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Compassion Games events promote environmental sustainability

The 2019 Global Unity Compassion Games Sept. 8 to 28 include Interfaith Potluck and Speed Faithing, Pathways to Peace and the World Peace Flag Ceremony, and the Earth and Spirit Festival with theologian Matthew Fox as keynote speaker.

The Interfaith Potluck and Speed Faithing Dialogue is from 5 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Unity Center of Divine Love and Light, 4123 E. Lincoln Rd. "Speed Faithing" is groups of three sharing perspectives on spiritual practices to discover commonalities and honor differences, said Joan Broeckling of One Peace Many Paths (OPMP).

Pathways to Peace—sponsored by OPMP, Gonzaga University, PJALS and PaxChristi—is from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, in Gonzaga's Hemmingson Center. It includes a panel discussion on de-nuclearization, followed by the annual World Peace Flag Ceremony.

"The ceremony affirms peace is possible when people join in action, especially through the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) uniting people globally," Joan said.

The Earth and Spirit Festival, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at Unity Spiritual Center, 2900 S. Bernard, is co-sponsored by OPMP, Unity Spiritual Center and the Sisters of the Holy Names. "It celebrates our connection to the Earth to help us develop more sustainable, compassionate habits," Joan added.

Matthew is the author of 37 books, a "think-outside-the-box" theologian, an Episcopal priest, an activist for eco-justice and co-founder of the Order of the Sacred Earth (OSE). OSE is a movement of people of various beliefs and non-beliefs who vow to love and defend the Earth.

He envisions reinventing work, education and worship to bring a non-violent revolution. He is speaking on "Passion and Compassion: How the Suffering of Mother Earth and the Poor Are Waking Us Up to Love and Action." Tickets for his lecture are at buytickets.at/onepeacemanypaths/287037.

The festival also includes children's activities, a resource fair and the following workshops:

• A panel of community leaders will discuss "Building a Sustainable Spokane" related to the international SDGs. Panelists are Breean Beggs of the Spokane City Council, Patrick Jones of Spokane Community Indicators, Maggie Gates of The Lands Council and Karli MacIntyre of 350 Spokane.

• In an "Earth Stewardship Interfaith Panel," Thubten Jampa of Sravasti Abbey, Todd Eklof of the Unitarian Universalist Church, and Pat McCormick of 350 Spokane will share approaches to taking compassionate action to protect and heal the Earth.

• "Earthing" is the practice of connecting with Mother Earth's energies for healing and restoration.

• "Native American Spirituality" features David BrownEagle of the Spokane Tribe on "Mother Earth: We're with Her or She Moves on without Us."

Service Projects for volunteers are Fall Cleanup at Drumheller Springs Park, Unity World Day of Prayer Vigil and Labyrinth Walk, The Lands Council Spokane River Cleanup, food sorting at Northwest Harvest and a 350Spokane Climate Strike.

For information, call email onepeacemanypaths@gmail.com.