Memphis Inter-Religious Group
http://MemphisIRG.org
A Listing of events of probable
interest.
(page edited 2/5/2012 )
In some cases these are specifically interfaith events, others are
events of one religion that are not primarily religious services and
where you might want to go to see a facility, learn of the culture,
or meet people from a different group. Some are civic events
likely to draw representation from multiple religious or ethnic
groups. In posting things, we have not always explored all the
shades of opinion, so we may not necessarily agree with the views of
all the organizers. We do hope to find things where many of
our readers will be either sympathetic or interested in polite
discussion of the issues. During the summer there are fewer specific
interfaith events, so I've included a few more events with less
"interfaith" elements.
Note: If you have a bulletin board or other place where you
can post some of these events, we'd appreciate it. We'll like
it even more if you tell us where you are posting it and give
feedback for what you'd like on the poster. If you'd like a
one-page printable pdf of events, or some other arrangement, contact
me, e-mail admin@memphisirg.org.
I try to get things onto this page as soon as I can; check it pretty
regularly.
I always appreciate your help in letting me know what your group is
doing where members of other groups would be welcome.
A few web pointers have recently (early
September) moved to the "Book List" page
and the home page. Continuing events
(e.g. weekly) are now at the bottom of the list.
Bridges, the youth service agency (
http://www.bridgesusa.org/
) has substantially enlarged its "Bridge Builders" program, with
regular events for young people from 6th grade to 12th
grade. This is an excellent and very intercultural program
and depends heavily on having a large variety of participants. It
is often the first time that an inner-city young person encounters
a Muslim or a Jew (or vice-versa.) We recommend it highly. On the
other hand, I don't know how many readers of this page have kids
in that age range or work with youth groups. I'd appreciate
feedback on how often we should be reporting on "Bridge Builders"
events. On this point, mail to admin@memphisirg.org or
call 327-9735.
February 7, Tuesday 5 PM.
Rhodes College and Facing History. Lecture: Bargaining
with the Devil
By Prof Robert Mnookin of Harvard College. Blount Auditorium,
Rhodes College. (Enter on University Avenue north of the Zoo, get
further directions from the gate man.) Both Facing History
and the "Communities in Conversation" series at Rhodes have a
record of bringing in unusual and outstanding speakers. The
lecture will discuss examples like negotiating or refusing to
negotiate with Hitler and negotiations ending apartheid in South
Africa.
Queries: judakenj@rhodes.edu, 843-3292
February 7, Tuesday 7 PM.
Temple Tuesdays at Temple Israel. Choices include a
live video transmission of a New York 92nd Street Y discussion on "Unprotected
Texts, Controversial Elements in the Bible." Professors of
religion from Boston University and University of North Carolina.
Also programs about the Jewish "Arbor Day", on Memphis ecology and
Jewish cooking. Details at
http://timemphis.org/files/FebruaryVoice-Vol66No6-2012.pdf
(allow to load, then scroll to page 8)
February 7, 6:30 PM.
Catholic Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons, First
Tuesday Potluck supper in Marian Hall, under the sanctuary at
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 1695 Central. The speaker will be
Rabbi Aaron Rubenstein of Beth Shalom.
February 8, Wednesday, 7 PM.
Jewish Historical Society lecture: Canaanite and Israelite
Beth-Shemesh: What Archaeology has revealed. Also
sponsored by Bornblum Judaic Studies.
Fogelman Center, U of Memphis, Room 123
February 9. Thursday, Rabbi Greenstein will
receive the Memphis Theological Seminary President's
Humanitarian Award, at a fund-raising ceremonial dinner
the evening of February 9, 2012. Contact Sandra May at 334-5808 or
smays@MemphisSeminary.edu for tickets to the February dinner.
http://starks.memphisseminary.edu/
He has also recently received the Memphis City
Council Humanitarian Award.
February 10, Friday, 7:30 PM,
Memphis Masterworks Chorale singing Haydn's The Creation. Free Concert, Second
Presbyterian Church, 4055 Poplar Ave (Corner of Goodlett)
February 22 is Ash Wednesday
and will mark the start of several Lenten Lecture series and other
events.
The Muslims also typically sponsor several events in March.
The Calvary Episcopal
Church Lenten Lecture Series Schedule has been posted,
online at http://calvarymemphis.org/lps
Noon weekdays except a few special events. It
starts February 23.
I can't resist mentioning just a few that may be of special
interest to the interfaith community:
Phyllis Tickle, 2/27-28 Marcus Borg
3/5-6 Amy-Jill Levine (Jewish) 3/15
Micah Greenstein (Jewish) 3/19-20
Yasir Qadhi (Muslim) 3/21 Danish
Saddiqui (Muslim) 3/21 evening Nicholas L.
Vieron (Orthodox) 3/26
Billy Vaughn 3/27
Balmoral Presbyterian Church
Lenten Suppers / Lectures. 6413 Quince Rd.
Weds, 6:30 PM. Reserve for supper by Monday, $7. 2/29:
John McQuisten 3/7: Amy Moritz 3/14: Katie Kitchin
3/21: Bill Piacesi 3/28: Rev. Marion
Foster Details posted as time gets closer or when the
get to the Church website
at http://www.balmoralpc.com/
February 23, Thursday, 12 noon
to 1:30 PM. BRIDGES Justice Forum Luncheon,
Local Faith Leaders Talk Justice.
Bridges building, 477 North Fifth Street. (It looks like it is
on North Parkway, even if street names change...)
