Note: Holidays that begin at sundown continue through sundown of the next day, unless otherwise noted.
c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) Here is the RNS calendar of religious holidays, events and meetings for May and June. It will be updated each month.
April 20-May 2
Ridvan; begins at sundown and ends at sundown on May 2 (Baha’i celebration of the declaration of Baha’u’llah to his followers in 1863. Work is suspended on the 1st, 9th and 12th days.)
April 30-May 2
WordAlone Network: annual convention of a conservative movement within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Golden Valley, Minn. Contact: Betsy Carlson at 651-633-1512; e-mail: bcarlsons5(at)aol.com
May 1-9
American Jewish Committee: 100th annual meeting, Washington. Contact: Ken Bandler at 917-449-1259; e-mail: bandlerk(at)ajc.org; Web site: http://www.ajc.org
May 4
National Day of Prayer
National Day of Reason, observance designed as an alternative to the National Day of Prayer, co-sponsored by American Humanist Association. Contact: Roy Speckhardt at 202-238-9088; Web site: http://www.nationaldayofreason.org
May 5-7
Friendship Fest, American Christian and Moroccan musicians gather for second annual meeting, sponsored by American Committee for Friendship Fest, Marrakech, Morocco. Contact: Bob Thompson at 757-259-0918; e-mail: bobthompson121(at)yahoo.com; Web site: http://www.friendshipfest.com
May 7
Ten Commandments Day, observance by churches and synagogues of national campaign designed to restore the Ten Commandments to a place of respect in America. Contact: Susan Zahn at 877-862-3600; e-mail: pr(at)wdcmedia.com
May 7-10
Evangelical Press Association: annual convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Doug Trouten at 763-535-4793
May 11-12
World Council of Churches: Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference, San Jose, Calif. Contact: Deborah DeWinter at 212-870-2522; Web site: http://www.usa.wcc-coe.org
May 13
Deciphering the Da Vinci Code Conference, co-sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ, New York. Contact: Mike Paul at 212-595-8500; e-mail: mpaul(at)mgppr.com; Web site: http://www.shepherdproject.com
May 15
Lag B’Omer (Jewish day of celebration, marking the cessation of a second-century plague that killed 20,000 disciples of Talmud scholar Rabbi Akiva, begins at sundown. The day also marks the death of Jewish mystic Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.)
May 16
2006 Distinguished Christian Statesman Award, presented by the Center for Christian Statesmanship, Washington. Contact: Rebecca Coons at 202-547-3052, ext. 105; e-mail: letters(at)statesman.org; Web site: http://www.statesman.org
May 16-19
Purpose Driven Church Conference, a training meeting addressing core principles espoused in “The Purpose Driven Church” book, Lake Forest, Calif. Contact: Mark Kelly at 949-225-5252; e-mail: mkelly(at)purposedriven.com; Web site: http://www.purposedriven.com
May 21-23
National Council of Churches: Governing Board, Washington. Contact: Vicki Manning at 212-870-2025; e-mail: vmanning(at)ncccusa.org
May 22
Baha’i: Declaration of the Bab (begins at sundown)
May 23-25
Orthodox Church in America: Spring Session of the Holy Synod of Bishops, Syosset, N.Y. Contact: David Lucs at 516-922-0550, ext 128; e-mail: dlucs(at)oca.org
May 28
Baha’i: Ascension of the Baha’u’llah (begins at sundown)
May 29-June 1
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel: annual convention, Washington. Contact: Brad Abare at 888-635-4234, ext. 4218; Web site: http://www.foursquareconvention.com
June 1
Shavuot (Jewish celebration of the giving of the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai; begins at sundown and ends on June 3 at nightfall)
June 1-4
National Council of Churches USA: Eco-Justice Working Group’s biannual environmental conference, New Orleans. Contact: Cassandra Carmichael at 202-481-6928; e-mail: cassandra(at)toad.net; Web site: http://www.nccecojustice.org
June 3
Christian Concern for All God’s Creatures Conference, sponsored by God’s Creatures Ministry, Caldwell, N.J. Contact: 973-694-5155; Web site: http://www.GodsCreaturesMinistry.org
Change Your Mind Day, international observance featuring music, poetry, meditation practices and other Buddhist activities sponsored by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review. Contact: Rande Brown at 800-950-7008; e-mail: rande(at)tricycle.com
June 4
Pentecost (Christian celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit)
June 4-6
Annual Assembly of the Catholic Health Association, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Fred Caesar at 202-721-6321.
