SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT WEEKEND 2010

February 19 - 21

Art of Interfaith Dialogue

A Weekend with the Central West End Holy Ground Collaborative

Spiritual Enrichment Weekend 2010, in concert with our Spiral Adult Education Series, delves into the art of interfaith dialogue and offers our members and rabbis an opportunity to study together with religious leaders in our own Central West End community.

Throughout history, religion has fueled hatred and intolerance as well as love and understanding. Too often we approach the faith and practice of others with preconceived ideas and fear. We have made a commitment at CRC to be an inclusive community. True interfaith dialogue has the potential to grow new relationships, deepen our own faith, heal the hurts of the past, and pave the way for a more hopeful and peaceful future.

Please join us for any or all of the following sessions:

TEACHING: REV. ANNE KELSEY, RECTOR, TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Friday, February 19, 7:30 pm—Kabbalat Shabbat Service at CRC

TEACHING: REV. MARY GENE BOTELER, PASTOR, SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Saturday, February 20, 10:00 am to noon—Shabbat Morning Service at CRC

LUNCH AND LEARN AT CRC: DIALOGUE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM HOLY GROUND CONGREGATIONS
Saturday, February 20, 12:00 noon at CRC

Panelists:
Elsie McGrath and Ree Hudson, Roman Catholic Womenpriests, Therese of
Divine Peace Inclusive Community
Sam Schall, Interim Minister, First Unitarian Church of St. Louis
Trudy Palmer and Jim Moser, Lay Leaders, First Church of Christ, Scientist

SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE AT CORNERSTONE BAPTIST CHURCH,
4700 WASHINGTON BLVD.
Sunday, February 21, meet at Cornerstone at 9:45 am; service at 10:00 am

For information on our adult education series SPIRAL on the same topic, click here.

In early 2002, CRC member Carole Zimbrolt (of blessed memory) initiated a meeting with Rabbi Randy Fleisher and representatives of three churches within walking distance of CRC and a new neighborhood collaborative was born. We called ourselves ‘Holy Ground’ from the biblical passage in Exodus: “The place on which you stand is Holy Ground.” We wanted the neighborhood we shared to be filled with compassion, equity and love, and we wanted to be part of that vision not only as individual congregations, but also in a diverse and inclusive multi-denominational, multi-cultural, and interfaith partnership.

Currently, the Holy Ground Collaborative consists of seven congregations: CRC (Reform Jewish); First Unitarian; Therese of Divine Peace (progressive Catholic led by womenpriests); First Church, Christ Scientist; Trinity Episcopal; Corner--stone Institutional Baptist; and Second Presbyterian. .

We have joined together in many projects. We have helped to repair homes of vulnerable residents, painted schoolyard fences to cover lead paint, organized blood drives, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. We have worked to raise awareness of lead poisoning, held candidate forums, and registered voters. We share a monthly lunch program for our homeless neighbors. We have held joint services to protest Medicaid cuts, express support for Gay Pride weekend, and celebrate President Obama’s inauguration. An annual concert highlights the variety of music that inspires us.

Along the way we have forged deep friendships. We hold social gatherings and attended the services at on another’s congregations. We have celebrated and mourned together. And, we have made this urban neighborhood seem more like a village where many of us now have multiple spiritual homes.

Clergy and other representatives from Holy Ground meet monthly. More information is at www.holyground-cwe.org