Taste the bread that is eaten in homes around the world at Breaking Bread. The Vernon and District Interfaith Bridging committee members share their traditional breads May 28 at the Vernon library.
“It is symbolic of sharing food and the other things we have in common in our faith,” said Harpal Dhillon, a committee member who will bring prontha, an Indian flat bread.
Breaking Bread will include a variety of breads from the individuals who volunteer for the committee.
The Interfaith Bridging Project started in 2010 and over the years has held a number of community events to help people learn about faith and cultural traditions and cafés for information and discussion.
“It has been a very rewarding experience. I have met a lot of people I would never have met otherwise and my understanding has grown so much,” said committee member Rick Birnie.
The committee no longer receives any funding except that from the faith communities involved but it is working to keep going and plans to have at least one community event each month.
“We had a very good response to all the events we have had and people who attended felt really connected. We all have differences but we all have a sameness and we respect that difference and sameness,” said Dhillon.
“There are so many misunderstandings but we can talk about them. We don’t want to change anybody, just listen and understand.”
The committee members are currently working on Summer Solstice Gathering at Head of the Lake, which will feature First Nations food from the earth. New committee members are always welcome. All that is needed is a desire to learn from other faiths and to use skills for future events, as well as helping with brochures, the website and a video.
“This is something that is really needed,” said Birnie.
Breaking Bread serves up bread and tea at the Vernon library May 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation. The speaker will be Joanna Rainer from the Emergency Food Action Network and all proceeds will go to the Fulton Breakfast Program. For more information about Breaking Bread or the Vernon and District Interfaith Bridging committee, email vdiss.interfaith@gmail.org or see www.interfaithvernon.org.