FAITH HOUSE Manhattan

An Urban Laboratory of Interdependence

Dear Friends of Faith House, In times past, strong cities were walled. Our religions developed in similar contexts of defensiveness, isolation and conflict.  The times have changed.  Today, bridges, airports, roads, cell phones and the internet help cities survive and thrive on a connected planet. Religion, one of the most potent forces to mobilize human hearts and communities, has yet to catch up in our newly interdependent world.   The world is hurt not only by the actions of religious extremist minorities but by the religious ignorance and indifference of the majority. Tolerance and appreciation between religions is simply not enough. We all must dig further into our texts, traditions, and practices to  help us experience, understand and actually learn to need one another.   Nothing happens alone.  The promises our religions make - to  love our neighbor, empower the poor, pursue justice, and care for the planet - cannot be fulfilled when our groups act alone. To fulfill the promises of our own religions, we need each other. That's why we have Faith House. This is a unique organization.  Hearts and minds change through experience, community, and sustained action. While most interfaith work happens as dialogue, Faith House provides a space where people can experience "the other" and form long-lasting relationships in a sustained "community of communities."   Faith House is an experiential urban laboratory.  Instead of believing in the self-sufficiency of our religions, we serve the city and the world with fresh ideas and expressions of interdependence, exploring possibilities for passionate belief in a pluralist world, insisting that new practices can be discovered, discussed, developed, and spread.

Read the Spirit Interviews Samir Selmanovic

Read the Spirit is an online home for readers who believe that diverse spiritual connections between people of faith build stronger communities. Their online magazine includes inspirational stories, fresh voices, reviews of books and films—and much more. Click HERE to find out why we in Faith House think David Crumm and Read the Spirit are likely the best online resource for all things inter-religious.  

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Meet a religious peacemaker who wants to celebrate our uniqueness

 Some of us call it "The December Dilemma"—because so many of us feel torn each holiday season about how to properly honor our diverse religious traditions without trampling anyone in the process.

    It's easy to leap enthusiastically from celebrating religious diversity—to a kind of wholesale consumption. That kind of eclectic approach to spirituality can quickly erode the authenticity of any one tradition.

    To which we quickly add with Seinfeld: "Not that there's anything wrong with that!" Come back tomorrow and you'll read what we think is a wonderfully thoughtful essay by a writer who—like millions of Americans right now—is indeed mixing and matching her religious inspirations.

    That's why we call December a "dilemma." What's a writer to do? How do we weave our way through Jewish, Christian and Muslim holidays, not to mention Kwanzaa and traditions in other religions that tend to vanish in an American landscape that's pushing "all Christmas all the time."

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TODAY, we're introducing an important new voice on the national scene, speaking out about these thorny challenges.

    Samir Selmanovic was born into a secular-Muslim family in eastern Europe, then converted to Christianity thanks to a friend he met while serving in the army. Later, he immigrated to the U.S., became the pastor of a small congregation in New York City and eventually founded Faith House Manhattan to explore interreligious relationships. Finally, he began writing about his many adventures.

    Samir takes a distinctive approach to religious diversity that we think is helpful in sorting out dilemmas like December in America. In his quest to clarify these issues, Samir uses terms like "urban laboratory," "interdependence" and "strangeness."

   In a nutshell: Samir argues that we should not try to homogenize the "strangeness"—or uniqueness—of our distinctive religious backgrounds. Samir agrees with ReadTheSpirit that strong, healthy communities depend, today, on celebrating our diversity. But, Samir also insists that we avoid trying to blend, or even soften the edges, of our unique perspectives on faith—including atheism as one perspective. The key to recognizing our interdependence, he argues, comes from learning the value of defending our neighbor's religious perspective.

CONVERSATION WITH SAMIR SELMANOVIC
ON "IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT GOD"

DAVID: Since we’re talking here about preserving the distinctiveness of our religious traditions, I have to note for our readers that you’re the first Seventh-day Adventist I can recall featuring in one of our Wednesday author interviews. Your denomination has a long and proud tradition in American life, including the fact that the Kellogg brothers were Adventists and changed the way we eat breakfast.
    But, considering your background in a Muslim community in Croatia in the former Yugoslavia, I was surprised when I first learned that you are an Adventist minister. Seems remarkable, considering your family background and homeland.

SAMIR: Well, that is the door through which I entered the Christian faith. The counter-cultural aspect of Adventism and its emphasis on holistic living attracted me. I also appreciate that some of our practices connect with Eastern traditions. I appreciate that our Sabbath on Saturday is rooted in Judaism.  . . .

