East Bay Interfaith Community Gathering: Into the Light
Channel: Muslim Community Center - MCC East Bay
Date: 2021-06-27

Thanks to the Eden Area Interfaith Council, Interfaith Interconnect, and the Tri-City Interfaith Council for organizing the "Into the Light: East Bay Interfaith Community Gathering" in the MCC East Bay in Pleasanton. 

This was a heartfelt remembrance of all those we've lost to COVID-19, and a celebration of our community's rebirth and renewal in the pandemic's wake. The speakers are:

- Hina Khan-Mukhtar: Emcee welcome, MCC East Bay, Pleasanton
- Br. Ameen: Opening Muslim prayer, MCC East Bay, Pleasanton
- Wendy Jacobsen: Opening meditative prayer and lighting of a candle
Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Castro Valley
- Bishop Robert Lopez & Munir Safi: Personal impact of virus on their family and healing from the pain, Eden Area Interfaith Council & Mar Thoma Orthodox Church, Northridge & MCC East Bay, Pleasanton
- Jamie Ireland & Elsa Grabowski: Poem of memory for those lost to this virus & and poem “A Year Like No Other”, Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, Pleasanton
- Trish Munro: impact and response of City of Livermore, Livermore City Council
- Ruth Gasten: a joyful post-pandemic experience, Tri-Valley Interfaith Interconnect
- Congressman Eric Swalwell: reflections and gratitude to East Bay interfaith community efforts, California 15th Congressional District
- Arelis Sandoval, R.N, P.H.N.: Virus' impact on front-line healthcare personnel and ongoing response
Alameda County Public Health
- Joy Barnitz, how we practice interfaith during a pandemic, Tri-City Interfaith Council
- Leslie Mero: Memorial prayer and thanksgiving for days ahead, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hayward
- Cantor Linda Hirschhorn: A song of healing and coming out of brokenness, Temple Beth Sholom, San Leandro
- Mark Vaz: The Prayer of St. Francis, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Castro Valley
- Rev. Dr. Arlene K. Nehring: Caring for our most vulnerable in community, Eden United Church of Christ, Hayward
- Roujheen Sabetan: A prayer for the departed, Baha'i Community, Pleasanton
- Soni Kaur, Gagan Singh & Manjeev Singh from Sikh Choir: Hymn and song musically expressed in Sikh faith, Gurdwara Sahib, Hayward

This recording was delivered via the Muslim Community Center - East Bay (MCC East Bay) in Pleasanton, California on June 27, 2021.

We gather to mourn the victims of the horrific yearlong pandemic on our community.

The Coronavirus caused millions of deaths and disrupted billions of lives globally.

Group worship was also disrupted, but the outbreak has bolstered the religious faith of many faithful and opened opportunities to pray and to serve our community with food, medical supplies, and more.

Disasters and crises have a way of making some question the existence of a greater force for good in the world and others to become more religious in the wake of tragedy.

As we look forward to better days, we reflect on the intersection of faith, a pandemic, a historic social movement.

- More MCC interfaith events: http://mcceastbay.org/interfaith
- Sign up for periodic community supporter updates: http://mcceastbay.org/community-supporters
- More Sr. Hina: http://mcceastbay.org/hina
- More Sidi Amin: http://mcceastbay.org/ameen

The Interfaith Interconnect mission is to enrich, inform, and educate ourselves and others about the great diversity of faiths and cultures in our Valley. Website & Facebook pages. 

The MCC East Bay and the Islamic Center of Livermore are proud members of the Interfaith Interconnect of the Tri-Valley.

- More interfaith events via Interfaith Interconnect & the MCC: http://mcceastbay.org/interfaith
- More Imam Zaid: https://mcceastbay.org/zaid-shakir

This discussion was delivered via the Interfaith Interconnect of the Tri-Valley & the Muslim Community Center - East Bay (MCC East Bay) in Pleasanton, California on August 9, 2020.

The mission of Interfaith Interconnect is to enrich, inform and educate ourselves and others about the great diversity of faiths and cultures in our Valley. The interfaith umbrella group serves the Tri-Valley in the Bay Area.

- More Interfaith Interconnect recordings: http://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-interconnect
- Website: https://interfaithinterconnect.weebly.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithInterconnect

The MCC East Bay and the Islamic Center of Livermore are proud congregation members of the Interfaith Interconnect of the Tri-Valley.

- More MCC interfaith events: http://mcceastbay.org/interfaith
- Sign up for MCC's periodic community supporter updates: http://mcceastbay.org/community-supporters
- MCC's interfaith community advocacy efforts: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-ethos

More MCC East Bay: 
Events & Activities: http://www.mcceastbay.org/calendar
Weekly Updates: http://www.mcceastbay.org/newsletter
Support MCC: https://www.mcceastbay.org/sadaqa
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MCCPleasanton
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcceastbay