INTERFAITH CONNECTION

Interfaith Works is an association of congregations, affiliated

non-profit organizations and individuals. Our purpose is to
promote interfaith understanding, and serve the community through
AUGUST 2009
charitable, social and educational endeavors.

OLYMPIA WESTSIDE YOUTH ST. PLACID CELEBRATES

NEED OUR HELP FOUNDATION DAY
Ryan Betz, Boys & Girls Club Sr. Monica Ellis, OSB

An increasing number of children come home
from school each day with no adult care or
supervision and that problem could grow worse
with the recent news that the City of Olympia
plans to shut down its after-school programs
next year. There is overwhelming evidence
that a Boys & Girl Club is desperately needed
on Olympia’s Westside, where close to 50% of
the students in the area receive free or
reduced lunch and 12% of the district’s
students come from families that are living
below the poverty line. This is higher than both
neighboring Tumwater and North Thurston
School Districts.
“As a community leader in youth development
we believe it is our responsibility to step up at
this time to provide Olympia’s middle school
students with a positive place to go after
school,” said Joe Ingoglia, Chief Executive
Officer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston
County. “Unfortunately too many children and
teens are not receiving the guidance they need
(Continued on page 2)
Every year the community of Benedictine Sis-
ters at St. Placid Priory celebrates its founding
on June 28. Part of the celebration includes
renewal of monastic promise by the sisters.
We profess stability, conversion of life and
obedience, the three facets of the monastic
promise.
Another joyful part of this day of celebration is
welcoming new oblates. Oblates are lay per-
sons who are so strongly attracted to the
Benedictine way of life that they make a public
commitment to live it in the context of their
daily life. The most moving part of the oblate
ritual is when the Prioress asks the candidate,
"What do you seek?" Each person answers in
her/his own words. One seeks "community;"
another seeks God; while another wishes to
give back to God in gratitude for all that has
been given. I am always honored and humbled
to hear the heartfelt responses.
If you want to know more about oblates, go to
www.stplacid.org and click on "oblate" or call
Sister Lucy Wynkoop at 360-438-2595.

Published Monthly by Interfaith Works, P.O. Box 1221, Olympia, WA 98507

office@interfaith-works.org  (360) 357-7224  www.Interfaith-Works.org
Westside Boys & Girls The challenge is that funding for a new interim
(Continued from page 1)
Club was not part of the organization’s 2009
to stay on track in school, stay out of trouble
budget since this is an emerging community
and to set goals for a promising future. Our
need. “We need help from partners in the
goal is to be part of the solution that reverses
community like faith-based organizations who
that trend.”
can lend their support to this project in order to
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County make it a reality,” Ingoglia said.
has a short and long-term solution to this
It’s a place just for kids that is positive and fun
problem. Beginning in September the
and where you can play games, learn about
organization plans on opening a Club at
computers and learn to be creative through the
Jefferson Middle School, similar but smaller in
arts. As a member of the Boys & Girls Club,
scale, to its three other Clubs in Thurston
staff members are your friends and there are
County (Tumwater, Lacey and Rochester) until
caring mentors who can get you the help you
such time that a comprehensive Boys & Girls
need at home and in the classroom. At the
Club can be built in Olympia.
Club, you feel safe, welcomed and accepted.
The program will operate during the school
Congregations interested in supporting the
year, Monday through Friday – from 2:30-5:30
Club at Jefferson Middle School should
p.m. serving youth in grades 6-8. The goal is
contact Ryan Betz, Resource Development
to initially serve 70 youth, picking up where the
Director at (360) 292-2308 or e-mail
city had left off. In the future the goal is to
rbetz@bgctc.org. More information about the
serve many more youth as additional funding
project is available at www.bgctc.org.
and support become available.

