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“We are the living conduit to all life. When we contemplate the vastness of the interwoven network that we are tied to, our individual threads of life seem far less fragile.”
Celebrate World Religion Sunday Sunday, January 15 at 7:00pm Pax Christi Catholic Community, Main Worship Space
The Interfaith Circle and Pax Christi Catholic Community invite you to join us in celebrating World Religion Sunday. With participation from the diverse faith and spiritual communities of the Twin Cities, the event will feature the sung prayer of many of the faith and spiritual traditions of the world. Amid winter darkness, we share our light with one another, lifting our voices together in solidarity, respect, and love. The event is free and open to the public. Please register so that we will know how many people to expect. All are welcome!
Minnesota Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options Interview with Harlan Limpert
Please join us in welcoming the Minnesota Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options into the Minnesota Multifaith Network! We recently interviewed one of the co-founders of this group, Harlan Limpert, to learn more about the group’s background and how we as a network can support them.
The Minnesota Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options was co-created by Harlan, Margaret McCray, and David Breeden in 2015. The group seeks to promote understanding and acceptance of diverse spiritual beliefs related to end-of-life decisions.
While this includes support for medical aid in dying, the Oregon-type law that allows terminally ill adults of sound mind to end their life if their suffering becomes unbearable, their focus is on encouraging people to align their end-of-decisions with their own spiritual beliefs. Currently, the group consists of clergy members from various faith backgrounds including Unitarian Universalists, United Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians. They seek and welcome clergy members from all faith backgrounds to join them. As a part of their mission, the group engages the public through educational workshops, often held in places of worship, libraries, or senior homes. The group answers tough questions that many people have about end-of-life options, and they encourage folks to take action by having advanced medical directives.
Clergy of all faiths share the value of compassion in end-of-life decisions. For example, Harlan, who is an ordained minister with the Unitarian Universalist church, explained that the first principle of the faith affirms the “Inherent worth and dignity of every person”. Other faith traditions are on their way to officially recognizing this stance.
The Minnesota Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options seeks to broaden their network and continue to make connections with individuals and clergy members who wish to advocate for dignity and compassion at the end-of-life. If you are interested in becoming more involved, you are invited to check out the group’s website. Harlan and the other members would love to connect further with interested individuals, especially clergy members. You can reach out to Harlan via email.
This four-part online series will explore the foundations of reparations. Through shared learning and conversation, we hope you can feel more confident and empowered to explore your own relationship to reparations and to start reparations conversations with your faith or spiritual community.
For each session, we will meet virtually from 12-1 pm. Feel free to bring your lunch and have your camera turned on or off. Attend any or all of the sessions as an individual or part of a community team. We look forward to being with you! This learning table is co-facilitated by Jessica Intermill and Liz Loeb. Questions? Email Jessica.
January 12: Session #1 – Reparations: What are they?
Learn about the movement for reparations in the United States, including how reparations with Black and Indigenous communities may differ, and how reparations are related to but different from charity. Through this shared experience, we will explore how a tool called the Reparatory Eco Map can help us move from conceptual discussions about reparations to concrete action.
January 26: Session #2 – Reparations: Why now and why MNIPL?
In our climate justice work, we often talk about divestment from dangerous and destructive systems, but what can we invest in? Reparations are a deep part of our commitment to healing in the world. The systems that exploit fossil fuels at our expense were built through enslaved labor and Native land theft. Reparations are intertwined with climate justice, and we’re excited to explore what this means for our movement with you!
February 9: Session #3 – Reparations: What’s faith got to do with it?
Making mistakes is part of the human experience. So it’s not surprising that many faith traditions have teachings and practices about repair. Learn what several faiths say about repentance and repair and how to draw upon and build from these existing spiritual practices within your own reparations work.
February 23: Session #4 – Reparations: What is your story?
Reparations matter today because “then” is not separate from “now.” Hear co-facilitator, Jessica Intermill, relate her family history of pre-revolutionary colonizers, prairie pioneers, and recent immigrants to her current reparations work. Learn how to apply the idea of “stacked history” in your own life.
(In case you missed our last newsletter, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light is also hosting a special webinar called "Indigenous and Faith Leaders United for a Bold Climate Justice Agenda" on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:00 pm! Register here!)
This highly interactive character-shaping workshop is the first half of a two-session workshop focused on following meaning questions. Expect to share about some of your own formative experiences.
This highly interactive character-shaping workshop is the second half of a two-session series focused on demonstrating understanding. Expect to be in conversation with people with whom you may disagree about something important to you.
A Story of Hope From the Holy Land: An Interfaith and Intercultural Pilgrimage
Saturday, February 11, 10am - 2pm St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church (2323 Como Ave., St. Paul, 55103)
Join Rabbi Andrea London, The Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, and The Rev. Pastor Daniel Tallon Ruen for a story of interfaith and intercultural pilgrimage. U.S. religious and ethnic diversity interacts with the beauty, struggle, and complexity of the Holy Land. Also, a discussion about current issues & challenges. All are welcome!
RSVP for Lunch ($15 per person) by Monday, February 6th by emailing office@saplc.org or calling 651-645-0371.
Resources, News & Other Events
Read this MinnPost op-ed, "Christian Nationalism and the Far Right" by Dr. Ellen Kennedy, Executive Director of World Without Genocide and adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law; Rev. John Matthews, past president of the International Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society and pastor emeritus of Grace Lutheran Church, Apple Valley; Rev. James Erlandson is pastor at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, St. Paul, and founder and clergy leader of ISAIAH, a faith-based community organization in Minnesota.
