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Interfaith week to bring together different faith groups

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Interfaith Awareness Week is slated to bring together community members of various faith traditions from throughout San Diego County and across the state. Each day from Aug. 5-11, different faith centers will host an event open to the public.

“The idea is for people from different faith groups to come together and learn from each other,” said the Rev. Stephen Albert, president and co-founder of the Poway Interfaith Team and founder of the California Interfaith Association, which connects interfaith groups across the state.

“Interfaith asks you to believe in your faith so strongly that you want to tell others how much it means to you. At the same time, it asks you to recognize that others may feel just as strongly about their faith and for you to listen to them,” Albert said.

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The Interfaith Awareness Week grew out of a five-day interfaith conference last August at UC San Diego — the North American Interfaith Network’s conference, which drew more than 250 people representing 20 faiths. The event was organized by the Poway Interfaith Team formed in 2006 to support interfaith dialogue.

One of the accomplishments of the conference, Albert said, was to get proclamations from 15 of 18 mayors and city councils in San Diego County, stating that the cities would honor and respect all people from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds. In March, the California State Assembly and the governor approved Interfaith Awareness Week as the second week in August each year.

Albert created the California Interfaith Association this year to connect dozens of Interfaith organizations across the state. Currently the group links nearly 60 groups which promote respect among different faith groups.

“The mission of the California Interfaith Association is to highlight the abundance of interfaith activity in our state and to raise awareness that bringing people together in discussion and to socialize as friends is a much more valuable exercise than splitting people apart due to fear and mistrust,” Albert said.

Here’s the lineup of local interfaith events.

Aug. 5 from 3:45 to 7 p.m.: “Sharing the Light: Interfaith Youth Experience.” A youth panel will share reflections about their visits to other sacred houses of worship. Includes roundtable discussion and ethnic potluck. Hosted by the Poway Interfaith Team at the Community Church of Poway, 13501 Community Rd., Poway.

Aug. 6 from 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m.: “Lunch and Learn” with the Venerable Sozui Sensei from Hidden Valley Zen Center. Includes a vegetarian potluck lunch. Hosted by Interfaith Worker Justice of San Diego County and University Christian Church in the Friendship Hall, 3900 Cleveland Ave., San Diego.

Aug. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. “Finding Common Ground - Interfaith Meets The NONES.” An interactive event hosted by Humankind San Diego and Big Love Spiritual Community at Nobel Recreation Center, 8810 Judicial Drive San Diego.

Aug. 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: “How Does Your Faith Teach You to Speak Up, Stand Up, and Call for Change.” An interfaith, intergenerational, multicultural forum followed by a Q&A and roundtable discussions. Hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Hall, 1770 Kearney Ave., San Diego.

Aug. 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: A showing of the documentary “The Homeless Chorus Speaks” and a performance by the Homeless Choir, “Voices of Our City.” Hosted by San Dieguito Interfaith Ministers Association and Seaside Center for Spiritual Living at 1613 Lake Drive, Encinitas.

Aug. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: “Promoting Peace and Harmony by Embracing Our Diversity,” a discussion by an interfaith panel of six. Hosted by Pax Christi San Diego at St. James Catholic Church Parish Hall, 625 S. Nardo Avenue, Solana Beach.

Aug. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m.: “Interfaith Awareness Craft Booth” at Cruisin’ Grand, a community event featuring classic cars. Hosted by “Escondido Together,” the event takes place on Grand Ave. between Orange and Ivy Streets, Escondido.

Aug. 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.: “Interfaith Prayer Vigil,” hosted by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, San Diego Branch, First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4190 Front Street, San Diego.

Aug. 11 from 7 to 8 p.m.: “Social Action Panel,” with multifaith speakers from the Buddhist, Baha’i, Catholic and Islam faith traditions. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by the San Diego Bahai Center, 6545 Alcala Knolls Drive, San Diego.

The events are free, but attendees are asked to bring canned goods, nonperishable items and personal toiletries to help needy community members.

Visit cainterfaithcenter.org. Email revsteve.afc@outlook.com or call (858) 487-8885.

linda.mcintosh@sduniontribune.com

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