Interfaith Week 2017

For the fourth year in a row, Interfaith Tampa Bay and Integral Church will host Tampa Bay Interfaith Week – an opportunity to see how the rest of your community celebrates the sacred in a casual, open, educational setting.

This year’s theme is “I Am Your Neighbor.”

During Interfaith Week, individuals and families are encouraged to visit the many churches, temples, mosques, meditation centers and spiritual communities across Tampa Bay to gain a better understanding of the people, values, beliefs, practices and cultures that make up our dynamic and vibrant region.

This year, the event will run from Sunday, October 1-8 and include free panel and roundtable discussions at various campuses and venues including such topics as: non-violent communication, religious innovation, spiritual community, eastern and western philosophy, universal values, creating accommodating and welcoming spaces, musical performances and more.

This year’s Tampa Bay Interfaith Week will include:

An official Interfaith Week proclamation by St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman.
An Opening Ceremony at St. Peter’s Cathedral featuring music, interfaith prayers and opening remarks by the mayor.
Panel discussions, interactive workshops, film screenings, dance, music, food and more
Open houses and involvement from various faith communities including those of the Baha’i, Buddhist, Catholic, Christian, Christian Science, Episcopal, Interspiritual, Jewish, Muslim, Quaker, Taoist, Unitarian Universalist, Unity and more.

Tampa Bay Interfaith Week continues to promote a message of conversation, compassion, peace and pluralism and holds the Bay Area up as an example of a community based on mutual respect, cooperation and collaboration.

This year’s sponsors include St. Petersburg Baha’i Center, Eckerd College Center for Spiritual Life, St. Mary Our Lady of Grace, King of Peace MCC, Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, Unitarian Universalists of St. Petersburg, Pass-a-Grille Community Church.

THIS YEAR’S SPONSORS:

WATCH 2016 HIGHLIGHTS

INTERFAITH WEEK CALENDAR

All official Interfaith Week events are free of charge and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Thank you for your submissions. Submission for 2017 are now closed. If you don’t see your event listed, please contact 2017 committee chair Victor Ray at victorray49@gmail.com.

Blue/Indigo = 2017 Featured Events.

Events Happening All Week:

St. Pete Rocks!
(Interfaith)
Want to spread love, peace and joy around our community in a fun and family-friendly way? Participate in a special event with St. Pete Rocks!

Step 1: Join the Facebook Group “St. Pete Rocks” at any time.
Step 2: Paint or decorate a rock that shares a positive message from your faith tradition. On the back, write “#StPeteRocks – Keep or hide me. Please post my picture on FB or Instagram and tag #StPeteRocks #InterfaithWeek.”
Step 3 (the fun part): Hide the rock before October 1, 2017 in a public place, then keep an eye on the Facebook group to see if your rock is found!

Some suggestions: Paint symbols of your faith, decorate your rocks with words of affirmation, or simply the Interfaith Week theme, “I am your neighbor.” Be sure to seal the rock with a clear spray or Mod Podge so it will withstand the weather.

Sunday, October 1:

I Am Your Neighbor: The Poor, the Homeless, the Refugee
Saint Mary Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Parish Hall
12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
(Christianity)
Saint Mary Our Lady of Grace will host a dynamic presentation by three leaders in our community who will talk about the poor, the homeless and the refugee. Each of these leaders and the groups they represent count on people of all faiths to help with the work they do. Jane Walker (Executive Director of Daystar Life Center) and Michael Raposa (CEO of St. Vincent de Paul South Pinellas) will be joined by Mr. Felicien Kakure, who will tell his story of being a refugee and finding a new home in St. Petersburg. Refreshments will be served. Please bring a canned good to donate to Daystar’s food pantry. RSVP to cmcivor@stmaryolg.org. For more information, call Claudia at 727-896-2191, extension 207.

Bahá’í Center of St. Petersburg (Bahá’í)
676 2nd Avenue S, St. Pete, FL 33701
Devotions and discussion: 10:30 a.m.

Christ Gospel Church of St. Petersburg
2512 22nd Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Sunday School: 10 a.m., Sunday Morning: 11:30 a.m.; Sunday Evening: 6:30 p.m.

First Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science/Christian)
6333 First Street NE, St. Pete, FL 33703
Service: 10:30 a.m.

First Unity at Unity Campus (New Thought/Christian)
460 46th Ave. N, St. Pete, FL 33703
Service(s): 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Good Samaritan Church (UCC/Presbyterian)
6085 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Service: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Celebration and prayer for world peace, including special music, prayer, and many hands-on activities and prayer stations.

