On Wednesday, September 14, Faith House Manhattan gathered for our first Living Room of the Fall.  We were happy to host Debbie Almontaser as our guest speaker.  You can read the event description and Debbie’s bio here.  You can read Bruce Wallace’s reflections on the evening or see more photos from the evening here.  Feel free to adapt this program for your local community.

6pm  Doors openned and earlycomers chatted

7:00pm  Bowie welcomed us back from the Summer, then introduced Debbie Almontaser and the evening’s program

PROGRAM (80 minutes) 

5 minutes – Four volunteers stood in turn and read Ayat and a poem

The seven heavenly planes, the earthly plane, and the countless conscious beings they contain are spontaneously witnessing and declaring the Divine Glory and Unity. Nothing exists without celebrating and praising Allah Most High by its very existence. Most persons cannot recognize and comprehend this universal praise and the constant Divine Response of perfect patience and boundless forgiveness.
- Holy Qur’an 17:44, Al-Israa

There is no being of any kind whose inexhaustible secret treasures are not hidden within Us. But We divinely manifest these treasures by finite degrees. – Holy Qur’an 15:21, Al-Hijr

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Throughout the heavenly realms across the whole earth, Divine signs are clearly manifest for those who profoundly believe.
- Holy Qur’an 45:3, Al-Jathiya

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Learn the meaning of that secret
That God revealed in the Qur’an.
Whether He makes you happy or unhappy,
Whether He makes you sad or gives you hope,
Even if you lose all you have
Or suffer extremely in the spirit,
Be patient: a hundred divine graces
Are coming from His hand to you.

He who endures patiently the pain
That is sent from God
Will, it is certain, obtain
The strength and truth of faith.
Marvelous news is sent to the patient;
They will win a great joy.

You must be able to perceive grace
Even when His divine anger lashes you,
And think of Him always with serenity,
And always, whatever happens, cling to Him
With all you heart and all your soul.

~ Sultan Valad

Readings selected by Amir Chris Turner

20 minutes – Talk by Debbie Almontaser about growing up Muslim in Buffalo, NY, (re)discovering Islam and becoming a practicing Muslim as an adult, and her active participation in the Muslim community and interfaith initiatives in New York City, especially since 9/11/01.

5 minutes – Debbie answered clarifying questions from the attendees.

15 minutes – Small Groups of 3-4 people discussed the question: What have you discovered or re-discovered about Islam in the last decade that has inspired your faith journey?

15 minutes – We unveiled the table of “hidden treasures” (or leftover items from a previous rummage sale), which included many cool nicknacks, antiques, clothes and linens, and other collection pieces.  Everyone was invited pick a few things to take home… (re)discovering treasures.

15 minutes – We shared why we chose certain pieces and how they tied into the evening’s theme.

5 minutes – Debbie closed the evening with a prayer

8:25pm – Bowie made announcements about upcoming events for Faith House Manhattan, and then we sang happy birthday to Jacob, who turned one on 9/11/11!

Snacks, birthday cake, and conversations!

Thank you Nathan Vanderpool for the Photos