Celebrate Gandhi’s Birthday and the International Day of Non-Violence!

Place: 1st. Metropolitan United Church Chapel
            932 Balmoral Avenue, Victoria.
Time:   7pm – 9pm

FREE EVENT – ALL ARE WELCOME!

Discover and explore the many paths to peace through storytelling and discussion with members of Victoria’s spiritual communities.

… be the change you want to see in the world …
A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.
Mahatma Gandhi.

In collaboration with the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (Victoria) www.departmentofpeace.ca
Contact: Penny Joy,  pjoy@shaw.ca or phone 250-383-5878

There will be an event hosted by the Baha’i Community of Victoria to celebrate the centenary anniversary of the visit of Abdu’l-Bahá to Canada.

Abdu’l-Baha was the son of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith.  He came to America at the invitation of the American Baha’is.  He was 67 years old and in frail health, having lived most of his life in exile and as a prisoner.   He had, before coming, received seven invitations to speak.  Beyond these engagements an amazing number of opportunities emerged, affecting thousands of people.  This performance will share some of the stories of those who met him.

Date: The event will be held on Sunday, 9 September, 2012
Place: Alix Goolden Hall – 907 Pandora Avenue.
Time: There will be a reception at 3:00pm, followed at 4:00pm by  a performance.

You are all warmly invited to attend this joyful event, and to share this invitation with others. The event is open to everyone.

We hope to see you all there.
Sharon Welsh, Victoria Multifaith Society Baha’i Member

Indigenous Rights in the UN System
Celebrating the 5th. Anniversary of the UN Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Speakers:
Journalist & Educator Kenneth Deer of the Mohawk Nation at Kahnawake.
Robert Morales, lawyer and chief negotiator for Hul’quminum Treaty Group.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 7:00 – 9:00p.m.
Room 159, Fraser Building
University of Victoria (3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC)
Admission is free. Seating is limited.

To mark the 5th. anniversary of the UN Declaration of Indigenous Peoples, Kenneth Deer will discuss (via videotape) the development of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and its 25-year passage through the UN system. Deer’s talk will be followed by an address by Robert Morales on the recent Canadian developments & issues relating to the UNDRIP.

For other talks in the series see www.lrwc.org or contact lrwc@portal.ca; 604-738-0338

Co-sponsored by: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, www.lrwc.org; www.hulquminum.bc.ca; Amnesty International, www.amnesty.ca; University of Victoria – Law, www.law.uvic.ca; University of Victoria – Social Justice Studies, web.uvic.ca/socialjustice.

Learning from the Celtic Traditions

A one hour talk with The Very Rev. Logan McMenamie,
Dean of Christ Church Cathedral

Musical Guest, Emlyn Sheeley, Soprano

First Church of Christ, Scientist, Victoria
1205 Pandora Avenue, at Chambers

Monday evening, July 16 @ 7pm

“Following the departure of the Roman Legions from Britain, the country declined into a dark age, However, in the north and west, a light continued to glow. That light came from what has come to be known as the ‘Celtic Fire.’ This evening will be an opportunity to learn about the essence of this fire in the life of these people we know as the Celts,” writes Rev. McMenamie.

This evening will be a rare opportunity to discover more about early Christianity from fresh perspectives and to discuss its relevance for today.

 We will ask, “What do the traditions of those who live in the islands of the North Atlantic have to teach us in our present context?”

 After the talk, there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion and to meet the Very Rev. McMenamie – while enjoying dessert.

Everyone is welcome

The following events take place as a continuation of Part II Dialogue Project (ICA) and The Victoria Multifaith Society.

Open House Series.
The Victoria Multifaith Society and the Intercultural Association invite you to the following Open House series.
People of all faiths are invited to attend these events and to learn about each other in community.

Christian Open House
Saturday April 28, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Christians from a diverse range of Christian backgrounds will come together for an afternoon of sharing, music and essential Christian expressions and presentations, each sharing from their own tradition, resulting in a mosaic of Christian expression as found in the Greater Victoria area.

Christian Faith Open House.
First Church of Christ, Scientist. (Christian Science Church)
1205 Pandora Ave. at Chambers St.
(Large white domed building at the top of Harris Green)
Program:
2:00 – 3:30pm   presentations and question and answer.
3:30 – 4:00pm   meet and greet and refreshments.
Parking is in the lot next to the church on Chambers St.
For more information about this event contact the Christian Science Reading Room 250-383-0216; or christiansciencebooks@telus.net

Speakers at This event will be:

• The Very Rev. Dr. Logan McMenamie fulfills roles in both the local Victoria Anglican parish and the diocese of British Columbia. As Rector of Christ Church Cathedral, he is a pastor and teacher and supervises all operations of the parish. As Dean of Columbia, he is second in ecclesiastical rank to the Bishop.

