Here are this year’s Day of Unity events. This page will be updated as new events are confirmed. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions, please email us at: [email protected].
Washington National Cathedral
Sunday, April 28, 2019, 11:15am–12:30pm (Washington, DC)
Celebrate the glory and wonder of creation in the All Hallows Amphitheater with an interfaith prayer service in honor of Earth Day. Click here for more information.
Leaders from Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities offer prayers, music, and readings. Music will be led by the Cathedral choir and guest musicians.
Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk
Sunday, April, 28, 2-5pm (Fairfax, VA)
Join us for the Fairfax Interfaith Friendship Walk with the mission of bringing faith communities together to appreciate each other and feel part of the same whole despite our differences. The walk starts at Fairfax United Methodist Church and ends at Christ Lutheran Church. Click here for a full list of participants and for more information.
Cleanup with Friends of Cabin Creek, Jews, Muslims, and Allies Acting Together (JAAMAT), The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom and Foundation for Ethnic Understanding
Sunday April 28, 10am-12pm
Tilden Woods Stream Valley Park (Rockville, MD)
We will show reverence for the Earth by taking part in the Old Farm Creek Clean-Up. Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/jamaatparks.
Specifically for residents of Takoma Park
One Journey and NOVA Friends of Refugees
Saturday, May 4, 3:30-6pm
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square (Washington, DC)
“Start A Business, Build A Future,” a mentoring workshop for refugee entrepreneurs. Workshop includes the basics of self-employment finance presentation, breakout sessions on specific business areas, and a networking fair of NGOs that assist self-employment. Free and open to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants interested in self-employment. RSVP here.
Capital Area Interfaith Friends (CAIF) and a local girl scout troop
Saturday, May 4th, 10am-1pm (Sterling, VA)
Setting up an apartment for a refugee family in Sterling, VA. Space is limited so not open to public
Interfaith potluck
Saturday, May 4, 2019, 6:00pm
Adams Morgan Community Center, 1770 Euclid St. NW (Washington, DC)
While it is open to the public, our space is limited, so we’d like people to sign up via a sign up sheet. https://forms.gle/
Join us for dinner and an evening of sharing about the questions and answers that come from our various faith traditions and belief systems. Bring your questions and ideas, and a dish to share to this potluck gathering. We’ll provide some ice breaker questions, and let you all shape the discussion. Once we’re full, we’ll follow up with a shared sheet for everyone to share what they plan to bring.
The 33rd Annual International Vesak Celebration
Sunday, May 5, 2019 (2563 BE) 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Washington Buddhist Vihara (Washington, DC)
Join Buddhists from across the DC area, representing many different cultures and traditions, as we celebrate the Birth, Enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. Activities include religious ceremonies, teachings, discussion, guided meditation, and a cultural show. Lunch provided for all attendees.
Discussion of the Sikh Faith, St John’s Episcopal Church and the Sikh Gurudwara of DC
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 6701 Wisconsin Ave, (Chevy Chase, MD)
Sunday May 5th, 10-11am
We are delighted to welcome members of the Sikh Gurudwara of DC to give a presentation on the Sikh faith, with Sikh devotional music accompanied by traditional musical instruments. We hope it will be the start of a continuing interaction between our faith communities. All are welcome to join for the presentation at 10am in the Parish Hall, and/or come early for our 9am church service or stay on for the 11.15am service.
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington
Yom Ha’Shoah Memory and Legacy
Sunday, May 5, 1-3:30pm
B’nai Israel Congregation (Rockville, MD)
A Memorial service honoring survivors, victims, & heroes of the Holocaust. With recollections from local Holocaust survivors and reflections on the responsibilities of memory and legacy for future generations.
Sukkot in the Spring, Hill Havurah and Lutheran Church of the Reformation
Morning shift 9:30am-1pm
Afternoon shift 12:30pm-4pm
Sunday, May 5th (Washington, DC)
Come together with your community and Yachad to roll up your sleeves and lend a hand working together with a homeowner to make critical repairs and see the impact you can make in a day. When you volunteer with Yachad, you work together as a community, learn new skills, and have a ton of fun. Your time and energy will transform a space into a special place to call home. RSVP here!
Church of the Wild – The Eco-Emergent Self, Interfaith Power and Light and The Center for Spirituality in Nature
Turkey Run Park (McLean, Virginia)
Sun, May 5
2:40 Join in the drumming to help us center and prepare for our gathering.
3:00pm Program
Emerging Self: Moving from Egocentric to Ecocentric
Join us as we continue our year-long reflection on Deepening Oneness Through the Seasons. This month we’ll reflect on the need to move from a modern sense of self that is separate from the natural world to a more ancient understanding of ourselves as part of the Divine Mystery inherent within all of earth and its beings. Together we’ll learn spiritual and meditative practices that help us emerge as co-relational with the natural world, and we’ll consider what our niche is as we seek to act as loving members of our sacred ecosystems. Register for the event here.
Securing Houses of Worship, InterFaith Council of Metropolitan Washington,the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, and the Association of United Hindu and Jain Temples
Sri Siva Vishnu Temple (Lanham, MD)
Sunday, May 5th, 2-5pm
This event will focus on how to keep Houses of Worship safe and the communities they serve feel safe during these turbulent times. We will have three panels featuring experts from law enforcement and lay leaders from different faith traditions who will speak to all aspects of safety and security. You can RSVP here.
Pre-Ramadan dinner and panel discussion, Masjid Muhammad
The Nation’s Mosque (Washington, DC)
Sunday, May 5, 5pm
Join us for a panel presentation on “Unity in Diversity: Fasting in the Different Traditions.” Free dinner to follow.
Interfaith Iftar, American University Muslim Students Association and other campus organizations (DC Leadership Summit Grant Winner)
Sunday, May 5th, 7:45pm
Open to all AU students, faculty, staff and alumni (Washington, DC)
The event is an opportunity for the MSA to interact with the AU community in order to celebrate Ramadan and teach our community about Ramadan.
From Crisis to Community–a presentation of thoughtful story-telling hosted by the Asylum Seeker Assistance Project (ASAP), Shirat HaNefesh and Shambhala Meditation Center of Cleveland Park
Wednesday, May 8, 6:30pm
Closed event (Washington, DC)
Guests will learn about seeking asylum in the United States and the services ASAP provides to help overcome the difficulties that arise.
“Zero Hunger” Dinner Dialogue
8pm, Agora Restaurant
Closed Event (Washington, DC)
Members of the Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities will gather for an iftar dinner and discussion on the role of food and fasting across their respective faith traditions and interfaith action on hunger issues. The dialogue will include brainstorming on concrete ways that the DMV interfaith community can take action toward Zero Hunger at both the local and global level.
Interfaith Iftar, Shoulder to Shoulder
Monday, May 20th, 7-10pm, $20 suggested donation
Foundry United Methodist Church (Washington, DC)
Join us for Shoulder to Shoulder’s Annual Iftar featuring the critically acclaimed one-woman show, UNVEILED, written and performed by Chicago-based Rohina Malik. Click here to sign up.
Beyond the Stereotype: a discussion on religion and gender (DC Leadership Summit Seed Grant Winner)
National Cathedral School, Washington International School, and St. Albans (Washington, DC)
Date is TBD, Closed