Matters of Faith

(Published January 20, 2001)

SPECIAL EVENTS

Interfaith quarterly forum: "Local Government Funding and its Effect on the Marginalized in Society" is the topic of the Quarterly Forum of Interfaith Council of Anchorage, noon-2 p.m. Thursday in the Liberal Studies Lounge on the second floor of Grant Hall at Alaska Pacific University.

Cardinal Newman lecture: The Rev. Richard Schenk, O.P., will speak on "Why Dialogue? A Christian Theology of Other Faiths" during the Cardinal Newman Chair Lecture 7-8:30 p.m. Friday at Alaska Pacific University, Carr Gottstein Building, Room 102. For more information, call 564-8274.

Zen talk: The Rev. Tozen Akiyama will give a public talk on Zen Buddhism, "Opening the Hand of Thought," 7 p.m. Sunday at Loussac Library, Wilda Marston Theatre. Akiyama will begin a yearlong residency in Anchorage in June, at the invitation of Anchorage Zen Community. A graduate in economics of the University of Tokyo, he became interested in Zen while traveling in the United States and Europe teaching yoga and akido in the late 1960s. His formal Zen training began in 1970 in Japan, and he was ordained as a priest in the Soto Zen School in 1974. He returned to the United States in 1979 as a priest with the Zenshuji Soto Mission in Los Angeles, and has been abbot of the Milwaukee Zen Meditation Center since 1985. Suggested donation is $10, or $5 for students and seniors. (566-0143)

Church Women United: The annual meeting of Church Women United will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 3230 Lake Otis Parkway. The meeting will include election and installation of officers, and layette items will be collected for Healthy Families, Mountain View. For information, call 337-7202.

WORKSHOPS

Parenting workshop: Grace Baptist Church will present Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo of Growing Families International for a "Responsible Parenting Workshop," 6-9 p.m. Feb. 3 and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 4 at 1801 E. 68th Ave. Cost is $35 per couple, $20 per individual. No child care will be available. (349-5426)

Jewish book club: Rabbi Yosef Greenberg is offering "The Shabbat Morning Book Club" at 9 a.m. Saturdays at Lubavitch Jewish Center, 1210 E. 26th Ave. Call 279-1200 for titles of books and program schedule.

ONGOING EVENTS

Archdiocese of Anchorage: The Filipino Catholic Community monthly Mass and social will be at noon Sunday at St. Benedict Church, 8110 Jewel Lake Road, with the Rev. Alfred Giebel as celebrant. The Joy Community, a spiritual gathering and support group for people with disabilities, will have the monthly Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Chancery Office, Building A, 225 Cordova St. Catholic Theology I, the first in a series of three six-week courses on basic Catholic beliefs and practices, will be offered in two sessions -- 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. or 7-9:20 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 23-Feb. 27 -- call 564-8274 for more information. The Knights of Columbus at St. Anthony's Parish will hold a spaghetti dinner 7-8 p.m. today in the parish hall -- tickets are $6 adults, $2.50 children and free for children under 3. In another note, Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr, secretary-general of the U.S. bishops conference, was appointed by the pope on Thursday as Bishop of Duluth, Minn., succeeding Roger Schwietz, coadjutor bishop of Anchorage.

Unitarian-Universalist: Cutter Stone, a radio talk show host on KFQD, will discuss "The Fatherhood Project" at the 9 a.m. forum at 3201 Turnagain St. The 10:45 a.m. service will feature "Who are my Fathers? My Mothers?" by the Rev. Art Curtis.

Unity Church of Anchorage: Sunday's program features guest speaker Eileen Littrell Anderson, Ph.D., of the Baha'i faith, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Unity Church of Anchorage. Services are held at First Congregational Church, 2610 E. Northern Lights Blvd.

THIS WEEK

Sunday: World Religion Day, a Baha'i observance.

Wednesday-Thursday: Change to the month of Shevat on the Jewish calendar.