Comment

Comment by D Andrew Kille on October 4, 2012 at 6:56pm

Last Saturday, 35 religious leaders gathered at the Religious Leaders Summit, let by former Parliament Board Member Helen Spector and former Parliament Board Chair Rev. Bill Lesher. Topic for the in-depth conversation was "what can we do together as religious leaders to overcome violence in our Valley that we cannot do separately?"

The Summit was co-sponsored by SiVIC and Carry the Vision (www.carrythevision.org) as part of the Community Nonviolence Conference.

Comment by Joy-Ellen Lipsky on May 4, 2012 at 8:59pm

SiVIC just celebrated its one year anniversary on March 6, 2012.  We are now a fully fledged 501C3 tax-exempt organization.  Wow - what an adventure.  Much thanks to the team that waded the waters of all the governmental and legal paperwork and processes. 

SiVIC is fast becoming the hub of interfaith information and connection in the SIlicon Valley with organizations coming to us for sponsorship and support.  And the Board is becoming even more diverse.

We are planning our second Annual Assembly for the fall 2012, which will have a host of interfaith leaders.

I am looking forward to getting the word out for the upcoming 2014 Parliament.  I love Brussels!. 

Comment by Joy-Ellen Lipsky on October 10, 2011 at 7:15pm

Check out our SiVIC website at www.sivicouncil.org and our Facebook page.  Our website now has an interreligious calendar of events for Silcon Valley.  As we continue to grow, our board is getting more diversified. 

Comment by Joy-Ellen Lipsky on October 10, 2011 at 7:08pm

Many activities were held in the Silicon Valley around 9/11 and SiVIC lead or sponsored several.  The In Memory of 9/11 event was held on September 7th in the McAfee Center and around 30 faith leaders were on stage with the representatives of the first responders.  The Light the Night event was held on September 11th at the Muslim Community Association and there were several hundred people and many religious and civic leaders, including the President of the Board of Supervisors, Dave Cortese.  On September 8th, SiVIC held its first Interreligious Leaders Forum on Forgiveness at the First Congregational Church of San Jose.  This organization is being requested to participate or sponsor more and more interreligious events in the area. 

Comment by Joy-Ellen Lipsky on April 16, 2011 at 9:25am

Since the March 6th Inauguration of SiVIC, we have been visible at many events, such as the Vigil for Japan at the Buddhist Temple in San Jose, the CROP Hunger Walk, the Women's Interfaith Dialogue Encounter, the phase II celebration of the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in San Jose, talks at a local middle school, an interfaith Immigration Seder, and the American Sikh Day in Sacramento.  Plus our new Chair, Rev. Andy Kille, was designated a "Spark Plug" as part of a project being done by CREA-TV and San Jose State University with funding from the Knight Foundation and was filmed with several others. The resultant movie (www.sparkplugsproject.org) was shown in a local movie theater.  SiVIC by-laws are passed and organization paperwork is in for government approval.

Comment by D Andrew Kille on March 14, 2011 at 7:24pm

It’s about time I posted something about the inaugural assembly of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council, which took place last Sunday–

Nearly 200 people gathered at Santa Clara University to celebrate the creation of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SiVIC). The result of nine months of planning and preparation, SiVIC intends to be a meeting place for people of the diverse religious traditions of the South Bay, and a voice for interreligious cooperation and respect.

At the core of the day was a community conversation facilitated by Chris Block, CEO of the American Leadership Forum. The discussion began with a panel which included Fr. Jon Pedigo, Feeza Mohamed, Mari Ellen Reynolds Loijens, and Dave Cortese (stepping in for an ailing Delorme McKee-Stovall). Block invited discussion of the findings of the Knight Foundation’s The Soul of the Community study, especially regarding the sense of connectiveness that people are feeling and how it might be improved.

Participants in the room then broke into smaller groups of 3-7 people to carry on the discussion in relation to their own experience in Silicon Valley, and how interreligious cooperation might contribute toward addressing the needs of the community. So engaging were the conversations and the chance to meet with others in the community that it was hard to come back together again!

Special music was provided by Ladyesong and the Joyful Noise Gospel Choir, which brought people to their feet. The Rev. Bruce Bramlett, formerly director of interfaith relations for Silicon Valley FACES served as the Master of Ceremonies.

Special greetings were shared by Dave Cortese, Chair of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors; Cindy Chavez, former San Jose City Councilwoman and Director of Working Partnerships; Chief Chris Moore of the San Jose Police Department, and Rev. Ellen Grace O’Brian, Center for Spiritual Enlightenment and member of the Board of the Parliament of the World’s Religions.

Following a litany inviting people to commit to work together as part of the Council, Rev. D. Andrew Kille of Interfaith Space invited everyone to write down “a hope, a prayer, a commitment, a wish” for the future of the Council. The cards were collected together and, after a moment of silence, he announced, “Let us celebrate the inauguaration of the Silicon Valley Interreligious Council!”

See the coverage in the San Jose Mercury

Comment by Joy-Ellen Lipsky on February 21, 2011 at 12:46pm

The Celebration and Prayers for the People of Egypt and Their Neighbors was a beautiful gathering of people from many faiths with a program that was truly touching.  With music, a testimony from a student who was there during the demonstrations, reflections and prayers, this paved the way for future SiVIC events.  Thanks to those involved in getting this together in 5 days.

Comment by D Andrew Kille on February 14, 2011 at 7:12pm

Celebration and Prayers for the People of Egypt and Their Neighbors

Thursday, February 17, 2011
7:30 - 9:00 pm
Campbell United Methodist Church
1675 Winchester Boulevard
Campbell, CA 95008

You are invited to join with representatives of the local Egyptian community, religious leaders from several different traditions, and friends and neighbors from Silicon Valley to celebrate the achievement of the Egyptian people, and to offer up prayers for the future of Egypt and its neighbors. There will be special music.

Details at www.sivicouncil.org

Comment by D Andrew Kille on December 22, 2010 at 7:23pm

A review of interreligious activities in this past year- it's been a busy time!

2010 an eventful year for interfaith in silicon valley

Comment by Joy-Ellen Lipsky on December 13, 2010 at 11:42am

I had the pleasure to be asked to give the invocation at the World AIDS Day Commemoration at Congregation Beth Am in Palo Alto, California, on December 1st.  The event was very moving as there were people who gave testimony to the ravages of AIDS not only to the afflicted, but to the family and friends. 

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