Interfaith Immersion Day 2, Part 2

Monday Eve On Monday night we headed to Center City Philadelphia for a visit to the Church of Latter Day Saints [Mormons]. We started out at their meeting house where many meetings, classes, and other organizational business take place. There were also rehearsals going on for the upcoming theatrical performance of “Savior of the World.” […]

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Interfaith Immersion Day 2

Monday In the morning we began our first service-learning project in West Philly at Ahimsa House. The Ahimsa House is a center for practices of peace & mindful living and a center for conscious consumerism. Their pillars [in Sanskrit] are: Ahimsa (non-violence) Dana (generosity) Metta (unconditional love), and mindfulness. The residents of Ahimsa House really […]

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Interfaith Immersion Week Day 1

Sunday Our week began with a visit to the very active Sikh community in Upper Darby. There are over 20 million Sikhs around the world today. Sikhism began over 500 years ago in the Punjab area of South Asia, which now includes the vast territories of Northern India and eastern Pakistan. Guru Nanak, born in […]

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Interfaith Immersion Week

March 11-17 I am spending my days and evenings with students and faculty from Jefferson University and Ohio Wesleyan University as part of the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia’s Interfaith Encounters Alternative Break program. The two groups represent various traditions, including but not limited to: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Secular. The Ohio Wesleyan students range […]

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The Virtue and Practice of Rest

Mark 1:9-15 It’s not popular to take a break. Is it? Really, it’s not. I mean, you’re tired, burned out, mentally exhausted at work, and so you think—I should—take a break, right? And so, when you do, to recharge, to find your strength again, are you met with approving looks and applause? Most likely, NO. […]

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Trans-Figure

Mark 9:2-10 Many Christians observe what is called Transfiguration Sunday, just before Ash Wednesday. Transfiguration is not a word we say a lot. It comes from the Greek word for metemorphothe, what we pronounce “metamorphosis.” Ongoing change. Of course, maybe you’ve heard or used the word transfiguration as it pertains to the spells of the […]

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Restored to Wholeness: Full Self

Mark 1:29-34a 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, […]

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Love Builds Up

Mark 1:21-39 Let’s talk demons, afflictions, identity and love. Cool with you? Okay, first, a story about Jesus of Nazareth. He’s making his way to Capernaum–perhaps the most important and well-connected community in the region of Galilee. There was a temple there, and Jesus was about to darken its door. Mark’s Gospel is the speed […]

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Progress and Purpose

Mark 1:14-20 Sometimes we see ourselves as only what others tell us, or what the world tells us. Are we just our jobs? Are we just defined by appearance? Are we meant to fit into other people’s boxes? Or, are we invited to be ourselves in a free-flowing, surprising way? Are we invited to follow […]

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Noticing and Being Seen

John 1:43-51 What things do you notice in everyday life? Which things do you often miss, go unnoticeable? When you notice something you didn’t before, how does that change things for you? I think there is a difference between being noticed and being seen, would you agree? For example, you go to a social gathering: […]

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