King of Peace MCC
3150 5th Ave. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33713
10:00 a.m. Sunday Service

Shambhala St. Pete (Buddhist)
1045 9th Ave N, St. Pete, FL 33705
Sunday Community Practice: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. – Extended sitting and walking meditation, meditation instruction at 11 a.m., followed by soup and salad in the Community Room.

Saint Augustine Episcopal (Christian)
2920 26th Ave S, St. Pete, FL 33712 (adjacent to Boyd Hill Nature Center)
Service: 9 a.m. – A Spirit-filled multi-cultural Liturgical Christian worship service with jazz musicians, followed by a full breakfast and roundtable conversations.

Saint Mary Our Lady of Grace (Catholic)
515 4th St. S, St. Pete, FL 33701
Regular Mass: 8 and 11 a.m.

Saint Peter’s Cathedral (Episcopal)
140 4th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Service: 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

Interfaith Week Opening Ceremony
St. Peter’s Cathedral; 4-5 p.m.
The 2017 opening ceremony will be a combination of music and prayers from various faith traditions. Featuring a keynote address from Dr. Roy Kaplan and opening remarks and an Interfaith Week proclamation by St. Petersburg mayor, Rick Kriseman.

St. Petersburg Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
130 19th Avenue SE, St. Pete, FL 33705
Traditional silent Quaker worship. Adult Discussion Group: 9:30 a.m.; Meeting for Worship: 10:30 a.m, First Day School for Children: 10:40 a.m.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community
7320 Burlington Ave N. St. Pete, FL 33710
Mass: 10:30 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran ELCA
401 5th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m. Communion is open to all believers.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
570 62nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33703
Call church for times of service: (727) 525-3924

Trinity UCC Campus Center (Christian)
1150 49th Street N, St. Pete, FL 33710
Lao Ministry of St. Petersburg: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Laotian)
Anointed Word Fellowship: 10-11:30 a.m.
Trinity United Church of Christ (Contemporary): 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Iglesia Pentecostal Cielos Abiertos: 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg (Unitarian/Universalist)
719 Arlington Ave. N, St. Pete, FL 33701
Discussion Group: 9:30 a.m.
Interfaith Service: 10:30 a.m.

Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater
2470 Nursery Rd., Clearwater, FL 33764
Open Issues Discussion Group: 9:30 a.m.
Interfaith Service: 10:30 a.m.

Unity of St. Petersburg
6168 1st Avenue North, St Pete, 33710
Service: 10:30 am

Unity Temple of Truth Church
511 Prescott St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
Service: 10:00 a.m.

Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg
216 19th Ave. SE, St. Pete, FL 33705
Service: 11 a.m.

Monday, October 2:

Prisoner of Akka (Film)
Baha’i Center in St. Pete. 676 2nd Ave S, St Petersburg, FL 33701
7-9 p.m.
(Baha’i)
A film about the life of Baha’u’llah and his teachings. A tribute to the 200 year anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’llah.

Luther Couldn’t Tweet
Trinity Lutheran Church, 401 Fifth Street N St Petersburg FL 33701
(Christianity, Judaism, Islam)
7-8 p.m.
Luther couldn’t “tweet,” but the father of the Protestant Reformation did have access to the new medium of printing. Alongside the many social advances ushered in by the Reformation, its saddest legacy is how it fed anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attitudes in the Middle Ages and the centuries that followed. How, in the 21st-century, should we respond to Luther’s words of hatred and calls for violence? And, now that social media are providing new forums in which to express racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia, what is a person of faith to do? This two-hour forum and workshop will start by honestly assessing the hateful language that Luther aimed at “the Jew” and “the Turk” and the response of Lutheran Christians in the centuries since the Reformation, before addressing hate-speech in the 21st century and how we can restrict its power.

Tuesday, October 3:

Ancient Chanting and Tibetan Singing Bowls
Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, 2470 Nursery Road Clearwater FL 33765
7-8:30 p.m.
(Buddhism, Hinduism)
This performance/workshop with Alex Gopali is an opportunity for attendees to appreciate a culturally appropriate use of Tibetan singing bowls; to experience spiritual transformation; and to consider whether they might like to study this sound-based healing practice. The evening will include a mini lecture and hands-on experience using Tibetan singing bowls.

