Just six months into the religion beat in 2001, I committed a faux pas. For a story, I started to take notes at Shabbat services of Congregation Beth Jacob in west-central Fresno.
The rabbi, Josef Germaine, scolded me, saying, "No working on the Sabbath!"
Embarrassing.
Fortunately for central San Joaquin Valley residents, the Fresno Multifaith Exchange continues to work toward creating a better understanding of various religions.
The organization annually presents a nine-month program in which participants visit a different place of worship each month to build awareness of such religions as Baha'i Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism and Unitarian Universalism.
Sometimes, officials give tips to participants before their visits. They tell them to park their shoes at the door of mosques, to cover their heads before walking into Sikh temples -- and to not work at synagogues.
The Fresno Multifaith Exchange will begin its 12th year with a meeting, featuring guest speaker Fred E. Woods, at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fresno, 2672 E. Alluvial Ave. Woods is the Richard L. Evans chair for Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
He will speak on "The Soul of Kalaupapa," a topic dear to him. He conducted research at Kalaupapa, a leper colony in the Hawaiian islands, where he witnessed how people of various faiths -- working together -- can produce positive changes.
Details: (559) 324-9424 or 298-4258.
A visiting rabbi
Congregation Beth Jacob hasn't had a full-time rabbi since Germaine left in 2005.
Stuart L. Kelman, who retired as rabbi of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley in 2007, will lead Congregation Beth Jacob through services for High Holy Days. They begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with services at 8 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. next Saturday and Sept. 20.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, will begin at sundown Sept. 28. The church is at 406 W. Shields Ave.
Details: (559) 222-0664.
Father Michael, No. 3
There's something about St. Mary's Anglican Church in east Fresno -- and rectors answering to Father Michael.
An installation service will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 20 for the Rev. Michael P. Sclafani as rector of St. Mary's. The previous two rectors were the Revs. Michael Fry (2000-2007) and Michael McClenaghan (1995-2000), when congregations were St. Mary's Episcopal Church.
Sclafani, 46, former police officer for the Port Lucie (Fla.) Police Department, celebrated his first Mass at St. Mary's on Easter Sunday. He is well-liked by parishioners.
The church is at 6175 E. Kings Canyon Road. Details: (559) 255-4883.
FIRM in spotlight
Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries in southwest Fresno is being recognized in a new textbook.
American Asian Christian Reader devotes Chapter 22 to the people that FIRM serves, including Laotians.
FIRM's founder and executive director, the Rev. Sharon Stanley, is excited about the recognition and the ministry's current role in a water purification project in Laos.
Money, biblical way
In the tough economy, many churches are presenting seminars on handling money the biblical way.
The latest is Sunriver Community Church, which will hold a Crown Financial Ministries seminar, Journey to True Financial Freedom, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. next Saturday at the church, 4450 N. Brawley Ave.
An eight-week follow-up Bible study will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 27. Details: (559) 447-1752.
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