Recent Activities

World Religion Seminar Grows Through a Second Season

This year’s seven-week comparative religion series sponsored by VICA and held

on Monday evenings in January and February at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation

of Venice averaged nearly 150 participants each week. Following a keynote address

by Dr. Darrell J. Fasching, Professor of Religious Studies at the University of South Florida, successive sessions were led by notable spokespersons of five faith groups— Native American, Islam, Mormon, Hindu and Unitarian Universalism.

Based on a general agreement that “it should be the mission of faith communities

to learn from and about each others’ religion ,” VICA members as well as widely

diverse members of the Venice community rated the experience quite positively and encouraged organizers to pursue future programs of this type.

Plans are already being discussed for next year’s schedule and members’ ideas and

proposals are being solicited now. Speak up!

A Thanksgiving Eve to Remember, 2007

VICA’s Third Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Eve Service at Venice’s St. Mark’s Episcopal Church brought together people of many of the area’s faiths to give both thanks and gifts to some of the regions neediest. Seven local clergy and lay leaders offered prayers, readings and messages representative of diverse faiths during the hour-long service, and a Community Choir assembled from the choirs of local faith institutions and led by Wesley John Schumacher performed anthems, hymns and benedictions.

An offering of nearly $1800 and four bags of food was collected and distributed to two area food banks, CHAPS and All Faiths. The VICA Board thanks St. Mark’s and the event’s planners.

UU FUND FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GRANT

Congratulations to all the VICA members and thank you for your contributions. At the March meeting, Rev. Susanne Nazian, pastor to UUCOV, Dale Povenmire, President of UUCOV, presented Rev. Lori E. Rivera, treasure of VICA, a check for $7,500.00 from the UU Fund for Social Responsibility.

Since the beginning of 2005, VICA has been raising funds for the match grant from the Unitarian Universalist Association. These funds will be used to promote the activities of VICA such as assisting our guest speakers by paying them a stipend for travel.

A TASTE OF FAITH

A 'Taste of Faith' was held at the United Church of Christ on January 15th to a wonderfully joyous, full crowd of participants. Please click here to view the Event!

FAITH OF ISLAM

On November 8th, 2006 at UUCOV, Samar Dahmash-

Jarrah, MA. (Muslim), spoke on the 'Faith of Islam'.

She is a Kuwait-born Palastinian-American speaker,

journalist and educator.

Venice Interfaith Community Association

Venice, Florida