WHAT'S NEW AT DION: OUR BLOG
Music Transcends Dogma at the Interfaith Coffee Concert
The lilting sounds of a jazz singer wafted through the doors of a Detroit mosque on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 21. It was the voice of Amy Saari, local vocalist, pianist and choir conductor offering an afternoon of light jazz to the interfaith crowd assembled at the Muslim Center of Detroit. Dozens of people from various faith groups sat attentively while sipping hot coffee or tea and nibbling on apple cake, cookies, or home-baked brownies. During the intermission, people mingled and made new friends as well as greeting longtime friends from all over the city. In a time of divisiveness, this afternoon coffee concert seemed like an oasis of peace where people could enjoy the beautiful music, converse peacefully, and relax. Ms. Saari and her group of singers, the Pagan Pathways Temple Choir, offered some original compositions such as " I Want To Feel At Home In Every Sacred Space", as well as works inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Duke Ellington, and even the Jewish neo-Hasidic musician Shlomo Carlebach. This was the first of a three part series of coffee concerts co-sponsored by the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network and the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metro Detroit. Bob Bruttell, head of the IFLC, emphasized to the audience that this was a way for us to enjoy each other's company and get to know about the interfaith efforts being made to bring people together in various ways in metro Detroit. The next coffee concert which will feature guitarist Tom Allen will be held on Sunday afternoon, March 18. The exact time and location will soon be announced. For further information please go to the websites of the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metro Detroit or the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network.
DION Awarded Interfaith Partner of the Year
DION has received an award for Interfaith Partner of the year from the Michigan Muslim Community Council. We received this prestigious award in December 2016.
Let Your Light Shine: Sept 11 Unity World Day of Prayer
DION joins with Detroit Unity Temple and interfaith leaders from metro Detroit in an interfaith service focusing on the healing power of prayer and forgiveness on September 11, 2014. Join us at 7:00 pm for this service of healing in the world, bringing peace, forgiveness and reconciliation through our joined spirits. Detroit Unity Temple is located at 17505 Second Blvd, Detroit, MI 48203.
Interfaith Picnic at Belle Isle
DION's Suburban-Urban Unity Picnic had over 300 attendees
Close to three hundred people of many faith traditions met on Belle Isle on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, Aug. 3, 2014, for the annual Suburban-Urban Unity Interfaith Picnic.
It began with prayers and songs for unity and peace in our community and the world led by Father Lawrence Ventline, Rabbi Dorit Edut, Cantor Roger Skully, Assistant Imam Arif Huskic, Rev. David Kasbow , Chaplain Yvonne Moore-Fant, and others. Teens played volleyball, while children did origami and enjoyed a Bounce House and other games, and adults socialized or did all kinds of ethnic dances, including Israeli ones, to the music of a Detroit female DJ. A huge feast of salads, desserts, and many side dishes was served under a big white tent, accompanied by grill favorites like kosher hot dogs, halal chicken, veggie burgers, and regular hamburgers.
Maggid Steve Klaper led songs on his guitar, while Baha'i member John Suggs organized a drumming circle. A Bingo game for donated prizes was called by Barbara Emerson with proceeds donated to Warm-Up Detroit, an organization that helps the homeless at an NSO shelter in the city. Various groups that help families and children in the Detroit area had tables with promotional materials. Sponsoring organizations included the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network, the All-Faiths Festival, Common Word Alliance, Bridging 8 Mile, and the Metropolitan Family Church in Warren.
Tribute to MLK & President Obama
nterfaith Panel and Service - Mon, Jan. 21, 2013
JOIN US AT : Detroit Unity Temple, 17505 Second Blvd., Detroit, 48203 - "One Dream, One Vision, One America" - Tribute to Dr. ML King and President Obama
8:30a.m. - Breakfast (potluck) and social hour
9:00a.m. - Interfaith Panel: "How Our Religious Traditions Relate to MLKing's Teachings, Especially for Our Youth"
10:00a.m. - Interfaith Service
11:00a.m. - Watch President Obama's Inauguration Today on big screen TV
Interfaith Service: September 25
The entire Detroit community is invited to our next INTERFAITH SERVICE TO LIFT UP DETROIT- this Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1-4pm at the Fort St. Presbyterian Church on Fort St. in downtown Detroit. Veggie potluck and social from 1-2pm, film about interfaith relations "Coexistence: Is It Possible?" and a discussion from 2-3pm; then our wonderful interfaith service from 3-4pm. Please bring a non-meat dish to share for the potluck and a bag of gently used clothing to donate to the Open Doors program at the church. RSVP: mutzim@aol.com.
Youth Ascending: Our First Interfaith Service
On July 17, 2011, DION hosted our first interfaith worship service, Youth Ascending. Voices of young and old of many different faith communities blended together singingthe words “ I’d like to teach the word to sing in perfect harmony…” at an interfaith service to uplift the youth of Metro Detroit, held on Sun, July 17 at the St. Peter Claver Catholic Community in northwest Detroit. Organized by the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network, a program which meets at the Downtown Synagogue, the service was the first of a series of worship programs planned every two months to bring the Detroit and suburban interfaith communities together for prayer and socializing.
On July 17, 2011, DION hosted our first interfaith worship service, Youth Ascending.
Voices of young and old of many different faith communities blended together singingthe words “ I’d like to teach the word to sing in perfect harmony…” at an interfaith service to uplift the youth of Metro Detroit, held on Sun, July 17 at the St. Peter Claver Catholic Community in northwest Detroit. Organized by the Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network, a program which meets at the Downtown Synagogue, the service was the first of a series of worship programs planned every two months to bring the Detroit and suburban interfaith communities together for prayer and socializing.
It all began with a Meet and Greetpotluck, held in the courtyard of the church at 2pm. Then at 3pm the pews of the church quickly filled with well close to 200people representing theMuslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Catholic, Baptist, and Presbyterian and other Christian denominationswho had come together to express in prayer, poetry song, and dance their commitment tobring hope and loveto the youth of Metro Detroit in these challenging times.
DaVid Powell, vice-president of the Downtown Synagogueused the words of the Sh’ma prayer to remind that education is key to the successful future of our youth, while Imam El-Amin of the Black Muslim community spoke of the need for the adults to look at what models of behavior and values are beingshown to the children around us.
A deeply moving moment occurred when 12-yr old, legally blind Hamza Kaakarli powerfully chantedthe Muslimcall to prayer, which recognizes God’s greatness, as well as an entire chapter of the Koran by heart. Other young participants includedStephanie Flounory of St.Peter Claver Catholic Community who performed a praise dance, Kristian Wright of Fort Street Presbyterian Church who recited a poem, and Torrin Lee Evans of St. Peter Claver who gave the English translation of Psalm 150, read in Hebrew by Rabbi Dorit Edut.
Among the other inspiring speakers and prayer leaders were Victor Begg, Pastor Malik Shabazz, Pastor Ovella, Sister Joyce Jones, Cassandra Woods, Sister Mary Caroline Jonah, Alice Smith, AntarikSaDas, and Rev. John Considine. The Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Martin Mandelbaum sang several beautiful selections, including Esa Einai – I Lift My Eyes To The Mountains.