Hometown Pilgrimage
When: See schedule below
Where: See schedule below
Contact: Kerry Holder Joffrion [kerryholder at knology dot net] and Al Garrett [y.d.a at knology dot net]
For the past three years Interfaith Mission Service has sponsored a Progressive Hometown Pilgrimage. This unique experience has provided an opportunity for hundreds to observe or experience worship in different faith traditions and spiritual communities.
Working out of a “heart to heart” model, each Pilgrimage has fostered greater understanding between local faith neighbors. Since Huntsville is blessed with an abundance of global cultures, we have had the unprecedented opportunity to expand our understanding of each other by journeying with fellow “pilgrims” to actually experience the traditions of other faiths and participate in spiritual practices. The focus has been on experiencing sacred gatherings and spiritual practices of different spiritual cultures – all the while nurturing a shared commitment to deepened understanding of “the other.”
The 2010 Pilgrimage will build upon the momentum of the last three years while creating new and relevant opportunities from March to October. It will foster empowerment and renewal in the family of God.
The Uniqueness of the 2010 Pilgrimage
Racial, religious, and generational diversity in unity is the particular 2010 goal. Congregations with different racial and ethnic mixes are planning and participating, continually engaging youth who are active in a variety of faith communities as well as youth in the broader community through service, dialogue, and action.
Called “Twelve by Twelve” the journey will begin with a core of youth leaders who start with building relationships and bridges of understanding at the first congregational host site. These founding teams will travel and befriend youth from each host site until we have grown the pilgrimage by “snowball effect” among congregations in the north, south, east and west.
Monte Sano United Methodist, the Pilgrimage coordinating congregation, will cooperate with the host and support congregations listed in the schedule. Together they will continually invite area congregations to join the pilgrimage as it unfolds over time. Updates on how and when this joining will take place will be available throughout the year at 1nterfaith Mission Service and with the Coordinators, The Rev. Kerry Holder-Joffrion [kerryholder at knology dot net] and The Rev. Al Garrett [y.d.a at knology dot net]. You can view pictures and learn more about the 2010 Hometown Pilgrimage at www.hometownpilgrimage.com.
Sunday, March 7, 5:30 – Icebreaker Youth In-gathering at Grace United Methodist Church. Small teams from host sites will start the ball rolling as they experience together the Grace Band, combined choirs, food, fellowship, and games.
Tuesday, March 30, 6:00- Community Seder for Passover at Temple B’nai Sholom – designed for identified representatives from each participating congregation
Saturday, April 17 – Serving the City as One – Meet at 7:30 a.m. (pick up at 1:00) at First Baptist (Governors), “Launch Pad” for this Day of Service – coordinated by Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian and St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal,
Sunday, May 30 - Healing Hike to Heal Divides in the City – Journey from The Land Trust to Monte Sano United Methodist Church. This event includes a Prayer Walk for Healing, a Youth Service with Tory Green, and Baseball and Grilling Out with Public Officials
Monday, June 14 – Youth Revival at Lowes Chapel United Methodist Church
Sunday, July 11 – Youth Sunday Service at Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church
August - World Youth Day at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Madison
September 11 - Day of Service and Unity, organized by Interfaith Mission Service with city and faith-based youth coalitions.
October – Youth Rally – Coordinated by Presbyterian Youth Fellowship–open to all!
This Pilgrimage is not an isolated event operating in a “vacuum!”
It is a part of the work of a cooperative of congregations who several times during its forty years has helped launch interfaith and multicultural youth collaborative networks. Each of these efforts started well but were difficult to sustain.
We see 2010 as the year when such a collaborative network can develop in real time and become a sustaining movement! This is what leads us to this:
- The 2009 Better Together Conference and Movement, launched by the IMS Racial Harmony Coalition, has already led to the “early budding” of inter-congregational youth coalition, launched in January with a youth prayer and share vigil regarding the Buffalo Soldier Memorial Project. Huntsville delegates returning from the 2009 Parliament of World Religions challenged Interfaith Mission Service to join the global movement that embraces youth and young adults in all levels of interfaith and multicultural ministries in cooperative ministries – and we have accepted the challenge!
- Those planning this Pilgrimage have already seen barriers broken and bridges built among congregations who are moving from strangers to evolving friends in the family of God
- You and your congregation are taking time to invest in building the beloved community here at home!