Interfaith Potluck (Family-Friendly)
Good Samaritan Church, 6085 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL 33781
6:30-8:30 p.m.
For everyone of all beliefs and spiritual traditions! Join Interfaith Tampa Bay members and the wider community for a vegetarian potluck that will include networking, dialogue and opportunities to get involved in our various events and projects.

Bahá’í Center of St. Petersburg (Bahá’í)
Spiritual Conversations: 7:30 p.m. (Bahá’í concepts like Divine unity, progressive revelation, history of the Faith, equality and more.)

Temple Beth-El (Jewish)
400 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Pete, FL 33707
Jewish Meditation in our Youth Lounge: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 4:

“What is Scientology?” Open House
Scientology Life Improvement Center, 336 1st Ave North St Pete
(Scientology)
6-8 p.m.
An open house of the Life Improvement Center’s historic building, film rooms, public information center and community programs. There will be a lecture at 7 p.m. by Scientology minister Debbie Deane, who will offer a description of the Scientology religion and its impact on the community. Attendees can get questions answered about Scientology and view the only filmed interview Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Gift bags will be given to all attendees.

First Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science/Christian)
Testimony Service: Noon and 7:30 p.m.

First Unity Spiritual Campus (New Thought/Christian)
Meditation and Healing Service: Sanctuary, 6-7 p.m.
Energy workers and reiki practitioners are invited to participate in this powerful hands-on healing event featuring music and meditation.

Trinity UCC Campus (Christian)
Kids Art Nite: 6-8 p.m.
Resident artist, Morgan Wright, offers art classes to community children each Wednesday. A fun and supervised event for all!

Thursday, October 5:

Interfaith Service Workshop
Unity Temple of Truth Church
6:30-7:30 p.m.
New Thought (Unity, Christian Science, Science of Mind)
This combination workshop/interactive service will include praise music, meditation, a facilitated discussion about planning and implementing interfaith services and corporate prayer. Led by Rev. Dr. Doral R. Pulley.

The Other As Our Neighbor: Interreligious Text Study
First Unity Spiritual Campus, LaGattuta Hall
7-8:30 pm
(Christianity, Judaism, Islam)
The Abrahamic Reunion holds interreligious text study projects monthly in Sarasota (and around the world) in an effort to bring people of different faiths together to know each other more deeply. Sheikh Ghassan Manasra will facilitate interreligious dialogue, as we come to know each other through our faiths. Religious leaders will present texts on “neighborliness” before splitting into small groups to create bonds of understanding, deep sharing and common humanity.

Spiritual Renewal for Justice Activists
Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater
7-8:30 p.m.
(Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age/Spiritualism)
Standing for love and resisting hate requires the spiritual tools to stay strong. This program is for the social justice activist wishing to draw on the teachings of Unitarian Universalism and the wisdom of other faith traditions, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Earth-centered spirituality. Participants will practice guided meditation, chanting, and consider how the visual arts help take us deeper within ourselves. Led by Rev. Patrice Curtis.

Integral Church (Interfaith)
Metta Center of St. Petersburg, 4554 Central Ave. Unit F, St. Pete, FL 33711
Interfaith/interspiritual service: 6:30 p.m.
Featuring group discussion, storytelling, music and meditation

Shambhala St. Pete (Buddhist)
Interfaith Recovery Night with Eric Rainbeau: 6-8 p.m. Anonymous and confidential.

Friday, October 6:

The Future of Spiritual Community (Workshop)
Metta Center of St. Petersburg
(Interfaith)
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Religion in America is changing. Joran Oppelt – international speaker, author, and founder of Integral Church – discusses the role that interfaith and secular communities play in filling the gap created by shrinking churches and temples; where the younger generation is finding religious life outside of its institutions; and what innovative leaders can do to reconnect with them. Limited to 12 attendees. Please RSVP to joranslane@gmail.com.

Temple Beth-El (Jewish)
Erev Shabbat Service & Oneg: 7:30-9 p.m.

Saturday, October 7:

Drive-Thru Blessing of Animals
Trinity Lutheran Church
3-5 p.m.
(Christian)
In honor of the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi (a devout man known for his love for all of God’s creatures) Trinity Lutheran Church will offer blessings from a variety of faith traditions for pets and service animals and distribute scriptures about humanity’s stewardship of creation. Simply drive or walk through the parking lot.

