. Its goal has been to foster dialogue and create better understanding between groups of different faiths.

INTERFAITH OFFICERS FOR 2018-2019

Miranda Rand, President...…………………….………………518-393-5047

Colette Odell, Vice-President………………………………… 518-371-0634

Humera Khan, Secretary………………………………….……..518-312-2014

Edith Kliman, Treasurer…………………………………………...518-346-0025

COORDINATING COUNCIL: E r i c a B e r g e r , K a r e n B o n d , Zarina Chaudry, Scott Ebeling, Rev. Joselle Gagliano, Audrey Hughes, Rev. Bob Long, Gerry Pierce

PAST PRESIDENT: Rev. Bob Long

Participation in the Interfaith Community of Schenectady, Inc, 811 Brandywine Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12308, is open to all congregations of all faiths, to individuals and to insti-tutions.

Contribution Information

I (We) hereby subscribe to the following category of contribution: ______ LIFE $600.00 per person, which may be given in five annual payments. ______ PATRON: $100.00 per year ______ SUSTAINING: $60.00 per year for individuals; $70.00 per year per household ______ CONTRIBUTING: $35.00 per year per individual; $45.00 per year pr household ______ SUPPORTING: $25.00 per year, individual; $35.00 a year per household ___ My check is eligible to the GE Foundation for matching funds and has been reported. Name(s___________________________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________________ City_________________________ State_______________ Zip Code_____________

Phone___________________________ Email____________________________________ Contribution: New _________; Renewal________ Amount: $______________

Please provide the name of the congregation or religious organization to which you belong: ________________________________________________________

What resources have helped you mature in ecumenical and interfaith trust?

811 N. Brandywine Ave

Schenectady, NY 12308

Phone: 518-370-2150

E-mail:

[email protected]

I F C O F S C H E N E C T A D Y

office hours: Tuesday 4-5pm Fridays 7:30-8:30am Others as needed Schenectadyinterfaith.weebly.com

Coordinating Council Meetings

Council Meetings Visioning and planning are accomplished at the monthly Council Meetings.

Council Meetings are generally held the second Thursday of the month at Faith United Methodist Church, 811 Brandywine Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12308, and begin at 9:30 am. Members and participants may attend. Upcoming dates: January 10 February 14 March 14 April 11

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