Getting to Know Your Muslim Neighbors

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth is providing an opportunity for South Shore residents to get to know their Muslim neighbors. On Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 10:30 AM, Quincy Imam Khalid Nasr will be speaking about the tenets of Islam. Following the service, from 11:30 to 1:30pm, there will be a light lunch and discussion forum with Shareda Hosein, Retired Lieutenant Colonel US Army Reserves, about what it is like to be Muslim in America and how to support our Muslim neighbors.

Beau Rivers, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth, believes “the role of the church is to help us grow in love that we might alleviate suffering and bring about peace and reconciliation in the world. To move toward the achievement of this goal we must begin by questioning our assumptions, gathering new information, and acting according to our values.” Unitarian Universalism is a religious tradition that affirms and promotes the inherent worth and dignity of every person. It draws from several different sources. One is the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian teaching that calls upon us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Another is the words and deeds of prophetic women and men who challenge us to confront the powers and structures of oppression with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.

Board President, Ed Krasnow says, “UU Weymouth is proud to sponsor a community forum to learn about other religious traditions and cultures. We are honored to have Imam Nasr and Chaplain Hosein share their knowledge and experience of Islam with us. Muslims have long been misunderstood and associated with negative images of Islam. This forum is an opportunity to learn how similar Islam is to Judaism and Christianity.”

Imam Khalid Nasr was born and educated in Egypt and has been serving the Quincy mosque since 2005. The Islamic Center of New England, which includes the mosques in Quincy and Sharon, has a combined membership of over 2000 Muslims from 36 different countries. Islam is the third largest religion in the United States after Christianity and Judaism.

After 35 years of service in the US military, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Shareda Hosein serves as a Community Muslim Chaplain in the Greater Boston area. She engages the art of peacemaking through her participation and facilitation of interfaith programs, dialogues, workshops, and discussion panels.

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Weymouth is a community that fosters religious freedom, spiritual growth, cultural diversity, and social responsibility. It is located at 83 Sea Street, Weymouth MA.

The event is free and open to the public. For food and planning purposes please register at www.uucweymouth.org (and click on the “Events” tab). For more information call Beau Rivers at 781-269-2023.