Faith leaders plan Oct. 6 Healing the Earth Vigil
Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience announces its second 2019 Healing the Earth Vigil will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Cataldo Mission State Park, 31731 S. Mission at Exit 39 of I-90.
Speakers include Sr. Pat Millen, OSF, reading St. Francis' Canticle of the Creatures; words from Ernest Stensgar, chair of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, other members of the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene tribes and people in the Silver Valley affected to environmental devastation there.
Following silence in grief for people and creatures of earth who have suffered and continue to suffer, there will be an opportunity for participants to pledge to be Healers of the Earth, there will be music, and opportunities to sign up to assist with nonprofit groups working to heal the Earth.
The next "Vigil for the Healing of the Earth," will be Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at the Tribal Gathering Place, 353-367 N. Post St. beside the Spokane City Hall.
For information, call 408-593-9556 or email genheywood@att.net.
Journalist Bob Woodward speaks at forum
Whitworth University's 2019 President's Leadership Forum from noon to 1:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, at the Exhibit Halls Spokane Convention Center features Bob Woodward, legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist/author and associate editor for The Washington Post. The Spokesman-Review is co-sponsoring the event.
The forum bring speakers representing a range of voices, perspectives and ideas. Whitworth faculty and staff believe Christian world views and ideas of Christian thinkers are sharpened by rigorous, open intellectual inquiry and engagement with a spectrum of thought.
They invite speakers to help the community engage in critical and careful thinking, civil discourse and effective action.
In 1973, Bob won the first of two Pulitzer Prizes along with Washington Post reporter Carl Bernstein for their coverage of the Watergate scandal surrounding former President Richard Nixon. He received his second Pulitzer Prize in 2003 as lead reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Bob has authored or co-authored 19 books, 13 of which have been bestsellers. He has written books on the nine most recent presidents, from Nixon to President Donald Trump.
His latest book, Fear: Trump in the White House, sold more than 1 million copies in its first week and broke the 94-year first-week sales record of its publisher, Simon & Schuster.
For information, call 777-3449, email iaevents@whitworth.edu or visit www.whitworth.edu/leadershipforum.
Turner Lectures are Oct. 7 to 9
Englewood Christian Church in Yakima will again host the Annual Turner Memorial Lectures, featuring author Philip Gulley speaking on "The Awakened Soul, Unlearning God: The Evolution of Faith.
The lectures are Sunday Oct. 7 to Tuesday, Oct. 9.
Philip is a Quaker pastor and writer and speaker from Danville, Ind., has written several books on theology. He and co-author James Mulholland describe their progressive worldview in their books, If Grace Is True and If God Is Love. Philip has also written If the Church Were Christian, in which he presents a picture of what the church could look like if it refocused on the priorities of Jesus.
In his book, The Evolution of Faith, he proposes a fresh direction for Christianity and articulates a Christianity that, while faithful to the priorities of Jesus, can help its adherents live happily, peacefully and productively in the complexities of the world.
Philip's 22nd book, Unlearning God: How Unbelieving Helped Me Believe, explores spiritual growth.
For information, visit https://disciplesnw.org/event/2019turnerlectures.
Fall Folk Festival will be Nov. 9 and 10
The 24th Annual Spokane Folklore Society Fall Folk Festival will feature eight stages with performances of traditional and ethnic dance, music, workshops, special entertainment, crafts for children, plus jamming on Saturday and Sunday, Nov 9 and 10.
In previous years, about 5,000 people have attended the annual folk festival at the Spokane Community College Lair, 1810 N. Greene.
It supports regional folk musicians and local folk artists performing in about 100 groups, representing Celtic, bluegrass, blues, African, Asian, Middle Eastern traditions and more.
It features sales of crafts, a live KPBX Radio show and a traditional New England contra dance Saturday.
Several hundred volunteers assist during the festival. Donations and the sale of $5 buttons raise $20,000 to cover costs. Performers and festival organizers donate their time.
There will be performances, activities and food from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, with contra dances from 8 to 10 p.m., Saturday.
For information, call 828-3683 or visit spokanefolkfestival.org.
