<![CDATA[faith250: Local Clusters]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/s/clustershttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!UdPR!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F798d06d1-5eae-41bc-b275-3db65abe2b4c_256x256.pngfaith250: Local Clustershttps://www.joinfaith250.org/s/clustersSubstackSun, 03 May 2026 19:53:54 GMT<![CDATA[Cluster Update: Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest ]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/cluster-update-interfaith-alliance-18ahttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/cluster-update-interfaith-alliance-18aWed, 22 Apr 2026 20:01:53 GMTThe Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest Cluster gathered again in March for a multifaith event — another example of how faith250 brings together multifaith clusters of congregations to engage with America's foundational texts — including, in this case, the Declaration of Independence. See the photos and update below.

It was great to see everyone and really beautiful the way we were able to share about our different thoughts about The Declaration of Independence with both it's wonderful vision and flawed sections that contradict that vision. Hoping that we all continue to pursue creating in our country the vision of "all [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Many thanks to the Unitarian Universalist community for hosting us and to Rev. Kim Kinsey for facilitating. Participating were leaders from faith traditions of Unitarian Universalist, Buddhist, Scientology, Humanist and Christian (Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Methodist, Presbyterian & Evangelical).

]]><![CDATA[Nashville Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/nashville-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/nashville-clusterTue, 21 Apr 2026 19:43:38 GMT

Participating Congregations

Curb Center-Belmont University
Congregation Micah
The Temple-Congregation Ohabai Sholom
West End United Methodist Church
Brook Hollow Baptist Church

]]><![CDATA[Rockville Interfaith Coalition]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/rockville-interfaith-coalitionhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/rockville-interfaith-coalitionThu, 16 Apr 2026 18:47:00 GMT

Participating Congregations

Tikvat Israel
Living Faith Lutheran Church
Rockville United Church

]]><![CDATA[Scranton Area Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/scranton-area-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/scranton-area-clusterWed, 15 Apr 2026 17:48:54 GMT

Participating Congregations

Temple Hesed
Temple Israel
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

]]><![CDATA[Cluster Update: McLean Interfaith]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/cluster-update-mclean-interfaithhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/cluster-update-mclean-interfaithWed, 15 Apr 2026 13:30:50 GMTAfter studying "America the Beautiful" together, the McLean Interfaith Cluster in Virginia did something simple and memorable — they sang all the verses together. This is faith250 in action: multifaith clusters of congregations gathering around America's foundational texts as our nation. Have a listen.

]]><![CDATA[Peace Islands Institute Boston]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/peace-islands-institute-bostonhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/peace-islands-institute-bostonTue, 14 Apr 2026 18:52:14 GMT

Participating Congregations

Peace Islands Institute Boston

]]><![CDATA[Rivertowns Interfaith Clergy Association]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/rivertowns-interfaith-clergy-associationhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/rivertowns-interfaith-clergy-associationSun, 12 Apr 2026 21:47:25 GMT

Participating Congregations

Temple Beth Shalom
Greenburgh Hebrew Center
Woodlands Community Temple
Temple Beth Abraham
Shames JCC on the Hudson
Irvington Presbyterian Church
Ardsley United Methodist Church
Aldersgate United Methodist Church
St. Barnabas’ Church
Christ Church San Marcos

]]><![CDATA[Public Civic Ritual: Longboat Key Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/public-civic-ritual-longboat-keyhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/public-civic-ritual-longboat-keySat, 11 Apr 2026 13:02:55 GMTOn April 18 — the date of Paul Revere's midnight ride — six congregations in the Longboat Key cluster will gather for an interfaith morning service, a shared breakfast, and a community cleanup along Gulf of Mexico Drive. It's a powerful example of what faith250 calls a public civic ritual: multifaith clusters of congregations turning shared values into shared action. See the flyer below for details.

]]><![CDATA[Cluster Update: Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/cluster-update-interfaith-alliancehttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/cluster-update-interfaith-allianceWed, 01 Apr 2026 20:10:38 GMTThe Interfaith Alliance of the Southwest Cluster gathered in January for their first meeting. This is an example of how faith250 brings together multifaith clusters of congregations to engage with America's foundational texts — including, in this case, Emma Lazarus's The New Colossus. See the photos below, along with maps showing the regions of the world where attendees trace their ancestry (look for the colored dots in Mexico and Europe).

Great kickoff to the faith250 program! Many thanks to Rev. Kim Kinsey for hosting us and to Don Curnutt for facilitating the program. We read The New Colossus and talked about what the Statue of Liberty symbolizes to us, sharing stories of how our families came to the United States. We also discussed how communities like ours can help new arrivals feel welcome and reflected on what it truly means from the perspective of our faith traditions to be a country that opens its arms to people seeking better lives. Present were folks from faith traditions of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Quaker, Humanist, Scientology, Christian (Evangelical, Episcopal, Methodist, Catholic, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Baptist, Presbyterian, Disciples of Christ, Lutheran (ELCA) ).

