See Hope – Seed Change theme
By Barb Kusha, Interfaith – San Ramon Valley
Interfaith – San Ramon Valley (I-SRV) and the Town of Danville have partnered to launch a fresh kind of Earth Day celebration, one focused on what is working right here, instead of on the gloomy eco-forecast. Its goals are to provide inspiration and to spur behavior change and ongoing commitment to sustainability as a way of life through recognizing and honoring our sacred relationship to nature.
The first annual InterFaith EarthFest, See Hope – Seed Change, celebration will bring together the San Ramon Valley’s interfaith community along with civic leaders, students, environmental, and community groups to channel their collective energies for the common purpose of moving toward a more responsible relationship with the planet. “Through an afternoon of ritual, art, music, pop-up speakers, booths, eco-activities and ceremony, the partnering groups and participants will draw hope from one another and inspire ongoing commitment to local action,” says Rabbi Dan Goldblatt of Beth Chaim.
“This new partnership is a big deal,” notes Pastor Steve Harms of Peace Lutheran Church. “The town’s leaders are coming together with religious leaders and the public and various interfaith congregants for the express purpose of meeting our urgent environmental issues head on with combined resources, ideas and energies. It has created a wonderful synergy of resolve and devotion.”
The event is Sunday, April 23, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church, 3201 Camino Tassajara, Danville. It is free and open to the public. Parking is limited, but more is available at nearby commercial shopping plazas.
InterFaith – San Ramon Valley has been around for nearly 20 years, and includes members from many faith traditions. Participants in the InterFaith EarthFest include representatives from the following groups: Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, LDS, Muslim, Sihk, Sufi, and Taoist.
The afternoon will also include:
- youth chorus group, drumming and dance performances
- specially-curated art exhibit from local students and makers
- kids activities, food, and booths
- break-out sessions for in-depth learning
- labyrinth walks
- special displays of sacred texts from participating faiths that speak to the divine obligation we all share to preserve nature
Community partners for the event include Save Mount Diablo, Sustainable Contra Costa, Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL), San Ramon Valley Unified School District, The Crayon Initiative, Cool the Earth, White Pony Express, Central Sanitation District, Republic Services, Rewire Community, SOJA and others.
EkoLinq, a Tri-Valley based recycling company, will collect for resale and recycling, on the spot free of charge unwanted textiles of all types including clothes, towels and sheets, from gently-used to rags.
About Interfaith – San Ramon Valley
I-SRV is a community group of diverse faith congregations from across the valley who are committed to learning, sharing, listening, and acting together. Learn more at https://www.interfaithsrv.org.
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