Dr Peter GAthje, Rabbi Micah Greenstein, Pastor Kieth Norman,
Sehrish Siddiqui, Pastor Karen Williams,
moderated by Dr. Russ Wigginton of Rhodes College. $10
includes lunch.
RSVP by February 17 at
http://www.bridgesusa.org/justiceforum or call Nikki
Haynes at 260-3752
Notify of special dietary needs.
February 29, Wednesday. MIFA
Awareness day at the Memphis Grizzlies, 7 PM Tip-Off.
Reduced price tickets with a significant share going to the
MIFA - MLGW "Plus 1 program.
For the e-mail announcement CLICK
HERE
Contact Emily Sharpe at MIFA, 901-529-4560 or esharpe@mifa.org
March 7,
Wednesday noon. Fundraising luncheon for the YWCA programs for domestic abuse victims.
$100. The speaker will be Victor Rivas Rivers, "Actor,
Athlete, Author, Activist" who was a domestic abuse victim as a
child. The Memphis Inter-Religious Group will organize a table for
this. To talk about the Memphis Inter-Religious Group, or if $100
is the problem, call the Ordmans at 327-9735. To make reservations
directly, call the YWCA directly at 320-6002 or e-mail;
kivey@memphisywca.org. Eunice Ordman worked for several
years as a volunteer in the YWCA shelter for abused women and
children. Contrary to what some might expect, the clientele there
is by no means restricted to cases of poverty: abuse occurs in
well-off homes as well, and especially among immigrant populations
the victims may not have elsewhere to go for help.
March 15, Thursday, Vanderhaar
Symposium. 7 PM.
MOVED TO : First Congregational Church, 1000 South Cooper
Speaker: Dr. Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, Professor
Emerita, Drew University.
Title: "Compassion and Solidarity: Struggling for Justice,
Building Peace.
Poster at http://www.gvanderhaar.org/
March 24, Inter-Faith
Handyman Project, MIFA. The last such project
drew about 90 people. For advance info and arrangements call Linda
Marks at 527-0208 x 218, or e-mail lmarks@mifa.org
April 18-20. Weds-Friday.
Benjamin Hooks Institute Annual Conference. Toward
a more Union: Civil Rights, Human Rights, and Creating an Age
of Social Responsibility. The Conference is free and open to the
public, at the University of Memphis. There will also be a major
fund-raising event ($125) on Friday evening at 5:30 PM at the
Orpheum Theatre, the premiere showing of the documentary film
on the life of Benjamin Hooks (a Memphis native, head of the
NAACP, close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King) entitled
"Duty of the Hour".
ONGOING EVENTS
Wednesday, 7:30 PM The
life of Muhammad, lecture series by Sheik Yasir
Qadhi at the Memphis Islamic Center, 10225 Humphreys Road,
Cordova, TN 38018.
On-line broadcasts, http://www.memphisislamiccenter.org/
Memphis School of Servant
Leadership offers a number of classes and other
meetings (e.g. a writers' group.). Some of these start as early as
January 9th. Their web site is http://www.servantleadership-memphis.org
and their Spring 2012 catalogue is at http://www.servantleadership-memphis.org/Winter_Spring_2012_classes.doc
Phone number is 901-320-7005
The Eroica
Ensemble gives free concerts at some of our
favorite houses of worship, a good chance to visit these places if
you’d rather not visit a religious service but would like to get
to know the place and people, and hear some exceptionally good
classical music for free! Feb 4&5, March 3&4, March
24&25, May 5&6, June 2&3. The
full schedule is at
http://eroicamemphis.org/season.htm
497-9600
Sundays 11 AM and
Fridays 7PM - Buddhist Meditation and Dharma Talk
- Link
Here
Second
Tuesday, 11:15 AM- Noon at the Memphis
Theological Seminary. Brown bag lunch (that is.
you may bring something to eat during it if you wish: some do,
some don't) and speaker , 168 East Parkway
South, Room F-201 (Founders Hall,) A
chance to see the Seminary, if you haven't visited it. Or if you
can't go, look at the live feed on the Seminary website,
http://www.memphisseminary.edu/
The "second Tuesday" lunches at the Memphis
Theological Seminary
seem to be on hiatus for December and January, but
the excellent talk in November, on Nat Turner, is on line at
http://www.memphisseminary.edu/Brown-Bag-Lecture-Series/
Second Tuesday each
month, 6:45 PM. The monthly meeting of Pax Christi, the
Roman Catholic Peace group, in Marian Hall downstairs from the
sanctuary at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. For
further information call Janice Vanderhaar at 901-362-9364.
http://www.paxchristimemphis.org
(Among the interesting aspects of life in Memphis is that the
Catholic Bishop sponsors a potluck supper for the Gay and Lesbian
community in the same place, at 6:30 on the first Tuesday or each
month. If you want to see these people can relate to and remain
active in a religious organization, but all means attend one of
their meetings.)
Second Tuesday 7 PM - a variety of
programs at Temple Israel, http://timemphis.org/
There are regular notices of events (sometimes
on a bit short notice) at http://www.midsouthpeace.org/
The Worker's Interfaith Network http://www.workersinterfaithnetwork.org/
also has events with a nice interfaith turnout.
It is good to connect with these on Facebook
for the promptest notices.
And of course there is the ever-improving listing of
faith-related events at
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/lifestyles/faith-in-memphis/
Please let me know of things that should be
included.
(admin@memphisirg.org)
or call us at 327-9735
We also welcome reports of events you attended.