Ted Ingram, age 83, came to Peterborough in 1975 to teach French at Lakefield College School. He was a droll, humble and cultured Irishman with great wit, especially clever with puns. He loved cricket and I can see him, in a flapping white coat and wide hat, umpiring the boys at LCS, in one of the world’s most popular games.

Ted had a quick eye for the overlooked or struggling student — and for the new teacher. When I arrived to teach English in 1981 at this all-boys school, he gave me a warm welcome and showed me the ropes of independent schooling.

He was a feminist before the word was used, and cheered on his wife, Daphne Ingram, in all the ways that secure men do. They had two daughters. Daphne worked in early childhood education and gave many dedicated hours to the human rights organization Amnesty International.

The service, conduced by Rev. John Runza, was Anglican-inspired, and featured fine old hymns such as Abide with Me and Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. A large group of the Peterborough Singers, accompanied by the brilliant Syd Birrell, sang Amazing Grace. Ted Ingram had been a member of the Singers for 30 years. The service was deepened by a beautiful soprano duet by Pamela Birrell and Catharine Mead.

Ted left an Irish blessing, “May the Grass on the Road to Hell Ever Grow Greener for the Want of Your Feet.”

A few days later at Highland Park Funeral Home, there was a moving service honoring Helen McCarthy, 73, who had been a progressive Catholic educator for many years, and then co-founded the Abraham Festival 20 years ago.

She was teaching world religions at the time, and invited Muslim leader Elizabeth Rahman to speak to her class. The problem was that it turned out to be a “snow day,” and no students attended. The two women had the time to develop the idea of increasing understanding among the three great faiths that originated with Abraham of the Hebrew scriptures.

Never have I experienced Peterborough more united in its religions and in its sorrow through multifaith prayer and respectful remembrance.

After retirement, Helen McCarthy became a school trustee, and successfully brought about recognition of LGBTQ2S people by leading the movement for PRIDE flags. The story was told about former chair of the board, Braden Leal, presenting Helen with the system’s first PRIDE flag.

Many leading Peterburians took part in remembering Helen. Poet Zizhah Von Bieberstein spoke for the Jewish community and read from the Torah. Elizabeth Rahman paid tribute to her longtime friend. Imam Habeeb Ali, a supporter of the Abraham Festival, came from Toronto, led prayers in Arabic and read a poem he had composed.

Catholic faith animator Teresa Cosentino introduced the speakers – all four of McCarthy’s sons, and her spouse, Jim. Fr. Paul Massel gave the final blessing. Danny Bronson sang “Out on the Mira” and “Peace is Flowing Like a River,” and in a duet with Massel, “I Believe in Angels.”

At this time when some incidents of hatred among so-called believers are seen in Canada, this multi-faith gathering in Peterborough, which came out of a long period of education, understanding and warm friendship, demonstrated the opposite: integration, familiarity, the valuing of difference, and the recognition of other’s humanity.
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An example for the country.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Abraham Festival!

We have all experienced loss of some type, whether it be the loss of a relationship, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of health, or even the loss of a homeland.

The Hope Abides Gathering is for anyone who has experienced any type of loss. This event will take place at St. James United Church at noon on Sunday, December 4th, 2022 and will feature readings and commentaries from various faiths, as well as music. If you are unable to attend in person you can watch online by following this link on that day at noon: https://www.twitch.tv/stjamesunited.

This Multicultural, Multifaith Gathering is sponsored by the Abraham Festival, The Oasis and St. James United Church in Peterborough.

Please join us on 4th December.
The Abraham Festival Committee

Celebrating 19 Years of the Abraham Festival!

The audio recording of this zoom session is now available to listen to.

On Sunday 6th February the Abraham Festival held a zoom session to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week.

“OUT OF THE WILDERNESS: AN INTERFAITH JOURNEY”

A conversation about Abraham’s legacy, and how we can promote harmony and work together as people of the Abrahamic faiths with speakers:

Ziysah von Bieberstein: Poet, community activist & member of the Jewish community in Peterborough

Father Paul Massel: Catholic priest for the Diocese of Peterborough & Faith Animator & Chaplain for the PVNC Catholic District School Board

Imam Michael AbdurRashid Taylor: Regional Chaplain Correctional Service Canada; Wellness & Multifaith Educator

The Abraham Festival invites you to our next zoom session for 2021, on Sunday 21st November from 1 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. EST!

“The Natural Thing To Do” – Exploring the Golden Rule, and learning from past mistakes

Six Nations of the Grand River: A Samaritan Story

We are very happy to welcome Rev. George Best as he examines the text of the parable in Luke 10, of “the Good Samaritan” from a historical perspective. His re-contextualization of the story to the conflict of the late 1700’s examines how the Haudenosaunee supported immigrant members of a farming community on the wrong side of the Revolutionary War. This biographical account and ancestral story is updated today, supporting specific “Calls to Action” from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, surrounding Canada’s moral problem. The racist, un-Holy church-state foundation of nation-building from the Doctrine of Discovery is pivotal. It helps us understand the aftermath of genocide since the residential school experiment against Indigenous Peoples. The Haudenosaunee, by contrast, show us the “natural thing to do.”

