The Rev James Loughran, SA, director of the Desk for Interreligious Affairs, will be moderating a panel of representatives from other faiths and denominations at Church Women United’s (CWU) World Community Day Celebration on Friday, November 3, at 1 pm, in the Community Room of Danbury Public Library.

Men and women of all faiths are invited to this celebration dedicated to “Signs of Healing” and human rights. The celebration is being coordinated and will be presented by the Newtown-Bethel and Danbury chapters of CWU.

A special hula demonstration will illustrate the culture of America’s 49th State. Danbury panel members are Cantor Penny Kessler from the United Jewish Center, Sheezeda Kahn from the Islam Society, Rev Linda Hansen from the Unitarian Universalist church, and the Rev Preston Tallman, assistant minister of New Hope Baptist Church.

The celebration, written by Rev Dr Allison Stokes and Dr Roxanne Gupta and a committee from the Women’s Interfaith Institute, affirms CWU’s resolution passed by The Common Council in Special Session on August 25, 2005. That resolution reaffirmed dialogue with women of other sacred traditions and religious practices.

The panel will discuss, “What are you doing in your own community to develop a sense of connection to people of other faiths?”  “What is required for mutual respect?”  and “What is the common ground for healing and harmony?” 

A worship service will be part of the celebration, which will conclude with handouts on human rights prepared by Linda Manganaro and Vicky Truitt of the CWU/Bethel-Newtown unit. Annie Orr, Jeanette Mayer, and Elizabeth Ricci of the Greater Danbury Unit planned the event and will host a refreshment table follow the service.

For more information call Darlene Jackson, Newtown unit president, at 426-5192 or Mrs Ricci, greater Danbury unit president, at 746-1610.