Interreligious Events This Sunday

This Sunday two local interfaith events will take place. The first and largest gathering of the two is the Annual Interreligious Thanksgiving Service. This service is sponsored by Austin Area Interreligious Ministries and has been held for 22 years now. It is an amazing opportunity to see all the diverse faiths of our city represented under one roof. Our favorite part of the service is the call to worship, which has in the past incorporated an imam singing a prayer, a Catholic priest carrying incense, the playing of a ram's horn, and a Buddhist nun chanting all at the same time.

A panel discussion on Religious Values and Torture will be held later that evening. Faith leaders and lay leaders from the community will discuss and take questions on torture, human rights, and the moral questions related to these issues. This discussion is sponsored by Congregation Beth Israel and will be moderated by Rev. Emilee Whitehurst, Executive Director of Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. There will be religious leaders from the North Austin Muslim Community Center, United Christian Church, the Austin Zen Center and other Austin faith organizations.

22nd Annual Interreligious Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, Nov. 19
St. Louis Catholic Church
7601 Burnet Rd. [map]
3:45pm Service
5pm Reception
FREE and open to the public

Religious Values and Torture: Moral Questions for a Changing World
Sunday, Nov. 19
Congregation Beth Israel, Smith Auditorium
3901 Shoal Creek Boulevard [map]
7pm-9pm, FREE and open to the public

Photo by leenient on flickr