Common Word Community Service Phoenix 2012

PHOENIX, Arizona — On Sunday, April 22, 2012, thirty-four Muslims and Christians joined together to build peace in Phoenix by serving more than 200 halal meals to the homeless at the Chris Becker Memorial Dining Room of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Abrahamic Alliance International united members of American Muslim Women's Association, Islamic Community Center Tempe Mosque, Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah and Trinity Mennonite Church. Islamic Community Center Tempe hosted volunteer orientation and meal preparation led by Imam Basir Ali, Pastor Hal Shrader, Zeb Mirza and Maribeth Troyer. After a tour of the mosque, volunteers were paired into Muslim-Christian buddy groups and got to know each other with fun discussion questions about life, culture, and faith. Buddy groups then worked alongside each other to prepare the tasty halal chicken dinner complete with cupcake dessert. After all guests were served, volunteers dined together and continued getting to know each other over dinner. Imam Basir Ali and Pastor Hal Shrader closed the service with prayers of thanksgiving for the new friendships made and for the bridges of peace and understanding built between both communities.

Photos courtesy of Tanmi Kabir and Richard Keeney.