What does the IVY Group do?

We meet at least monthly to do the business of the group and to study other religions.  From time to time we invite outside speakers to teach us.

We travel to places of worship to participate in religious ceremonies, to talk with religious leaders about their faiths, and to engage in dialogue and companionship with friends from various religious traditions.

We participate in a number of interfaith events during the year and try to sponsor at least one interfaith event annually.

We support one another in the development of our respective religious roots and youth programs in our home places of worship. 

We do several outreach and social justice projects during the year; working side by side with new-found friends from other faith traditions; thereby further strengthening bonds.

We also value fun and social interaction.

The statement of purpose mentions a framework. Below is the framework we use for our exploration (this is very important to understand if you want to understand IVY):

Asking questions with intent leads to

Active listening which leads to

Communication and dialogue which leads to

Connection which leads to

Understanding which leads to

Tolerance which leads to

Love and compassion.

Our belief is that empowering youth and helping them shift their locus of control from external to internal will be achieved through the safety we provide for allowing them to ask the big questions and sift through many answers in order to arrive at conclusions that fit each of them individually. We believe that one answer is not right for every person. The tools we are using to inspire big questions are as follows:

• Music, art and creative outlets.
• Ritual in the form of setting safe and sacred space and covenants they have helped draw up.
• Interfaith events and outreach in which they are planning the programs. Our yearly interfaith events/workshops include:
   
  
  • Food
  • An opportunity to create open interfaith dialogue through skits, music and safe discussion
  • Opportunities for new friendships (breaking down barriers and forming uncommon bonds)
  • Art
  • Music
  • Movement
  • Fun

Below are the lyrics to a song that was written by the youth during one of their yearly interfaith workshops with the help of Gina Sala, and other adult facilitators. It has become our interfaith youth anthem and came out of stories the youth told themselves.

One Voice

Chorus:

We are one, but we are many
And from different faiths on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are on Earth as one

Abraham our father taught us God is one
We sing and dance, read right to left
As Jewish tradition
We like to knosh on challah
And fast on Yom Kippur
Like the lights of the menorah
We shine forevermore

[chorus]

I believe in helping others
Like Christ I sacrifice
By following God’s plan for me
I seek eternal life
I follow His commandments
Loving is his mission
I open my heart to you
I am a Christian

[chorus]

You don’t know who I am,
You judge me by my scarf,
But what you really need to do
Is judge me by my heart,
It symbolizes self-respect
My faith and dignity
A friendship you can count on
I’m a Muslim woman

[chorus]

I came from Medina
I was born in Bethlehem
I also am a Hebrew
The keeper of all Faith
I stood before the Red Sea
And sat beneath the Bodhi
For 160 years there is Baha’ulláh

[chorus]

If you tell me what to think
I won’t really know it’s true
offer me to share our thoughts
I’ll come along with you
I honor the planet and the web of life I’m in
I seek connections to others
I'm Unitarian

[chorus]