Author: FIRE

Recording and Presentations for Interfaith Dialogue on Zoroastrianism

Thanks to all of you who joined us for our 17th Interfaith Dialogue on the topic of Zoroastrianism. We’ve received very positive feedback, and are planning now for future dialogues in the same format. Thanks again to all of the presenters!

As we promised, here are links to the presentation (in both Powerpoint and PDF format) and to the recording of the Zoom conference. We hope you find them useful! Note that the PDF file is “static”, while the Powerpoint file shows the animations.

If you have any feedback on this Dialogue or suggestions for future Dialogues, please email us at info@fire-wa.org.

Interfaith Dialogue on October 3 — Zoroastrianism

Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE) invites you to our 17th Interfaith Dialogue on Sunday, October 3, 7:00-8:00PM. This Dialogue will be conducted online using Zoom conferencing. The link to access the Dialogue is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85172614810?pwd=MTI4SE94cTZSSFdMZ01BOHZYN203QT09; additional connection information is below. Pre-registration is not necessary for this event.

The topic for this Dialogue is “Zoroastrianism”. FIRE steering committee member Mahrukh Motafram and others from her faith will share with us on a variety of topics including the following:

  • What is the history of Zoroastrianism? How did it originate, and how has it evolved over time?
  • How is Zoroastrianism organized on both a local and worldwide basis? How are leaders selected?
  • What would the world miss if Zoroastrianism never existed? What are its unique teachings?
  • How does Zoroastrianism spread the faith to new adherents at this time?
  • What are common misconceptions about Zoroastrianism and how do you explain them?
  • How did you first learn of Zoroastrianism? What prompted you to follow that faith?
  • How does the practice of Zoroastrianism affect your life day-to-day in modern America?
  • If one wanted to learn more about Zoroastrianism, what are some introductory resources? 

Their presentation will be followed by open Q&A with the audience. The moderator will use the Zoom “Raise Hand” feature to identify who would like to ask a question, and enable audio and video for each person in turn to ask their question live. You will need to unmute to be heard; enabling video is your choice.

Mahrukh is currently a member, trustee and a past Board member for the Zoroastrian Society of Washington State. She is involved with the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA) where she is currently the co-chair of the North American Zoroastrian Congress committee, and a member of the executive steering committee for the World Zoroastrian Congress 2022, to be held in New York City in July 2022.  She is a member, past Board member and a past President for the Assistance League of the Eastside. She is also affiliated with Seattle University as a member of the advisory council for the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement. She resides in Sammamish with her husband Feroze and has two children, Freya and Jamsheed.

Please join us and invite your friends! Below is the complete Zoom conference logistical information. Please direct any questions to rsvp@fire-wa.org. Pre-registration is not necessary for this event.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85172614810?pwd=MTI4SE94cTZSSFdMZ01BOHZYN203QT09
Passcode: 049693
Or One tap mobile :
US: +12532158782,,85172614810#,,,,*049693# or +13462487799,,85172614810#,,,,*049693#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
Webinar ID: 851 7261 4810
Passcode: 049693
International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kepjvBVLcw

 

New series of events to highlight faith traditions — starts October 3!

Dear Friends,

We hope you are all doing well. It has been challenging with the ongoing pandemic and being separated from friends and loved ones, including limited opportunities for getting together with our faith communities and attending other events.

Our FIRE steering committee has been pondering how best to proceed during the pandemic given our mission of increasing trust and understanding among people of different faith traditions. As you know, we cancelled the first dinner dialogue shortly after the start of the pandemic. Last November, and again in April, we hosted virtual interfaith dialogues trying to follow roughly the same format as our in-person events pre-pandemic. We’ve come to realize that the panel discussion format is not ideal for Zoom. We’ve therefore decided to try a new format.

We’re going to embark on a new series of events that will focus on learning more about one faith tradition at a time and what makes it unique. Because these are easier to organize than our traditional panel discussion format, with just one or two presenters rather than five or more, we should be able to do them more often – perhaps four times a year rather than twice. At each presentation, we’ll have the opportunity to learn in depth about a particular faith tradition, including more opportunities to ask questions.

Our first presentation with the new format will be on Sunday evening, October 3, 7:00-8:00 PM. FIRE steering committee member Mahrukh Motafram and others from her faith will share about Zoroastrianism. Full details, including how to register and receive the Zoom link, will be sent shortly.

We hope you’re as excited as we are for the opportunity to dive deeper into the history and teachings of our various faith traditions! We look forward to seeing you (virtually) on the evening of October 3.

Sincerely,

The FIRE Steering Committee

Interfaith Dialogue on April 11 — “Climate Change and Stewardship of the Earth”

Earth Day

Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE) invites you to our 16th Interfaith Dialogue on Sunday, April 11, 6:30-8:00PM. This Dialogue will be conducted online using Zoom conferencing. For access to the Dialogue, please register at https://tinyurl.com/FIREApril2021.