FAN sets Pullman, Yakima cluster gatherings
Fall is the season for the Faith Action Network’s Cluster Gatherings and Candidate Forums.
Cluster gatherings build relationships as local advocates collaborate on issues.
In Central and Eastern Washington there is one in Pullman from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Trinity Lutheran Church, and another from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Yakima.
FAN is also offering Candidate Forums in Seattle, Snohomish County, SeaTac and Bellevue.
For Information, call 206-625-9790 or visit fanwa.org.
LCSNW Luncheon addresses trafficking
Lutheran Community Services Northwest will present an afternoon of food, fun and fundraising for its 36th Annual Inland Northwest Fundraising Luncheon from 12:30 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3, at Mukogawa Fort Wright Commons, 4000 W. Randolph Rd.
“The Road Home” is the theme for the program on human trafficking.
A trafficked woman’s sister shares the story of losing her younger sister to trafficking and her healing journey, said Christie McKee of LCSNW.
For information, call 343-5020 or email cmckee@lcsnw.org.
Rural Ministry Resources plans workshop
“Thinking Back and Looking Forward” is the theme for a workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, at Zion Lutheran Church at 8304 E. Buckeye Ave. in Millwood.
Rural Ministry Resources invites rural and urban, large and small congregations. The ecumenical group will meet in a circle to encourage conversation.
New and long-time pastors and spouses, and lay members will attend, said co-organizers Mary Daniels and Kathy Kramer.
For information, call 981-9562 or 284-6107, or email kmmkd1@juno.com.
Partnering for Progress supports village
Partnering for Progress is holding its annual “Into Africa” Auction and Dinner Benefit at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. in Spokane Valley. Proceeds benefit projects in Kopanga, Kenya. Items being auctioned and some of the food dishes are African.
It was started 12 years ago by Mike and Stacey Manier, and Sandy Ivers, who went to that remote village to do volunteer medical care. Partnering for Peace takes teams twice a year for five days to provide health care, education support, economic development through micro-finance for farmers and clean water to the impoverished village.
“We seek to empower the people and improve their lives,” said Linda Hagan Miller, communication coordinator, who went in 2014 and 2017.
For information, call 720-8408 or visit partneringforprogress.org.
Agencies plan World Homeless Day Summit
Local speakers will share ways their programs address the challenges of homelessness at a World Homeless Day Summit from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 322 N. Spokane Falls Ct.
Union Gospel Mission, Family Promise and Adult and Teen Challenge are sponsoring the event to explore realities of homelessness and solutions.
Speakers are Tyson West, Mark Jefferson Baird, Ed and Gail Stevenson, Joe Ader, John Repsold and Phil Altemeyer.
Tyson, a native of eastern Washington, experienced chronic homelessness because of drug addiction and found help at Adult & Teen Challenge in Spokane, where he is now the executive director.
Mark, who specializes in clinical psychology, has more than 13 years of experience in treating trauma. He teaches at Whitworth University.
Ed and Gail, founders of Life Recovery Solutions, use technology to help solve social problems.
Joe, executive director of Family Promise of Spokane and creator of the Open Doors 24/7 Emergency Family Homeless Shelter, is also CEO of Understanding Poverty, which trains groups to serve people living in poverty.
John, founder and senior pastor of Mosaic Fellowship in downtown Spokane, previously was pastor of Fourth Memorial Church and a missionary in the Philippines, Costa Rica and Spain.
Phil, executive director of Union Gospel Mission, oversees efforts to serve the homeless population of the region. He shares God’s love for the poor and inspires people to be involved in ministry.
For information, call 535-8510.
NWARM hosts media salon on ‘Civil Discourse’
For Media Literacy Week Oct. 21 to 25, the Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media (NWARM) is gathering people in its latest in a series of media salons to discuss “Civil Discourse 2.0: Where is the Middle?”
It will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Spokane FAVs interfaith community center at 5511 S. Freya.
Leading up to the election Nov. 5, NWARM invites participants to explore democratic discourse in an era of political polarity.
“We can’t have democracy without civil discourse,” commented Carolyn Cunningham, associate professor of communication and leadership studies at Gonzaga.
