-----Original Message----- From: Shannon Burke [mailto:shannonb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 5:08 PM To: Recipient list suppressed Subject: AAIM e-Voice AAIM e-Voice March 21, 2003 Bringing Healing & Hope By Building Community Welcome to the AAIM e-Voice. The e-Voice is a regular service of Interreligious Ministries designed to keep you informed of the latest news from AAIM and the faith community at large. Let AAIM help you get the word out! Please send announcements and event listings to shannonb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Feel free to use any part of this newsletter in your organization?s publications. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit our website! http://www.aaimaustin.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Friends: Yesterday marked the beginning of war, and today is the first day of Spring. I thank the God of all people, for the reminder that we are to stay focused on what is eternal, what is life giving and what is just. Austin Area Interreligious Ministries is an agency with a deep and abiding commitment to social justice. I believe the prophetic voice of social justice is reflected in AAIM's mission - bringing healing and hope by building community. We need to be reminded now, more than ever, that we are all brothers and sisters. AAIM is made up of faith leaders from virtually ever major world religion living and working here in Austin to make this a better community for us all. These faith leaders are engaged in the prophetic ministry of unity. There is room for everyone to come to the table with their vision for peace. Among Austin's clergy there are those who believe that military intervention is the quickest and surest path to peace. Others believe that war can never be the answer. At AAIM we know that both views deserve to be listened to, respected and discussed. Though we do not always understand the things that divide us, we need never be without hope, for neither we nor the rest of creation are ever without the Spirit of God. As a Southern Baptist, Martin Luther King remained deeply rooted in his own religious tradition while studying the precepts of Gandhi. Without listening to the voice of God as it is spoken through Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions we miss the full beauty and power of God's love. To find the path to a true and lasting peace it will be through our unity and our effort towards finding common ground. Religious fragmentation and conflict could become a cause of despair, especially in a world of war and broken community, wracked by division and hate based on color, language, ethnicity, and class. At AAIM we have faith that our unity will bring order out of chaos and we will be blessed by that. We must stay focused on social justice and our love for one another. We must not turn away from those who are suffering here in Austin. The war has increased the fear of attack among Muslims, Jews and Sikhs. Reach out and let your neighbors know that their safety and well-being is of the utmost importance to you. The poor need you to help feed and shelter them. Find a mission project you and your congregation of faith can support. Tangible evidence of your love for God, and our community can be gained through repairing homes of the poor in East Austin on the week of April 5-6. There are many other people and programs in Austin in need of your gifts. Please contact us or visit our web site at www.aaimaustin.org for ways you can become a part of our work. Susan Wills AAIM Executive Director Austin Area Interreligious Ministries Has Moved! We also have a new phone and fax number! Austin Area Interreligious Ministries 701 Tillery Street, Suite 8 Austin, TX 78702 (512) 386-9145 phone (512) 385-1430 fax ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March is Women?s History Month! ?And Austin Area Interreligious Ministries wants to hear from women faith leaders. · What is your story? · How does your experience differ from your male counterparts? · Have things changed for women in your particular religion over the past 20 years? · What is your vision for the future? Please email your stories to Susan Wills at susanwills@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx AAIM Programs Community Mentoring Network AAIM?s Community Mentoring Network will have a Mentor Training Session at 6:30pm on March 27th, 2003 at the AAIM offices located at 701 Tillery Street. For more information, contact John Williams at 386-9145 ext. 15. Spirituality Bookclub Next meeting: March 24, 7p.m. at Book People March selection: The Spiral Dance, by Starhawk April selection: The Baha?I Faith, The Emerging Global Religion by Hatcher & Douglas. Book Club selections are available for sale on the bookpeople site. To buy these books, customers should go to this page: http://www.bookpeople.com With a description and the option of ordering the books. Even if you have not been able to read the selection for discussion, please come anyway. