Topics

Participating Congregations and Organizations
  • American Muslim Voice
  • Bahá'í Community of Palo Alto
  • Beyt Tikkun Synagogue
  • First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ) Palo Alto
  • First Evangelical Lutheran Church Palo Alto
  • First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto
  • First United Methodist Church Palo Alto
  • Mountain View Buddhist Temple
  • Palo Alto Buddhist Temple
  • Palo Alto Friends Meeting
  • St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palo Alto
  • St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Palo Alto (Catholic)
  • Social Action Committee of the Redwood City Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship
  • Trinity Church in Menlo Park (Episcopal)
  • Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto
  • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos
  • West Bay Chapter, Buddhist Peace Fellowship

Who's Online
Guest Users: 4

We the People: Jan 6 Day of Remembrance and Action

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

January 6, 2021 was the day of a violent and deadly attack against all Americans – against our country, our democracy, and our freedom as voters to choose the leaders that represent us so that we have a government of, by, and for the people.

So this January 6, exactly one year later, Americans across race, religion, place, party, and background are holding candlelight vigils to say: In America, the voters decide the outcome of elections.

The promise of democracy is not a partisan issue but a calling that unites us as Americans.

Vigils and actions, virtual and in-person are planned across the nation. Click here for a details and a map of vigils.

NOTE that the Sunnyvale vigil actually takes place on WEDNESDAY, January 5 (one day early), with featured speaker Ro Khanna. The listing on the national website page is incorrect, but as you read down, you will see that it says January 5.

 
read more

Solidarity Prayer Vigil

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Solidarity Gathering: "Surround the City with Light and Love"
Sunday, August 29, 1-1:30pm
Surrounding First United Methodist Church
625 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301

Palo Alto clergy and faith leaders from diverse traditions invite all members of the Palo Alto and neighboring communities to stand against hate and aggression, and join in prayer that we can be a community devoted to respect, dignity and safety for all people.

On Sunday, August 15, the Rev. Dr. Debra Murray, an African-American woman and the Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, experienced an escalating series of hateful incidents in which she was threatened because of her Black Lives Matter sign and her leadership in the community. This was among a list of incidents directed at BLM and African-American religious leaders, community members, and houses of worship in the Palo Alto area.

Will you join us in surrounding Pastor Debra with love and
praying for our communities to be places of love and light
in this simple, quiet, physically distanced and masked prayer gathering?

Participants are invited to find a place, staying safely distanced from other individuals or groups, on the sidewalks or parking lot surrounding First United Methodist Church at 625 Hamilton Ave. between Byron and Webster. You are welcome to bring signs of support that are positive and not polarizing. This is not a protest but a prayer gathering for light and love. Click here to download the logo if you wish to use it to make your own sign.

Click here to see and share the Facebook page for this event.
Click here to download a PDF flyer to share.
Please help spread the word and invite others to join this gathering of light and love!

You are welcome to stand, kneel or bring a chair or cushion for sitting, meditating, or praying. PLEASE DO NOT FULLY BLOCK THE SIDEWALK, but leave space for pedestrians to get by. After some time of quiet prayer in place, participants will be invited if able to walk around the church, again, staying physically distanced. You may pick up stickers to wear (of the above graphic) at the front door of the church. 

PRAYERS: Click here to download an inclusive prayer handout. If possible, please bring this with you to the gathering.
SIGNS:
You are encouraged to bring posterboard signs with words of support that are positive and not polarizing.
This is not a protest but a prayer gathering for light and love.
Click here to download the logo if you wish to use it to make your own sign.
HASHTAGS:

#surroundpaloaltolightlove
#peaceinpaloalto

 

 
read more

Vigil to Commemorate Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Friday, August 6, 12Noon - 1pm
Corner of El Camino & Embarcadero in Palo Alto

Peaceful commemoration of the 76th anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and opportunity to renew our committment to peace and nuclear disarmament. 

We will be distributing paper cranes from our 75th anniversary installation of 2080 paper cranes made by local residents and many sent by peace activists in Ehime, Japan.  We will be displaying paper peace cranes on the crossing poles and there will be an assortment of signs to hold. We also encourage  you to make a sign, if you wish, to express your hope for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons. 

Stand in peaceful vigil to mark these solemn annversaries of August 6th and 9th and bear witness for peace and nuclear disarmament. No speeches or music. 

