COMMUNITY & CLUBS:Interfaith Council to discuss dissent within faith communities

The focus of the June luncheon meeting of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council will be a round-table discussion dealing with dissent within faith traditions. “How do you deal with religious dissent as an individual within a congregation, as a congregation within a faith tradition, and as a faith tradition among other faith traditions?” will be the key questions, according to Greg Kelley, the council’s vice president.

It seems almost every faith community has dissent as to beliefs and practices. The question is how does the individual member and the faith community deal with dissent? Congregation members, clergy and the public are invited to attend the meeting and participate in the discussion, Kelley said.

The luncheon will feature a 11:45 a.m. reception, noon luncheon, and a 12:30 p.m. program June 13 at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 183 East Bay St., Costa Mesa.

The cost of the meeting is $10 per person with reservation or $12 without a reservation.

Reservations are required by Monday by calling (714) 921-8665 or by e-mail to nmiinterfaith@aol.com.

BECOME IRRELEVANT, JOIN THE CELEBRATION

The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend the Arrival Party for the 32nd Irrelevant Week, being held on Monday, June 18, at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. The festivities begin at 5 p.m., and admission is $15 per person, which includes free parking, live entertainment and food from local restaurants.

Being honored is Mr. Irrelevant, Ramzee “Bino” Robinson, a cornerback from the University of Alabama, picked by the Detroit Lions as the last pick in the recent 2007 NFL Draft. Started by community philanthropist Paul Salata, Irrelevant Week was created to honor the underdog in all of us. With the motto of “doing something nice for someone for no reason at all,” Irrelevant Week spotlights the last pick in the NFL draft with a week of festivities in his honor.

The week includes the All-Star, All-Sports Lowsman Banquet being held on Wednesday, June 20 at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and the Ultimate Tailgate Party and Miss Irrelevant contest on Friday, June 22, at Rudy Pub and Grill on Newport Peninsula.

Not able to attend the events? You can still participate by donating an item for the “shower of gifts” for Mr. Irrelevant that are presented at the so-called Arrival Party.

For more information, call (949) 263-0727 or visit the website at www.irrelevantweek.com.

BACK FROM THE ROTARY TOUR OF ISRAEL

I was one of eight Rotarians and five guests who returned from our 11-day trip to Israel last Sunday. There are too many highlights to write about in this column and I have 400-plus photos and lots of stories to share. We visited many of the religious sites in Israel, swam in the Dead Sea and even attended a Rotary District Conference while there.

I felt safer in Israel than I do when leaving the Staples Center in Los Angeles after a Laker game. It is a beautiful, historic and modern country with much more to see and experience than one can in 11 days. There is always next year in Jerusalem.

WORTH REPEATING …

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council … “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”

Albert Einstein