The Pacific Northwest Interfaith Amigos will make presentations on the North Olympic Peninsula on Saturday and Sunday.
Rabbi Ted Falcon, Pastor Don Mackenzie and Imam Jamal Rahman of Seattle wrote “Finding Peace through Spiritual Practice, the Interfaith Amigos’ Guide to Personal, Social and Environmental Healing,” a book that has sparked reading groups all over the Peninsula.
However, Mackenzie has since moved to Minneapolis and so Pastor Dave Brown of Tacoma’s Immanuel Presbyterian Church has stepped in for him — creating the Pacific Northwest Interfaith Amigos.
They will speak about building bridges across religious boundaries and finding peace through spiritual practice at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 E. Lopez Ave. in Port Angeles, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the auditorium at Port Townsend High School, 1500 Van Ness St., where seating is limited to 300 seats; doors will open at 1:30 p.m.
Question-and-answer periods will follow the lectures.
Admission is free to both, although free-will offerings will be accepted at the door.
The Pacific Northwest Interfaith Amigos also will speak at two services Sunday — at 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. — at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave. “Finding Compassion in a Time of Turmoil” is the title of their message.
“Together, they will boldly discuss issues raised in the award-winning book, Finding Peace through Spiritual Practice.” said the Rev. Barn Laski, who organized study groups in East Jefferson County.
“The topics are remarkably relevant to the challenges we face in our nation today,” she said.
“The Amigos talk about moving beyond polarities, violence, prejudice, Islamophobia, homophobia and despair. They explain how spiritual practices support dialogue, collaboration and activism for environment and social injustices. Their underlying theme is to awaken to the peace that we seek within us and in the world.”
Study groups discussing the book have blossomed on the Peninsula.
Port Townsend has 15 organizations sponsoring study groups with more than 175 participants, Laski said.
The discussion groups are from three retirement communities, the Boiler Room, Port Townsend Public Library, Jefferson County Library, Harmony’s Way and Inner Work as well as six churches: First Presbyterian Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Trinity United Methodist Church and Unity Spiritual Enrichment Center, she said.
None of the groups are taking more participants except the Jefferson County Library group, according to information from Laski.
“Whether you have read the book or not, come to this interfaith program” on Saturday and Sunday, Laski said.
Marilyn Eash of the Interfaith Community of Clallam County said she organized study groups in Clallam County after seeing Laski’s success in Jefferson County with what is called a “spiritual read.”
Some 19 groups have formed in Clallam County, many of which are still accepting new participants.
For more information in East Jefferson County, see www.spiritualread.org or call Laski at 360-301-1855.
For more information in Clallam County, see interfaithclallamcounty@gmail.com or call Eash at 360-477-0681.