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Austin Faith Dialogue 2003 Tentative Winter Schedule Congratulations to Austin Faith Dialogue for providing understanding and education to our community for 15 years and for being number one in its time slot!!! Broadcast Theme 03/23 Drainage Fee Waiver Project 03/30 Bishop Aymond or Pat Forgione 04/06 Samaritan Health or Frank La Monica ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hands on Housing: Raise the Roof 2003 The Hands on Housing Spring Event will take place on April 5-6 in the Chestnut Neighborhood. Volunteers are needed to do repairs ranging from painting to replacing a roof or vinyl floor. Each team is responsible for providing its own building and painting materials, tools, and labor. A variety of donors (government, corporate, and individual) help provide some financial support for those teams unable to pay for all their needed materials. Please note: financial support is very limited. Volunteers are recruited from area congregations, business, and civic groups, and teams typically consist of 10-20 people. For more information or to join an HOH team, please contact Hugh Sparks at 472-7627 or hughs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Congratulations to Hugh Sparks and Hands on Housing along with the City of Austin and The United Way for winning the Beautification Award at the 18th Annual Keep Austin Beautiful Awards! AAIM?s 2003 Wish List · AAIM is in need of volunteers with fundraising experience or time to help us work on a special event. Fundraising is a great way for AAIM to gain important exposure in the community as well as raising money for our many programs. Anyone with event planning or volunteer experience would be a valuable asset to our organization. · New or used conference table preferably with seating for 10-12 people. · A volunteer professional picture hanger. · Office help/database entry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Calendar 3/22 Traces of Mystical Theology in Eastern Christianity in Western Mystics 9am-4pm Our Lady?s Maronite Catholic Church, 1320 E. 51st St. · Conference led by Susan Muto with intro by Bishop Gregory Aymond · Registration deadline March 1, 2003 with fee of $25 (includes box lunch) · For information call 458-3693 or visit www.ourlady@xxxxxx Bread for the World/JustFaith Free Workshop 8:30am-noon St. Catherine?s, 4800 Convict Hill Rd., Rm. 202 · Will focus on organizing people of faith to lobby Congress in support of hunger-fighting legislation · For information contact Lew Hille at 892-2072 or breadtx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Helping the Challenging Child Succeed Workshop 9am-12:30pm Elgin First United Methodist Church, 216 W. 3rd St., Elgin, TX · Workshop for parents, teachers, therapists and those who want to help a challenging and intense child flourish · $35/person or $50/couple (some financial aid available) · To register call New Life Institute at 469-9447, for directions call 680-5511 Holi Celebration: Jai Shree Radhey 3-7pm Barsana Dham Hindu Temple, 400 Barsana Rd. · Holi songs, discourse, dinner, and play · Open to the public · For more information, visit www.barsanadham.org or call 288-7180 Prejudice Awareness: Respecting Diversity Workshop 1-3 pm Lower Colorado River Authority, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd., Colorado Room · Sponsored by Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research · Parking available in the Oyster Landing parking area · For more information visit www.sietaraustin.org 3/23 Gathering for Peace 6pm Peace Grove in Zilker Park, 100 ft. N. of Barton Springs Rd., E. of soccer fields, W. of bridge · Sponsored by Austin Clergy for Peace · For information contact Donald Bobb at 459-0299 or donaldbobb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 3/24 Community Outreach Resource Education Network Fair 3-4:30pm Palm Square, Room 2307 · Sponsored by Travis County Health and Human Service and Veterans Service · For information call Mallinee Diggs at 854-4585 3/25 Job/College Fair 10am-2pm ACC Eastview Campus, 3401 Webberville Rd., Bldg. 2000 · Sponsored by Adult Education and WorkSource Career Center East · For information call 223-5124 Business Ethics in the 21st Century: A Real World Approach 9-11am Mabee Ballroom A&B, 3rd Fl., Ragsdale Center, St. Edwards University, 3001 S. Congress · Workshop sponsored by Hart InterCivic · RSVP to Dawn Lewis at 451-7337x102 or dawn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lecture: ?Islam: Religion of Peace?? 8pm Universityof Texas, Jester Auditorium (rm A121A) · Lecture and Q&A session by Imam Zaid Shakir · Free parking at Dobie Garage, free babysitting available · For more information, visit www.utexas.edu/students/msa 3/27 CMN Mentor Training 6:30pm Austin Area Interreligious Ministries, 701 Tillery St., Ste. 8 · For information contact John Williams at 386-9145 Evening Workshop with Author Christina Baldwin 6:30-9:30pm Congregation Beth Israel, 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd. · Sponsored The Seton Cove · Booksigning of The Seven Whispers after event · Pre-registration required, 451-0272, ticket price $50 3/29 Pre-Marital Workshop: Growing Together 9am-5pm Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway · Tuition $110, lunch not included · To register call 469-9447 · Registration deadline: Monday, March 17, 2003 National Coalition Building Institute Workshop 8:30am-4:30pm Austin Center for Peace and Justice, 5801 Westminster Dr. · Prejudice reduction workshop · Workshop fee: $25 · To register email acpjworkshop@xxxxxxxxxxx · Registration deadline: Monday, March 3rd · For more information, visit