The topic for this Dialogue is “Climate Change and Stewardship of the Earth: How Does Your Faith or Belief Guide You”. The event features a panel discussion among representatives from many world religions including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Native American, Unitarianism, Wicca, and Zoroastrianism, and stimulating interfaith discussions among all participants.

Suggested topics for discussion include “What is your faith or belief’s stance on Climate Change and Stewardship of the Earth (historically and currently)”, “What is your faith or belief tradition doing, in a collective fashion, to address Climate Change and Stewardship of the Earth on a global, local and individual level?”, “How does your faith or belief tradition respond to those who are disheartened or disinterested in Climate Change and Stewardship of the Earth?”, and “What does your faith or belief tradition’s sacred writings teach about Climate Change and Stewardship of the Earth?”.

Most previous FIRE Interfaith Dialogues have included a meal, but due to pandemic social distancing requirements this will be an online-only event. We ask all attendees to please register for the event through EventBrite at https://tinyurl.com/FIREApril2021. As the event approaches, all attendees will receive the link to the Zoom conference by email, along with instructions on how to connect online and by phone and how to navigate the conference.

Please join us and invite your friends! For more information, please email rsvp@fire-wa.org. Please do not use this email to register — instead, go to https://tinyurl.com/FIREApril2021.

Interfaith Dialogue on November 1 — “Bridging the Divide”

Bridging the Divide

Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE) invites you to our 15th Interfaith Dialogue on Sunday, November 1, 6:30-8:00PM. This Dialogue will be conducted online using Zoom conferencing. For access to the Dialogue, please register at https://tinyurl.com/FIRENov2020.

The topic for this Dialogue is “Bridging the Divide — How people of faith can address partisan and ideological polarization and help our communities heal”. The event features a panel discussion and small group discussions including people from many world religions including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Native Americans, Sikhism, Sufism, Unitarianism, Zoroastrianism, and others, and stimulating interfaith discussions among all participants.

Suggested topics for the discussions include “Loving each other even if we disagree”, “Respect for political differences”, “Civility in online and personal interactions”, “Being good examples and advocates to lead society at large to a better future”, and “Justice – racism, bias, privilege, gender, economic, etc.”.

Most previous FIRE Interfaith Dialogues have included a meal, but due to pandemic social distancing requirements this will be an online-only event. We ask all attendees to please register for the event through EventBrite at https://tinyurl.com/FIRENov2020. As the event approaches, all attendees will receive the link to the Zoom conference by email, along with instructions on how to connect online and by phone and how to navigate the conference.

Please join us and invite your friends! For more information, please email rsvp@fire-wa.org. Please do not use this email to register — instead, go to https://tinyurl.com/FIRENov2020.

FIRE Panel Discussion: Standing Strong. Staying Apart. Drawing Spiritual Strength.

Even though the FIRE Dinner Dialogue scheduled for April 5th, 2020 was postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak, we still want to stay in touch as we face the COVID-19 challenge.

You are invited to an online panel discussion to hear from a city government official, a local faith leader, a social worker, and King County public health officials. They will share perspectives on the current situation, get us updated, and engage in a question and answer session as we seek clarification and guidance to continue Standing Strong, Staying Apart and Drawing Spiritual Strength.

WHEN: 5:00 PM Monday April 27, 2020
WHERE: Zoom Conference
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/77728476629?pwd=K0hpZml4WnNhQTd0RjJxamEzcFpRQT09
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/77728476629, Meeting ID: 777 2847 6629 , Password: 5k38aG
https://www.iman-wa.org/live

PANELISTS: Jim Lopez, Assistant City Manager City of Kirkland; Rev. Michael Anderson, Pastor, Holy Spirit of Lutheran Church; Kendra Petkau, Kirkland Nourishing Network; Debra R. Baker, King County Public Health; Shannon Harris, King County Public Health

James (Jim) Lopez is the Assistant City Manager for the City of Kirkland where he oversees the city’s civic engagement, communications and economic development programs. Prior to his current role, Jim was responsible for the administration of the city’s self-insured health plan and he is one of the architects of the Consumer Driven Medical Home model of care. Before coming to Kirkland, Jim served as Senior Advisor to Deputy Secretary Ron Sims at the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington DC. Prior to his time at HUD, Jim served as Deputy Chief of Staff to King County Executive Sims.

For the past three decades Michael Anderson has been pastor at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church located just two blocks from Life Care Center where he would regularly visit patients.  Recently,  he has been helping to lead his congregation to cope with all the difficulties and opportunities the pandemic had presented to all of us.

Kendra Petkau has lived on the Eastside for fifteen years with her husband and two sons, now in middle and high school. She was a Kirkland Nourishing Network food box donor at the North Kirkland location for several years before establishing an additional location in 2014 to serve schools in South Kirkland. Kendra enjoys working with KNN donors and volunteers to help meet the needs of food-insecure students and their families.

