All Faiths Festival Gala This Weekend

Joe Turner and Karin Nystrom invite all Malden residents and those in surrounding communities to an afternoon of entertainment and education about the city’s houses of worship.

The co-directors of All Faiths Festival, a non-profit organization untied to any particular religious group, are organizing the third annual gala scheduled for Sunday, May 15 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Senior Community Center located at 7 Washington St. The gala will feature directors of 20 houses of worship in Malden will be speaking about their services and programs for all ages.

“We want to put unity back into the community,” said Nystrom who, with Turner, has a monthly show on community access television for which they interview a religious leader and ask about his or her church or temple, participation in the community and favorite business in Malden.

“It’s all about community,” said Turner. “We are trying to build and foster an open community where people know about their houses of worship and businesses.”

The gala, a free event open to all, will highlight an entire side of the Senior Center’s function room filled with tables where religious leaders will hand out literature and talk about their church or temple.

The participants include Baha’i Faith of Malden, Congregation Agudas Achim - Ezrath Israel, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Exodus Faith Ministries, First Baptist Church of Malden, First Church in Malden, Congregational, First Parish in Malden, Universalist, Forestdale Community Church, Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Grace Church of God, Immaculate Conception Parish, Malden First Church of the Nazarene, Outreach Community and Reform Center, Philadelphie Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Sacred Hearts Parish, Seven Mile Road, St. Lukes Community Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, Temple Tifereth Israel and The Salvation Army.

In addition, there will be entertainment throughout the afternoon in the center’s auditorium including musical groups Dave Weigert Project from Berklee Jazz group, Baha’i Faith of Malden, Students Choir from the Outreach Community & Reform Center, Bell Choir from First Baptist Church of Malden, William Clarke, trombonist and student at Malden High School from The Salvation Army, Gary Gillette, guitarist from Temple Tifereth Israel, Drum Circle from First Parish in Malden, Universalist and the Marching Band from Philadelphie Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Also joining the gala will be the Masonic Youth Children Identification Program and ROLLO the Clown.

Turner expects several hundred people will attend the gala including friends, neighbors, children of all ages, clergy, city officials and soon-to-be discovered musicians.

Light refreshments will be provided.  Ample parking is available at the Florence Street parking lot.

For additional information on the third annual gala, visit www.AllFaithsFestival.com , view the show, All Faiths Showcase©, on Malden Access TV, or call the Co-Directors: Joe Turner and Karin Nystrom 781-246-4600.