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Blessing of the Interfaith Babies
By Susan Katz Miller: April showers bring May flowers, blue robin’s eggs, newborn lambs and foals. Even though human babies are born throughout the year, it seems appropriate somehow that our interfaith community welcomes new babies as a group in the spring.
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‘Hineini’ – Answering the Burning Bush
David Bigge April 6, 2020 When I attended Hebrew School as a child, there were two possible answers when the teacher called our names while taking attendance. We could say “ani po,” which literally means “I am here.” Or we could say “hineini,” which is an old biblical way to say “I am here,” like using…
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Creating a Spiritual Home
There’s no place like home. Home sweet home. Home is where the heart is. Home is where you hang your hat. We know from someplace deep in our gut that home is a place of warmth, safety, love, and belonging. Last week, as the IFFP community began preparing for Lent, Reverend Julia shared with us…
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Thoughts Upon Re-reading Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
February 2, 2020 Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address, in Washington, D.C., on March 4th, 1865. I would like to quote it: “On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it–all sought to avert it. …. Both parties deprecated war; but one…
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My Interfaith Kitchen
After I met and married my husband and we decided to be an interfaith family, I struggled. Not with balancing the two religions (although it is tricky evenly splitting the gifts for Hanukkah and Christmas so one holiday doesn’t end up with socks and underwear and no cool gifts; and don’t get me started about how…
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The Last Night of Hanukah Before Christmas at IFFP
A holiday poem “Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house”, The Menorah’s still dripping and the dreidels are out. The stockings are draped near the candles with care, The smell of fried latkes in our clothes, in our hair. All in our PJs, some feeties in felt, Sucking on candy canes, eating our…
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“How Lucky We Are!” The Joys of Creating Your Own Interfaith Community
Discover the incredible joys of building your own interfaith community in this insightful blog post. Explore the transformative power of embracing diverse faith traditions, fostering deep connections, and creating a welcoming space for dialogue and understanding. Learn how to navigate challenges, celebrate shared values, and experience the profound fulfillment of forging meaningful connections across religious…
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The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35) “Then Peter approaching asked Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a…
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Including Children in Your Interfaith Group
This piece originally appeared in Dovetail September 1997. It seems not so long ago, right? You were seriously dating, and often asking: What will we do about the children? Now that child holds tightly onto your hand and the question takes a different spin: What are we going do to with the children? I draw your attention…
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Honor Thy Father and Mother-In-Law
June 2005 When we are born we are blessed by a mother and a father and all other family members they bring to us. They raise us from childhood until the time comes to strike out on our own. After we marry, we become part of our spouse’s family. I was blessed with a most…
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Letting Go
Rev. Julia always says how we have each other to hold us in this IFFP community, so I’m trusting in that support today and want to return the love with some thoughts that I hope will resonate with you. I have to have a reason to write. Otherwise, nothing comes. Others seem to be able…
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IFFP Commits to a GreenFaith Path
“We have reached an unprecedented, critical time in the existence of the earth due to climate change; toxins in our food, drinking water, and environment; plastic waste in our oceans that disrupts ecosystems and kills marine life; and significant loss of forests, among other matters. Never before has our world experienced such violent superstorms, rising…
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advent Being Both catholic Chanukah christian Christmas clergy community couples Easter environment epiphany esther faith families family god Hanukah Hanukkah hebrew holidays holocaust hope IFFP inclusion interfaith interfaith families interfaith family jesus jewish justice lent love Moses Passover prayer rabbi Rabbi Debbie Rabbi Debbie Reichmann racial justice Rev. Samantha Gonzalez-Block reverend Reverend Sam seder sunday school Susan Katz Miller tikkun olam torah virtual wedding