CCME: Activities: Summary of Past Events at LSTC

List and Summary of past events

ONGOING

Annual Sacred Texts Conferences

2006: "Our Sacred Scriptures and the Other"
2007: "Our Sacred Scriptures and the Experience of Human Suffering"
2008: "What Our Sacred Scriptures Say about Love of God and Neighbor"
2009: "Educating in the Scriptures"
2010 "Justice in the Scriptures" - held at Islamic Foundation North in Libertyville, Illinois
2011 "Sharing Jerusalem as a Pathway towards Peace" – held at Grace Lutheran Church in La Grange, IL
2012: "Love of God, Love of Neighbor" – held in Orland Park toether with Southwest Interfaith Team (SWIFT)

Interfaith Emphasis Coffee Breaks occur bi-weekly during the regular semester. In recent academic years, topics included:

"Islam in the 2008 Elections", "How non-Christians adapt to US Christian schedule/calendar",
"A Missionary who Changed his Mind" with Dr. Michael Shelley,
"Chicago Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities" with Dr. Abdel Azim Elsiddig,
"An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism" with Rabbi Darryl Crystal,
"Get to know more about your Muslim Professor" with Dr. Ghulam Haider Aasi,
"A Buddhist Calling" with Vinati deVane,
"Roman Catholic Church and Islam" with Scott Alexander,
"Religious Violence in Nigeria" with Pastor John Gorder.

Service Projects with American Islamic College - newly planted interfaith community gardens at both sites, begun on April 3, 2011 and the Share-A-Meal program at Interfaith House on February 29, 2012.

Watch the community garden video:

Watch the Share-a-meal- video:

ELCA Missionaries – mosque visit and education provided for new missionaries at their orientation. Facilitation of sessions at Summer Missionary Conference has also been common.

Youth in Mission – introduction to Islam, mosque visit, and interaction with Muslim youth prior to an intercultural experience for youth prior to their travels in Mexico.

Iftar Meals – During the month of Ramadan, CCME breaks the daily fast with our Muslim friends on several occasions. One time each year, CCME and other area theological schools host an Iftar meal in Hyde Park.

Asure/Noah’s Pudding – Turkish students share this special tradition and tasty treat with the LSTC community annually.

Kristallnacht Service - The LSTC community observes a Kristallnacht Observance Service on or near Nov. 9 each year to commemorate the atrocities of the ‘Night of Broken Glass’ in Nazi, Germany in 1938.

PAST EVENTS

Hosted visiting groups and individuals interested in interfaith matters from Jordan, Sweden, Iraq, Germany, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, and Belarus
Lectures and Featured Speakers: Janaan Hashim, American Muslim attorney presented 'Everyday Shariah: Islamic Law and American Life' on Oct. 9, 2011. Dr. Alice Rothchild (Jewish physician) spoke on March 23, 2009 about her work for peace and equal health care in Israel and Palestine. On April 27, 2009, a non-violent Palestinian resistance group called Tent of Nations presented their story. Dr. Mary Mikhail, president of the Near East School of Theology in Lebanon spoke to students on Oct. 26, 2009. Lucinda Moser presented on Building Bridges Seminars that have taken place for the past several years by the Archbishop of Canterbury. This is only a sample of our speakers!
Pedagogies for Interfaith Dialogue sessions took place in conjuction with Vrije University’s Institute for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society in Amsterdam on October 30-31, 2008; with Hartford Seminary at the fall faculty retreat (Sept 12-13, 2008), another on March 20, 2009, and with Auburn Seminary on September 28, 2010.
Students who travel for interfaith programs overseas during January present on their experiences (Ex: Holy Land trips, Parliament of World Religions)
Interfaith Musical programs include: "Music from the Land of Three Faiths" workshop with leaders from the medieval group, Rose Ensemble from St. Paul MN on February 12, 2009. “Sounds of Faith, Chicago” was held at Rockefeller Chapel on Nov. 15, 2009. CCME supported this program and then had it’s own follow up “Sounds of Faith: Resonating Encounters” program on Oct. 24, 2010. "The Salaam-Shalom Project," Maxwell St. Klezmer Band and friends performed Middle Eastern music from Muslim, Jewish and Christian folk traditions in 2011 and 2012.
"Peace for India" project included a seminary lunch forum in September of 2008 and public dialogue on Nov. 6, 2008. These were student initiated events organized in response to violence against Christians in India. On Nov. 13, 2009, Fr. Cedric Prakash presented "Human Rights and Inter-religious Conflict in India" with an Indian dinner following. U of C Div. student, Elsa Marty also shared about her research work in India the past summer.
The Future of Creation course hosts a panel of presenters from different religious communities to share their tradition’s perspective on care for the environment.
The play, Unveiled was performed by Rohina on Nov. 12, 2009 at LSTC. A Tea reception with Middle-Eastern music by the Bulbul Ensemble preceded the event.
Adult Education forum series at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, St. Timothy, Naperville, and St. Paul's Lutheran in Evanston. Also, two Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) sessions helped to build practical skills and articulate spiritual motivations in interfaith engagement at LSTC.
“Mothers of Abraham’s Children” dialogue took place in collaboration with Niagara Foundation on May 8, 2012.

CCME : A Center for Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and Justice at LSTC

The fruit of the righteous will be peace. Isaiah 32:17

Pursue justice, to do so is to be conscious of God. Surah 5:8

List and Summary of past events