Now, more than ever, we need to build bridges of understanding. Last year, over 250 people from diverse religious communities in the South Bay gathered together to celebrate "Fasting and Feasting Together: A Family Reunion of All Abraham's Children." The event was so rich in meaning and enjoyment that we knew we must get together again. On September 21, from 6 to 7 pm in the Circle of Palms in downtown San Jose, we will gather for "Breaking Bread Together: An Interfaith Reunion." Everyone is invited! It will be an opportunity to build understanding and relationships. At the end participants may sign up for an interfaith dinner group!

Last year our gathering focused on the Abrahamic traditions--Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This year, we want to widen the circle to include other religious groups in our community. We will begin the gathering with calls to worship from the various traditions. There will be prayers, readings from sacred writings, a time to mingle and become acquainted with persons from other faith traditions and an opportunity to "break bread together," i.e., eat some finger food.

At the close of the event, those who are interested in signing up for intrfaith dinner groups will have an opportunity to do so. The dinner groups will meet once a month for four months. The intent of both the main event and the dinner groups is to be a joyous family reunion--not a political rally. We ask that there be no political agendas, no petitions, no posters or demonstrations. We want the wider community to know that we will not let our differences of opinion divide us from each other.

We invite your congregation or group to help plan and prepare for this event by becoming a Sponsoring Organization or a Participating Organization. Sponsoring and Participating Organizations will be listed in our publicity and programs. Current Sponsors include: the Cantor Rabbinic Association of Greater San Jose, the Council of Churches of Santa Clara County, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose, Interfaith Space, Jewish Community Relations Councils of the Peninsula and Silicon Valley, the San Jose Stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice, and the South Bay Islamic Association.

You may download the complete letter of invitation and the application forms to become a Sponsoring or Participating Organization by clicking here http://www.councilofchurches-scc.org/docs/invitation-breaking_bread.pdf. The deadline to be listed in the pre-event publicity materials is August 14.

As more details become available, we will post them on this site and at www.southbayinterfaith.org.

We hope to hear from you soon and look forward to seeing you at the Circle of Palms on September 21st.