Cheltenham Area Multifaith Council

Dear CAMC Members,
As we enter the season of celebration and gift-giving, we are reminded that the
greatest gift we can give each other is the gift of peace. The greatest gift we
can give to our children is to provide them with an authentic culture of peace.
A culture that promotes peace-making as a way of life. The Peace Book: 108 Simple
Ways to Create a More Peaceful World expresses an urgent call for peace. Peace
for the Children is a priority and should be addressed by our families, by our leaders,
throughout our neighborhoods, schools, youth groups, and places of worship. The
following resource guide offers suggestions for you to further explore on this
topic.
Educators for Social Responsibility: www.esrnational.org
The Lion and the Lamb Project: www.lionlamb.org
Make the Peace Campaign:
www.makethepeace.org
Marian Dondero
It is our hope and intention that this monthly newsletter will further our purpose
to…”foster understanding among religious groups in the Cheltenham area and to
enhance a greater sense of spirituality and community among us…. CAMC strives
to educate the community about different cultures and faiths while encouraging
respect for one another”.

Your input and contributions are most welcome. Please feel free to submit a featured
article, a personal journey story or seasonal reflection for the January issue.

Dear Friends,

At our 10:15am service Sunday mornings in Advent we will focus and reflect on Peace: Peace in the world, Peace in our hearts, fostering Peace… Do you believe Peace is possible? What if you knew we are not the only people of faith who pray and hope for Peace? Would you then believe in the Advent of Peace?

Peace on Earth is the promise of Christmas. As with all Gospel promises, we are partners with God in bringing about its fulfillment. That is, all of us are partners, no matter by what name we call on the Holy One. For this reason, I have come to believe that we need to endeavor to foster mutual respect, knowledge and understanding among all of God’s people.

This Advent, let us open our minds and hearts to the dreams and hopes of God’s people by seeing through the lens of our own and other traditions. Through a four week Preaching Series this Advent each speaker will address the subject of Peace through the lens of his or her own religious tradition:

Sunday, November 23      Dr.  J. Lamar Freed of the Mennonite tradition, licensed practicing psychologist and member of St. Paul’s Church.

Sunday, November 30       Rabbi Tsurah August, Hospice Rabbi, Jewish Family and Children’s Services.

Sunday, December 7          Rev. Dosung Yoo,  Won Buddhist Priest, Glenside Temple.

Sunday, December 14        Prof. Sayed Omran, Islamic Studies at Villanova University.

Please join us.

Peace, Salaam, Shalom
In the Dharma,
Marisa

An Introduction to World Religions Through Works of Art

A Trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Sponsored by the Cheltenham Area Multi-Faith Council

When?  Thursday, December 11th

What Time?  9:00 AM – Meet in the parking lot of Congregation Keneseth Israel (meet in the parking lot near the corner of Meetinghouse Road and Old York Road)

OR

Join us at the museum at 10 AM.

Transportation?   We plan to carpool, dividing ourselves

according to preferred return time.

How long will it take?  Our tour will begin at 10:15 and last until 11:45, getting you back to Elkins Park at 12:30 PM.

However, you may leave early if you need to

OR you may stay later, if you like, to have lunch

at the museum and wander the galleries.

What will it cost? Members of the museum get in free.

Adults $14, Seniors (65+) $12.

What kind of tour will it be? Interactive. John Hougen, who is a volunteer guide at the museum, will introduce the objects, but invite the group to contribute their knowledge and insights as we view them. Many objects depict stories from the religious tradition of origin. We’ll look at art from several varieties of Christianity (including scenes from the Hebrew Bible), plus ancient Chinese religion, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, plus a nod toward ancient Greek religion (mythology) and a couple more contemporary pieces that have spiritual content or intent.

Do I need a reservation? No, but it would be helpful to let John know (johnsaintjohns@verizon.net) if you plan to go but did not indicate this at the Nov. 13 CAMC meeting.

CAMC SCHEDULE

CAMC meets on the second Thursday of each month, barring programming conflicts.  Meetings begin at 9:00 am with coffee and end promptly at 11:00 am.

Thursday, December 11- Host and Location needed

Contact Marisa Herrera
marisa@stpaulselkinspark.org

The 2009 Schedule will be posted in the January Newsletter