News for the ‘AVIC Events’ Category
March 8, 2010 AVIC Press Release
Antelope Valley Interfaith Council (AVIC) has announced their elected officers for the current year. They are: Valerie Elliott – President, Deborah Shelton – Vice President, Lisa Morgenstern – Secretary, Rev. Hilde Brooks – Treasurer, and Archbishop Bernie Price as Historian.
AVIC was established in the late 1980s as a place for religious leaders to discuss their community’s concerns and to share community activities. An early mission was to provide a forum in which members could exchange ideas and learn from each other’s teachings in order to build a better community. Since then, membership has expanded to include the general public – anyone who wishes to join them in achieving these goals. Also, some clergy, or faiths without clergy, may appoint someone from their congregation to be that faith’s representative.
Their mission also includes educating the public by hosting interfaith events and having a variety of faiths offer prayer or brief information about their faith at these events. An example of the inclusionary vision of the Council is their National Day of Prayer (NDP) service that is held at the Center for Spiritual Living (formerly the Center of Light) in Lancaster. Prior to AVIC’s evening NDP event, the only other NDP event has been the Mayors’ NDP Breakfast meetings that have been exclusively for a specific interpretation of Christianity.
Edited: March 11th, 2010
9/11 Memorial and Unity Service
This year’s “9/11 Memorial and Unity Service” will be held on September 11 at:
The Guidance Charter School
1125 E Palmdale Blvd
Palmdale, CA 93550
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
This event has been hosted jointly with Antelope Valley Interfaith Council and Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force annually since 2002. Although deemed “Patriot Day” by Congress since October 2001, the focus of this event has been unity and respect.
This year’s title is “Hold onto the rope of Truth – be United” and the guest speaker is Brian Haws, Warden of the California State Prison, Los Angeles County, in Lancaster.
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Military Resource Center.
There will be a free community meal following the service.
For further information, contact Valerie Elliott valerie@antelecom.net or 661-943-0422.
Edited: September 3rd, 2009
Blessings of the Spring Season!
As we move from Spring towards Summer, we think of the seeds we have planted that will sprout and grow in the coming growing season. What seeds have you planted? What do you plan to harvest from life in the fall? Plants grow with nurturing, so plan to nurture your soul with us at the National Day of Prayer service we are holding this May. Our services nurture and feed the spirit and soul of all faith traditions, in inclusive manner. We work together for common goals and take pride in our diversity and celebrate it. Our country was founded on precepts of religious freedom by settlers trying to escape religious intolerance. Here in our valley, we celebrate our differences by partnering with the Antelope Valley Human Relations Hate Crimes Task Force in presenting a program where all faiths can pray for our elected officials in their own manner. And we can learn from each other’s differences, just how alike we really are.
Edited: April 5th, 2009
Sept. 11 memorial service unites faith leaders
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Friday, September 12, 2008
by NORMAN SHOAF
Valley Press Religion Editor
LANCASTER — Where were you on Sept. 11, 2001?
Rev. Leonard Jackson of Los Angeles’ First AME Church recalled that he was in Lexington, Ky. promoting interfaith dialogue, when a friend phoned him at his hotel and asked, “Are you watching TV?”
Of course he was.
“I couldn’t really believe what we were seeing,” Jackson told more than 100 attendees at the seventh annual 9-11 Memorial and Unity Service on Thursday evening at the Islamic Center of North Valley.
The event, sponsored by the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council and the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task force, brought together community leaders and residents to share prayers from multiple faith paths, tributes to those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terror attacks, appreciation for America’s military and law enforcement personnel and messages of reconciliation and oneness.
Keynote speaker Jackson shared his experiences of that fateful day.
“People began to cry,” he said of a morning visit to the University of Lexington. “There was chaos in the community.”
The university’s chapel was not large enough to accommodate all the students who wanted to gather together seven years ago.
In such times, Jackson said, “people rely on faith traditions to tell them what to do.”
Edited: September 12th, 2008
Interfaith Council and AVHRTF sponsor Sept. 11 memorial
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Tuesday, September 9, 2008.
By NORMAN SHOAF
Valley Press Religion Editor
LANCASTER – “America – United We Stand, Divided We Fall” has been chosen as the theme for the 9-11 Memorial and Unity Service on Thursday at the Islamic Center of North Valley.
The service, observed each year since 2002, brings together civic officials and faith leaders for prayer, patriotic speeches and remembrance for the victims of the 9-11 terror strikes on the United States.
The event, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., is open to the public.
This year’s memorial, sponsored by the Antelope Valley Interfaith Council and the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force and endorsed by the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, will feature a keynote address from the Rev. Leonard Jackson, from the office of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
The evening’s ceremonies will include prayers, readings and presentations from representatives of diverse Valley houses of faith. A community meal will be served at no charge following the event.
Edited: September 10th, 2008
