Posted on 11/10/2004 4:13:33 AM PST by a_Turk
The potluck dinner Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Prospect puts a new spin on the traditional meal - a Ramadan feast.
Church members will break bread with their Muslim neighbors at the unique dinner that will feature a combination of Turkish and American dishes. The ecumenical event begins at 6 p.m. with Muslim and Christian prayers in the church Narthex, followed by the meal at 6:30 p.m.
According to the Rev. Kirk Reed, senior pastor, the dinner is sold out with 130 reservations, including church members and Muslims living in the Northwest suburbs.
Turkish Muslims participating in the event are active with the Niagara Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting global fellowship, and are working with Mount Prospect officials to build a community center.
"Our mission with the dinner is to build up bridges, not walls, between the two communities," said Kemal "Kevin" Oksuz, Niagara Foundation executive director.
Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer and charity, and is observed by more than 6 million American Muslims. While the feast technically is not celebrating the end of Ramadan, the idea to come together was developed during the holy month.
"We're doing this in the spirit of Ramadan, knowing it's such an important observance," said Bob Martindale, church staff member.
The joint prayer service and dinner is not the first step in forging a relationship between the two faith communities, Martindale adds. In October, Muslim neighbors began volunteering at Trinity United's PADS shelter program by bringing dinners.
For the potluck feast, they are bringing such Turkish foods as lentil soup, shepherd salad, sarma or stuffed grape leaves, beef filet with Turkish rice, baklava and fruit. Trinity members will provide salads and vegetables.
"Due to misunderstandings and misconceptions, we don't know each other," Oksuz said. "Whatever we know about each other is from a third party. We need to see each other more and then we will know each other."
Reed is beginning his ninth year leading Trinity church members. In 2002, Mount Prospect officials honored him as a "Shining Star" for breaking down social and cultural barriers within his church and throughout the village.
He and his church members also have been driving forces behind the last two Diversity Walks in Arlington Heights, held to promote learning about the cultural and ethnic contributions of Northwest suburban residents.
Is the "World Council of Churches" involved in this New World Religion of sorts? WHy not allow all faiths to come together and "let's all live in peace and harmony". Lets give peace a chance. BARF!!!
There is only "one way, truth and life" Not many paths, just ONE!
Do my Islamic neighbours need help?
What? Satan barfs at the prospect of peace and harmony?
There is only one way, that is true: the way to hell.
But there are infinitely many ways to God, that is the grace of his mercy after all.
Come to Jesus brother. He's not just a plastic figurine.
Man made peace and harmony is temporary and deceptive, God's peace which can only come through Jesus Christ is the only true way. Islam has an Idol for "god". HOw can you join yourself to that?
Usame says that Christianity has an idol for God.
Take a step back. There is hope.
It may be OK to have dinner together, but there is no common ground in faith. The Allah that the Muslims worship is NOT the God of Christianity
I think the leftist 'World Council of Churches' is behind this. Each year there is a special collection day in the United Methodist Church to fund that organization.
I have more in common with Muslims than I have with atheists. People of faith are our allies against European-style nihilism. Christians at a Ramazan iftar would politely ignore veneration of the Prophet, in the same fashion as Jews invited to a Christmas dinner. Yelling about how Muslims are theologically incorrect is beside the point.
Funny how this event had to happen in a church, and that people of other faiths were not invited to a mosque to celebrate a Muslim holiday.
Probably the Moe-ham-heads did't want anyone to count the ammo.
Why did I know this would be a United Methodist church?
Q: What is the difference between the UMC book of doctrine and the Democratic party platform?
A: The UMC book has more prayers.
Ya, OK, but will the Muslims invite the Christians over for a Christmas celebration? Why isn't that "idea" mentioned anywhere?
Along with every other radical leftist cause you can think of....
Heresy Alert
What a novel idea. I wonder how many will Methodists will convert to Islam?
Thought you might be interested.
Ditto
The UMC again. Doing their best to keep up with the PC(USA), I see.
UMC churchgoers ought to question if their leadership's view of Christ's death and resurrection is the same as the Muslims' view, before they attend ecumenical prayer meetings with them.
In this respect, the Muslims should learn from the experience of the Jews (of all people!) in their experience with liberal "Christians." At the founding of the State of Israel, it was liberal "Christians" who were the strongest supporters of the new state. The liberal denominations were the mainstays of Christian-Jewish interfaith organizations that fought discrimination against Jews in higher education, housing, country clubs, and other areas. However, in the 1980s and afterward, when Israel turned to the right politically, liberals and leftists, even many of Jewish background, became increasingly hostile to Zionism. By 2004, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has taken a very pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli slant in its position on the Middle East.
Lord Palmerston, a British Foreign Secretary in the 19th Century, stated: "There are no permanent alliances, only permanent interests." In 2004, the interests of Muslims and those of liberals and leftists may coincide. In a decade or two, they may not and Muslims may become as much an object of their wrath as evangelical Christians are at present.
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