O.C. Church to Bless Qu'ran

[m00nbeam]

Yes, I know, another Qu'ran thread. But I thought this was interesting and wanted to share it.

A Florida church plans to burn the Quran on Sept. 11, but an Irvine church will be blessing the Muslim holy book the next day.

The Irvine United Congregational Church, which has hosted both a synagogue and a mosque in its facilities, will invite members and visitors to honor the Quran during regularly scheduled services at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., at 4915 Alton Parkway.

More at link:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/church-265600-muslims-quran.html

[Brother Buzz]

1. Sacramento interfaith leaders plan 9/11 'blessing of peace' on Quran

More than 50 members of Sacramento's interfaith community - including Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Quakers, Muslims and Druids - will meet at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday, the ninth anniversary of 9/11, for a "blessing of peace on the Quran."

The 7 p.m. event, on the steps of the cathedral at 11th and K streets, is designed to blunt the threats of Florida Pastor Terry Jones to burn the Quran.

Jones' associates said today that no Qurans will be burned, but organizers of Saturday's event "wanted to send an alternative vision from America - placing roses on the Quran as a symbol of peace and tolerance. The World Peace Garden in Capitol Park has agreed to supply us with three dozen roses," said the Rev. David Thompson, president of the Interfaith Service Bureau.

"Afterwards the roses will be given to Muslim families," Thompson said. "Whether or not the Florida pastor goes through with his scheme to burn copies of the Quran, we in Sacramento are hopeful of bringing cooperation and peace here as we try to undo the damage already done, to protect our troops and to affirm our Muslim brothers and sisters here in America and around the world."

Non-Muslims will give seven readings from the Quran.

"The passages are chosen to show there are peaceful, wonderful passages from the Quran," Thompson said.

Each reader will then place a rose on the Quran.

There will also be reading from Hebrew and Christian scriptures - "correctives from the faiths Terry Jones is supposed to be representing," Thompson said.

Father Michael Kiernan of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament will read from Matthew 5: "Blessed are the peacemakers. They shall be called sons and daughters of God."

The Hebrew scripture, from the second chapter of the prophet Isaiah, declares, "God will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many people; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war."

The seven blessings from the Quran each carry the message, "Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me," Thompson said. "Everyone in Sacramento who cares about this issue and wants peace and to show kindness to Muslims is encouraged to bring the gift of a rose and place it on the Quran. Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with us."

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/10/v-mobile/3020147/sacramento-interfaith-leaders.html

[m00nbeam]

2. OOOOH That looks cool!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Isn't it nice to know that not everybody in this country is nuts?

And that some Christians actually include Matthew in their Bible?

[m00nbeam]

4. What I found kind of remarkable, in addition to what you stated

was the fact that this church is in Orange County, California. Isn't OC Fundiegelical Central?

[calimary]

5. Much of it, yes. That surprised me, too.

Maybe the county of Orange is turning a little more blue?

Not sure we could go that far, but this is nice to see.

[m00nbeam]

6. There is always hope.

[calimary]

7. No kidding, my friend. Welcome to DU!

And remember today especially, don't be like the teabaggers and republiCONS and the beckerheads who prove to the world by the hour through their words and their behavior that the terrorists won. Osama bin Laden and his disciples aimed mainly to change America and turn us into shrieking nincompoops who now let our worst demons rule us. Turn us into something we're not, where we now collectively pee on everything we supposedly believed in, like genuine freedoms of religion and speech and openness and tolerance and room for all. THEY have let the terrorists win. I REFUSE TO!!!