WANTED:
AFTER MAY
Yummy desserts and interesting items or services for COMES...AUGUST
Interfaith Works Silent Auction Fundraiser, to take
place October 10 (location to be announced). The auction Our newsletter usually
is silent but we won't be. Bring friends and family for a fun evening comes out the third week of
the month. Beginning with
of tasting desserts, socializing, and supporting the work and pro-
this month it will be dated for
grams of Interfaith Works. We'll provide music and light beverages. the month coming up rather
Do you have a favorite dessert you’d like to show off? We’d love to than the one almost over, i.e.
taste it! If you’d be willing to contribute two identical desserts (one August, not July. In case you
for tasting, one for auctioning), or artwork, guitar lessons, a trip for were wondering what hap-
pened to June, we did not
two to Paris, or any other intriguing item, please contact Kathleen
print a newsletter in June.
Peppard at 705-2527 or kathleenjan@comcast.net. And be sure
to save the date; October 10!
2
 A GUIDE TO SETTING AN INTERFAITH TABLE
Barnett Kalikow is an Olympia lawyer, former journalist and member of
Temple Beth Hatfiloh. Thirty-five years ago as a junior at Michigan State
he dove into cooking on a grand scale by preparing dinner for 30 diverse
students once-a-week at the Elsworth House student co-op.

A frequent question for those who wish to celebrate with friends and neighbors of other faiths is,
“What foods can I bring or serve?” We may have heard of the strict rules of kashrut followed by
many Jews or seen the halal markets where observant Muslims buy all of their meat and been
afraid that we could inadvertently insult someone by offering food that is forbidden to them.
Sometimes we are so intimidated by others’ dietary rules we shy away from offering hospitality
or sharing our joyous occasions entirely for fear of offense.
But sharing one’s bread (or rice) is likely the oldest form of hospitality in the world. Indeed,
offering sustenance is the most elemental way of saying, “you matter to me; you are worthwhile
as a person.” Here is a simple guide to take the fear out of food.
You’re almost always O.K with vegetarian. Hindus and some Buddhists eat no kind of animal
life at all. And of course, no other religion has a problem with any vegetable matter except
intoxicants. Hindus generally eat dairy but some do not eat eggs. So brush off your bean, lentil
and tomato and cheese recipes and you’re home free. See, that was easy.
Eat more fish (but not lobster). Your doctor has been telling you this anyway. Those healthy
omega 3's will keep you going ‘til you’re at least 93. Although Islam allows consumption of any
kind of seafood, Jewish law states that only fish with fins and scales are kosher. So: salmon and
tuna are in, shrimp, oysters and crab are out if your guests are Jews who observe kashruth.
Beware of meat and poultry. Both Judaism and Islam permit consumption of meat and poultry
but it must be kosher (meaning “fit”) or halal (meaning “permitted”) respectively. That means, in
both cases, that the animal must be slaughtered in a prescribed way and according to certain
specified rituals. And certain animals can never be eaten – pork and carnivores are forbidden by
both Islam and Judaism. Although one can find both halal and kosher meat for sale in the area,
there are other pitfalls in serving that steak. For example, traditional Jewish law forbids eating
any dairy product and meat product at the same meal, which requires that even if the meat you
serve is kosher, you must scour the list of ingredients of all packaged foods to ensure that there
is no dairy in them – and take the butter off the table. This is difficult to get right if you’re not
used to it so avoiding meat and poultry is probably the best policy.
Stay away from alcohol. Alcohol is forbidden to Muslims in any form. Do not use it even as an
(Continued on page 4)

3
 SUMMER EMERGENCY HELP FOR SURVIVORS
SHELTER OF SUICIDE
Eleanor Van Noppen, The United Churches
The extended Emergency Overflow
With an increasing sense of despair on the part
Shelter program commenced June 1,
of a lot of people these days, suicide is an issue
under the able direction of the Family
before many. Survivors of Suicide (S.O.S)
Support Center and Phil Owen, Homeless
groups provide support for anyone who has lost
Outreach Coordinator. It took some time
a loved one to suicide. Based on guidelines by
for the word to spread among local
the American Association of Suicidology, the
homeless women and families that the
groups are self-help and peer led. They also
new shelter was available, but use is
work to prevent suicide. The Olympia
increasing. At present there are about 12
group meets every 3rd Tuesday from 7:30-9
folks taking advantage of the service.
p.m., at Westwood Baptist Church, room E-10.
Interfaith Works applauds the Contact Janis, 866-2509. This group helped my
congregations that have agreed to host family after my son committed suicide in 1993.
the summer shelter, many of which also
Visit the website www.survivorsofsuicide.com
host it for two weeks in the winter. Those
for other resources and a directory of support
who have already welcomed homeless
groups.
guests this summer are Olympia Unitarian
Universalist Congregation, Temple Beth If you are in CRISIS or know of someone who
Hatfiloh and First United Methodist Church is, call 1-800-Suicide (1-800-784-2433).
of Olympia.