]]><![CDATA[Needham Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/needham-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/needham-clusterMon, 16 Mar 2026 17:17:00 GMT

Participating Congregations

Temple Beth Shalom
Carter Memorial United Methodist Church
First Parish Unitarian Universalist
The Congregational Church

]]><![CDATA[Port Chester/Rye Brook Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/port-chesterrye-brook-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/port-chesterrye-brook-clusterMon, 16 Mar 2026 02:53:48 GMT

Participating Congregations

Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

]]><![CDATA[Pocono Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/pocono-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/pocono-clusterMon, 16 Mar 2026 02:52:03 GMT

Participating Congregations

Temple Israel
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -Stroudsburg
Stroudsburg United Methodist Church
Stroudsburg First Presbyterian Church
East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church
Church of St. Luke’s
Zion United Church of Christ
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Poconos
Chestnut Retreat Center

]]><![CDATA[Alexandria City Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/alexandria-city-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/alexandria-city-clusterFri, 13 Mar 2026 21:09:15 GMT

Participating Congregations

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Agudas Achim Congregation
Commonwealth Baptist Church
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Shiloh Baptist Church

]]><![CDATA[Kalamazoo-Portage Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/kalamazoo-portage-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/kalamazoo-portage-clusterFri, 13 Mar 2026 21:03:22 GMT

Participating Congregations

Temple B’nai Israel

]]><![CDATA[Loveland Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/loveland-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/loveland-clusterMon, 26 Jan 2026 20:59:00 GMT

Participating Congregations & Organizations

LoveFirst Community
First United Presbyterian Church
All Saints Episcopal Church
First United Methodist Church
King of Glory Lutheran Church
Trinity United Methodist Church
Buckhorn Presbyterian Church
Zion Lutheran Church
Presbytery of Plains and Peaks

Events:

]]><![CDATA[Washington, DC Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/district-of-columbia-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/district-of-columbia-clusterMon, 26 Jan 2026 20:59:00 GMT

Participating Congregations

Washington Hebrew Congregation

]]><![CDATA[Contra Costa County Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/contra-costa-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/contra-costa-clusterMon, 26 Jan 2026 20:57:00 GMT

Participating Congregations

Temple Isaiah of Contra Costa County
Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
St. Perpetua Catholic Church
St. Anslem’s Episcopal Church
St. John the Evangelist Orthodox Church
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Congregation B’nai Shalom
Grace Presbyterian Church

]]><![CDATA[Fort Collins Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/fort-collins-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/fort-collins-clusterMon, 26 Jan 2026 20:55:00 GMT

Participating Congregations & Organizations

Har Shalom Center for Jewish Learning
Temple Or Hadash
First Presbyterian Church
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Plymouth Congregational Church
Heart of the Rockies Christian Church
LoveFirst Community
Church World Service
Fort Collins Area Interfaith Council
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Presbytery of Plains and Peaks
CSU Multifaith & Belief Initiatives
Interfaith Solidarity & Accompaniment Coalition (ISAAC)

Events:

]]><![CDATA[Nokesville Cluster]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/nokesville-clusterhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/nokesville-clusterMon, 26 Jan 2026 20:53:00 GMT

Participating Congregations

Greenwich Presbyterian Church

]]><![CDATA[Arizona Faith Network]]>https://www.joinfaith250.org/p/arizona-faith-networkhttps://www.joinfaith250.org/p/arizona-faith-networkMon, 26 Jan 2026 20:50:00 GMT

Participating Congregations

Arizona Faith Network

Events

Interfaith Dialogue: Shared Values in American Scripture

Third Thursdays, March 19 - June 18 via Zoom
Prayer Vigil on Thursday, July 2

Join AFN for a series of four monthly online gatherings followed by an interfaith prayer vigil as we mark 250 years of the American experiment. Drawing on the faith250 framework, we will gather to reflect on texts that have shaped our history, from the call of the New Colossus, to the promise of the Declaration of Independence and more. We will hear from diverse guest speakers and together, we will seek divine guidance to move beyond polarization and toward a future where "liberty and justice for all" is a lived reality for every neighbor.

These conversations will also acknowledge the complex and unfinished nature of the American story. For many, the ideals of liberty and equality have been sources of hope and belonging; for others, the nation’s history carries deep wounds connected to colonization, slavery, exclusion, and broken promises. In this series, we hold these realities together with honesty and humility, recognizing that living within the identity of the United States means wrestling with both its aspirations and its contradictions.

Here are the planned session dates, on Thursdays, to be held at 5 or 6 pm, depending on the needs of the guest speakers:

March 19, April 23, May 21, June 18, July 2

Guest speaker for the March 19 session (at 5 pm MST) will be Gen Kelsang Chenma, Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Phoenix, who was the keynote speaker at the 2025 AFN Annual Gathering. The topic of the session will be immigration through the lens of The New Colossus, the iconic 1883 sonnet by Emma Lazarus.

Please register with the link below to receive the Zoom information and updates via email about upcoming sessions. Thanks in advance if you are able to support this with an optional donation.

Register Here

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