She is coordinating arrangements for the salon on behalf of the NWARM Board.
For information, call 313-3819 or email cunninghamc@gonzaga.edu.
Buddhist nun speaks on ‘Connecting with Integrity’
American Buddhist nun Venerable Thubten Chodron will tell how to connect in kind, meaningful, authentic ways in “Connecting with Integrity,” at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8, in the Edminster Student Union Building at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene.
She speaks regularly at NIC, offering insight into contemporary issues from her perspective as a student of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. She teaches worldwide and is known for her practical and humorous discussions on wisdom and compassion.
She is the founder and abbess of Sravasti Abbey near Newport.
For information, call 208-660-5477 or visit sravastiabbey.org.
Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center opens
The Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center at Gonzaga University has started its first season of performances by national and international guest artists who offer a range from eclectic styles like the Hiplet Ballerinas and classical-rock styles, like the Dallas String Quartet Electric.
Along with professional guest artists, the new center is home to Gonzaga’s theatre, choirs, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz band and dance ensembles, who are presenting concerts through May.
Two October productions are set.
• In “Post Comedy Theatre” on Thursday, Oct. 10, comedian Robert Post switches between six characters in a quick-change murder-mystery spoof.
• “Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till” will be presented Thursday, Oct. 17, with actor and playwright Mike Wiley performing a one-actor, multiple-character drama chronicling the murder and trial preceding 14-year-old Till’s lynching.
For information, call 313-4748, email rossingp@gonzaga.edu or visit www.gonzaga.edu/mwpac.
St. John’s Music Series includes Kantorei
St. John’s Music Series and Spokane Kantorei Chorus and Orchestra will present “Grant Us Peace: Honoring Our Veterans,” at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave. Soloists include Amy Porter (soprano) and Max Mendez (baritone), conducted by Timothy Westerhaus.
They will feature Americana, including Irving Berlin’s “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” La Rocca’s arrangement of “America the Beautiful,” “Letters from the Field” from the Civil War to the Iraq War and a premiere by composer Mitchell Davey, “This Heritage of Heart.” The concert culminates in a performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona nobis pacem (Grant us peace).
For information, visit Facebook.com/spokantorei or email spokanekantorei@gmail.com.
Roger Williams Symposium is Nov. 2 to 4
The 39th Annual Roger Williams Symposium from Saturday to Monday, Nov. 2 to 4, features author, syndicated columnist, NPR commentator and pastor, Robin Myers, offering three presentations on behalf of the Common Ministry and the Thomas Foley Institute at Washington State University.
Robin is also senior pastor at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in Oklahoma City and emeritus professor of social justice at Oklahoma City University.
His presentations are:
• A lecture on “Spiritual Defiance: Building a Beloved Community of Resistance,” at 7 p.m., Sunday at Community Congregational UCC, 525 NE Campus St. in Pullman.
• Preaching at the 10:30 a.m., Sunday worship at Community Congregational UCC.
• A workshop on “American Heretics: The Politics of the Gospel,” from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday at St. James Episcopal Church, 1410 NE Stadium Way in Pullman.
• A lecture on “Climate Change as a Moral Imperative,” sponsored by the Thomas Foley Institute, at noon Monday in Room 308 of Bryan Hall.
For information, call 332-2611, email office@interfaith-house.com or visit interfaith-house.com.
‘Spoken River’ celebrates Spokane River
Clean river fans will gather at 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, for “Spoken River,” an evening of readings celebrating the Spokane River, with authors Jack Nisbet, Ben Goldfarb and Ellen Welcker.
Spokane Riverkeeper will share about its work and how people can be involved, know the river and join the community of river protectors. A student from the Salish School of Spokane will read an original piece. Ben Goldfarb will read from his new book, Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter. Other presentations are by Jack Nisbet, a local author who has written many books, including Sources of the River and David Douglas: A Naturalist at Work, and Ellen Welcker, a poet and author of many books of poetry, including Ram Hands.
Coeur d’Alene Tribe and Salishan Sturgeon Nose Canoes will have traditional canoes on hand, said organizer Lydia Newell.
For information, call 835-5211 or email lnewell@cforjustice.org.
