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Advent Vespers at Graymoor to Reflect on the "Muslim Initiative"
The recent "Muslim Initiative," the unprecedented letter sent to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders proposing Christian-Muslim conversations focusing on "belief in one God and love of neighbor," will be the focus of Sunday Vespers during Advent at Graymoor in Garrison on December 2, 9, 16, & 23 at 4pm.
Reflections on "A Common Word between Us and You" will be offered from four different perspectives on the four Sundays of Advent: Dominican Sister Anne Tahaney, a member of the Catholic-Muslim dialog of the Archdiocese of New York (December 2); Metropolitan Michael, presiding hierarch of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church of North and South America (December 9); Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, the Presiding Bishop's Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, the Episcopal Church, USA (December 16); and Gary Stern, award-winning religion writer at The Journal News (December 23).
Acknowledging that the Muslim leaders' letter is an "admittedly unusual focus for Advent," Father James Gardiner, SA, director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, said that "although there's not the point-by-point convergence that would make us more comfortable, there is nonetheless striking resonance between the content of the letter and the angelic message, 'Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.'"
Graymoor, world headquarters and motherhouse of the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement, is located on Route 9 in Garrison. Vespers will be held in Little Flower Chapel beginning at 4pm. All are welcome. For more information on the Advent Vespers series, contact the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center at 424- 2111.
The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement are a religious community of brothers and priests founded in 1898 by Father Paul Wattson. Their worldwide ministries include Christian unity; interfaith dialogue among Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists; serving the homeless and those suffering from alcoholism, drug addictions, and HIV/AIDS; preaching the gospel in parishes around the world, and offering respite and hope at their Spiritual Life Center to those in need of spiritual renewal.
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