Coffee Hour at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, featured authentic Turkish dishes prepared and presented by members of the Peace Islands Institute. Called Friendship Gatherings, these events are designed to bring people of different faiths together in an informal atmosphere to promote mutual understanding.
Several Turkish-American families arrived at St. Paul’s during the 10 o’clock service to set up homemade Turkish food in the parish hall for parishioners to enjoy after worship. Sharing a meal together led to lively conversation and friendly interchange of ideas in an atmosphere of fellowship and mutual appreciation.
Peace Islands Institute, formerly Interfaith Dialog Center, has grown from a small group tied to the Turkish-Muslim faith sponsoring educational seminars at the Rutherford Public Library, to a multi-state organization with branches in NJ, NY, PA, CT and MA. Its goal is to create an “island of peace” for people of all ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, by bringing together different viewpoints and voices with a spirit of mutual respect and acceptance. For more information about Peace Islands Institute, go towww.peaceislands.org. For more information about St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, seewww.stpaulschatham.org. St. Paul’s is located at 200 Main St., Chatham, NJ 07928, 973-635-8085.