Submitted by Saint David’s Episcopal Church

Muslims in the United States have often been subject to racism, xenophobia and scapegoating behaviors and attitudes. The human dignity and human rights of Muslims are often not respected. Since December 2015, Love in a Time of Fear forums have drawn over 4,000 people to question, learn and affirm that – even in this time of fear – God is calling us to recognize our neighbors and work together for our mutual well-being. It is a crucial time to step forward and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

The next event will be held on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. at St. David’s Episcopal Church at 780 Park St. in Friday Harbor. Church members, as people of faith, respect differences and celebrate commonalities and common humanity. In this time of anxiety and tension, church members encourage all to:

1. Seek out neighborly relationships with people of other faith and/or non-faith traditions.

2. Resist in ourselves and society exclusionist ideologies that contribute to the dehumanization of and violence toward others.

3. Work in the public arena for the human rights of all people.

This forum, led by The Rev. Terry Kyllo, is sponsored by Saint David’s Episcopal Church, The Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia.