Welcome

Don’t miss these upcoming interfaith events in the St. Louis community:

God in the Box – Saturday, May 26 at 7pm

The film “God in the Box,” a documentary about how different people from various religions view God, will be shown at Shaare Emeth Congregation (at the corner of Ladue and Ballas Roads in West County) on Saturday, May 26, at 7:00 p.m. Representatives of different religions will discuss the film. This event is co-sponsored by Shaare Emeth Congregation and by Interfaith Partnership.

Please RSVP to Congregation Shaare Emeth’s office at 314-569-0010.

This event is part of the congregation’s larger celebration of the Festival of Shavuot. Shavuot is known as the Festival of the Giving of the Torah. To celebrate the giving of the Torah and covenant with God, they will renew acceptance of this gift and obligations to live lives of justice and peace. Dairy dishes are traditionally served on Shavuot to symbolize the sweetness of the Torah and the “land of milk and honey.”

The evening will include:

• Dairy desserts, coffee, and tea
• A viewing of the new film “God in the Box,” a proactive documentary about what people believe
• and don’t believe about God
• An opportunity for discussion and dialogue in a safe atmosphere of openness and acceptance
• Havdalah and brief Shavuot prayer and meditation

June Member Meeting

On Wednesday, June 20 at 7pm, we will hold our third quarterly Member Meeting in conjunction with a special tour of the Living Insights Center, located at 6361 Clayton Road (diagonally across from St. Mary’s Health Center). All are welcome at Member Meetings, but only paid members may vote. The Living Insights Center combines aspects of a temple, a community center, a spiritual gift shop, and a library, but perhaps most of all it’s a sanctuary and home. All are welcome to commune, meditate, pray, read, or shop there.

Three Zen Buddhism Talks

Rev. Daigaku Rumme, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest, will speak on “Zen Practice Within Everyday Life” on Friday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at the Missouri Zen Center, 220 Spring Avenue, Webster Groves. He will speak on “Reflections on Zen in America” on Saturday, May 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Thai Buddhist Temple, 890 Lindsay Lane in Florissant. He will speak on “The Awakening of North Americans to Buddhism” on Sunday, May 20, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Fo Guang Shan, the Chinese Buddhist Temple, 3109 Smiley Road in Bridgeton. This last talk will be part of the Vesak Day events taking place from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Muslim Humorist Enlightens, Entertains

Imran Ahmad – lecturer, humorist, and author of The Perfect Gentleman: A Muslim Boy Meets the West will speak in the Memorial Hall of the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 W. Lockwood Ave. (at Elm), Sunday, June 3 at 4pm, as part of his U.S. tour promoting the book and broadening people’s perspectives on the positive presence of Islam in the West.

Copies of Mr. Ahmad’s book will be available for sale and signing after his talk. This presentation is being done in partnership with Pudd’nhead Books of Webster Groves.

18th Annual Heartland in Harmony Celebration – June 21

The 18th Annual Heartland in Harmony Celebration will be held in the morning of Thursday, June 21, from 6 to 8 a.m. by the South Reflecting Pool on the Arch grounds at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. This event is sponsored by Paneurhythmy: Circle of Joy. Paneurhythmy dance movements will be performed and then words of harmony will be shared. Everyone is then welcome to share a potluck vegetarian brunch.

Meditation & Instruction at Missouri Zen Center

Members of Interfaith Partnership/Faith Beyond Walls and the general public are invited to an evening of Zen Buddhist meditation and instruction on Monday, July 30, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Missouri Zen Center, 220 Spring Avenue in Webster Groves. Participants need to remove their shoes on the porch before entering the meditation area.