Tuesday
Interfaith Ministry in the Postmodern World: Field Notes from Contemporary Practitioners
8:00 – 9:30 AM Hall E-Room 1 Corey Passons, Jamal Rahman, Jennifer Friedman
What is interfaith ministry in the postmodern world? Whom does it serve? How do interfaith ministers honor multiple traditions with authenticity and reverence? This session features three contemporary, interfaith leaders and practitioners as they share about their ministries and the people they serve. The presenters function in a wide spectrum from chaplaincy, to organizational leadership, social justice advocacy, workshops, and interfaith congregational ministry. In each of these settings, there is a through line of seeking connection and offering support and care for those they serve at the level of the human heart. Their ministries exist in a moment of record growth for those who are religiously unaffiliated and those seeking a more diverse, plural community of teachings and practices for their spiritual lives. Join them as they share their experiences, hopes, challenges, and joy in the work they do fostering depth on their various paths of service in interfaith ministry.
Dancing a New World Into Existence – Session 1
3:00 – 4:30 PM East Terrace near the fountain area
Dance Leaders: Pir Shabda Kahn, Shivadam Adam Burke, Sky Roshay, Mubdi Matin Ted Ryle, Tajali Tolan, Jennifer Friedman
In this experiential session, led by certified leaders of Dances of Universal Peace (DUP), embody your commitment to freedom, human rights, justice, and peace with this moving meditation that honors and celebrates the dignity and value inherent in all beings. DUP combines simple, accessible movements, joyful music, and sacred phrases from the world’s wisdom traditions to enliven the soul and inspire peace from within. DUP celebrates freedom of religious expression and the right of all humans to practice our faith and manifest a more beautiful world. As the dancer sinks into the repetition of the music and sacred phrases, their level of consciousness is uplifted, creating insight and inspiration to move forward in a world-changing way. DUP embodies the Parliament Convening’s themes of Faith and Interfaith Understanding and Peace and Justice by sharing the essence of a wisdom tradition in each dance, and by supporting alignment to peace and right action.
All Generations Universal Celebration
5:00 – 6:30 PM E258 Mumtaz Kammerer
This celebration is based on Universal Worship, a time when people of all faiths—or of no particular religion—can come together to worship the One….
Wednesday
Weaving the Rhythms of Nature Through Ourselves
8:00 – 9:30 AM E267 Patricia Kies and Selene Fox
Join with a Pagan Priestess and a Certified Leader of Dances of Universal Peace in exploring Nature-centered spiritual practice, and how it can come through the body as a channel. Together let’s consider sources of deep wisdom, learn chants that ground us, and move ourselves in a means of experiential prayer. Both presenters know the richness of Wisconsin’s fertile soils, and travel locally/internationally with messages resonating on the same note, never actually separate. We see it as due time for those on our planet to return to a way of tuning ourselves to natural rhythms, so we might become true instruments of peace. Circles and spirals are frequently found in imagery documenting ancient worship of the Goddess and the fruitful Earth. Participants sing in a circle, dancing on the ground beneath us, actively developing and immersed in energy to be shared with all modern humanity. Meet the vibrant presence of divinity in every person, remember your connections to the sacred whole.
Opening to Peace
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM E450A Helga Schleeh
This session opens a collective door to peace through the arts. Eliminating our notion of error, we explore a powerful authentic way of meeting peace. Helga Schleeh is an established visual artist and leader of the Dances of Universal Peace.
Dancing a New World Into Existence- Session 2
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM East Terrace near the fountain See above for details
Dance Leaders: Pir Shabda Kahn, Shivadam Adam Burke, Sky Roshay, Mubdi Matin Ted Ryle, Tajali Tolan, Jennifer Friedman
Live Welcoming to All
5:30-6:30 pm E258 MaryRose Widad Cobb
This session addresses egoic perspectives that separate and divide self from “Other.” Experiential exercises that include guided meditation, witnessing, and deep listening are designed to give participants the opportunity to identify barriers to unity and gain awareness for Self as Other. “Live Welcoming to All” is from a poem written by Mechtild of Magdeburg, a medieval mystic poetess, who faced opposition from society, but despite this she felt as long as she had the power to change and grow, there was hope for change in the world.