Bio: Rev. George Best is married to Judith, and retired from a professional career in criminal justice. He is a member of Wideman Mennonite Church, Markham; an ordained minister and graduate of Waterloo University with Bachelors of Arts in social development, peace and conflictand restorative justice studies; and a graduate with Masters of Divinity from Queen’s University, Kingston, with concentration in Restorative Justice. George has a life long interest in social justice, having advocated with Indigenous Peoples during the OKA Crisis and the Ipperwash land disputes; he advocates with the Six Nations of the Grand River for the construction of an Immersion Languages School, and lives on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee of the Williams Treaty of Southern Ontario.

Please register for this event by sending an email to abrahamfestivalptbo@gmail.com
You will then receive the zoom link to enable you to join the session

We invite you to join us for this zoom presentation, and to stay for the Q & A!

METAPHORS OF THE MYSTICS

Teachings and traditions that enrich our lives

by Imam Jamal Rahman

Our spiritual traditions help us to embrace our joys and sorrows and to evolve into the fullness of our being, build community and explore ways to connect with ‘the other’. Metaphors of the Mystics unravels universal insights and practices from the three Abrahamic faiths.

Imam Jamal Rahman is a popular speaker on interfaith relations, Islam and Sufi spirituality. Along with his Interfaith Amigos, he has been featured in the New York Times, on CBS News, the BBC and various NPR programs. Co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary, author and adjunct faculty at Seattle University, Jamal travels nationally and internationally, presenting at conferences, retreats and workshops.

To watch Imam Jamal Rahman’s talk, please click on the image below.

We are excited to invite you to join us via Zoom on Sunday, April 11, 2021 from 3-5 p.m. Eastern for an uplifting workshop led by Imam Jamal Rahman of the Interfaith Amigos.

Many of you attended the festival a few years ago when the Interfaith Amigos were the keynote speakers, and we are blessed to have Imam Jamal join us from Seattle for this event.

METAPHORS OF THE MYSTICS

Teachings and traditions that enrich our lives
by Imam Jamal Rahman.

Our spiritual traditions help us to embrace our joys and sorrows and to evolve into the fullness of our being, build community and explore ways to connect with ‘the other’. Metaphors of the Mystics will unravel universal insights and practices from the three Abrahamic faiths.

Imam Jamal Rahman is a popular speaker on interfaith relations, Islam and Sufi spirituality. Along with his Interfaith Amigos, he has been featured in the New York Times, on CBS News, the BBC and various NPR programs. Co-founder and Muslim Sufi minister at Interfaith Community Sanctuary, author and adjunct faculty at Seattle University, Jamal travels nationally and internationally, presenting at conferences, retreats and workshops.

This event is FREE, however registration is required before 4 p.m. on Friday, April 9th using this link:
Metaphors of The Mystics Sign-up Form

Once you are registered, you will receive the zoom link to use on Sunday, April 11th.
If you have any questions, please email us at abrahamfestivalptbo@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, April 11th!
Peace/shalom/salaam
The Abraham Festival Committee

WE as a people have faith in each other. Also, irrespective of which faith we choose to follow, all our faiths teach us the common message, ‘We have to look out and care for one another’.

The current times have offered us an opportunity to reflect, provide care and comfort in new ways. By staying at home in social distancing, by serving as frontline workers, through prayers and positive intentions or through donating time and money.

The Abraham Festival has always lived this message of oneness through it’s work in the community. On April 18th 2020, the Abraham Festival transcended the celebration of the common message of oneness, comfort and being together ONLINE.

Faith leaders from the Abrahamic traditions were invited to present a reading from their sacred text which spoke to caring for one another. The faith leaders then shared their reflections about each other’s readings that provided comfort and wisdom from the background of their own faith teachings.

We offer our sincere thanks to Dr. Dan Houpt, Rev. Julie van Haaften, Rev, Jessica Beecham-Stockton & Shaikh Habeeb Alli for their readings, reflections, music and poetry.

We thank all those who attended for their wonderful response to our online event and we take pleasure in sharing the event with you here along with a transcript of the event.

Peace, salaam, shalom

The Abraham Festival has been postponed.

Join us for a Vegetarian Potluck and Dance this Saturday 30th November at 5:00 pm, to celebrate with the Abraham Festival committee and friends as we welcome our latest sponsored Syrian family to Peterborough.

We are very grateful to all who have helped in any way to help them get settled, and we would love to see you all at the synagogue on Weller St.

Vegetarian potluck, DJ music and dance (or you can just sit and tap your feet or clap your hands!)