2nd INTERFAITH CONVERSATION 2010 – Growing Interfaith activities in Sonoma

The Forum is established to provide opportunities to engage in discourse with folks of different persuasions so hearts can be moved to compassion and understanding. Plans are underway for two or three more such events for the year 2011.


The Forum is established by the members and the leadership of First Congregational Church of Sonoma, CA. It is dedicated to providing opportunities to “be in the same room” with folks of different persuasions so hearts can be moved to compassion and understanding. They welcome you to the second of a continuing series of conversations regarding diverse faith traditions next Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

In Burlingame Hall, 252 West Spain Street, Sonoma Dr. Richard Lenson will offer the Jewish perspective, Imam Ali Siddiqui the Muslim perspective and Reverend Nancy Taylor the Christian perspective on questions posed by the Forum and by the audience. Please be there with us.
The event is Free.

WHERE: Burlingame Hall, First Congregational Church of Sonoma, 252 W. Spain Ave, Sonoma, CA
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Panelists: Dr. Richard Lenson is the Coordinator for Religious Program at the Congregation Shir Shalom, Sonoma, CA. Rev. Nancy Taylor is the Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Sonoma, Sonoma, CA. Imam Ali Siddiqui serves the North Bay Muslim Community and associated with the California Muslim Institute and Center for Interfaith Studies, Santa Rosa, CA. He is an OneNationforAll scholar and the Co-Coordinator for the North Bay Jewish Muslim Dialogue.

Hope to see you all Tuesday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m. in Burlingame Hall.

For information: Kathy Aanestad, aanestad [at] vom.com

In mid-September, SVMA convened a panel of artists to talk about the role of religion in art. Now the Museum is flipping the tables to hear from religious leaders.

This discussion is held in conjunction with the exhibition Visions of Paradise: Art and the Power of Faith. The works in Visions of Paradise include historical folk pieces and ritual objects from around the world together with contemporary works by prominent Bay Area artists. These disparate objects range in style from folk to classical to contemporary. As a collective exhibition, the works illustrate the profound power of faith and the complex role of art in religious practice.
The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art organized the second Panel with the religious leaders reflecting on the role of art in religious practice and on their respective spiritual communities’ cultural lives.

Speakers included Reverend Nancy Taylor, First Congregational Church of Sonoma; Joanne Martin Braun, Regional Director, Northern California Shambhala, San Francisco; and Imam Ali Siddiqui, President, California Muslim Institute & Center for Interfaith Studies, Santa Rosa, and Co-Coordinator of the North Bay Jewish Muslim Dialogue. The central hall was crowded with the guests and lively and educational discussion filled the museum with great interest. Speakers responded to the question posed by the moderator as well as the audience. The Panel discussion lasted way beyond its scheduled time.