WALK THE INTERFAITH TALK & PICNIC

A MEET UP...with a twist

A One-on-One Interfaith Learning Experience!
An opportunity to meet someone of a different faith/culture and, while you are walking a path in Mercer County Park, ask all kinds of questions to learn about their faith.  Then, reverse directions and reverse roles as you walk back, providing answers to questions from your walking partner about your own religious beliefs.  All while getting some good exercise and enjoying the beauty of the Park’s natural setting. After that, we celebrate with a picnic. Bring your favorite dish to share!
​                                                                                              All ages and Free!
                                                                          Walk-in welcome but registration is encouraged!

Co-Sponsors:
Coalition for Peace Action, Princeton | Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church, West Windsor | First United Methodist Church of Hightstown | The House Next Door, Princeton Junction

Place:  Park your car at the Mercer County Park’s Boat-House parking area.  We will gather to meet partners near the flagpole between the parking area and the main road through the park.
How Long is the Walk?   It is as long as you and your partner want to walk and talk.  (One path goes for 1.5 miles in one direction, while the other goes 2 miles in the other direction, but you can turn around to head back at any point.)
Bring:  A water bottle, good walking shoes and an open mind, ready to learn. 
After that: we celebrate with a picnic. Bring your favorite dish to share!

Register Here

Tips: What questions should I ask?  Anything that comes to mind.  If you have troubles getting started, see the attached list of suggested questions.

                                                                 WALK THE INTERFAITH TALK--Guidelines
What questions should I ask?  Ask whatever questions come to mind. But if you need a few to get you started, here are some possibilities:  

1. I’m not familiar with your religion.  Could you tell me the basics?

OR:  I know the basics, but here are some aspects that I don’t understand….Could you explain them?
2. What aspects of your religion do you find to be most meaningful to you?  Why?
3.  Are there any commonly-held misconceptions about your religion or stereotypes that you would like to correct?
4.  Tell me about your Holy Scriptures.  How did they come about?  When were they written?  Do they have any special theme? 
Remember also that “I don’t know” is a perfectly acceptable answer, if you are not sure about the answer to a question.  “I don’t know but I would be happy to look it up and I will get back to you on this,” is an even better answer.  Feel free to exchange emails addresses or phone numbers in order to stay in touch after the walk has ended.
Some Guidelines: 
--We recommend Active Listening; 
--Please refrain from proselytizing, objecting, or insisting;
--Please remain in your role.  On the outbound journey, be either the listener, or the answerer.  Refrain from reversing roles until you are on the return journey.
--Drink enough water!  And be mindful of your hiking abilities:  When you are halfway to being tired, it is time to turn around and come back.  Pause to rest if you are feeling tired—you can continue your discussions while sitting down.
--After the walk, you are welcome to stay for our potluck picnicking. Feel free to continue your conversations at one of the nearby picnic tables, and to reach out to others as well.

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Multifaith Encounters
An opportunity to meet and experience other faith/no faith & culture traditions

Whether you are a follower of a faith tradition or have no faith, La Convivencia invites you to participate in its series of Multifaith Encounters. Multifaith Encounters is an opportunity to meet and experience other faith traditions or those who have no faith through celebration, communication, collaboration and education. Each month, participate in an activity designed to build bridges among those who follow various faith traditions or have no faith. The activities include visits to houses of worship, guided conversations over dinner and joining together on service projects. ​

Past Multifatih Encounter Events

Purim
Date: March 20, 2019  Time: 6:15 pm
Venue: BETH EL CONGREGATION, EAST WINDSOR
Come join us Wed night March 20th to learn about the Jewish holiday Purim at Beth El Synagogue in East Windsor.  
 Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews. This took place in the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Rabbi Jay Kornsgold will welcome us at 6:15 followed by a traditional Purim service where for fun, we drown out the name of the wicked Haman.  The service will be followed by a luscious array of Hamantaschen representing Haman's wicket trifold hat. You are welcome to take some home.
 Come and learn how the Jewish people celebrate overcoming adversity during Biblical times.v
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Intro to Buddhist Meditation
Date: January 13, 2019  Time: 11:15 am
Address: 291 Witherspoon Street in Princeton, New Jersey 
Millions of people around the world practice Buddhism and find it a pathway to a fulfilling and tranquil life. As part of La Convivencia's Multifaith Encounters series, we are offering an Intro to Buddhist meditation. Learn about the life of the Buddha and some of the tenets of Buddhism. Then receive instruction on the valuable skill of meditation.
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November 10, 2018: Visit to Swaminarayan Temple
112 North Main Street, Robbinsville
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The largest Hindu temple in the world is right here in our area and we will be meeting for a guided tour of the temple as well as opportunities to witness a devotional ceremony and to enjoy some delicious Indian food. Learn about how Hinduism is practiced at this temple and marvel at the amazing and intricate architecture.

October 14, 2018: Potluck for Peace 
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 177 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Princeton Junction 
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Join together with a convivial group of people from varied faith traditions in an intimate setting for an evening of good food and good conversation. Each discussion will center on one topic that will allow us to explore and understand our different faiths and how they manifest in our personal lives and in the world.

September 26, 2018: Sukkot
Congregation Beth Chaim, 329 Village Road East, Princeton Junction
Teens and tweens: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Adults: 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Sukkot is known as the “Festival of Tabernacles” and the “Feast of Booths.” It is one of Judaism’s three central festivals, along with Passover and Shavuot. It is traditional to build a sukkah, a temporary hut to dwell in during the holiday, symbolic of temporary shelter used when the Jewish people fled to Israel during Biblical times. At Beth Chaim, we will be learning the history and traditions of Sukkot and why Sukkot is still meaningful today. The program is divided into two parts: for teens and tweens from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM and for adults from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Adults do not need to be accompanied by a tween or teen.