{"id":7108,"date":"2019-02-04T06:56:39","date_gmt":"2019-02-04T10:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wtb.org\/?p=7108"},"modified":"2019-02-21T12:26:02","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T16:26:02","slug":"feb-4-world-interfaith-harmony-assembly-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/?p=7108","title":{"rendered":"Interfaith Assembly: &#8216;We Are Family&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The 9th Annual World Interfaith Harmony Assembly in Syracuse on the theme \u201cWe Are Family\u201d took place on Feb. 4 at the Southern Missionary Baptist Church in Syracuse. Fourteen local faith communities presented at the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style id=\"bwg-style-0\">    #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails {      width: 1254px;              justify-content: center;        margin:0 auto !important;              background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00);            padding-left: 4px;      padding-top: 4px;      max-width: 100%;            }        #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item {    justify-content: flex-start;      max-width: 250px;          }    #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item a {       margin-right: 4px;       margin-bottom: 4px;    }    #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item0 {      padding: 0px;            background-color:rgba(0,0,0, 0.30);      border: 0px none #CCCCCC;      opacity: 1.00;      border-radius: 0;      box-shadow: ;    }    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onclick=\"spider_destroypopup(1000)\"><\/div>        <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"bwg_random_seed_0\" value=\"1037142268\">                <\/div>    <\/div>    <script>      if (document.readyState === 'complete') {        if( typeof bwg_main_ready == 'function' ) {          if ( jQuery(\"#bwg_container1_0\").height() ) {            bwg_main_ready(jQuery(\"#bwg_container1_0\"));          }        }      } else {        document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() {          if( typeof bwg_main_ready == 'function' ) {            if ( jQuery(\"#bwg_container1_0\").height() ) {             bwg_main_ready(jQuery(\"#bwg_container1_0\"));            }          }        });      }    <\/script>    \n\n\n\n<p>Read Betty Lamb&#8217;s commentary in the Post-Standard on the theme, &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/ https:\/\/www.syracuse.com\/living\/index.ssf\/2019\/01\/cny_inspirations_we_are_family_in_our_originality.html\">We Are Family.&#8221;<\/a> For photos from the Post-Standard, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.syracuse.com\/expo\/life-and-culture\/g66l-2019\/02\/bbbc51a7497716\/9th-annual-world-interfaith-assembly-in-syracuse-photos.html\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An\nenthusiastic and diverse crowd gathered in Southern Missionary Baptist Church\non Midland Avenue for the 9<sup>th<\/sup> Annual World Harmony Assembly.\nSponsored by InterFaith Works of Central New York and Women Transcending\nBoundaries, this anticipated annual event is part of the United Nations\u2019 World\nInterfaith Harmony Week. As we celebrate our individual traditions, we learn\nthat our common values outweigh our differences.&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Southern\nMissionary Baptist hosts graciously greeted us and made each feel like family\nas we entered the bright, spacious sanctuary. \u201cWe are Family\u201d \u2013the theme of\nthis event&#8211;is inscribed above a Bible verse over the church altar. Dr. Joan Hillsman\u2019s\ngospel group greeted us with joyful music as we gathered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anna Wright\nDoughty of St. Paul\u2019s Episcopal Church welcomed us on behalf of the World\nInterfaith Harmony Assembly Planning Committee. Rabbi Andrew Pepperstone,\nrepresenting last year\u2019s host Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, passed the\ntorch to Rev. Sharon M. Perry of Southern Missionary Baptist Church. She\nreceived it on behalf of Rev Shawn Robinson, unable to be present this evening,\nand in the name of the power of diversity and the \u201cflames of love that can\nunify our hearts.\u201d Rabbi Pepperstone and Rev. Perry were Masters of Ceremony\nfor the event. Rev. Perry offered a lovely prayer celebrating \u201cthis rainbow of\nreligions\u201d and asserting we will find unity in faith because we have love in\nour individual traditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Plymouth\nBells from the Plymouth Congregational Church began the evening on a perfect\nnote as they performed a hymn, their gleaming handbells sounding a full range\nof ringing tones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>InterFaith\nWorks Round Table of Faith Leaders came forward. Currently representing 30\nfaith traditions, this group has been meeting for 43 years and serves as a\nmoral compass in our community. As each member of the Round Table was\nintroduced, he\/she lit a candle. Flames were lit on behalf of Sikh Foundation,\nChristians, Tibetan Buddhist, Zen Center, Unity, Syracuse Jewish Community,\nRescue Mission, Quakers, Unitarian, Women Transcending Boundaries, Church of\nJesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Islamic Society of Central New York, and the\nAhmadiyya Muslim Community. Chaplain Matt Waldby of the Rescue Mission led a brief\ncentering activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Praise\nDancers from Southern Missionary Baptist Church proved to be one of the\nhighlights of the evening. Three young ladies, dressed in white with iridescent\ntrains that formed expressive wings, interpreted a prerecorded poem. \u201cThere\u2019s a\nblessing in room tonight, Lord&#8230;someone will have a break through\u2026Is it you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Joan\nHillsman and several of the 35 members of the Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel\nMusic Workshop of America had us on our feet and clapping to the inspiring song\nDr. Hillsman had written for the occasion: \u201cLove, peace and joy\u2026that\u2019s what the\nwhole world needs today&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Three\nCantors\u2014a singing group comprised of members of Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra\nShas, Temple Adeth Yeshurun and Temple Concord\u2014sang a Jewish Eastern European\nsong accompanied by resonant percussion instruments. This song has a\nrepetitive, alliterative refrain and Cantor Paula Pepperstone encouraged the\naudience to join in the chorus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>Namaste<\/em>\u201d is a Hindu greeting meaning \u201cthe\nGod in me greets the God in you.