Pomona-area houses of worship begin '11 Days of Global Unity'

To move closer to creating more peaceful and united communities, members of various houses of worship have organized a series of activities ranging from the spiritual to the cultural.

The events are all part of "11 Days of Global Unity: A Season of Interfaith Celebration" that begins today - Sept. 11, "The day when fear started" - and concluding Sept. 21 for the United Nations International Day of Peace, said the Rev. Jan Chase of Unity Church of Pomona.

Through the 11 days, people will be afforded opportunities to gain a better understanding of other cultures and religious traditions, said Chase, coordinator of the activities in the Inland Valley.

Using talks, religious gatherings, music, food and films, barriers that divide can be torn down allowing people to get to know each other one-on-one, Chase said.

"It's a connection on a more personal level," she said.

As people learn about each other they begin to relate to each other, Chase said.

"When you feel a deeper connection the fears dissolve," she said.

Through this interaction, people can see the things they have in common, including a desire for peace and unity within their neighborhoods and beyond, Chase said.

Some of the interfaith activities offer a time for prayer and reflection while others provide participants a means to learn about other cultures.

As part of the activities, two films will be screened.

One is "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" a film about a group of Liberian women who demand peace for their country. The film will be screened at Unity Church.

The film is "a call to all of us for what we know is right," Chase said.

A second film is being presented by the Claremont United Church of Christ. The documentary "Constantine's Sword" looks at different times in history when Christianity has played a role in war and violence, said David Moore, member of Claremont United Church of Christ.

"It has to do with social justice and separation of church and state," Moore said.

Among the activities Chase and others are looking forward to is the "Interfaith Walk for Unity and Peace" on Sunday evening. The walk begins at Claremont Presbyterian Church, continues to Temple Beth Israel and ends at the Claremont Islamic Center. The temple and the mosque are both in Pomona.

Pomona is fortunate to have the diversity it has, Chase said.

"Not (many) communities have a richness that Pomona has," she said. "That gives us an advantage instead of a disadvantage."

The visit to the Islamic Center will come at the end of the day when its members break the daily fast, which is part of the holy month of Ramadan observances for those people of the Muslim faith.

Members of the Islamic Center are looking forward to having guests that evening, youth adviser Ahmed Soboh said.

In the past, the center has participated in similar walks that have served to create a greater understanding among participants, he said.

"It breaks a lot of misconceptions and fears," said Soboh, adding that on such visits people find they have more in common than they thought.

During a previous event, a member of the mosque was wearing a T-shirt that read "I love Jesus," Soboh recalled.

A visiting church member was surprised, he said.

"Yes, we do love Jesus," Soboh said.