September 5
Lailat al Qadr (Anniversary of the night Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Actual start date may vary depending on the sighting of the moon.).
September 6-September 10
National Baptist Convention, USA: annual session
Kansas City, Mo. Contact Michael McClain at 803-467-0901; e-mail: mcclain92953@aol.com; Web site: www.nationalbaptist.com.
September 8
Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year; two days; begins at sundown)
.
September 10
Eid al-Fitr (Muslim five-day feast that commemorates the end of Ramadan. Actual date may vary depending on sighting of the moon.)
.
September 11
Ganesha Chaturthi (Hindu holiday marking the birth of Ganesha).
September 17
Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement, holiest day of the year marked by fasting; begins at sundown).
September 17-September 19
Family Research Council: Values Voter Summit
Washington. Contact J.P. Duffy at 202-637-4679; e-mail: jpd@frc.org; Web site: www.valuesvotersummit.org.
September 22
Sukkot (Seven-day Jewish feast of the tabernacles; begins at sundown).
September 22
See You at the Pole, nationwide annual event of student prayer around school flagpoles coordinated by National Network of Youth Ministries Contact Doug Clark at 858-451-1111;; e-mail: dclark@nnym.org; Web site: www.syatp.com.
September 23-September 25
Religion Newswriters Association: annual conference
Denver Contact Debra Mason at 573-823-2929; e-mail: MasonDL@RNA.org; Web site: www.rna.org.
September 30-October 5
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Conference of Bishops
Chicago. Contact John R. Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: john.brooks@elca.org; Web site: www.elca.org/news.
September 30
Simchat Torah (Jewish celebration marking the end of one Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one; begins at sundown)
.
October 2-October 3
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: semiannual general conference
Salt Lake City.
Contact Kim Farah at 801-240-1977; e-mail: farahke@ldschurch.org; Web site: www.lds.org.
October 7-October 9
Fund for Theological Education: Calling Congregations, annual ecumenical vocations conference
Atlanta Contact Kerry Traubert at 404-727-1170; e-mail: ktraubert@thefund.org; Web site: www.thefund.org.
October 15-October 17
Children’s Defense Fund: National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths weekend Contact Scott Jacobsen at 202-662-3641; e-mail: sjacobsen@childrensdefense.org; Web site: www.childrensdefense.org/childrens_sabbaths/faith.
October 16-October 18
Church of the Brethren: Mission and Ministry Board meeting
Elgin, Ill. Contact Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford at 800-323-8039, ext. 260; e-mail: cobnews@brethren.org; Web site: www.brethren.org.
October 16-October 25
Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization: Congress on World Evangelization
Cape Town, South Africa. Contact Naomi Frizzell at 904-262-5202; e-mail: nfrizzell@lausanne.org; Web site: www.lausanne.org.
October 17
Dusshera (Hindu festival symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the day when Lord Ram defeated an evil king. Actual start date may vary depending on the moment of sunrise.)
.
October 19
Birth of the Bab (Baha’i celebration of the birth of the co-founder of the faith; begins at sundown)
.
October 29-October 31
Freedom from Religion Foundation: annual conference
Madison, Wis. Contact Annie Laurie Gaylor at 608-256-8900; e-mail: info@ffrf.org; Web site: www.ffrf.org.
October 30-November 1
American Academy of Religion: annual meeting
Atlanta. Contact Susan Snider at 404-727-4725; e-mail: ssnider@aarweb.org; Web site: www.aarweb.org.
October 31
Reformation Day (Protestant).
November 1
All Saints’ Day (Christian).
November 2
All Souls’ Day (Christian).
November 5
Diwali (Hindu celebration of light and, for some Hindus, the Hindu New Year. Actual start date may vary depending on moment of sunrise.).
November 8-November 16
Church of God in Christ: Holy Convocation
St. Louis. Contact Deidre Malone at 901-278-0881; e-mail: dmalone@cmgpr.com; Web site: www.cogic.com.
November 11
Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i celebration of the birth of the founder of the faith; begins at sundown).
November 12-November 14
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Church Council
Chicago.
Contact John R. Brooks at 773-380-2958; e-mail: john.brooks@elca.org; Web site: www.elca.org/news.
November 12-November 14
Orthodox Union: biennial national convention
New York. Contact Stephen Steiner at 212-613-8318; e-mail: steiners@ou.org; Web site: www.ou.org.
November 14
Open Doors, USA: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Contact Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117; e-mail: jerryd@odusa.org; Web site: www.odusa.org.
November 15-November 18
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: fall meeting
Baltimore. Contact Sister Mary Ann Walsh at 202-541-3201; e-mail: mwalsh@usccb.org; Web site: www.nccbuscc.org.
November 16
Eid al-Adha (Muslim holiday celebrating the culmination of the Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca. Actual start date may vary depending on the sighting of the moon.).
November 17-November 19
Evangelical Theological Society: annual meeting
Atlanta. Contact Michael Thigpen at 502-897-4387; e-mail: jaborland@aol.com; Web site: www.etsjets.org.
November 19-November 23
Society of Biblical Literature: annual meeting
Atlanta. Contact Charles Haws at 404-727-3095; e-mail: charles.haws@sbl-site.org; Web site: www.sbl-site.org.
November 28
First Sunday of Advent (Christian; four consecutive Sundays).
December 1
Hanukkah (Eight-day Jewish festival of lights; begins at sundown and ends at nightfall on December 8).
December 7
Al-Hijra (Muslim New Year, celebrated on the first day of the Islamic month of Muharram. Actual start date may vary depending on the sighting of the moon.).
December 8
Bodhi Day (Buddhist celebration of the Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment)
.
December 16
Ashura (Optional fast day for Muslims, marking the creation of the world, Noah’s departure from the ark, and Moses’ flight from Egypt. Shi’a Muslims mark this as a day of mourning for the martyr.
December 19
American Atheists: Winter Solstice Celebration
Cranford, N.J. Contact Jim MacIver at 908-276-7300; Web site: www.atheists.org.
December 25
Christmas (Christian).