Hinduism and the Unity of All Religions
Unity of St Petersburg, 6168 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
(Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, New Thought)
This program is for everyone who is interested in the world’s religions and what they have in common. By examining the central concepts of the ancient mystical religion and current philosophical forms of Hinduism in India and the West, we see how many of these ideas are also present in other religions and societies. This interactive, educational seminar is taught by Mary Dawn Pyle, a professor of world religions, and includes open discussion, yoga, meditation, and vegetarian snacks.

Solidarity Not Charity: Building a Movement Among the Oppressed and the Poor
First Unity Spiritual Campus, LaGattuta Hall
460 46th Avenue North St. Pete, FL 33703
6-8 p.m.
(Christianity)
How can we move from charity to solidarity with the oppressed classes and the poor? Can a movement be created – spiritually, socially, politically, and emotionally – from the bottom up? Panelists include Rev. Bruce Wright, Rev. GW Rolle, Rev. Robin Harris, and Connie Burton.

Saint Mary Our Lady of Grace (Catholic)
Vigil Mass: 4 p.m.

Saint Peter’s Cathedral (Episcopal)
Service: 5 p.m.

Taoist Tai Chi Society / Fung Loy Kok Institute for Taoism (Taoist/Buddhist/Confucian)
1811 Dr MLK Jr St N. St Petersburg, FL 33704.
Taoist chanting every Saturday morning: 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Temple Beth-El (Jewish)
Shabbat Morning Worship & Torah Study: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Havdalah & Selichot Service: 10:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 8:

Sukkot Service (Sacred Ecology)
Congregation Beth Shalom, 1325 S Belcher Road, Clearwater, Florida 33764
9-11 a.m.
(Jewish)
Following a morning service, learn the customs of the weeklong holiday of Sukkot (harvest festival) as well as how we relate to the ecology in our own time. Led by Rabbi David Weizman, there will be an activity in the Biblical Garden, a ritual in the Sukkah (temporary shelter) and tastings of the seven species native to the Land of Israel.

Bahá’í Center of St. Petersburg (Bahá’í)
Devotions and discussion: 10:30 a.m.

Christ Gospel Church of St. Petersburg
Sunday School: 10 a.m., Sunday Morning: 11:30 a.m.; Sunday Evening: 6:30 p.m.

First Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science/Christian)
Service: 10:30 a.m.

First Unity at Unity Campus (New Thought/Christian)
Service(s): 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Good Samaritan Church (UCC/Presbyterian)
Service: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

King of Peace MCC
10:00 a.m. Sunday Service

Shambhala St. Pete (Buddhist)
Sunday Community Practice: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sadhana (Advanced) Practice: 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Saint Augustine Episcopal (Christian)
Service: 9 a.m.

Saint Mary Our Lady of Grace (Catholic)
Regular Mass: 8 and 11 a.m.

Saint Peter’s Cathedral (Episcopal)
Service: 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.

St. Petersburg Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Traditional silent Quaker worship. Adult Discussion Group: 9:30 a.m.; Meeting for Worship: 10:30 a.m, First Day School for Children: 10:40 a.m.

St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Community
Mass: 10:30 a.m.

Trinity Lutheran ELCA
Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Call church for times of service: (727) 525-3924

Trinity UCC Campus Center (Christian)
Lao Ministry of St. Petersburg: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (Laotian)
Anointed Word Fellowship: 10-11:30 a.m.
Trinity United Church of Christ (Contemporary): 10:30-11:45 a.m.
Iglesia Pentecostal Cielos Abiertos: 1:30-4:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg (Unitarian/Universalist)
Discussion Group: 9:30 a.m.
Interfaith Service: 10:30 a.m.

Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater
Open Issues Discussion Group: 9:30 a.m.
Interfaith Service: 10:30 a.m.

Unity of St. Petersburg
Service: 10:30 am

Unity Temple of Truth Church
Service: 10:00 a.m.

Vedanta Center of St. Petersburg
Service: 11 a.m.

Monday, October 9:

Jesus/Isa: Christian, Muslim and Jewish Perspectives on the Man from Nazareth
University of Tampa, Sykes Chapel, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606
(Christian, Islam, Judaism)
12-1:30 pm
Panelists: Rabbi Richard Birnholz (Congregation Schaarai Zedek), Imam Hassan Shibly (CAIR), Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer (FL Council of Churches). Lunch provided. Donations will benefit Irma relief. RSVP to rmeyer@floridachurches.org.

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More events are being added, keep checking back. Time, dates, locations and programming subject to change.