Debra R. Baker is an Organizational Development Practitioner with King County Human Resources.  She was reassigned to King County Public Health to set-up and lead Speakers Bureau, which is part of the COVID-19 Community Mitigation Branch.

Shannon Harris has served in King County Government in various capacities.  She is currently working in the COVID-19 Community Mitigation Branch in King County Public Health, where she is a co-lead in the Business Task Force.

The panel discussion and Q&A will be moderated by Jawad Khaki, President of Ithna‐asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest (IMAN).

Save the Date — FIRE Dinner Dialogue on April 5, 2020

The next Interfaith Dinner Dialogue sponsored by Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE) will be held on Sunday, April 5, 5-8PM, at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue. The topic will be “Stewardship of the Earth”, in association with Earth Day which is also in April. We’re still working on refining the topics and identifying panelists, but wanted to give you as much notice as possible to reserve the time on your calendar. RSVPs via Eventbrite will be available soon. Hope to see you on April 5!

Interfaith Dinner Dialogue on November 3 — “Celebrations, Commemorations, and Holidays”

Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE) invites you to the 13th Interfaith Dinner Dialogue on Sunday, November 3, 5-8PM at Sikh Centre of Seattle, 20412 Bothell-Everett Highway in Bothell. A tour of the Gurudwara (Sikh Temple) will be held at 4:30PM for those who arrive early.

The event features a panel discussion with representatives of world religions including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikh, and Zoroastrianism, and stimulating interfaith discussions among all participants. The topic for this Dialogue is “What Are Your Faith’s Celebrations, Commemorations and Holidays?”.

Most previous FIRE Dinner Dialogues have been pot-luck, but this time we’ll enjoy a fabulous vegetarian dinner (“langar”) provided FREE by Sikh community volunteers. This is NOT a pot-luck, and participants should not bring food to the event — please enjoy someone else cooking for you! In order for our hosts to know how much food to prepare, we ask all attendees to please register for the event through EventBrite at https://tinyurl.com/FIRENov2019. 

Important Notes: Sikh Centre is a shoeless facility; participants will be asked to remove their shoes at the entrance foyer. Please wash your hands with the soap and water provided at the entrance. Please dress modestly to cover conservatively. Both Men and Women are asked to cover their heads with a scarf (there will be a few extra scarves for anyone who forgets or does not have one). The use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs is not permitted. The Sikh Center is wheelchair accessible.

For more information, please email rsvp@fire-wa.org.

If you would like to invite others to the Dinner Dialogue, you can download and print a color flyer.

Walk with FIRE in the Kirkland 4th of July Parade! And then join us for a BBQ lunch!

Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE), a non-profit group that works to build trust and understanding among faith communities, invites members of all faith traditions and communities to walk with them in the 2019 Kirkland 4th of July Parade.

Participants are encouraged to wear clothing typical for their faith to help show the diversity of faiths participating in the group, T-shirts promoting peace and understanding, or other clothing of their choice. Those walking should wear sensible shoes; hats and sunscreen are advised. Participants are welcome to carry signs and banners promoting peace, love, unity, and understanding.

The parade starts at Noon. It follows a route through Marina Park and around the downtown core, a total walking distance of about one mile. Participants are asked to line up at the designated point in the Market neighborhood north of Heritage Park by 11AM. The position in the parade and the exact location at which the FIRE group will assemble will be assigned around July 1, posted here, and emailed to FIRE email lists and all who RSVP.

Those interested in participating in the parade should email RSVP@fire-wa.org. Information on the group’s position in the parade, assembly point, and recommended parking locations will be sent before the parade date. For more information on the parade including the route, visit http://celebratekirkland.org/parade.htm. For further information, email info@fire-wa.org or contact Toby at 206-790-6377.

You’re Also Invited to an Interfaith 4th of July BBQ!

After the Celebrate Kirkland 4th of July Parade (about 2PM), join us at IMAN Center, 515 State Street, Kirkland, for a delicious BBQ lunch. We’ll have hamburgers (with halal beef), hot dogs, veggie burgers, and accompaniments. You’re welcome to walk in the parade, or have lunch with us, or both! There’s no cost for lunch, but donations are welcome. You can make a donation in any amount online if you like, or at the BBQ. PLEASE RSVP by Sunday, June 30 if you plan to eat, so we have enough food. Go to this link to RSVP: http://tinyurl.com/Kirkland4thBBQ. If you have questions, please email info@fire-wa.org.

If you’d like to sign up to help at the BBQ (setup, cooking, serving, cleanup), please go to https://signup.com/go/wthhsuq. Thanks!

The BBQ is jointly sponsored by:
Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Ithna-asheri Muslim Association of the Northwest (IMAN)
Kol Ami: A Center for Jewish Life
Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church
St. John’s Episcopal Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kirkland Stake
Kirkland Interfaith Network (KIN)
Fostering Interfaith Relationships on the Eastside (FIRE)