“The sun shines on all the trees; it does not make distinctions between this tree and that tree.” ~ Hazrat Inayat Khan
Thursday
Heart Songs Meditation
8:00 – 9:00 AM E270 Jennifer Friedman and Hayat Bain
Connect with your inner peace and tune into your soul’s radiant presence. Begin your morning with a practice inspired by the interfaith Dances of Universal Peace tradition which alternates singing, silence, Sufi poetry, and the relaxing sounds of the flute. Experienced Dance leaders and musicians, Jennifer Friedman and Hayat Bain guide a seated session designed to bring love, harmony, and beauty to your day.
Ritual to Awaken the Heart and Movement to Transcend Barriers
8:00 – 9:30 AM E256 Patricia Kies & Linda Boss
Music and intercessions often are central to a faith-based service. Elements of this worship service draw from some of the hundreds of Dances of Universal Peace. The service includes seated practices as well as opportunities for movement that bring participants together in a mandala to direct our shared vibration beyond the confines of the room. We introduce prayerful chants from various traditions to invite participants to gather, connect, and unify. Brief readings of passages from historic beings who blessed us with this form of spiritual centering are shared to inspire us to grow more conscious of the interdependent nature of all life. Presenters are lay ministers who have worked closely to prepare and facilitate formal worship offerings following a Unitarian Universalist format, and who co-led an ongoing circle of Dances of Universal Peace. In both activities, they shared a focus on broad religious pluralism and a mission of fostering interfaith understanding.
Turning Toward One – Universal Kirtan, Dances of Universal Peace & Zikr
1:00 – 2:00 PM E256 Kristy Marie Nur Jehan Chisti and the Way of the Heart Crew
In this session, music is used as the vehicle to bring a tangible experience of belonging. Kristy Marie Nur Jehan Chisti leads participants with her dedicated heart in Universal Kirtan, Dances of Universal Peace, and Zikr. The session acknowledges that there are as many paths to God as there are people. In this harmonious-sonic bath, be prepared to meld with the music and each other. The Dances of Universal Peace and Zikr practice are both moving meditations, where participants are led through unifying movements. All people and faiths are welcome, no experience is necessary. If you are physically limited, we welcome you as you are, and we accommodate you as needed. “For those on the spiritual path, thinkers, students, and meditative souls, it is of the greatest importance to know the condition of their spirit from time to time by consulting their voice. That is their barometer.” Hazrat Inayat Khan
Let’s sing together! In love, harmony, and beauty!
Dancing a New World Into Existence- Session 3
3:00 – 4:30 PM East Terrace near the fountain
Pir Shabda Kahn and DUP Next Generation Dance Leaders Conie Borchardt, Kristy Marie Nur Jehan Chisti, C. Sage Dames, Mary Hoyer, Ashley Pelli, Madeline Planer, Ana Gaby Fernandez
Friday
Cultivating Strength, Stability, and Compassion: Sufi Practices and Teachings for Resilience
8:00 – 9:00 AM E258 Shabda Kahn
Shabda Kahn serves as Pir of the Sufi Ruhaniat International, a branch within the spiritual lineage of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan.
This Is My Body: Embodied Prayer With the Aramaic Words of Jesus
10:30 – 11:30 AM E270 Ted Ryle, Corey Passons
Rev. Cherag Ted Ryle is an Ordained Chaplain in the Sufi Ruhaniat International, leader of Dances of Universal Peace, and Clinical Social Worker.
Abwoon: Singing & Embodying the Prayer of Jesus in Aramaic
1:00 – 2:30 PM Speakers: Steve Miller, Conie Borchardt, Brother Joseph Kilikevice
This religious observance offers an experience of chanting, moving, and meditating with the Aramaic Prayer of Jesus (the “Lord’s Prayer”). Using Aramaic (either aloud or silent) offers a direct connection through vibration, sound, and breath to the spirituality of the person who used the words, as well as to the indigenous Christianity of the Middle East. All are welcome to join in the singing and the movement prayers. Facilitators welcome further questions and comments after the observance is complete.