The National Conference on Reclaiming Mikveh, hosted by the Reform Jewish movement, Boston. Contact: Paula Brody at 781-449-0404, e-mail: PBrody(at)urj.org
June 5-9
World Council of Churches: Ecumenical strategy conference on the Middle East, focusing on the conflict in Israel/Palestine, Jordan. Contact: Juan Michel at 011-41-79-507-6363; Web site: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/regconcerns-palestine-israel.html
June 8
National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, hosted by Esperanza USA, Washington. Contact: Arlene Cruz-Larsen at 215-324-0746, ext. 206; Web site: http://www.esperanza.us
June 8-11
Catholic Theological Society of America convention, San Antonio. Contact: Dolores Christie at dlchristie(at)aol.com
June 9-11
Fund for Theological Education Expanding Horizons Conference, which aims to increase the number of minority students and faculty in religion and theology studies, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Kerry Traubert at 404-727-1170; e-mail: ktraubert(at)thefund.org
June 10-17
Christian Reformed Church in North America: annual synod, Grand Rapids, Mich. Contact: Dee Recker at 616-224-0827; e-mail: reckerd(at)crcna.org
June 11
Pentecost (Eastern Orthodox)
June 12-15
Orientale Lumen Conference X (West), sponsored by The Society of St. John Chrysostom and Eastern Christian Publications, San Diego. Contact: J.L. Figel at 703-691-8862; e-mail: info(at)olconference.com; Web site: http://www.olconference.com
June 13-14
Southern Baptist Convention: annual meeting, Greensboro, N.C. Contact: Will Hall at 615-782-8617; e-mail: bpress(at)sbc.net; Web site: http://www.sbc.net
June 13-21
Episcopal Church: General Convention, including election of new presiding bishop, Columbus, Ohio. Contact: Jan Nunley at 212-922-5383; e-mail: jnunley(at)episcopalchurch.org
June 14-19
Association of Reform Zionists of America: national assembly, Jerusalem. Contact Emily Grotta, 212-650-4227, ESGrotta(at)urj.org
June 15-17
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: general meeting, Los Angeles. Contact: Sister Mary Ann Walsh at 202-541-3200
June 15-22
Presbyterian Church (USA): 217th General Assembly, Birmingham, Ala.
Contact: Jerry Van Marter at 502-569-5493
June 16
400th anniversary of the martyrdom of Siri Guru Arjan Sahib in 1606 (Sikh)
June 18-21
Central Conference of American Rabbis: annual convention of the rabbinical arm of the Reform Jewish movement, San Diego. Contact: Adria Greenberg at 212-255-8386; e-mail: adria(at)sommerfield.com
June 18-22
Cumberland Presbyterian Church: General assembly, Birmingham, Ala. (Meeting concurrently with Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and Presbyterian Church (USA)) Contact: Robert D. Rush at 901-276-4572.
June 19-22
Orientale Lumen Conference X (East), sponsored by The Society of St. John Chrysostom and Eastern Christian Publications, Washington. Contact: J.L. Figel at 703-691-8862; e-mail: info(at)olconference.com; Web site: http://www.olconference.com
June 20-23
Presbyterian Church in America: General Assembly, Atlanta. Contact: Dominic Aquila at 719-573-5395; e-mail: daquila6(at)aol.com
June 20-25
American Baptist Churches USA: General Board meeting, King of Prussia, Pa. Contact: Rev. Leo Thorne at 800-222-3872, ext. 2318; e-mail: leo.thorne(at)abc-usa.org
June 21-22
“Breaking the Silence: Compassion for an HIV Positive World,” summit on the global HIV/AIDS crisis, sponsored by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Atlanta. Contact: Lance Wallace at 770-220-1641; e-mail: lwallace(at)thefellowship.org; Web site: http://www.thefellowship.info/CL/GeneralAssembly/summit.icm
June 21-25
Unitarian Universalist Association: annual General Assembly, St. Louis. Contact: John Hurley at 617-948-6131; e-mail: jhurley(at)uua.org
Fund for Theological Education Conference on Excellence in Ministry, focused on the next generation of leaders for Christian churches, Austin, Texas. Contact: Kerry Traubert at 404-727-1170; e-mail: ktraubert(at)thefund.org
June 21-28
The Institute of Campus Revival and Awakening, a gathering of campus ministry leaders focused on the history of revival and its implications for campus ministries today, co-sponsored by the Center for World Revival and Awakening, New Haven, Conn. Contact: Dave Warn at 800-321-1538, ext. 2018; e-mail: dwarn(at)LifeAction.org; Web site: http://www.campusrevivalinstitute.com
June 22-23
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: General Assembly, Atlanta. Contact: Michele Deriso at 770-220-1600; e-mail: contact(at)thefellowship.info; Web site: http://www.thefellowship.info
June 26-28
Pentecost 2006: Building a Covenant for a New America, conference on overcoming poverty sponsored by Sojourners and Call to Renewal, Washington. Contact: Jack Pannell at 202-328-8842, ext. 614; e-mail: jpannell(at)sojo.net; Web site: http://www.sojo.net/pentecost
June 30-July 2
Annual Interfaith National Film Retreat for Spiritual Development, sponsored by the Partnership for Cinema and Spirituality, Orange, Calif. Contact: Sister Rose Pacatte at 310-636-8385; e-mail: rpacatte(at)paulinemedia.com; Web site: http://www.pauline.org
The Islamic Circle of North America: annual convention, Hartford, Conn. Contact: Naeem Baig at 917-202-2118; e-mail: naeembaig(at)gmail.com
MO/JL END RNS