Sponsored by the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. MVPJ is pleased to co-sponsor and encourage your participation!

 
read more

100 Community Conversations on Race

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Join 100 Community Conversations on Race and the Lived Experience in Palo Alto

These conversations are for people who live, work, worship, shop or study in Palo Alto.

These intentional conversations are aimed at growing Palo Alto into a community characterized by belonging, vested in diversity, inclusion and equity, and committed to putting words into actions. We will be discussing race and belonging with honesty, transparency and vulnerability.

The goal is to host 100 conversations between May 25 and Juneteenth, 2021.

Click here for more information.

 
read more

Muslim Groups Mourn & Raise Money for Colorado Shooting Victims

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

The Religious News Service posted this article March 24, 2021:

"Muslim organizations are mourning and raising money for the 10 people killed in the mass shooting on Monday (March 22)...
The Colorado Muslim Leadership Council on Tuesday released a statement in solidarity with the survivors and victims."

Read the full RNS article here.

Read the Colorado Muslim Leadership Council statement on their Facebook page here.

 

Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Ceremony 2021

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Tuesday, April 13, 2021 via web streaming
10:30am Pacific Time

Sharing Sorrow, Bringing Hope

Join hundreds of thousands of people from around the world in what is being called the biggest Israeli-Palestinian peace event in history. The Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Day Ceremony is hosted by Combatants for Peace and Parents Circle-Families Forum and we are proud that Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice is an official sponsor this year.

Together we declare that War is Not an Act of Fate - but a Human Choice!

Last year 200,000 people participated in the live broadcast event and over one million people streamed it afterwards. This year the Ceremony will take place virtually, broadcast live from Tel Aviv and Ramallah.

Click here to register for the Israeli-Palestinian Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, April 13, 2021, 10:30am-12:30pm Pacific Time.

 
read more

Swords into Plowshares Good Friday Livermore Lab Witness

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Interfaith Worship and Witness
Friday, April 2nd, 2021
Opening music 7:45am
Worship 8:00am

Virtual Event: Click here for more information and Zoom link.

Rev. Michale Yoshii preaching
Reports from Marylia Kelley and Jackie Cabasso
Music by Betsy Rose
Liturgical Dance based on Isaiah 2:4 by Carla DeSola

 
read more

Light the Night: Together We Stand

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Light the night for hope, healing, peace and justice.

Tuesday, January 19, 6:30-7:30pm
Virtual Event hosted by American Muslim Voice
TOGETHER WE STAND
Diverse faith leaders declare their solidarity and commitment to the principles of our nation.

Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice is pleased to partner with American Muslim Voice and other faith organizations for this gathering.

Join us for prayers for our nation from diverse faith traditions. Click here to download a flyer with a full list of participants.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PROGRAM LIVE ON YOUTUBE.

 
read more

MLK Celebration: We Keep Moving Forward

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration in Palo Alto
Sunday, January 17, 3pm
via Zoom

"If you can't fly then run
if you can't run then walk,
if you can't walk then crawl,
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."

Where do we go from here? We Keep Moving Forward!

An inspiring time for multifaith, multigenerational voices -- singing, dancing and exhorting: A Way Forward!

ADVANCED REGISTRATION REQUIRED! Cllick here to register for this year's virtual celebration. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You will also receive a reminder of the event with a link to connect.

Featured speakers include the Rev. Dr. Debra Murray, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto and Rabbi Sheldon Lewis, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Kol Emeth and student of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a colleague of Dr. King.  Hear music from Jamey Heath from the Baha'i tradition, and a poem by Naiel Ahmed Chaudry, 6th grader at Bullis Charter School in Los Altos.

 
read more

The People's Inauguration 2021

 Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

On January 21, 2021, let us come together across the country to recommit to building a nation with liberty and justice for ALL.

Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice is excited to join The Revolutionary Love Project, along with other faith and civic organization throughout the country for this national event!

The People's Inauguration will be a celebration of what is possible.
Sound government is necessary - but it won't heal and transition America into a society where we are all free.
This work belongs to us, the people.

After years of injustice and division, we need a moment of collective renewal and healing. Let's create a moral vision for the America we are capable of becoming.

 Imagine millions of us making our own oaths - to our core values, to each other, to ourselves.

Be a part of The People Inauguration from wherever you are! CLICK HERE to register now!

 
read more