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 October and November. It will be updated monthly.
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. 3-4
Episcopal Church: Day of Repentance for the sin of slavery, Philadelphia. Contact: Daphne Mack at 646-271-3357; e-mail: dmack(at)episcopalchurch.org
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. 8
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.)
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)
Nov. 1
All Saints’ Day (Christian)
Nov. 1-3
American Academy of Religion: annual meeting, Chicago. Contact: Susan Snider at 404-727-4725; e-mail: ssnider(at)aarweb.org; Web site: http://www.aarweb.org
Nov. 2
All Souls’ Day (Christian)
Nov. 2-7
United Methodist Church: Council of Bishops, Epworth by the Sea, Ga. Contact: Diane Denton at 615-742-5406; ddenton(at)umcom.org
Nov. 3-10
Church of God in Christ: Annual Holy Convocation, Memphis, Tenn. Contact: Alayna Adams at 901-278-0881; e-mail: aadams(at)thecartermalonegroup.com; Web site: http://www.cogic.org
Nov. 7-9
Call to Action Conference: annual gathering of progressive Catholics, Milwaukee. Contact: Nicole Sotelo at 773-404-0044, ext. 285.
Nov. 7-8
Southern Evangelical Seminary: A Summit on Defense of the Biblical Worldview, Charlotte, N.C. Contact: Deborah Hamilton: 215-815-7716; e-mail: dhamilton(at)hamiltonstrategies.com; Web site: http://www.nationalapologeticsconference.com
Nov. 9
Open Doors USA, International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Contact: Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117; e-mail: jerry(at)odusa.org; Web site: http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org
Nov. 10-13
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: general meeting, Baltimore. Contact: Sister Mary Ann Walsh at 202-541-3200; e-mail: mwalsh(at)usccb.org
Nov. 11
Baha’u’llah’s Birthday (Baha’i celebration of the prophet-founder of the faith; begins at sundown.)
Nov. 11-13
National Council of Churches: General Assembly, Denver. Contact: Philip E. Jenks at 212-870-2228; e-mail: pjenks(at)councilofchurches.org; Web site: http://www.councilofchurches.org
Nov. 12
Supreme Court hears oral arguments in free speech case related to religious monuments, Pleasant Grove City v. Summum.
Nov. 12-19
Friends of Sabeel _ North America: international conference of supporters of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land, Jerusalem. Contact: Sister Elaine Kelley at 503-653-6625; e-mail: friends(at)fosna.org; Web site: http://www.fosna.org/conferences_and_trips/index.html
Nov. 13
Birth of Siri Guru Nanak Sahib (Sikh celebration of the founder of the faith.)
Nov. 13-15
Anti-Defamation League: annual meeting, Los Angeles. Contact: Myrna Shinbaum at 212-885-7747; e-mail: adlmedia(at)adl.org; Web site: http://www.adl.org
Nov. 14-17
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Church Council, Chicago. Contact: John Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: jbrooks(at)elca.org; Web site: http://www.elca.org/news
Nov. 19-22
Evangelical Theological Society: annual meeting, Providence, R.I. Contact: James Borland at 434-237-5309; e-mail: jaborland(at)aol.com; Web site: http://www.etsjets.org
Nov. 21-25
Society of Biblical Literature: annual meeting for scholars in biblical, religious and related studies, Boston. Contact: Matthew S. Collins at 404-727-3095; e-mail: matthew.collins(at)sbl-site.org; Web site: http://www.sbl-site.org
Nov. 24
Bread for the World Institute: Release of Annual Report on the State of World Hunger, Washington. Contact: Shawnda Hines at 301-960-4913; e-mail: shines(at)bread.org; Web site: http://www.bread.org
Nov. 30
First Sunday of Advent (Christian; four consecutive Sundays.)
KRE/LF END RNS