TO CONTINUE READING THE INTERVIEW:  http://www.readthespirit.com/explore/2009/12/581-interview-samir-selmanovic-faith-house-manhattan.html

Pew Survey says "Americans Mix Multiple Faiths" & Rabbi David Ingber responds on ABC World News

A new Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life Survey was released last Wednesday, saying that "Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths."  35% of Americans attend religious services at more than one place, including 24% who attend religious services of a different faith.  This is a very interesting new Survey, which we encourage you to read and discuss!  Clearly, Faith House is part of larger phenomena!

ABC World News with Charlie Gibson covered the story on Thursday, December 10th, and included Rabbi David Ingber of Romemu in their coverage!  We are overjoyed that Rabbi David and Romemu, who have been part of Faith House this year and are featured in Samir's book It's Really All About God, were invited to speak about the ways that Romemu was founded out of this larger movement in religion today. 

Rabbi David Ingber was raised in an Orthodox Jewish home, but abandoned Judaism in his 20s. He studied Taoism, martial arts and yoga as part of what he calls his "spiritual journey." After a decade away from the faith, he felt called back to Judaism.

"When I came back to Judaism, in my early 30s, I brought back my experiences that I had had in my 20s."

Ingber became a rabbi and founded a congregation in New York City called Romemu – its slogan is Judaism for mind, body and spirit. He leads his congregation in yoga and incorporates meditation into his services.

"I do think that it's a level of maturity involved in being so secure in your own root tradition that you can dabble, that you can borrow and that you don't feel that it's in some way sacrificing your own identity," Ingber said.

READ FULL STORY & WATCH 2 1/2 MINUTE CLIP
From ABC World News with Charles Gibson

This Weekend! Chanukah with Romemu & Field Trip to Cathedral of St. John the Divine

SPECIAL EVENT Romemu's Annual Chanukah Bash

Saturday, December 12

8-12 PM

SUBUD, 230 W 29th Streets
Between 7th and 8th Aves

$36 Entry to the Party

One Love, One Light Annual Chanukah Bash! 

Silent auction, free massages, thai yoga therapy, not to mention a special Ravayah (havdalah/rave) complete with world class musical performances including Morley's soulful music, dancing, organic latkes and fun activities for all ages!

RSVPs welcome, but not required to info@faithhousemanhattan.org or on the Facebook Event

FIELD TRIP Eucharist at Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine

Sunday, December 13

10 am - Coffee at the
Hungarian Pastry Shop
(Amsterdam and 111th)

10:45 - Meet at Cathedral
11 am - Choral Eucharist

12:45 - We are invited to the Congregation Christmas Party at Cathedral House

1047 Amsterdam Ave  at 112th Street  New York, NY 10025

Come to Saint John the Divine, the largest Cathedral in the world and the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

Bowie, who is a member of the congregation at the Cathedral, will be at the Hungarian Pastry Shop across the street on Amsterdam and 111th from 10-10:40 AM if you want to meet her there for coffee, pastries, and any questions about the Cathedral or the service.

We will meet in the rear of the church (inside the front doors) at 10:45 and go to our seats for the 11 am Eucharist.

Sunday, December 13th is the Third Sunday in Advent, the season preparing for Christmas. The service will feature a full choir of adults and children, readings from the Bible, hymns, a sermon, and communion (Eucharist, Bread and Wine). At the Cathedral, all are invited to participate fully.  It is also a beautiful space to just be still.

Following the service, we are invited to join the Congregation for their Annual Christmas Party from 12:45 - 3 p.m., in the Cathedral House Conference Room. 

RSVPs welcome, but not required, to bowie@faithhousemanhattan.org, on Facebook or Meetup.

Serve Together: Interfaith Platform on Humane Immigration Reform ADVOCACY

Did you know Jesus was a refugee? 

The image to the left is a depiction from the Gospel of Matthew (chapter two) where we learn that King Herod feels threatened by the birth of Jesus and wants to kill him.  An angel of God appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him to flee from Herod into Egypt with Jesus and Mary, and to stay there until he is told to return. In this situation, Jesus, Joseph and Mary are all refugees and immigrants.  

As we gather together this Wednesday to think about our connection to the material in light of the life and teachings of Jesus, we will also be thinking about our connection to the people around us, specifically immigrants.  The Serve Together for this month will be an action opportunity focused on immigrants and immigration reform during the Deconstructed Pre-Christmas Rummage Sale.  We will be thinking about the Matthew text, as well as what other religious traditions have to say about immigrants, learning a little bit about the status of immigration reform in America, and, finally, we will be writing and signing postcards to send off to elected officials. 

Many different faith and interfaith organizations have already come together to take a stand on the issue. On Wednesday everyone will have the opportunity to join them in doing so.  Please check out the Interfaith Platform on Humane Immigration Reform for some more information on the issue and the proposals for reform. Copies of the platform will be available at the Rummage Sale. 