\u201d Representing All World Gayatri Pariwar\nHindusim, Dr. Rochna Zirath introduced us to some basic principles and beliefs\nin her Hindu tradition; slides projected on a large screen helped us follow her\nthoughts. One concept she spoke about was <em>Vasudhaiva\nKutumbakam,<\/em> meaning \u201cearth family.\u201d Hinduism revolves around treating the\nwhole world as a family; we all share the responsibility to care for all\nbeings. We are all spiritual beings in a human soul. All follow the law of karma\u2014what\nwe are doing comes back to us\u2014and thus we should respect each other and engage\nin selfless service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A group of\nfamilies from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints radiated the love\nfamilies share as they sang a lovely hymn from their tradition: \u201cThy word is a\nlamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representing\nthe Islamic Society of Central New York and CNY Rise, a talented young man\nnamed Saad Bukhari accompanied himself on keyboard as he sang a song he had\nwritten called \u201cI Promise.\u201d It included the phrases: \u201cCherish what you have and\ndon\u2019t try to control others\u2026I promise I\u2019ll provide\u2026Promise to support each\nother.\u201d He received an especially enthusiastic response from the gathering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A diverse\ngroup of individuals from May Memorial and First Unitarian Universalist\nSocieties each spoke a few words explaining some symbols and beliefs of\nUnitarianism. Unitarians light a chalice at the beginning of their services;\nits flames represent Jews fleeing Nazis and also strength, justice, and\ncompassion. The Five Stones (recalling those David used when he slew the giant Goliath)\nare part of their living traditions: 1) freedom to search for truth and\nmeaning; 2) freely choose community and justice and understand yourself in the\nweb of existence; 3) moral obligation to a just and living community; 4) good\nthings happen as a result of human effort; and 5) divine and human capacities\nfor change are a reason for optimism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A large\ngroup of all ages from Destiny African Nations Church came forward. Speaking through\na translator, Pastor Emmanuel Seruhungu shared that war had forced these people\nto flee their country, Burundi, 25 years ago; most have lived many years in\nrefugee camps; they are happy now to be here. Moving in rhythm together, they\nperformed a song based on Psalm 23 in an African language, their voices\nuplifting our hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trinity\nWomen\u2019s Poetry Group from Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville meets to\nread, write and discuss poetry. Each member introduced herself and shared a short\npoem she had written themed around \u201cWe are family.\u201d Each was unique and moving.\nThe final poem seemed to resonate through the room and went something like:\n\u201cSee me. Hear me. Know me. I matter, and if I matter\u2026so do you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Representatives\nof the Zen Center of Syracuse, Rangrig Yeshe, and Thekchen Choling Buddhist\nTemple presented teachings Buddha left us about how to be with each other. From\nthe Zen Center we heard from the Dhammapada, path of wisdom, which says that we\nbecome what we think. Hatred can never put an end to hatred\u2014only love can. From\nRangrig Yeshe we heard the story of the Bamboo Acrobat that illustrates the\ntruth of our interdependence: the self and others are really the same. You must\nmindfully care for yourself as you care for others. You must turn away from\nalways wanting more in order to realize the preciousness of life. From Thekchen\nCholing we listened to \u201cA Bodhisattava\u2019s Prayer\u201d written in the 7<sup>th<\/sup>\ncentury and printed with our programs. \u201cFor as long as space remains\u2026.may I too\nremain\u2026to dispel the misery of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last two\npresenters finished the evening on notes of joy. World Parish Amahoro, comprised\nof two singers, a guitarist, and two interpretive dancers, performed \u201cTestify\nto love.\u201d <em>Amahoro<\/em> is an African word\nsimilar to <em>shalom<\/em>: peace bringing the\nworld to wholeness. \u201cFor as long as I shall live I will testify to love.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Congolese\nchoir at All Saints Parish, a multi-aged group of new Americans from the\nDemocratic Republic of the Congo, continued the theme of love and family. They\nspent ten years in refugee camps, many losing hope and asking \u201cWhy us?\u201d Now\nthey have found a good family here in Syracuse and the conviction that God is\nlove. They sang part of the mass, <em>Deo\nSanctus<\/em>, in their native style in their native language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rabbi\nPepperstone ended with a blessing: a prayer to \u201cthe Eternal One\u201d to instill a\ndesire in us to understand each other, to give us confidence in our own\ntraditions, and to \u201cbring us together in peace&#8211;one big, beautiful, diverse human\nfamily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Hillsman\nled an enthusiastic reprise of \u201cLove, Peace and Joy\u201d before we adjourned to the\ndownstairs recreation hall for refreshments and conversation&#8211;a \u201cfamily\u201d of\nneighbors gathering to learn, celebrate, share, and enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NOTE: Established in 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly, the annual week of World Interfaith Harmony (the first week of February each year) promotes mutual understanding and interfaith dialogue as important dimensions of a culture of peace. In places where these dialogues occur, people witness greater community cohesion and develop better connections for addressing serious societal issues. InterFaith Works of Central New York and Women Transcending Boundaries have been sponsoring local assemblies each year since 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fourteen faith communities participated in our World Interfaith Harmony Assembly on Feb. 4 at the Southern Missionary Baptist Church in Syracuse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9274,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[24,38],"class_list":["post-7108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-programs","tag-interfaith-assemblies","tag-visiting-faith-communities",""],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7108"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9317,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7108\/revisions\/9317"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wtb.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}