EUGENE, OREGON, September 12, 2012 (Press Release): A large interfaith congregation at the First Christian Church in downtown Eugene observed the 11th Anniversary of September 11 with a somber and yet upbeat program of multicultural music, prayers and reflections. The program was sponsored by the Interfaith Prayer Services International, IPSI, a nonprofit organization based in Eugene. The theme was “Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Understanding.”
Among the presenters were many religious and spiritual leaders from all major faith traditions. Eugene City Mayor Kitty Piercy focused her talk on “Challenges of a Human Rights City” which Eugene is. Among the presenters were Rev. Dan Bryant of the First Christian Church where the interfaith prayer program is held each month, Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin, Ibrahim Hamide of the Islamic faith, Tenzin Norris, a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and African American storyteller, Paulette Ansari. Hinduism was represented by Swamini Svatmavidyananda of the Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam, who offered “A Prayer for Universal Harmony from the Rg Veda.”
Other faith traditions represented in the 110 minute program included Sikh Dharma, Sufism, Baha’i and Native American. The coordinator for the evening program was Arun Narayan Toke, one of the founding board members of the IPSI. Arun, a native of India, is the founder and publisher of Skipping Stones, a multicultural literary magazine based in Eugene since 1988.