c. 2008 Religion News Service
Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of major religious holidays, denominational meetings and other events for September and October. It will be updated monthly.
Sept. 2
Ramadan begins (Muslim month of fasting from sunrise to sundown. Actual start date may vary depending on sighting of the moon.)
Sept. 3
Ganesha Chaturthi (Hindu holiday marking the birth of Ganesha. Actual start date may vary depending on moment of sunrise.)
Sept. 8-12
National Baptist Convention USA: annual session, Cincinnati. Contact: Yvonne Drayton at 800-906-0673, Ext. 2; e-mail: YDrayton22(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.nationalbaptist.com
Sept. 8-14
The Church Up Close: A Professional Seminar for Journalists, Rome. Contact: Pablo Perez-Rubio at 011-39-06-681-641; e-mail: p.perezrubio(at)pusc.it; Web site: http://www.church-communication.net/information.html
Sept. 10-13
Interfaith Mission Service: “Globalizing Human Values _ Resolving Conflict in a Pluralistic World,” a national diversity and interfaith summit, Huntsville, Ala. Contact: Linda Haynes at 256-489-3884; e-mail: Lahaynes(at)knology.net: Web site: http://www.interfaithmissionservice.org/summit2008.html
Sept. 11-12
Evangelicals for Human Rights: “Religious Faith, Torture, and our National Soul” summit, Atlanta. Contact: Larry Brumley at (478) 301-5700; e-mail: brumley_ld(at)mercer.edu; Web site: http://www.evangelicalsforhumanrights.org
Sept. 12-14
Washington Briefing 2008: Values Voter Summit, Washington. Contact: J.P. Duffy at 202-637-4679; e-mail: jpd(at)frc.org; Web site: http://www.frcaction.org
Sept. 15-18
Church of God in Christ: Bishop’s Conference, Chicago. Contact: Alayna Adams at 901-278-0881; e-mail: aadams(at)thecartermalonegroup.com; Web site: http://www.cogic.org
Sept. 16-17
Christian Ethics Today Foundation: “Red-letter Christians, An Emerging Evangelical Center, and Public Policy Issues” conference in Waco, Texas. Contact: Joe E. Trull at 940-230-6931; e-mail: jetrull(at)grandecom.net; Web site: http://www.christianethicstoday.com
Sept. 18-19
Yale Divinity School: “Are We Safe Yet? Vulnerability and Security in an Anxious Age,” conference on nuclear weapons, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Gus Spohn at 203-432-3466; e-mail: gus.spohn(at)yale.edu; Web site: http://www.yale.edu/faith/ssmc/ssmc-2008.htm
Sept. 18-21
Religion Newswriters Association: annual conference, Washington. Contact: Tiffany McCallen at 614-891-9001, Ext. 2; e-mail: mccallen(at)rna.org; Web site: http://www.rna.org
Sept. 20
Culture of Life Foundation: “The Culture of Life vs. The Culture of Death: From Humanae Vitae to Cloning and Assisted Suicide” conference, Washington. Contact: Colleen Donahue at 202-289-2500; e-mail: colleen(at)culture-of-life.org; Web site: http://www.culture-of-life.org
Sept. 24
See You at the Pole, annual event of student prayer around school flagpoles coordinated by the National Network of Youth Ministries. Contact: Doug Clark at 858-451-1111; e-mail: dclark(at)nnym.org; Web site: http://www.syatp.com
Sept. 27
Aglow International: prayer gathering for the nation by international Christian women’s organization, Washington. Contact: Vicki Morgan at 972-267-1111; e-mail: vicki(at)alarryross.com; Web site: http://www.aglow.org
Sept. 28-Oct. 1
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church: annual convocation, Knoxville, Tenn. Contact: Juanita Bryant at 216-382-3559; e-mail: juanbr4law(at)aol.com
Sept. 29
Dusshera (Hindu festival symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the day when Lord Ram defeated an evil king. Actual start date may vary depending on the moment of sunrise.)
Sept. 30
Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year, two days; begins at sundown.)