Interfaith Table (Continued from page 3)

ingredient in sauces even where you believe most will burn off.
Exceptions. There are a few who follow a very strict interpretation of Jewish law which will not
permit them to eat any food that was not prepared in a kosher kitchen with kosher utensils and
dishes for fear those surfaces will contain minute amounts of forbidden food. Such persons are
rare in Olympia, but do exist. Such people (around here at least) do not expect you to know that
they have dietary restrictions -- any more than others expect you to know all of their allergies --
and will tell you if the matter arises.
Advanced course. Some religious communities have begun to delve into spiritual aspects of
what we eat beyond the basic messages of our texts. Such matters as sustainability,
environmental impact, labor fairness and health effects of the things we eat are explored in light of
our spiritual traditions. But that’s for next time.

4
 COMMUNITY CALENDAR
A listing of some of the activities and events of Interfaith Works members, affiliated organizations, and of general interest.
IW does not necessarily endorse these events. More details and events at www.Interfaith-Works.org.

Your Event Submissions are welcomed!

Here Send an e-mail to: office@interfaithworks.org
July 25 Spiritual Cinema at The United Churches. Dessert potluck followed by this month’s film:
Saturday “One: The Movie”. First-time filmmakers asked life’s ultimate questions to a cross-section
6:30 pm of people (including Deepak Chopra, Father Thomas Keating, Ram Dass, et al).
July 25 Yard Sale Fundraiser for Community for Spiritual Awakening.
Saturday Location: 3408 Wiggins Road SE, Olympia, WA 98501
August 8 Envisioning Our Creative Selves. For the beginning and advanced artist working to in-
Saturday fuse the light of God into their painting and writing. Register by July 31. $50 + $5 materi-
9:15 am-3 pm als. Priory Spirituality Center. 360-438-2595. www.stplacid.org.
August 20 Little Red Schoolhouse Distribution Day. Jefferson Middle School, 220 Conger Ave
Thursday NW. Open to all children in need of school supplies and clothing in Thurston County. Do-
8 am—7 pm nations accepted August 1—14 at all Heritage Bank locations.
August 23-28 Puget Sound Interfaith Youth Camp. 4th annual Interfaith camp for 7th-9th graders, to be
Sun-Fri held at YMCA Camp Seymour. Applications on-line at www.soundinterfaithcamp.org or
call 360-357-7224. Sponsored by Interfaith Works and Associated Ministries of Tacoma.
September 12 Introduction to Centering Prayer. We need those times of prayer when we listen in si-
Saturday lence, not just with our ears, eyes and minds, but more with our hearts and whole being.
9:15 am-3 pm $50. Registration info: Priory Spirituality Center. 360-438-2595. www.stplacid.org.

SUPPORT THE INTERFAITH WORK

WE APPRECIATE YOUR ONE-TIME GIFT OR MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT. Donate on-line
with PayPal!
I would like to support the programs and activities of Interfaith Works
See our website.
Amount of Gift: $_______ ( ) one-time ( ) monthly
Name: _______________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City: _______________________________________State: ______________Zip: _________________
Phone: _____________________ E-mail:___________________________________________________
Send this form and make checks payable to Interfaith Works, PO Box 1221, Olympia WA 98507.
360-357-7224 www.Interfaith-Works.org office@interfaithworks.org
Your gift to Interfaith Works, a 501(c)3 organization, is deductible as allowed under federal tax law.

5
 BUILD MEMORIES AT SUMMER CAMP
Puget Sound Interfaith Youth Camp com-
mences its fourth year on August 23 at YMCA
Camp Seymour. Applications are still being
accepted! Staff members especially hope to
have more campers from the Baha’i and Mus-
lim faiths. Some scholarships are still available.
Camp planners are also still seeking male and
female counselors and a camp medic/nurse.
Counselors receive a $200 stipend.
This is a tremendous opportunity for young and
old to build new interfaith relationships and to
deepen understanding of the rich cultural tradi-
tions of our neighbors of other faiths. Please
help spread the word to potential campers and
staff. Camper and staff applications are avail-
able on-line at www.soundinterfaithcamp.org

Support Interfaith Works with a Paid Ad $10

Non-Profit Org.
Interfaith Works U.S. Postage
PO Box 1221 PAID
Olympia WA 98507 Permit No. 325
Olympia, WA 98501

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED