Items of Interest

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As we enter this particularly important season of the year for many of us, I thought I would include the Interfaith Calendar that lists events of major religions for the month of April and some brief comments about some of them.  The Major Religions of the World and their numbers can be found by clicking here.

Interfaith Calendar - 2007
* Means that Holy days begin at sundown the day before this date. 
       ** Regional customs, group preference or moon sightings may cause a variation of this date.
  Bold titles are primary holy days of a tradition.

APRIL 2007

• 1
  • Palm Sunday - Christian
• 2
  • Lord's Evening Meal ** - Jehovahs Witness Christian
  • Theravadin Buddhist New Year ** - Buddhist
  • Hanuman Jayanti ** - Hindu
• 3-10 *
  • Pesach (Passover)*   - Jewish
• 5 
  • Maundy Thursday - Christian 
• 6
  • Good Friday - Christian
  • Holy Friday - Orthodox Christian
• 8
  • Easter - Christian
  • Easter/Pascha - Orthodox Christian
• 14
  • Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) - Sikh
• 15
  • Yom HaShoah * - Jewish
• 21
  • Ridvan begins * - Baha'i
• 23
  • St George's Day - Christian
• 30
  • St. James the Great Day - Orthodox Christian

May your Easter/Pascha, Pesach, Baisakhi, Holy Days and/or celebrations be all that you wish and hope them to be.

 

Regarding this time of the year..

For those of the Baha'i Faith, the New Year (Naw-Ruz in Persian), begins the  first day of Spring, the 21 of March. The Festival of Ridvan (pronounced RIZ WAN-April 21-May 2) commemorating the 12 days (April 21-May 2, 1863) when Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith, resided in a garden called Ridvan (Paradise) in Baghdad, Iraq. At this time he publicly proclaimed His mission as God's messenger for this age. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29), and twelfth (May 2) days are celebrated as holy days where work is suspended.

A View of Buddhism reveals that there are four major Special Buddha days or "Festivals" (düchen) in a year which relate to the life of Buddha Shakyamuni. During these days, it is said that the effects of positive or negative actions are multiplied 100 million times, so practice is strongly advised. These festivals are Chotrul Düchen, Saga Dawa Düchen, Chökhor Düchen and Lha Bab Düchen.

The Christian tradition now concludes the Lenten season, forty days fasting and preparation for ministry, and a deeper relationship with God.  Christians are also celebrating Good Friday (Holy Friday for Orthodox Christians) in final preparation for the joyful celebration of Easter; the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and thereby the manifestation of God's work of salvation.

 

For Muslims, this year, April 5 coincides with the Birth of the Prophet Muhammad. But this date is not as significant as the two major celebrations Eid AlFetr (end of fasting month of Ramadhan) and Eid AlAdhha (end of pilgrimage). This year these two Eids will occur in September and December. Since all the Islamic commemorations and celebrations are based on the lunar calendar, these dates will not be fixed on the solar calendar. Iranians, Muslims and non-Muslims celebrate the 21 of March, which is the first day of Spring, as New Year or NoRooz (or Naw-Ruz). This celebration will continue for 13 days every year.

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The Jewish Passover  in 2007 began at sundown on April 2. It lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days in the rest of the world. Jewish tradition encourages the faithful to begin elucidating Passover-related laws 30 days before the start of the festival. For one thing, the religious dos and don'ts are very detailed. Moreover, the conceptual significance of this holiday is central to the understanding of Judaism. Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) commemorates the formative experience of the Jewish people: their transformation from scattered tribes indentured in Egypt to a nation on the road to redemption. The Biblical reference is the Book of Exodus.

 

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Wednesday, April 11, 2007 Race Relations Breakfast

Meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, the Race Relations Breakfast -UPTOWN meets at Ruth Ann's on 10^th and Veterans Parkway to discuss issues of interest to the community, particularly as they relate to race. The public is welcome. A $5.00 donation is asked; however guests are free.

 

Tuesday, April 17, 7:30 am Community Prayer Breakfast 

 

The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast idea started in America in 1952 to garner support from the diverse populations for prayer for cities.  In Columbus, the Valley Interaction Ministry began Prayer Breakfasts in the late 1980's that brought together similar groups to support the idea.

 

Beginning with former Mayor Frank Martin who revived the "Mayor's Prayer Breakfast" idea in 1991, subsequent Mayors have supported the idea until, under Mayor Bob Poydasneff, it became the Community Prayer Breakfast and part of One Columbus' programming.  The public is welcome and a $3.00 donation is asked for breakfast. The next Community Prayer Breakfast is Tuesday, April 17, 2007.

Contact: Rosa Stanback  706-689-7277

 

Down the Road:

 

Second Annual One Columbus Golf Tournament - June 28

The Robert Trent Jones Grand National Golf Course will be the venue for the 2007 One Columbus annual event. Diamond Sports Marketing will facilitate this sports opportunity.  Sponsorships, teams and individual players can sign up now for this June 28 activity. (Click here for more information)

Contact: D. J. Jones 706-681-1136