Oct. 1-3
Presbyterian Church (USA): general assembly council, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493; e-mail: jerry.vanmarter(at)pcusa.org; Web site: http://www.pcusa.org
Oct. 2
Eid al-Fitr begins (Muslim holiday, a five-day feast that commemorates the end of Ramadan. Actual date may vary depending on sighting of the moon.)
Oct. 2-4
Esperanza Capacity Institute, capacity training seminar for faith and community-based organizations, Philadelphia. Contact: Paula Umana at 215-324-0746; e-mail: eci(at)esperanza.us; Web site: http://www.esperanza.us
Oct. 2-7
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Conference of Bishops, Chicago. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: jbrooks(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
Oct. 4-5
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, semiannual general conference, Salt Lake City. Contact: Kim Farah at 801-240-1977; e-mail: farahke(at)ldschurch.org; Web site: http://www.lds.org
Oct. 6-10
World Association for Christian Communication: Congress 2008: “Communication is Peace: Building Viable Communities,” meeting of communicators, peace advocates and rights activists, Cape Town, South Africa. Contact: Kristine Greenaway at 416-691-1999, Ext. 228; e-mail: KG(at)waccglobal.org; Web site: http://www.waccglobal.org/congress
Oct. 8-10
Bethany World Prayer Center: International Church Growth Conference, gathering of charismatic Christians, Baton Rouge, La. Contact: Matti Stevenson at 719-360-0586; e-mail: mattistevenson(at)comcast.net; Web site: http://www.bccn.com
Oct. 9
Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement, holiest day of the year marked by fasting; begins at sundown.)
Oct. 9-10
National Association of Evangelicals: board of directors meeting and immigration forum, Eden Prairie, Minn. Contact: Sarah Kropp at 202-789-1011; e-mail: skropp(at)nae.net; Web site: http://www.nae.net
Oct. 10-12
Freedom from Religion Foundation: annual conference, Chicago. Contact: Annie Laurie Gaylor at 608-256-8900; e-mail: info(at)ffrf.org; Web site: http://www.ffrf.org
Oct. 14
Sukkot (seven-day Jewish feast of the tabernacles, begins at sundown.)
Episcopal Church: Day of Repentance for the sin of slavery, Washington. Contact: Neva Rae Fox at 212-716-6080; e-mail: nrfox(at)episcopalchurch.org; Web site: http://www.episcopalchurch.org
Oct. 17-19
Children’s Defense Fund: National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths. Contact: Matt Rosen at 202-662-3555; e-mail: mrosen(at)childrensdefense.org; Web site: http://www.childrensdefense.org/childrens_sabbaths
Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and Religious Research Association: annual meetings, Louisville, Ky. Contact: Scott Thumma at 860-509-9571; e-mail: sthumma(at)hartsem.edu; Web site: http://www.sssrweb.org
Oct. 18-20
Church of the Brethren: general board fall meeting, Elgin, Ill. Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, Ext. 260; e-mail: cobnews(at)brethren.org; Web site: http://www.brethren.org
Oct. 19
Birth of the Bab (Baha’i celebration of the prophet of the faith; begins at sundown.)
Oct. 20
Installation of Guru Granth Sahib scriptures (Sikh celebration of the 300th anniversary of the faith’s holy books.)
Oct. 20-23
Episcopal Church: Executive Council, Helena, Mont. Contact: Neva Rae Fox at 212-716-6080; e-mail: nrfox(at)episcopalchurch.org; Web site: http://www.episcopalchurch.org
Oct. 22
Simchat Torah (Jewish celebration marking the end of one Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one; begins at sundown.)
Oct. 25
International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum: annual induction. Contact: David Gough at 313-592-0017; e-mail: IGMHFM(at)cs.com; Web site: http://www.igmhf.org
Oct. 25-30
World Evangelical Alliance: general assembly, Pattaya, Thailand. Contact: Sylvia Soon at 604-214-8620, Ext. 2622; e-mail: sylvia(at)worldevangelicals.org; Web site: http://www.ga08.org
Oct. 26
Diwali (Hindu celebration of light and the Hindu New Year. Actual start date may vary depending on moment of sunrise.)
Oct. 31
Reformation Day (Protestant)
KRE DS END RNS