www.austinpeacecenter.org Interfaith Care Alliance Volunteer Training 9am-3:30pm Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford · To register call Roger at 459-5883 or email roger@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 3/30 Song and Soul Music Benefit 4-7pm Antone?s, 213 W. 5th St. · Sponsored by Charisse Community Health & Support Services · Afternoon of gospel, blues and jazz music · Tickets $25; call 323-5800 for more information 3/31 Spring Chamber Music Concert 7:30pm Jewish Community Association of Austin, 7300 Hart Lane · Featuring vocalist Ramon Tasat · Ticket: $15, member/$18, nonmember/ $12 students and seniors · For more information call 735-8076 or visit www.jcaaonline.org 4/1 Tuesday Luncheon: Spirituality and Politics noon-1pm The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue · $10 Fee: register Monday before luncheon · For more information, call 451-0272 or visit www.setoncove.net 4/4 Discussing Racism in Austin 9:30 Memorial United Methodist Church, 6100 Berkman · Church Women United meeting directed by Jo Ella Ellison 4/8 Tuesday Luncheon: Spirituality and Health noon-1pm The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue · $10 Fee: register Monday before luncheon · For more information, call 451-0272 or visit www.setoncove.net 4/11 Relay for Life 7pm Leander High School (A.C. Bible Memorial Stadium) · Walk honoring cancer survivors and those who have died of cancer · For more information visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345 4/12 10th Annual Parenting Fair 10am-6pm Austin Convention Center · Keynote address: Dr. Bertice Berry at noon · Free event with free childcare (call 414-3189 to reserve) · For more information call 478-5725 or visit www.celebrationofFamilies.org 4/15 Tuesday Luncheon: Spirituality and Compassion noon-1pm The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue · $10 Fee: register Monday before luncheon · For more information, call 451-0272 or visit www.setoncove.net 4/22 Tuesday Luncheon: Spirituality and Work noon-1pm The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue · $10 Fee: register Monday before luncheon · For more information, call 451-0272 or visit www.setoncove.net 4/25 Relay for Life 6pm Huston-Tillotson College · Walk honoring cancer survivors and those who have died of cancer · For more information visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345 4/26 Praise in the Park: Youth of Purpose Celebration 11am-5pm Reagan High School · Open for people to attend, volunteer, or have booths · For more information visit http://pip.zibyorg.com or call Ronald Bell at 346-8641 4/29 Tuesday Luncheon: Spirituality and Compassion noon-1pm The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue · $10 Fee: register Monday before luncheon · For more information, call 451-0272 or visit www.setoncove.net 5/1 A Faithful Partnership: Linking Communities and Congregations 11am-5pm St. John?s United Methodist Church, 2140 Allandale Rd. · Conference for clergy, youth directors, grant writers and community based organizations · Workshops on substance abuse prevention, intervention techniques, grant writing · Registration: $40 for one, $60 for two, $75 for three · For more information contact Trish Merrill, 451-9504 5/2 Relay for Life 7pm Toney Burger Center and Lake Travis High School Track & Field Stadium, and Round Rock Dell Diamond · Walk honoring cancer survivors and those who have died of cancer · For more information visit www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345 5/3 Sunrise, Sunset in Jerusalem 7:30pm Jewish Community Association of Austin, 7300 Hart Lane · Fourth Annual JCAA Gala · For more information visit www.jcaaonline.org Holistic Touch Workshop 9am-4pm The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue · Fee:$60 (includes refreshments, beverages; bring brown bag lunch) · For more information visit www.setoncove.net or call 451-0272 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Community Announcements CHIP and Children?s Medicaid Still Available for Eligible Children You may have seen news reports about threatened cuts in the CHIP and Children?s Medicaid programs. But eligible families can still apply and receive healthcare services from these programs. CHIP and Children?s Medicaid provide full coverage health insurance to qualifying families for $18 per month or less. Eligibility is based on family size and income, and many working families qualify. For more information or to apply for this insurance, call insure-a-kid at 324-CHIP (324-2447) or log on to www.insureakid.org. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Drainage Fee Waiver Project If your congregation is located in the City Drainage District, owns your land which is used for religious purposes, and has not joined with 105 other congregation in diverting your monthly drainage fee on your utility bill to help fund beds for the homeless, then please call Rose Lancaster, 478-2386 to find out how to join. It costs the church no money and just a bit of time to apply and write a monthly check. For more information tune in to KNVA-TV, channel 54, cable 12, Sunday, March 23, 8am (Austin Faith Dialogue). