Become a Spiritual Activist: End Prejudice, Demonstrate Peace
The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate September 21st as its annual commemoration – a 24-hour period of non-violence and cease-fire for groups in active combat. Through the years it has been realized that “active combat” […]
The Jewish Community Welcomes Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, with the Sounds of the Shofar
On the evening of Friday, September 15, Jews begin a month of High Holy Days with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a celebratory day on which it is traditional to gather for festive meals, but it and Yom Kippur are also the two days of the year that draw the most […]
Summer Holy Days: Tisha B’av (Jewish) and Ashura (Muslim)
This week marks two holy days observed by our Jewish and Muslim friends and neighbors. TISHA B’AV Tisha B’av begins at sunset Wednesday, July 26 and is observed until sunset on Thursday, July 27. It occurs on the Ninth of Av on the Jewish calendar, which is the day of remembrance of the destruction of […]
Multifaith Conversations at the Mall
On June 25, Tysons Interfaith gathered representatives of the Sikh, Bahai, Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian faiths in a corner of The Plaza at Tysons Center Mall for an informal dialog. As the perhaps puzzled onlookers strolled by, our guests warmly shared their own religious story and key tenets of their faith. Farzad Ardun (Zoroastrian) […]
Historic Pleasant Grove Church
On Saturday, June 17, Historic Pleasant Grove Church, an historic site and museum, held their annual Spring Fair and Open House. Pleasant Grove is located at 8641 Lewinsville Road, McLean, Virginia 22102, just on the outskirts of Tysons. As described on their website: “Historic Pleasant Grove is a community landmark in McLean, Virginia built by […]
Share of McLean
Tysons Interfaith is pleased to present a series of blog posts highlighting local non-profit organizations who are doing so much to help our neighbors. Please consider helping these groups with your time and resources. For a list of nonprofit organizations working in the Tysons area please visit: tysonsinterfaith.org/resources/ What is Share? The Neighbors We Serve For information […]
Gracing Spaces
Tysons Interfaith is pleased to present a series of blog posts highlighting local non-profit organizations who are doing so much to help our neighbors. Please consider helping these groups with your time and resources. For a list of nonprofit organizations working in the Tysons area please visit: tysonsinterfaith.org/resources/ Gracing Spaces (former ministry of Lord of […]
Volunteering is Good for You – and Tysons Area Non-Profits Can Use Your Help
An article I read from the Stanford Center for Longevity notes that there is a relationship between volunteering and improved physical health and cognitive function. “Research also shows that volunteers report elevated mood and less depression, and that volunteers report increased social interactions and social support, better relationship quality, and decreased loneliness.” longevity.stanford.edu A contributor […]
Creating a Culture of Connection
What is your “worldview”? What do you hold dear? The answers to these questions are both the composite and the creator of your attitudes, values, stories, and expectations about your world and the world around you. They inform your every thought and action. Your worldview manifests as your ethics, religion, philosophy, and beliefs. We arise […]
Interfaith Iftars in Northern Virginia
The holy month of Ramadan came to a close on April 21st. During this period, our brothers and sisters in the northern Virginia Muslim community hosted several Interfaith Iftars. An Iftar is a meal taken at sundown to break the daily fast that occurs during Ramadan. Our Muslim friends invited people of all faith traditions […]