This year's festival reminded us that we must find the courage to bring a healing and courageous love into Gaza, into Sudan, into Haiti, Ukraine, Myanmar, Israel, and the United States. Rabbi Hillel says “If not now, then when?” Dr. King reminds us that “Evil cannot drive away evil,” for it is overflowing love and abundance that weakens the demonic hold of the terrorist. Courageous love must be the center of all foreign and domestic policy: Not American First, but America with massive aid and jobs programs, not so we can get rich, but, to quote Rabbi Hillel, “if {we} are only for {ourselves}, what are we?”
The festival began with excited anticipation. Our service project partners were ready at the helm to welcome volunteers from churches, synagogues, mosques along with secularists to serve, listen, and learn with each other. Artist Russell Rainbolt escorted volunteers of all ages on to the huge 14 x 48 billboard canvas to hand paint together the "Love: If not now, when?" peace mural. As volunteers moved from project to project, they bellied up to the pizza truck for a brief respite to enjoy food, drink, and discussion. Nearing the end of the afternoon, we were all escorted by The Blue Steel Drum Line of New Haven to the doors of St' John Vianney Church where to gather for closing remarks and to hear our keynote speaker, Dr. Elias Farah, Executive Director of Jerusalem Peacebuilders who visited us from Nazareth.
The Interfaith Service Festival 2025
Sunday, September 21st
St. John Vianney Church
West Haven, CT
Thank you to St John Vianney Church , our many service project partners, the Blue Steel Drum Line, and all who attended and served, listened and engaged in fellowship! Bravo to you all!
Thank you to Dr. Elias Farah, Executive Director of
Jerusalem Peacebuilders served as the festival's keynote speaker. Please enjoy reading a short summary of Dr. Elias' many accomplishments here. Also visit JerusalemPeacebuilders.org to learn of all they do in service of peace and understanding in the Holy Land.
We pounded confiscated guns into jewelry & garden tools
We built blessing bags
We watched a film & discussed reforming our incarcerations system
We prepared sandwiches to feed the hungry
We learned how to fight discrimination and know our rights.
We cleaned Seabluff Beach
We learned about food insecurity
We learned how we can help displaced refugees & immigrants.
We hand painted our giant 50 foot billboard mural
Courageous Love is the willingness to place oneself at risk for the benefit of another. I know I am painting a joyful picture of the day, yet the joy was filled with shock and sadness. We met the unhoused; we wept and heard their sorrow; we met and heard the cries of prisoners in despair, we wrestled with gun violence, we prayed and named the violence around the world and in the Holy Land, and we did not pretend that these problems had gone away. But we did catch a glimpse of the solutions, and we experienced the part we must play in the healing of the world.
I pray this day inspires you toward loving and courageous acts of generosity and service, risking your time, your funds, your theological understandings, your world views, and even your hearts. Please stay tuned for an interfaith service story of your courageous love.
......Read more here - Interfaith Service Day 2024.
IWagePeace
Interfaith Service Day 2023:
"A Story of Interfaith Service"
A photo essay narrated by
Bruce A. Barrett
Founder and President
"Service and Sacred Conversation Fill the Green"
by Allan Appel
New Haven Independent
8/7/23
Crossroads Magazine
"Bringing Good News to Life"
Interfaith Service Day
Hosted by Fr. John Gatzak
8/13/23
About Interfaith Service Day
Interview with Bruce A. Barrett
by Scott Harris
WPKN Between the Lines
7/31/23
Interfaith Service Day is made possible through the generosity of
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Center Church on the Green New Haven,
Barrett Outdoor Communications, Jerusalem Peacebuilders, and IWagePeace Inc.
On Sunday August 7th 2022 in New Haven CT, Interfaith Service Day brought a diversity of faith and community groups together in fellowship and goodwill. Through this event we collectively sent the message that we are one people, that we have nothing to fear from our differences, and that in fact, our differences make us a strong, vibrant, and dynamic community. We can disagree on doctrine and theology while respecting, learning, and enjoying one another. To each and every one who joined together for this day of community service and celebration of our like-mindedness, thank you! Amen!
In the heat of the day on the Green, a line forms at the anvil where volunteers test their strength at the hammer. They pound glowing red steel, turning guns into garden tools, they pound. The hammer strikes and rings over the Green, “ping, ping, ping....” turning war into peace.
“Gather around the pizza truck,” I called, (click on the photo to see!) and shouted and sang until those not fasting feasted long and hard, each marking this day in their own way by their traditions; for this is Tisha B'Av and for some a day of fasting.
Half of you, bless you all, tired from the hot work, returned home after lunch. Half of you stayed for reflections from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Baha’i traditions. Each separate voice connected to the whole. Thank you Rabbi Joshua Pernick from the Jewish Federation, Reverend Luke DeVolder from Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green, Imam Bilal Ansari, and Rachael Gonzales Ryan and your team.
A wind, wild and hot, grew and blew down the music stands, but the syncopations of the Afro-Semitic Experience kept on keeping on, bass plucking, saxophone humming, trumpet popping, the groove lifting our hearts as we painted the last corners of the billboard grateful for this time of joy as we served, prayed, and healed each other.
"Interfaith Service Day returns to New Haven 8/7/22"
Interfaith Service Day came in partnership with Jerusalem Peacebuilders and was made possible by a generous donation from the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and with the participation of 17 faith community partners:
- Trinity Church on the Green New Haven
- The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
- Muslim Coalition of Connecticut
- Christ Church New Haven
- Regional Baha’i Council of the Northeastern States
- St. Andrew's Episcopal Church Madison
- Woodmont UCC Milford
- Congregation Mishkan Israel Hamden
- St. Peter's Episcopal Church Milford
- Congregation Beth-El Keser Israel New Haven
- St. Matthew's Episcopal Church Wilton
- Dixwell Avenue Congregational UCC New Haven
- Episcopal Church at Yale
- First Presbyterian Church of New Haven
- First United Church of Christ Milford
- OASIS Multi Church Youth Ministry
- St. Mark’s Episcopal Church New Canaan
The 1st Interfaith Service Day on August 8th in New Haven was a wonderful success. Twenty-two Israeli and Palestinian youth plus 125 local volunteers of all ages brought our size to over 150 in attendance. We completed seven community work projects. We enjoyed Fire Engine Pizza Truck! Mayor Toni Harp inspired us with her gratitude for our work. Thank you WPKN Radio Something, Channel 8, Channel 12 news, and the New Haven Independent. Thank you everyone who volunteered and supported our efforts. Truly, “We Are All In This Together.”
IWagePeace is a Connecticut 501(c)(3) not for profit that inspires and educates Americans about peacemaking through creative interfaith gatherings, community service projects, public displays of art, and more. Our work is made possible by your spiritual and physical presence. We hope you'll join us.
Thank you for being part of the IWagePeace community.
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