Reverend Hurmon Hamilton is the former president of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) and has been prominently noted in the Boston Globe, the New York Times, and a wide variety of national and local news publications for his leadership in Massachusetts becoming the first state in the US to achieve near Universal Health Care for its residents. Through the GBIO Rev. Hamilton organizes a coalition of community and faith-based organizations throughout the Greater Boston area to work towards increase in community involvement in education, new Science and Math programs, and large renovations in Boston's school system among other initiatives.

March 26, 7-8pm, WLH 309

For almost fifty years, LGBTQ people have been struggling for full inclusion in the life of America's Christian churches. The last five years have seen enormous progress in this work - with the Lutheran, Episcopal, and Presbyterian churches taking landmark steps toward equal participation for LGBTQ people in ordained ministry, marriage, and other parts of religious life. On this panel, religious leaders and scholars will join future LGBTQ pastors to discuss how far we've come in the struggle for affirmation in our churches, and how far we have still to go. 

Speakers: Rev. Dean Emilie Townes (Yale Divinity School), Prof. Diana Swancutt (Yale Divinity School), Rev. Kari Keyl (University Lutheran Ministries), and students seeking ordination in the Presbyterian Church and United Church of Christ.

Cosponsored by the LGBTQ Co-op, the Yale Divinity School LGBTQI Coalition, Bridges, and the Chaplain's Office.

Screening of the Documentary Quran by Heart

Conversation with Director Greg Barker to Follow

Thursday, March 29, 2012 

7:00PM

LC 317

Each Ramadan, hundreds of students from all over the Islamic world converge on the city of Cairo for the Olympics of Quran recitation! -- otherwise known as the International Holy Quran Competition. Join the MSA for a screening of the critically acclaimed documentary Quran by Heart, which follows three children's experiences as they strive to perfect the art of recitation and memorization of a 600+ page of holy scripture, sometimes in a language they neither speak nor understand. In addition, the film follows the lives of young Muslims as they navigate complicated aspirations and  hopes for their futures in a rapidly changing Muslim world, where Quran recitation competitions are an appropriate stand-in for the complex nature of religious identity for the next Muslim generation.

Liberal Jewish Thinker Series

On Wednesday, March 21st at 4:30 PM, please join us for a reading from and conversation with our 3rd LIberal Jewish Thinker is the semester, the amazing (and brilliant) Pierson College alum '91, Rabbi Rachel Timoner, reading from her new book: Breath of Life: God as Spirit in the Hebrew Bible. The title of her talk will be: The Surprising Origins of Jewish Spirituality: God as spirit in the Hebrew Bible. The first ten students who attend will receive free copies of Rabbi Timoner's book.

Rabbi Rachel Timoner received a B.A. from Yale in 1991, and was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2009.  She serves as Associate Rabbi of Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles.  Breath of Life: God as Spirit in Judaism is her first book.

Cookies and Coloring with the Chaplain

Thursdays 4-5pm

Breathing Space, Welch C

Enjoy a relaxing hour eating homemade cookies, coloring mandalas, and chatting with Sharon Kugler, the University Chaplain. Stop by for five minutes or the whole hour. 

Fridays 

12-1pm

Battell Chapel

Integral Yoga Hatha includes mantras (chanting), asanas (postures), pranayama (yogic breathing), yoga nidra (deep relaxation), and dhyana (meditation).  Lead in an open, conversational style, this class is perfect for first time yogis and sannyasis alike.  Yoga mats and blankets are provided. Please wear loose fitting, modest clothing. Taught by Nat 'Nataraja' DeLuca, Program Coordinator, Chaplain's Office. Nat is a certified Integral Yoga teacher.