Bridges Beyond Faith: An Event Dedicated To Peace

An Interfaith symposium and concert will be held on Sunday, September 21 at Toronto’s Metropolitan United Church to mark the International Day of Peace.

The event is sponsored by the Metropolitan United Church, the Holy Blossom Temple, the Intercultural Dialogue Institute and the Peace and Social Justice Foundation.

“This event aims to raise awareness around building bridges among communities and nurturing the culture of non-violence, intercultural/interfaith cooperation, and humanitarian action as we break bread together over a special medieval menu,” noted the organizers in a press release.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The symposium will consist of two panel sessions titled, “Sources of Religious Conflict in the Middle Ages” and “Discourse on Peace in the Middle Ages: Moses Maimonides, Thomas Aquinas & Jalaladdin Rumi.”

Archbishop Colin R. Johnson of the Anglican Church of Canada will be the guest speaker at the supper that will feature a special medieval meal.

The final session will be concert that will celebrate peace with performances by the members of the Lachan Choir conducted by Cantor Beny Maissner; the Metropolitan United Church Choir conducted by Director and Organist Dr. Patricia Wright; and the Zikr and Whirling (Sema) ceremonies performed by the Jerrahi Sufi Assembly of the Jerrahi Sufi Order of Canada.

“Each year, on this day, the United Nations calls for a global ceasefire.  We ask combatants to put down their arms so all can breathe the air of peace. Armed conflict causes untold grief to families, communities and entire countries. Too many are suffering today at the brutal hands of warmongers and terrorists. Let us stand with them in solidarity,” said UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon in his message marking the International Day of Peace.

For further information about the event and to register, visit: www.embracepeace.ca