[Photo credit: Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church]
The Neighborhood Church is located at 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd. in Pasadena.
“Neighborhood UU Church formed the Building Bridges Task Force in 2010 to forge connections between Unitarian Universalists and Muslims,” Ginger Furey, Membership and Communications Manager at Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church, said.
The task force’s goals included standing up for Muslims against hate crimes and government assaults on civil liberties, as well as educating non-Muslims about Islam.
Over the years, the event has grown significantly, evolving from a breakfast to a dinner that now attracts over 160 attendees, according to Furey.
“Usually about a third of the attendees are Muslims, a third are from Neighborhood UU Church, and the other third from other congregations and across the Pasadena community,” Furey noted.
The dinner features halal foods and vegan options, reflecting the inclusive nature of the gathering. While the event is free, donations are accepted.
“This year’s event will be important as an affirmation of interfaith solidarity in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the threat of wider war in the Middle East,” Furey said.
The dinner will include facilitated conversations at each table, designed to highlight commonalities and prepare attendees for respectful discussions of differences.
Rev. Omega Burckhardt, Senior Minister at Neighborhood Church, emphasized ongoing interfaith efforts. “I collaborate with local interfaith clergy in dialogue, programming, shared resources, and community engagement,” she said.
The partnership between Neighborhood Church and San Gabriel Mosque has deepened over the years. Around eight years ago, the Mosque became an official co-sponsor of the event. Furey described the collaboration as one of “partners and friends.”
“Moving forward, we hope to organize joint service projects as well as more social activities,” Furey said.
The event has evolved since its inception, becoming an outdoor summer event starting in 2022 after being canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic.
If you’re interested in attending, RSVP by July 18 by emailing buildingbridgestaskforce@gmail.com.
For more information, visit https://neighborhooduu.org/calendar/.
