Ventura County Interfaith Community – Core Committee

April 22 Minutes

 

Here’s a brief recap of what we said and did tonight:

 

  • We thanked Rev Ueda and Debbie Bavaro for the very warm reception at Oxnard Buddhist Temple.  The entire group felt very comfortable and welcome. 
  • Tim promised to send a copy of the bit he wrote for the St Columba’s newsletter.  (It’s attached…please look it over and change where appropriate before inserting into your own congregation’s newsletters)
  • We firmed up plans for our visit to Temple Ner Ami on May 13th
    • 6:30 PM for pre-service discussion
    • 7:30 PM for service
    • Discussion following
    • Tim will send directions to Temple Ner Ami for distribution to the group
    • Parking may be a problem, so plan on car-pooling or walking from Tim and Teri’s home
    • Please e-mail an approximate count to Rabbi Lotker or to Tim in time for him to pass it on to Frieda Weinberg
  • We discussed the upcoming visit to St Columbas
    • 9:00 AM for pre-service discussion
    • 10:15 AM for service
    • Discussion following
    • We also discussed diverging from the normal procedure to include a love loaf.  The consensus of the group was that they want to observe the service as it normally occurs, but that they would like a full explanation of the options during the Eucharist (taking, not taking, or receiving a blessing).  This should include the wording of the blessing.
  • We would like to visit a Mosque in early July
    • Ferial Masry will try to arrange this
    • She will also send dress guidelines after talking this over with the Imam
    • The group’s preference was Sunday at noon so that we could hear the Imam’s sermon
  • We would like to visit Padre Serra on Saturday night, August 6th
    • Subject to Linda Lowe’s confirmation
    • 4:00 pre-service discussion
    • 5:00 service
    • 6:00 post-service discussion
  • We would like to visit a Bahai service in September
    • Possibly the 3rd Saturday of the month at 6:00 PM
    • Renee Jaenicke will get back to us
  • We will meet again on Thursday, May 26th
    • Everyone should come prepared to discuss the meaning of marriage in their own faith tradition
    • We should also bring a list of topics we would like to discuss with the idea of holding a discussion once a month
    • Rev Ueda discussed the possibility of growing these encounters into a community forum
  • We talked about reaching out to other groups
    • Linda Lowe will contact the Lutherans and solicit their involvement
    • Ferial Masry said she would solicit Calvary Chapple’s involvement
    • Someone said they would make a contact with the Mormon Church…please forgive me…I cannot remember who…I hope you remember who you are
  • We talked about possible community service opportunities
    • Tim suggested thinking about a diversity fair
    • Julie (via Tim) suggested that we form a triangle between VCIC, the volunteers at the Ventura School (detention facility) and CSUCI.  The idea would be that we would help the CSUCI interfaith group and solicit students to tutor at the detention facility
    • Laila (I’m sure I butchered the spelling…please let me know how your name is spelled and your own e-mail address)  will contact the head volunteer at the Ventura school to find out about other possibilities for our involvement
    • Tim wondered about being a clearing house for finding religious support for non-Christian inmates
    • Debbie expressed concern that whatever we do not be a flash in the pan.  If we work with the Ventura School, we should make sure that the people who do so are committed.  Alternatively we could find ways for our congregations to be involved in whatever we do…such as making bags of toiletries or other needed items.
    • Ferial raised the concern that we grow the group to a sustainable community before taking on too much community service responsibility