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday,

Bara
Social Justice Intern

Sabbath Poem (St. John of the Cross - 3)

IF YOU WANT
~ by St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)

If
You Want,

the Virgin will come walking down the road

pregnant with the holy, 

and say,

“I need shelter for the night, please take me inside your heart,

my time is so close.”

Then, under the roof of your soul, you will witness the sublime

intimacy, the divine, the Christ

taking birth

forever,

as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us

is the midwife of God, each of us.

Yet there, under the dome of your being does creation

come into existence eternally, through your womb, dear pilgrim—

the sacred womb in your soul,

as God grasps our arms for help; for each of us is

His beloved servant

never 
far.

If you want, the Virgin will come walking

down the street pregnant

with Light and
 sing ...

(from the Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West, translation Daniel Ladinsky, Penguin Compass)

Sabbath Poem (Mansour - 2)

THE EAST WEST
~ Ali Mansour

Between the east and the west — there is a hole
I found my self in it
I couldn’t reach the west — neither could I go back to the east
All I can do — I scream and say
YA ALLAH (OH GOD) ALLAH hay ALLAH hay (GOD is a life)
Every body heard me —
And all came running … looking at me
From the edge of the hole
I hear them saying SUBHAN ALLAH (GOD IS GREAT)
WLA HAULA WLA QOHWATA ELA BELLAH
(GOD holds all the power)
The haven is here … the haven … the haven is here 
I raise my hands and say … take me with you … with you … you
Everybody tries to grab one of my hands and pull me up
But I didn’t go anywhere
I felt crucified ... like JESUS had been
Trying to unifying east and west
Oh God is this punishment or praise?
I’m screaming from the pain … Or
I’m cheering for the praise !
I don’t know any more
I mumble with voices no one can understand
Neither from the east nor from the west
But they are still trying to reach my hands
In order to save me … Or to be with me
And no one can do
Except you — the one up there
The one in the center
The one and the only one ... can pull me out of the hole
…or push them down with me
So we all can sing for you  
Anta el HADY anta el HAQ lis la hady il ALLHA
(YOU are the truth and the One can show us
the real road “direct path”)
La ILLAHA … il ALLAH … La Illaha … il ALLAH
(there is no God, but Allah the unique, and the only one)
YA HU   
             YA HU                                      

             YA HU           YA HU                    

Ali Mansour wrote this for our Living Room on "Walking More than One Path"                              

Nine Tweets from the Presentation by Tiokasin Ghosthorse (Nov 25)

Today, Friday, marks the first Native American Heritage Day, as signed into law in June by President Obama. Did you know that?

On November 25, our Living Room hosted Tiokasin Ghosthorse, from the Cheyenne River Lakota (Sioux) Nation of South Dakota, "First Voices Indigenous Radio" Producer and Host, a storyteller, poet, university lecturer, scholar, essayist, cultural interpreter, and a peace and human rights activist. Find out more about Tiokasin and our event HERE.

To contribute to this first Native American Heritage day in a small personal way, I decided to put together this post with nine morsels of Native American wisdom I have send out on my Twitter account @SamirSelmanovic, during the talking part of his presentation. These are not exact quotes of his words, but pretty close, I trust. I find each of them to be a door to new way of thinking about us, our community, and our land.

Nine tweets report from Tiokasin Ghosthorse (by @SamirSelmanovic):

1. "Everything around us is there to care for us. To learn to appreciate is the meaning of life."

2. "It does not matter who was here first. What matters is to learn to live in one world."

3. "Science is merely 4 thousand years old. Wisdom is older."

4. "Why bomb the moon? What is wrong with water on earth?"

5. "Indigenous people don't have brain. Our head is integrated with our heart, whole being. Rational means separated/decapitated."

6. "Lakota language does not have words for belief, death, I, or me. If you would learn my language, you would break free."

7. "4 countries + US do not recognize indigenous people as human beings. Recognition would force USA to honor the treaties."

8. "We do not have concept of ownership. We are not souls dwelling in a body. We are bodies dwelling in the Soul. We all belong."

9. "One word, the deepest one, to teach you as I finish: Relative. Einstein pondered this one. WE ARE ALL RELATIVES." The End

LIVING ROOM Deconstructed Pre-Christmas Rummage Sale 12/9

Wednesday, December 9

7 to 9 PM
Drop by for 10 minutes
or stay the whole time!

Intersections, 274 5th Ave
Btwn 29th and 30th Sts

"Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 
~ Jesus (Luke 18:22)
 
Looking for good deals for Christmas? 

Come rummage through piles of clothes, books, household items and lots of miscellany.  No cover charge.  Most items are pay as you can; some items will be available for auction.  Antiques and original "Metrocard Man" items for sale too.  Proceeds to support Faith House Manhattan's 2010 operating expenses.  Bring your loose change!  All coins will be given to the Salvation Army.  
 
