COMMON CONCERN



THE NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL OF BOULDER


FEBRUARY 1997

FROM THE PRESIDENT:
A choir is made up of various voices all adding their texture and harmony to the resulting fullness and complexity of sound. The baritones add their distinctive and indispensable component, yet how absurd it would be for them to insist that their place in the choir is of more substance and import than the sopranos. Or for the altos to declare supremacy of place over the basses. We can easily see the immaturity of such arrogance among the voices. So, what if the vast religious enterprise of the human race is as a choir! How silly it would be for us to insist that our voice - our tradition - has supremacy over all other voices. Indeed, such insistence would be the sure indicator of immaturity. Religious evolution can be judged by the eager willingness to be part of a diverse and poly-vocal sound singing mystery and marvel, pain and healing at the core of life.
If you too believe that the various religious voices need one another to sound forth in rich and full harmony, please join us on the Interfaith Council. We are far from perfect. We often sing flat or off-key. We are rather humble. Yet, we represent (I think) the only full choir in town! May the coming of spring quicken our hearts as well as our Colorado earth! Blessed and poly-vocal renewal to you all!
Stan Grotegut
(Call 443-2291: Sorry, no secretary, but I will eventually respond)

THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING of representatives and other interested persons is Thursday Feb. 27th, 7:00 PM at St. Andrews Presbyterian, 3700 Baseline Rd. (
The interest of life is experienced by participating and by being part, not by observing nor by thinking - Wallace Stevens)

SUMMARY OF LAST COUNCIL MEETING:
Full minutes are available, but here is a synopsis. Stan Grotegut (Friends Meeting) was reelected as President for another year, Kurt Kuhwald (Unitarian Universalists) was elected to serve as Vice President, Mary Ann Dickenson (Religious Science) was elected as Secretary. A replacement for Burton Lee (1st Congregational) is still needed to serve as treasurer. (Any volunteers?) The membership committee was reactivated with the task of contacting, informing and inviting all area congregations regarding the work of the Council.

THE FIRST SUNDAY DIALOGUE SERIES
- March 2nd, 7:00 P.M . at the Friends Meeting House, 1825 Upland (north Boulder between 19th and Broadway). The topic of discussion will be "The Nature of Evil" with a panel made up of diverse religious leaders. (April 6 - same time and place - the topic will be "Resurrection or Reincarnation - where do we go from here?)

COMMUNITY TABLE: The free hot meal program designed for seniors and families is in full swing, serving meals Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00pm to 7:30pm at First Christian Church of Boulder, 950 28th Street (442-1861). Jointly sponsored by the Interfaith Council and First Christian Church, meals are served by members of various local faith communities, businesses and students. For more information about the program call Steve Rohrbach at 823-9303 or to volunteer to serve call David Feasby at 541-9534.

EASTER SUNRISE WORSHIP
- This annual gathering sponsored by the Council will again be at Boulder's Chatauqua Park at sunrise Easter morning, March 30th at 6:00 AM. Stan Grotegut, council president, will be the preacher and an interfaith (more than Christian) liturgy is being planned.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: "Like a Seed Which Grows into a Tree" sponsored by Church Woman United - The 110th annual World Day of Prayer, an international, ecumenical worship service, will be celebrated on Friday, March 7th. The reunification of North and South Korea, and the equality of women will be the special theme this year. Two celebrations, open to the public,are planned for the Boulder community. The 9:30 AM service will be at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 3485 Stanford Court. Child care will be provided. The afternoon service will be at 2:30 PM in the Frasier Meadows Manor Chapel, 350 Ponca Place. There will be a cultural display at each service and the offering wil be used for international projects including two specific to Korea. For information, contact Ginny Wells 494-9677, Peggy Becker 494-4128, or Madeline Wallace, 442-4401.

HEARTS, HANDS AND VOICES - Interfaith Festival Planning Meeting: March 2, 12:15pm to 5:30pm at Sunburst Retreat House, 4598 Sunshine Canyon Rd. This year's festival happens Sunday, September 7th , 1997. Be part of the team that produces this day of interfaith dialogues, music from many different traditions, sacred dance & poetry, multi-faith meditation & prayer, etc. Please RSVP with Steve Rohrbach at 823-9303 or Janet McCabe at 530-7424

REFLECTIONS ON PEACEMAKING IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Author and peace activist, Hendrik Willen Van Der Merwe, will give a public lecture on his three decades of involvement with peacemaking and political reform, March 16th, Sunday evening, 7:30 PM at St. John's Episcopal, 1419 Pine St. The event is sponsored by the Boulder Meeting of Friends.
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Interfaith Council of Boulder Non-Profit Organization
3700 Baseline Road U.S. Postage PAID
Boulder, CO 80303 Permit #789
Boulder, CO 80302

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