Fwd: Request for Interfaith Service Leadership (Through Tarunjit Butalia)

[Seth Josephson]

Are any who would be willing to fill in for the Buddhist portion of this event on Monday, 7pm? It is structured as a service of morning for those who are currently dying for lack of health care. The information on the format is attached.

I don't think one would need any special qualifications. I think any sincere participation would be appreciated.  

-Seth

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kathleen Wesley <kmwe...@mac.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Subject: Fwd: Request for Interfaith Service Leadership (Through Tarunjit Butalia)
To: Seth Josephson <seth.jo...@gmail.com>

Hello, Seth!

I know this is a last minute thing, but I wanted to share this invitation with you in hopes that you could offer it to the general Buddhism Central Ohio group to see if anyone is interested in participating.

It appears an interfaith service regarding the need for open health care acccess is set for 7 p.m. next Monday Oct. 19 at the Broad Street United Methodist Church. They are seeking a Buddhist representative to offer prayer.

I'm not able to be there, but it sounds like a worthwhile project. If you can assist, please let Alicia know. If no one can be reached, please let her know that, also.

Many thanks in dharma!

Kathy W

Begin forwarded message:

From: Alicia Rivers <rive...@yahoo.com>

Date: October 12, 2009 10:22:56 PM EDT

To: kmwe...@mac.com

Cc: rril...@columbus.rr.com

Subject: Request for Interfaith Service Leadership (Through Tarunjit Butalia)

Dear Lama Wesley:   I am writing because Tarunjit Butalia recommended that I contact you to ask you about leading a portion of an Interfaith Service of Remembrance and Hope for Health Care that is being planned.  The service will be held next Monday, Oct. 19, at 7:00 PM at Broad Street United Methodist Church, 501 E. Broad St (across from the Columbus Museum of Art). The idea for the service came up rather suddenly, and the resources for the service were only available as of Thursday of last week. That accounts for the lateness of this request. Some background on the service:  A Harvard study released on Sept 17 reports that 45,000 Americans die annually because they lack adequate health insurance.  The interfaith organization Faithful Reform in Health Care, located in Cleveland(faithfulreform.org) serves as a clearinghouse for actions in the faith community to promote meaningful reform that will provide accessible, affordable, inclusive, andaccountable health care for all Americans. Faithful Reform and its partners created the service we will be using on Oct 19. The service is structured around the reality that in the hour we are present for this service, five people will die for lack of health care. Five Reflections, each representing a different faith tradition, are designed to accompany the reading of a story of a person who has already died this year, with visual actions to heighten the effect. I've attached the texts provided by Faithful Reform for the Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, and Islamic Reflections for the service, with my formatting for readers, in order to clarify what the service will "look like." Our challenge is to complete each pre-designed segment of the service in the time allotted so that we will be finished in an hour. So each reflection must adhere to the very brief format illustrated in the reflections I've attached.   Would you be willing to take the role of leader for the Buddhist reflection portion of the service?  I am also counting on each person who agrees to be leader for each faith tradition to find two other readers to participate in the brief reading and the visual actions indicated in the script for that tradition. I've attached an outline for the service containing (1) information on the structure and content of the service, (2) some comments regarding the texts provided for reflection in each faith tradition, and (3) personnel needed. I've also provided a master copy of a handbill or bulletin that could be duplicated for publicity, as well as a larger flier, if you are interested in publicizing the event further. Pre-Service Rehearsal A rehearsal for all with designated roles in the service will begin promptly at 6:00 pm on Monday, Oct. 19, in the sanctuary of Broad Street United Methodist Church (501 E. Broad.  Park in the lots on Washington St across from the church). The purpose of the run-through is to (1) become familiar with the worship space and the placement of speakers for each Reflection and others; (2) familiarize ourselves with the "flow" of the service; (3) practice reading the text and carrying out the visual actions for the Reflections, as well as activities for the closing; (4) practice change-over from one Reflection groupto the next in the space available; and (5) adjust microphone levels. I would greatly appreciate your taking the role of leader for the Buddhist reflection in this interfaith service. If you aren't able to do so, would you send me contact information for someone else who might be able to provide this leadership? I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely yours, (Rev) Alicia Rivers United Methodist Church West Ohio Conference