[Archived from October 9, 2009]
Each year, the Center for Interfaith Relations brings all faith communities together for a unique celebration of the richness and diversity of religious traditions in Louisville. This year, the 14th Annual Festival of Faiths will explore the theme, Sacred Water: Sustaining Life, from November 4-13. There are a few events scheduled before the official festival kickoff.
The festival consists of a wide variety of programs from exhibits to lectures to meals and much more. Most of the events will take place at the Henry Clay Building, 604 S. Third St., but others are scattered at venues throughout the city. Many are free, but some require the purchase of tickets. When tickets are required, they may be purchased in advance through BrownPaperTickets.com or 1-800-838-3006, or through the Center for Interfaith Relations, 583-3100.
A full listing of all Festival of Faiths events can be found at http://www.interfaithrelations.org/.
Here are some selected highlights.
On Monday, November 2, Rabbis Gaylia R. Rooks and Joe Rooks Rapport will lead “A Seder for the Earth,” an environmental seder which emphasizes the images of water and the earth in the Bible. Through this seder, the community is invited to share in the sweetness of the earth – fruit, nuts and chocolate – drawn together by stories and songs.
This program will be at 6 p.m. at The Temple. It is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Call 423-1818 by October 28 to reserve your place.
The Festival of Faiths will officially kick off with an interfaith prayer service at the Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 S. Fifth St., at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4. The program describes this event, “We are a faith community drawn to the Festival of Faiths from many nations, cultures and religious traditions. We bring to the Festival a variety of approaches to the sacred, and we pray that we will be enlightened and purified by this variety as we join in thanksgiving for the sacred water that has cleansed us and for the flowing waters of the land that sustains us.”
The Rev. Marian McClure Taylor, executive director of the Kentucky Council of Churches will speak during this celebration. A reception in the Cathedral Undercroft will follow the service. This event is free and open to the public.
For 14 years, members of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities have come together for the annual Children of Abraham Service and Dinner. This year, the event will be at Temple Shalom on Wednesday, November 11, at 6 p.m. The service incorporates elements of all three faiths and as participants give thanks after sharing a meal. Tickets for the dinner are $15 and must be purchased in advance. The service, at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public.
Some of the other topics to be covered during the festival include healthy farms and water, a water summit, protecting our waterways, mountaintop removal, coal and water, healing journeys with Tori Murden, a program with the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, faith and healing, friendship, ancient gods and water rituals, and much more.