September 6 - First Presbyterian Church embarks on interfaith education program for all

The First Presbyterian Church Adult Education Program, partnering with the Peace Islands Institute (formerly the Interfaith Dialog Center of New Jersey), will once again hold its popular series on the Qur'an and its teachings beginning Sept. 16.

The eight-week program will cover Muslim culture, history and traditions and will present a unique educational opportunity to read the Qur'an in an environment designed to promote respect and mutual understanding of all faiths and cultures. All faiths are invited to participate and the program is free.

The First Presbyterian Church in Rutherford, in an effort to bring people of different faiths together, is expanding its Adult Education Program to include an interfaith series beginning in 2012 with a program on Sikhism on Oct. 14. The interfaith endeavor will continue in 2013 with programs on Buddhism and Judaism, as well as Christianity and with trips to museums showing faith-based exhibits. The programs will be open to people of all faiths and will give a cultural as well as a spiritual overview of each faith and culture.

"We're very excited to start expanding our Interfaith Education series beyond what we have been able to offer with the support of the Peace Island Institute and what we already offer through our Bible study. Our goal is not only to provide people with an environment in which they grow in their faith and their personal relationship with God, but also to help foster meaningful conversation in the community and highlight how much we all actually have in common," said Linda Zinn, Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Rutherford and Chair of the Adult Education Subcommittee.

In the Qur'an program, participants will read portions of the Qur'an over a period of eight weeks and are invited and encouraged to attend weekly one-hour discussions led by Peace Island Institute experts on the assigned surahs (or chapters). The sessions are designed to review the week's readings, explore similarities and differences with the Bible and foster meaningful discussion on culture and faith.