Did you know that October is Energy Awareness Month? Since a presidential proclamation was issued in 1991, government organizations — in partnership with businesses, associations and concerned citizens — have observed this month with activities and programs to promote public understanding of our energy needs and to reduce energy consumption in our everyday lives.
The theme for the 2012 Festival of Faiths – Sacred Fire: Light of Compassion – is the fourth in a series of Festival themes that direct attention to various elements of nature and our responsibility to be good stewards of our environment. In the spirit of Energy Awareness Month, this week’s Festival of Faiths blog draws attention to this year’s Festival events that will help our community define compassion toward our environment and natural resources.
November 11, 6:30 p.m.: Seder of Sacred Fire
The Temple Klein Center
5101 U.S. Highway 42, Louisville, Kentucky
The Seder for Sacred Fire is an environmentally inspired Seder which will emphasize the images of light and compassion in the Bible and in Jewish Worship in coordination with this year’s theme for the Festival of Faiths. Seder meals are traditionally observed on Passover and for the Festival of Trees at the end of winter. This special Seder is not a full meal, but incorporates the “sweets of the earth” – fruit, nuts, and chocolate, as well as soup and bread. Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport and Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks will lead this participatory event; all will be taking part in the prayers, poems and songs of the Seder. Children are welcome to attend.
This event is free, but reservations are required. Call (502) 423-1818 to make reservations.
November 15, 11:30 a.m.: Rotary Luncheon – Building the Solar Roadway
Kosair Shrine Club
812 South Second Street, Louisville, Kentucky
Solar energy expert and “solar roadway” co-inventor Scott Brusaw will talk about the environmental and economic benefits of solar energy and other renewable energy resources.
Cost to attend this event is $20. Reservations are required. Call (502) 589-1800 to order tickets.
November 15, 6 p.m.: Green Institute Graduation
Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
1701 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky
This event caps off a 12-week environmental leadership and education program sponsored by the Center for Neighborhoods. Green Institute participants learn how to make informed decisions about the interdependent areas of energy, the economy and the environment by creatively exploring a wide range of issues in depth on global, regional, community and personal scales. They also undertake self-directed neighborhood sustainability projects. Come and congratulate these champions of their communities.
This event is free and open to all who wish to attend.
November 16, 9 a.m.: Youth Program
Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
1701 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville’s middle and high school students will hear Scott Brusaw, co-inventor of the Solar Roadway, explain his explosive theory of how to harness the sun’s energy on the very roads we drive on; listen as Bernheim Forest expert Claude Stephens explores the benefits of a forest fire; “Clear the Air” with the only Anti-Smoking rap artist Andre Greene; brainstorm ways to end homelessness in Louisville; discover how we were made from fiery stardust in the Owsley Brown II Portable Planetarium; and take part in a race relations dialogue moderated by the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission and Just Solutions Mediation Services.
This event is free. Space is limited and reservations are required. The teacher/school representative sponsoring the class’ participation in the Youth Program must call (502) 583-3100 to make a reservation.
November 16, 9 a.m.: Be Careful What You Burn
Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
1701 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky
Rev. Canon Sally Grover Bingham will deliver a keynote address on the morality of energy efficiency, along with its environmental, social and practical benefits. Reverend Bingham, an Episcopal priest and Canon for the Environment in the Diocese of California, has been active in the environmental community for 25 years. She is founder and president of The Regeneration Project, which is focused on its Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) campaign, a religious response to global warming. The IPL campaign includes a national network of more than 14,000 congregations with affiliated programs in 39 states.
This event is free, but reservations are required.
Click here to order tickets to this event.
November 16, 9 a.m.: Our Land Cries Out – Communities of Faith Address the Call to Stewardship
Kentucky Center for African American Heritage
1701 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, Kentucky
This event is an opportunity and an urgent invitation for communities of faith to come together to talk about how they are managing the lands that they own. Attendees will learn about innovative projects led by a variety of faith traditions and explore the effective ways of collaborating to achieve vibrant religious leadership for more responsible stewardship of the land in our time.
Cost to attend this event is $25. Reservations are required.
Click here to order tickets to this event.
More details about these and other Festival of Faiths events are available on the “Festival Events” page of our website.
For questions, please call us at (502) 583-3100 or email us at festivaloffaiths@interfaithrelations.org.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2012 Festival of Faiths!