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Art & Soul International Festival of Religion and the Arts Art & Soul 2003 will focus on mystery and meaning in the arts. The festival will offer public lectures and readings, writing workshops, lecture-recitals, art exhibits, drama and a scholarly conference. March 20-22 For more information, call the Institute for Faith & Learning at 254-710-4805 or visit www.baylor.edu/Rel_Lit ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saint Peter and the Vatican The Legacy of the Popes Exhibition of art, treasures and historical objects Houston Museum of Natural History March 2-July 27 For exhibit tickets call 713-639-4629 or visit www.hmns.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rebuilding After Divorce A two part workshop on Divorce Recovery New Life Institute, 4001 Speedway Tuesday nights 7:15pm-8:45 pm Part I Finding Myself On My Own (March 18-April 22, 3002) Part II Parenting During and After Divorce (April 29 June 3, 2003) Cost: $125 per 6 week session For more information or to register, call New Life Institute at 469-9447. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Career Life/Work Planning Workshop ?Where do I go from here with my life?? An intensive 14 hour week-end workshop. Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway Friday, March 21, 2003, 7:00pm-9:30pm Saturday, March 22, 2003, 9:00am-5:00pm Sunday, March 23, 2003, 2:00pm-5:30pm Tuition: $150 To register call 469-9447 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It?s About Calling Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 4001 Speedway This workshop arises from the increasingly frequent question ?What would God have me do with my life?? It is an exploration through personal experience, prayerful mediation, personal and group exercises, enabling one to more fully grasp a vision of possibilities that are consistent with one?s skills and temperament and to more clearly hear one?s calling. 7:15am-8:45am March 25, 2003 April 1, 8, 15, 2003 Tuition: $15 per session To register call 469-9447 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bob Wade Photoworks Exhibit Austin City Lofts Marketing Center, 506 West Avenue Proceeds benefit the Long Center for the Performing Arts. $10 Donation will be requested at the door. For more information contact the Long Center, 482-0800. March 6-April 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hill Country Ride for AIDS Sponsored by Interfaith Care Alliance The Hill Country Ride for AIDS is a fun, 2 day, 125 mile cycling event through the beautiful Texas Hill Country, to raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS. Registration: $50. For more information go to www.hillcountryride.org. April 26-27. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Practicing the Art of Abundance The Seton Cove, 3708 Crawford Avenue Four week workshop focusing on the works of Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance and Simple Abundance for Men April 1-22, 7-8:30pm $40 fee, pre-registration required For more information, call 451-0272 or visit www.setoncove.net ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Education and Spiritual Opportunities Buddhist Teaching Chittamani Buddhist Center 933-9995 · Meets every Sunday from 10-12pm The Way of the Sufi · Every Wednesday Inquirer's class, Open to all. Taught by Rabia Clark. · Contact Rabia at 892-0788 or rabia3183@xxxxxxx · For more information on classes and events, www.towardtheone.com/class.htm or http://www.sufidance.org Peace Studies Offer Jim Crosby at 328-4322, jcrosby@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, or P.O. Box 1868, Austin, TX 78767 · Peacemaking curricula is available to Austin area congregations of all faiths. This is a great opportunity for a weekend retreat or an ongoing instructional series. Austin Memorial & Burial Information Society (AMBIS) 480-0555, email ambis@xxxxxxxxxxxx, or visit www.corridor.net/ambis · AMBIS is a voluntary, nonprofit, nonsectarian, educational consumer organization dedicated to a person's right to choose funeral and memorial arrangements without unwanted influence by those with a financial interest in the decisions. It encourages organ and tissue donation and promotes the use of advance directives to plan for end-of-life concerns. Playback Theatre 502-8111 or Anoek@xxxxxxx · Enjoy a form of theatrical improvisation in which people tell stories from their lives, then watch them enacted on the spot by others. This joyful and healing exercise is not about being a good actress/actor, but rather about finding new ways to express yourself. Great experience for faith groups! Dialogue Jewish/Christian Relations 7pm St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, located at Steck and Mesa · Monthly meetings on the Third Tuesday · Purpose Statement: We seek as Christians and Jews to explore commonalities and differences between and within the two faith communities, to help overcome simplifications and stereotypes, to define issues important to both faiths in Austin, to explore potential areas of interfaith social involvement, and to promote greater trust, understanding and community among us · For information contact: Jim Newman, 345-0544; Anna Dodge, 339-8011; Leon Lebowitz, 452-8601 Dialogue for Peace Old Quarry Library, 7051 Village Center Dr., in Conference Room · The First and Third Thursday of each month from 6:30-8:00 · A dialogue group for Palestinians, Jews, and others