Jesus had a lot to say about money and the stuff we hang on to.  He praised the widow who gave her last pennies to the temple.  He told us to render unto God that which is God's. He reminds us of how God clothes the lilies of the field, even Solomon in all his splendor was not clothed so well.
 
We'll also have holiday snacks, skits, crafts for kids, and interactive stations where you can rummage through piles of sacred texts and take those you like, write down your own thoughts about stuff, give change for the Salvation Army, ring a bell for others to donate, and more.  Plus time to spend time with the wonderful interfaith community of Faith House people. 

RSVPs welcome, but not required, to bowie@faithhousemanhattan.org, on Facebook or Meetup.

DE-CLUTTERING Donations for Rummage Sale

This year, give away possessions that clutter your life.  Things you don't use, or have outgrown, or have become baggage.  Not trash, but treasures you are ready to part with. Email Bowie if you would like to donate clothes, household items, books, art, etc. or if you would like to come to a "sorting party" on from 5-8 pm on Sunday, November 29th.  You can also bring donations to the 11/25 Living Room or on December 9, from 6-7 PM. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven... a time to keep, and a time to throw away"  Ecclesiastes 3:1,6

Photos from Yardsale Bloodbath Blog

LIVING ROOM Indigenous Peoples & Inclusive Politics with Tiokasin Ghosthorse

Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009

6 pm Doors, 7 pm Program

Intersections, 274 5th Ave
Btwn 29th and 30th Sts

With Tiokasin Ghosthorse: Tiokasin Tasunke Wanagi "Ghosthorse Spirit Coming In" Oyate Tokaheya Wicakiye "He Places Nations First"

On the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving Day, all are invited to a vegetarian family meal and Living Room program hosted by Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Host and Producer of "First Voices Indigenous Radio," a Lakota thinker, activist, and musician.
 
Politics for the Lakota is spiritual and not separate from the rest of life. Indigenous peoples are after an inclusive politics and an inclusive world. There is no word for "exclusion" in Lakota and there is no word for "me" or "I".  The responsibility of living within this worldview is far-reaching, from the beginnings of Life itself.  This way of knowing and of being must be learned by all who walk with Mother Earth.
 
"There can be no peace on earth, unless there is peace with earth. Humankind will cease to exist if Indigenous Peoples become extinct. If you kill off a species, you remove a balance from that chain of being and things start to collapse.  Let me take it one step further and say, there are three hundred and fifty million Indigenous peoples left out of 7 Billion. We live on seventy percent of the pristine land because we resisted and because we cared for it as it cares for us. And now they want that land. We are the roots. If the indigenous peoples go, there goes the rest of the earth" ~ Tiokasin Ghosthorse
 
Tiokasin Ghosthorse, from the Cheyenne River Lakota (Sioux) Nation of South Dakota, is "First Voices Indigenous Radio" Producer and Host.  Tiokasin is a storyteller, poet, university lecturer, scholar, essayist, cultural interpreter, and a peace and human rights activist. 
 
Tiokasin has a long history in Indigenous rights activism and advocacy on Turtle Island (North America) and overseas.  As a teenager, he spoke at the United Nations in Geneva.  He is also a survivor of the "Reign of Terror" from 1972 to 1976 on the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation, and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Boarding and Church Missionary School systems designed to "kill the Indian and save the man."
 
Tiokasin Ghosthorse is also a master musician, and a teacher. He is one of the great exponents of the  Lakota flute, and plays traditional and contemporary music.  He performs worldwide and has been featured at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at the United Nations.

Bring a beverage, dessert, salad, or vegetarian dish to share.  

RSVPs welcome, but not required, to info@faithhousemanhattan.org, on our Facebook Event or Meetup Event. 

LIVING ROOM Speaking the Unspoken, Naming the Unnamed: Israel & Palestine Dialogue

Wednesday, Nov 11, 2009
6 pm Doors, 7 pm Program

Intersections, 274 5th Ave
Btwn 29th and 30th Sts

With Marcia Kannry, The Dialogue Project & other guests

Come explore how we can create an opportunity, a space where we can risk to speak the unspoken about our connections, histories, and the wounds of Israel and Palestine.  We will cultivate a place where we learn how to listen, actively and generously.  We will address the needs all humans have to be seen and acknowledged.  We will share stories, surface differences, and have a difficult conversation around the hot words of home and homeland, justice and peace.  Chanting, niggun, poetry, and prayer will begin and end the dialogue.

Marcia Kannry, Founder of The Dialogue Project, with other Palestinian Americans and Israelis will create a dialogue circle with all of us.  Learn more about The Dialogue Project

RSVPs welcome, but not required, on our Facebook Event or Meetup Event.  Vegetarian snacks to share also welcome!