Community meal provided at the Sikh Temple after worship.
Thanks to Brian Carwana, Executive Director of the Encounter World Religions Centre, in Toronto, Canada and his staff, it was a lifetime experience for both of us. Through the Discovery Week 2017 program, Rev. Sharon Taylor and I experienced the landscape of many world religions. I feel like we have traveled through time and history of sacred places.
Visit to the Buddhist Temple
Words cannot convey the depth of understanding we gained as we studied 11 of the major world religions, shared a meal with people of many different religious cultures, and observed and participated in the varied religious practices. The leaders at each religious site received us graciously and spoke candidly about their practices and concerns. We desired to understand their religion and they were grateful for the time, money and effort we spent in engaging in this undertaking. Many times, we heard that their hope for these Encounters would be to create a more peaceful and kinder world. We went on this journey to meet face to face, but more importantly, we also met heart or heart.
Classroom at the University of Toronto.
Note: Director Brian Carwana (pictured below) was the keynote speaker at last year's Persons in Ministry Retreat. This annual event occurs in partnership with the Missouri Mid-South Conference of the UCC, and is happening this year Sept. 18-20.
Has it changed me? YES, and I am so grateful for my new perspective on global faith communities. If you are interested in learning more, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Lisa Foglesong & Rev. Sharon Taylor
Eldon First Christian Church
Office: 573.680.4170
Eleven Religions Studied:
Christianity
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism
Native Spirituality
Taoism
Rastafari
Judaism
Sikhism
Zoroastrianism
WICCA