Friday, June 27 2025: Get out Your Calendars! Dan Vrooman Announcement for this Saturday and an Announcement about a public fast on July 2nd in support of our immigrant communities.

ANNOUNCEMENT #1 

Dan Vrooman Announcement: A very special speaker, Rami Khader, is appearing in Oakland this Saturday, June 28th, 2025. Please call or email Dan if you’d like to attend and want to carpool: 

Email Dan: Valenrud181@gmail.com

Phone: (707) 721-2016



An Evening with Rami Khader: Breaking the Cycle of Violence

Saturday, June 28

7:00-8:30pm (PT)

Lakeshore Ave Baptist Church

3534 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland

This is one in a series a series of public events to share the story of Anar, a nonprofit operating in the West Bank that provides arts- based healing for Palestinian children and caregivers.

More information and registration at: 

Healingtohope.org



ANNOUNCEMENT #2:



Support our Immigrant Communities with a day of fasting and public witness


Day of Fasting: July 2, 2025

When 7:00 AM – 7:00PM

Silent Sit In 5PM – 7PM Old Courthouse Square

Break the Fast in Public at 7:00PM at the Wednesday Night Market in Old Courthouse Square. 


For more information: 

www.interfaithpublicfast.org

(and watch this space for Emmaus Community updates)

Interfaith Public Fast in Support of our Immigrant Communities on July 2nd, 2025

Join people of faith as we fast in solidarity with migrants, including LGBTQAI+ folks and others targeted by ICE.

We’ll fast from 7AM – 7PM and then we’ll sit in public witness and break fast together at the Wednesday Night Market in Old Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa. 

Announcing a fast on Wednesday, July 2, from 7 AM to 7 PM, in witness of and solidarity with the migrant communities of Sonoma County. Watch this spot for activities through the day. We will culminate with a silent communal meditation at 5 PM and then a break the fast at 7 PM, both at Old Courthouse Square, In Santa Rosa. We look forward to your participation on the day and also on this thread.

Too often we learn of the sufferings of this world – gun violence, homelessness, pandemic, climate catastrophe – and while moved to respond, find that there is no response available. We might sign a petition or send donations to organizations. But then we return to our daily lives, suppressing the grief that could otherwise lead us to take greater agency in response to tragedy and peril.

Interfaith Public Fast of Sonoma County has therefore committed to engaging in periodic days of fasting, some scheduled and some spontaneous, in order to bring a meaningful interfaith witness to these events and challenges. We plan to use these fast days as times of reflection, study, solidarity, and community building. 

We fast for numerous reasons.

Ancient Technology. Fasting is among the ancient spiritual technologies that our faith traditions share. We employ this ancient practice as a way to connect across time with all who have lived in times of peril.

Solidarity. We fast in order to share physically in the suffering around us. In times of great peril or catastrophe, there can be no “business as usual.” 

Self-Reflection and Contrition. Fasting is a traditional tool for self-reflection and atonement. And indeed, we might all ask ourselves, “What is my role in all of this? How have I supported the systems in which this particular tragedy or challenge can take place?”

Change of Consciousness. Fasting is also a vehicle for deep spiritual experience. In moments that are free from the distraction of food preparation or screens or driving or idle chatter, what change of consciousness might come about? We invite insight and inspiration into the space that has opened up, and see if we might find ourselves motivated to engage in new ways.

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