Category Archives: events

13th Annual Coat and Soup Ministry

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coat ministryA collaborative effort sponsored by:
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church, One Warm Coat Foundation, City Team Ministries, NAACP, Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, SiVIC, and many more!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12th, 2015
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
484 E. San Fernando St., San José, 95112

Last year, we:

  • served over 345 families
  • received 1201 coats
  • had 170 volunteers both days
  • provided 59 blood pressure checks
  • and raised $4607 for the poor and homeless in our area
What donations are needed?
  • COATS
    (New or *slightly* used) – All Sizes
  • New Items (All Sizes)
    Socks, scarves, hats, gloves, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, underwear
  • Hygiene Kits (Goal: 400 kits)
    Toothbrushes, mouthwash, razors, toilet paper, soap, lotion, combs, Kleenex, shampoo, conditioner, chapstick, sanitary napkins
Where do I bring my donations?
  • Emmanuel Family Life Center – Donation Bins
    467 N. White Road ~ San José, CA 95127
  • Grace Baptist Church – Donation Bins
    484 E. San Fernando St. ~ San José, CA 95112

Accepting donations until Friday, 12/11/15

How can I volunteer?

Please contact Rev. Celinda Miranda at celindam@hotmail.com

soup bowl

Download a flyer to share at your congregation or community: coatministry2015

7th International Children’s Festival

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Here’s a taste of what you can expect at the International Children’s Festival, Saturday, October 3, 2015, from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

International Children’s Festival brings together children from different world cultures and communities in the Bay Area. More than 3000 people have attended the festival which includes traditional dances, performances, arts and crafts, children’s activities and food.
Different groups and ethnicities perform folk dances with authentic clothing and native songs. While enjoying traditional dances, visitors will have the opportunity to taste homemade authentic dishes and desserts from around the world. In addition to dance performances, children will enjoy magic shows, balloon twisters, face painting, pony rides and much more.
Download a flyer:Childrens Festival 2015

Compassion Games 2015

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Compassion GamesJoin Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SiVIC), Carry the Vision (CTV),
and other community groups in a coopetition*
to make Silicon Valley a more compassionate society!

*Coopetition = Cooperative Competition

We invite you to be a part of the Compassion Games again this year. Compassionate Silicon Valley is once again competing with groups and cities around the world to demonstrate who is the most compassionate of all!

Follow the links for more information and join the team!*

*These are also in the menu above under “Projects”

Visit with students from India

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A group of twelve students from India (ages 18 to 24) will be visiting several cities in the USA this Summer as part of a trip organized by JAINA, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, an umbrella organization that preserves and shares Jain Dharma and the Jain Way of Life.

SiVIC and the Jain Center of Northern California invite local residents, especially young people, to join these young people for a program and lunch at the Jain Center in Milpitas. The program will include time for participants to say a few words about their activities in the Interreligious/ interfaith arena.

WHEN: Thursday, July 16, 2015, 11:30 am
WHERE: Jain Center of Northern California, 722 S. Main street, Milpitas, CA 95035
RSVP to Girish Shah at girish.shah@sivicouncil.org to ensure adequate food for the lunch.

Please extend this invitation to youth and young adults in your own community.

A Blessed Ramadan!

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Ramadan_moon-A blessed Ramadan to all the Muslim communities in our area! During this sacred month of fasting, prayer, and acts of compassion and generosity, many local groups are inviting friends and neighbors to join them to break the fast with an iftar meal. If you’ve wanted to learn more about Islam, or just want to get to know your Muslim neighbors better, this is the perfect time.

Check our calendar for upcoming Ramadan events. Among those sponsoring iftar dinners are:

  • Pacifica Institute in Sunnyvale, on June 23 & 30 and July 7 & 14 (details); beginning with a special session on “The Path to Peace through Interfaith Dialogue“
  • Muslim Community Association in Santa Clara, on June 27 (details)
  • Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Milpitas, on June 27 (details)
  • Pacifica Institute and Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, on June 28 (details)
  • West Valley Muslim Association in Saratoga, on July 10 (details)

SiVIC Board members attend Zen festival

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Several members of the SiVIC Board were invited to attend the annual “Bathing the Buddha” ceremony at the Chung Tai Zen Center in Sunnyvale on Sunday, May 24. Abbot JianYing not only welcomed them to the celebration, but invited them and others to bring greetings from their home communities. He emphasized the need to make connections among our different traditions.

Interfaith Leaders at Chung Tai Zen Center

Interfaith leaders at Bathing the Buddha Ceremony at Zen Center 2015

Continue Reading →

Ethical Eating

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For those of you who may not have been able to attend the Interreligious Leaders Forum session last week on “What Our Religious Traditions Tell Us about the Food We Do—and Don’t—Eat,” here is a video of the presentations.

The event was co-sponsored by the Markkula Center for Business Ethics at Santa Clara University, and featured a panel that included Ven JianYing, Sunnyvale Zen Center; Dr. Inder Mohan SIngh, San Jose Gurdwara; Madhulika Singh, PreetiRang Sanctuary; and Deven Shah, Jain Center. The panel was moderated by Dr. Sarah Robinson.

 

 

New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip for Teens

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Join us for the Trip of a Lifetime!

Dates: July 28 – August 1, 2015, New Mexico

Download a flyer: New Mexico Teen Immersion 2015

Silicon Valley Teen Interfaith CouncilIn partnership with Shinnyo-en Foundation, the Teen Interfaith Council of Santa Clara County hosts 10 service-oriented high school students on a New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip. In addition to youth from diverse religious traditions, such as Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and Islam, five Shinnyo-en Buddhist teens will also join the trip. With adult guidance and supervision in New Mexico’s Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos regions, you and your new friends will have the chance to engage in interfaith dialogue, community service, organic farm work, and various cultural experiences. After the immersion trip, you will continue to engage in meaningful service, dialogue and social justice actions that address issues of poverty, social inequity and promote the common good in Santa Clara County.

Contact Co-directors of Teen Intefaith Council of Santa Clara County Today!
Deacon Steve Herrera, or Diane Fisher
You have the ability and power to be agents of social change!

What You Wanted to Know About Other Faiths (but were afraid to ask)

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Menlo Park Presbyterian Church presents a weekend with a panel of scholars from Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. See full details in our Events Calendar.

Saturday, April 25, 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 26, 8:00 am , 9:30 am, and 11:00 am

At the church in Menlo Park; also viewable at satellite campuses in Mountain View, San Jose, and San Mateo. See locations.

See a video of last year’s presentation.