• Anna Bowness Park is a full time Christian Science practitioner of spiritual healing, and the spokesperson for Christian Science in British Columbia. She also is the founder and co-moderator a multifaith discussion blog, Spiritually Speaking,  for the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper print edition and website.

• Pastor Lyle Mackenzie is pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church Of The Cross, on Cedar Hill Road. He also is a chaplain at the University of Victoria, and a contributor to the Times Colonist Spiritually Speaking blog.

• Margaret O’Donnell is founder and executive director of The Oasis Society for Spiritual Health offering spiritual care for the most vulnerable – those largely on the street.

• Gordon Miller is a United Church member and a professional musician with a music business that offers a wide range of services.  As a person of deep faith, he has beautifully melded his faith with his music and loves to engage people with their community through music.
  Please join us for this family friendly community faith event. Refreshments and snacks served. No registration required.

Baha’i’ Faith Open House.
Sun. May 27th. 3 – 5pm
At Windsor Park Pavilion – 2451 Windsor Road, Oak Bay.

Buddhist Open House Open House.
Sat. June 9th. Noon -2pm
4095 Orion Place – Saanich, Gordon Head near UVic.

Unitarian Faith Open House.
Sun. June 10th. Service10am – 11am, Open House 11am – 2pm.
Capital Unitarian Universalist Congregation at James Bay New Horizons – 234 Menzies Street, Victoria.
All faiths are welcome at the service and the open house.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be holding its first Regional Event, April 13-14, 2012 in the city of Victoria, BC.
There will be two – five day workshops leading up to this event – one for non-aboriginal people and the other for aboriginal people – the workshops are sponsored by Returning to Spirit non-profit society to support the healing process of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission dealing with residential schools in our communities.
For more information go to:
www.trc.ca and http://vimeo.com/33428256

RETURNING TO SPIRIT
WELCOME to the RTS Workshop One (NON-ABORIGINAL)
Monday to Friday (March 26 – 30, 2012)

Hosted by the Diocese of Victoria at:
St. Joseph the Worker Parish
753 W. Burnside Road, Victoria, BC V8S 3Y2

Coordinators: Cynthia Bouchard-Watkins and Mary Parry
For information, please contact Mary at 250-477-0593 or
via email: maryparry@shaw.ca

RETURNING TO SPIRIT
WELCOME to the RTS Workshop Two (ABORIGINAL)
Monday to Friday (March 26 – 30, 2012)

Hosted by the Diocese of Victoria at the:
Health Unit – Penelakut Island

For information, please contact the Coordinators:
Fr. Jai Joseph (250) 737-1967
Rella Sylvester (250-709-9394)
Sarah Modeste (250-701-7103)

Brought to you by: CONNECTING CULTURES

Info at www.healthandsocialdevelopment.com or romy.pritchard@ccultures.com 250.920.0373

5 Diverse communities, 10 Artists, 50 Pieces of Art.

5 Cultural Events, One Final Art Show.

Connecting Cultures would like to invite you to participate in the upcoming “Seeing it Through Your Eyes 2”.  This project comprises 5 events with 5 diverse cultures where the Culture, Art, Music, Food, Friendship, Customs, Language, Conversation and Community will be shared. Be a participant in this cultural exchange.

There is no charge for these events but donations will be gratefully accepted. The next events are at:

Italian Community, March 11, 2012, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Da Vinci Centre, 149 Bay St.

Art Show – Opens May 14 – May 26, Hours 9 – 4 pm.
Daily: Opening Night, May 14, 6 – 9 pm.
Arts Centre at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd.

This project is made possible through the funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria and the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill. .

Brought to you by: CONNECTING CULTURES

Info at www.healthandsocialdevelopment.com or romy.pritchard@ccultures.com 250.920.0373

Connecting Cultures would like to invite you to participate in the upcoming “First Conversations”.  This project is a series of discussions and cultural events bridging Aboriginal peoples in the South Island and four diverse faiths.  Come respectfully with open hearts and minds ready to have your soul touched and be welcomed into new territories.  These conversations hit home with our current events right where we live. Be a part of the discussion and change.

There is no charge for these events but donations will be gratefully accepted. The next events are at:

Victoria Society of Friends (Quakers)
Sunday, March 25, 2012. 1:00 – 3:30 pm
1831 Fern St.  Community lunch provided.

T’Sou-ke Nation
Band Hall, T’Sou-ke Indian Reserve 1.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012. 5:00 – 6:30-7:00 pm

Esquimalt Nation
Longhouse, Esquimalt Nation
Sunday, April 15, 2012. Time: TBA

Victoria Hindu Temple
Sunday, May 20, 2012. 1:00 – 3:30 pm
1934 Cultra Ave. Community lunch provided.

Tsawout Nation – TBA

This project is made possible through the funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.