Know Your Neighbor – Communities

Practical Tips for Inviting People to Join a Scheduled Worship Service

1. Check out our guidelines on how to invite those of other traditions to attend a worship service or community event: Tips For Inviting Others To Your House Of Worship
2.  We want to briefly note that places of worship have services at different times of the day and week. As a guide:
   • Islam: Jummah prayers are typically held between at lunchtime on a Friday. If the community is large, there may be two services, one after the other
   • Judaism: Shabbat services may be held on Friday night or Saturday morning, depending on the denomination
   • Christianity: Church worship services take place at various times on a Sunday, typically in the morning and sometimes in the early evening. Some churches have Saturday evening services also
   • Hinduism: Many Hindu communities do not have congregational services on a particular day of the week, but rather encourage individual practice throughout the week, with communal services to mark special celebrations and events at various times of the year
   • Sikhism: Similarly, many Sikh communities encourage individual practice throughout the week rather than communal worship on a particular day. Nonetheless, many Gurdwaras have highest attendance on Sunday
   • Buddhism: Different Buddhist denominations have different schedules of practice. Many American Buddhist communities have communal services on Sunday

1. “Waking in Oak Creek” is a movie on Sikhs and police from Not in Our Town
2. “20,000 Dialogues” is a program providing several quality films about Islam and Muslims from Unity Productions Foundation
3. “The Sultan and the Saint” is a historical documentary with live action portions from Unity Productions Foundation that examines the relationship between Saint Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt during the Crusades. Visit the website to find screenings in your area or to set one up

Find other interfaith film screenings in your area by visiting The Seventh Art Stand

1. Read and discuss The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, which explores the story of three women who are practitioners of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and their journey towards  dialogue, understanding, and friendship
2. Read and discuss The Witness of Religion in an Age of Fear by Michael Kinnamon
3. Read and discuss Of Strangers & Enemies: A Pathway to Peace for Jews, Christians, and Muslims by John Robert Eagan. Purchase available on Amazon.
4. You can always look at the The Daughters of Abraham‘s recommended reading list as well and use that to create your own reading list

1. Invite community members to sign up for this campaign as an Individual. Encourage them to sign up for emails and participate in the tasks discussed about in the “Individual” section.
2. Join the KYN movement which will provide you with resources and share interfaith events
   • Read this document on what it means to join the coalition: KYN ME Neighbor
   • Reach out to Kate at [email protected] to join or learn more
3. If you are a leader within your community and would like to encourage community members to participate in our Share Your Story: Social Media Campaign you can do so by using our Know Your Neighbor (KYN) Summer Campaign Talking Points for a Sermon which demonstrates how to share the value of interfaith engagement and ways to participate in this campaign

Increasingly faith communities are including multifaith prayers to their services as a way to be more inclusive and to celebrate the rich diversity of our communities. The following are useful resources of organizing multifaith prayer gathering or service

1. Scarboro Missions offers a guide to designing a multifaith prayer service
2. The United Religions Initiative has a guide for a candle lighting service
3. The United Religions Initiative has a collection of multifaith prayers

1. Organize a “Meet a Muslim” event
   • Watch our Know Your Neighbor webinar on how to host these events and check out this collection of “Meet A Muslim” FAQ’s, Powerpoints, and other materials
2. Start a “pulpit exchange”, where clergy or another representative from one community speaks to another community outside their tradition, and subsequently have a representative from the other community speak to their group
   • For information on how to do this check out our partner Interfaith Alliance’s resources on ways to foster better understanding amongst leaders of religious traditions and their communities
   • Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston has provided two examples of their past documents used to begin ceremonies, galas and celebrations with an interfaith blessing
     1. Interfaith Invocation Example #1
     2. Interfaith Invocation Example #2
   • The following are selected prayers or scripture from various faith traditions Faith Shared Suggested Readings
3. Create an Interfaith Speakers Bureau in your area
4. For Jewish and Muslim groups wishing to engage in dialogue visit Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism’s program Children of Abraham
5. For Christian and Jewish groups wishing to engage in conversation visit Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism’s program Open Doors Open Minds
6. Celebrate the significance and commonalities of certain holidays
   • Host a Muslim-Jewish Halaqa-Seder, which examines the Exodus story in Muslim and Jewish holy texts over dinner
   • Host a Mary/Maryam event where Christians and Muslims study scripture relating to the Virgin Mary from each other’s traditions over dinner. Email [email protected] for more information

1. Celebrate the diversity of your community while savoring a diversity of cuisines! Invite local faith and values-based communities, congregations, or organizations to a potluck with ethnic dishes. Ask contributors to include ingredients and even recipes! To spice up the event ask attendees to collaborate on a public art project such as a poster, a mural or participate in an open mic or spoken word poetry event
2. Organize a picnic in a park or public space and invite local faith and ethical communities to participate. Make it potluck or a barbecue where a small fee is charged to cover costs. Include family-friendly sports and games, or simply get together to meet and talk
3. Celebrate the significance and commonalities of certain holidays
   • Host a Muslim-Jewish Halaqa-Seder, which examines the Exodus story in Muslim and Jewish holy texts over dinner
   • Host a Mary/Maryam event where Christians and Muslims study scripture relating to the Virgin Mary from each other’s traditions over dinner.

1.  The One America Movement brings people together across religious, racial and political divides to participate in a community service project together, have a meal together and have a conversation.
2. The United Religions Initiative has a kit detailing how to host a community-wide day of service

Reach out to local organizations and invite them to participate in this campaign with you. Find a United Religions Initiative Cooperation Circle in your area.