desiring peace in the Middle East, with a focus on honoring different backgrounds, respect for all perspectives, and dialogue rather than debate Inter-religious Dance for Unity 1-800-460-8444 · Improvisational free-style dancing leaves room for lots of creativity. It can work with any type of music, with partners or individuals. Mostly, it is meant to be playful and fun--a way of opening our hearts to the love that is God. · We can work with spiritual leaders, music directors, and staff to cater workshops to the tastes of congregations. We can provide one, or a series, of workshops. The workshops can include a meditation and share back time. Pax Christi Austin 7 pm St Edwards, Mang House Dan Cardenas dcardenas@xxxxxxxxxxxx or 462-3361 · A national Catholic Peace and Justice Movement · Meets the third Sunday of every month. · Everyone is welcome. Interfaith Peace Meditation 7pm 970-7835 Rev. Sharon Sarles · Wednesday evenings · North Central Austin location A Contemplative Meditation on Nonviolence 7pm 926-6339 St. James Episcopal Church · Monday evenings · 3701 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Volunteer Austin Area Interreligious Ministries elliottb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx or 472-7627 Due to AAIM?s finances we have had to cut back on staff and are in desperate need of volunteers to help with fund raising, marketing, office work, event planning, database management and any of our service programs. Family Eldercare Pamela 483-3569 www.familyeldercare.org or volunteer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx · Guardian Advocate Volunteers will visit an elderly or disabled person who has no family support. You will be trained to assist their care manager in advocating that a quality of life is being provided for them. · Bill Payer Volunteers will assist an elderly or disabled adult with writing checks, bill paying and balancing their check books. Austin Area Family Pathfinders Ginger O'Neal ginger.oneal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx · Austin Area Family Pathfinders matches teams of volunteers with low-income families from the greater Austin community for one year to empower families with financial self-sufficiency. Meals on Wheels 476-6325 or www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org · Meals on Wheels provides services to nourish and enrich the lives of homebound elderly and disabled in Austin. · All volunteers are required to attend one training session. Training sessions are held each Thursday from 12:15 to around 1:30 at our Central Kitchen location at 3227 E. 5th Street. PAVC (People Against Violent Crime) 453-5771 · Statewide agency that assist victims, family members and friends impacted by crime. Advocates needed to help: inform victims of their rights, offer emotional support, provide court accompaniment and advocacy, support where needed; education involving the criminal justice system process, assist persons in applying for crime victim compensation funds and provide information and referral. Saheli 703-8745 or saheli@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or www.saheli-austin.org · A non-profit organization that provides assistance to Asian families seeking help in dealing with domestic violence and abuse. Saheli's activities also include community outreach through education. Outreach, Screening and Referral 56 East Avenue · The Outreach, Screening and Referral (OSR) program provides free and confidential drug and alcohol screenings for youth and adults. · For a screening appointment call: 472-HELP (4357) or toll free 1-866-639-OSAR (6727). · OSR also provides tobacco education presentations to groups of youth and adults. · For information and presentations contact Ian Forslund, LMSW-ACP, at 703-1357 or ian.forslund@xxxxxxxxxxxx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AAIM Contact Information 701 Tillery Street, Suite 8 Austin, Texas 78702 (512) 386-9145 (fax) 385-1430 http://www.aaimaustin.org/ Susan Wills, Executive Director, susanwills@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Administration Elliott Brown, Community Relations and Development, elliottb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Teresa Kingsbury, Bookkeeper, Teresak@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Community Mentoring Network John Williams, Program Coordinator, johnw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hands on Housing Dr. Hugh Cullen Sparks, Program Coordinator, hughs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx English as a Second Language Lu Zeidan, ESL Coordinator, luz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Jennifer LeBaron and Tom Linker, ESL Teachers Crop Walk Bonnie Cole, CROP Walk Coordinator, MrsBCole@xxxxxxx AAIM Board Joyce Beck Prabhakari Devi Sureshwari Devi Sheryl Draker Doot Dufour Jan Emberson Bill Henderson Donna Howard SatSundri Khalsa Mohsin Lari Fred Lewis Mark Lit Jayme Mathias Anita Maxwell Jim Mayfield Cathy Norman David Porter Beverly Sonnier Jack Stotts Timothy Tutt Mel Waxler Austin Area Interreligious Ministries is supported by the financial contributions of congregations and individuals. ------- Austin Mennonite Church, (512) 926-3121 www.mennochurch.org To unsubscribe: use subject "unsubscribe" sent to amc-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx