GVIN Expands 2nd Annual Interfaith Awareness Week

The Grand Valley Interfaith Network (GVIN) is coordinating several activities this year as part of its second annual “Interfaith Awareness Week” (August 4-10). The Grand Junction City Council approved a Proclamation on July 17^th in recognition of this week-long event.

GVIN members / faith leaders and their respective congregations will participate in these inclusive activities that encourage learning about religious diversity and similarities. The public is invited to attend and support these activities.

The events allow GVIN to raise awareness about the organization and the way its faith leaders interact with, befriend, and support one another, regardless of a preferred religion, spiritual belief, or secular affiliation. It is a learning opportunity for all involved and is carried out with mutual respect and curiosity.

Details for the week’s events can be found on GVIN’s social media page, "invitation and schedule" (sent out in the "special edition" newsletter on 7/24/19) and includes information about:

• interfaith messages;
• a blood drive (donating throughout the week at St. Mary’s Blood Center on Patterson, 970-298-2555);
• three movies at GVIN members’ churches (see synopsis below) –

                 - Aug. 5: "One Light. Many Candles." at Shepherd Valley Lutheran Church, 3133 F (Patterson);

                 - Aug. 8: "The Human Family Tree" at Unity Grand Junction, 3205 N. 12^th Street;

                 - Aug. 9: "The Gate: Dawn of the Baha'i Faith" at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley, 536 Ouray Ave.; and

                   a “Human Family Reunion & Potluck Picnic” on Saturday (Aug. 10... 11:30a to 1:00p) at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1425 N. 5^th Street. Informal discussions with various faith leaders are encouraged during the picnic. Open discussions are meant to highlight the similarities many faiths have in common and to provide a forum to answer questions regarding religious practices.

Love offerings collected at the movie events will be donated to the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC).

The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition’s (CIRC) believes in the inherent dignity and human rights of every person, regardless of immigration status. CIRC achieves this mission through non-partisan civic engagement, public education, and advocating for workable, fair and humane immigration policies. CIRC envisions a society in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and have equal access to fair and just work, housing, health care, and education and the opportunity to live united with family members. Visit www.ColoradoImmigrant.org for more information.

The Grand Valley Interfaith Network was originally incorporated on November 2, 1977. It consists of historical churches and congregations, faith-based agencies, chaplaincies, and other established faith traditions in the Grand Valley of Western Colorado.

The purpose of the GVIN is to foster friendship among its members, be examples of religious or spiritual coexistence, and to demonstrate constructive communication, collaboration, and cooperation between the faith and alternative communities of the Grand Valley.

For more information about GVIN, its members, or other details, visit their website at www.GrandValleyInterfaithNetwork.org,  Facebook page (@GrandValleyInterfaithNetwork) or send an email to: GrandValleyInterfaithNetwork@gmail.com .

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MOVIE DESCRIPTIONS - all start at 7:00 p.m.

Aug. 5:  "One Light. Many Candles." (60 min) - Rev. Betty became aware of the need for greater spiritual inclusivity among the large and culturally diverse student body at Northfield Mount Hermon School. She held monthly interfaith services with students of various faiths, reading from their holy books and accompanied by music indigenous to other cultures.

Aug. 8:  "The Human Family Tree" (1 h 33 min) - On a single day on a single street, with the DNA of just a couple of hundred random people, National Geographic Channel sets out to trace the ancestral footsteps of all humanity.

Aug. 9:  "The Gate: Dawn of the Baha'i Faith (60 min) - When a former tech entrepreneur declared himself a Bahá’i, he felt compelled to bring awareness to his new faith. But since members are not allowed to proselytize, he set off to make a documentary about the creation of the Bahá’i faith and its prophet the Báb.