Common Word Community Service Silicon Valley 2017
SILICON VALLEY, California — On Sunday, May 21, 2017, more than forty Muslims and Christians united in solidarity to serve the homeless and hungry of Silicon Valley. The AAi Compassion event was jointly sponsored by Lincoln Glen Church and Pacifica Institute as a grassroots response to the Common Word peacebuilding initiative, from which the event got its namesake, Common Word Community Service. Volunteers began in Sunnyvale at Pacifica Institute and were led by Br. Mahmut Altun and Rev. Larry Albright. Volunteers enjoyed getting acquainted in small buddy groups before working together to prepare nearly 300 halal meals for the homeless. After all food was prepared, packed and ready for transport, event leaders shared how each of their communities have been affected by recent political turmoil in both Turkey and United States. Esra Altun, a member of Pacifica Institute, shared how she was attacked at San Jose State University by an assailant who approached her from behind, pulled off her hijab (head covering) then choked her with it the day after the 2016 presidential election, apparently emboldened by Trump’s victory and anti-Muslim rhetoric. Esra Nur’s father, Br. Mahmut Altun, then lamented the violence peaceful American protesters recently suffered in Washington, DC after being attacked by the Turkish president’s security detail (see New York Times coverage here). Rev. Larry Albright then prayed for God’s peace, mercy and blessings upon the Altun family, all Pacifica families, and all peoples of Turkey who have endured tremendous suffering in recent months. Br. Mahmut Altun then humbly prayed the same for all Americans, and for our shared future. It was a deeply moving time of prayer, empathy, support and encouragement to persevere amidst many challenges.
Volunteers then drove together to serve dinner at Cityteam’s Men’s Recovery Center in San Jose. Chef Reynolds Stewart of Cityteam oriented and organized all for meal service. Then Br. Oktay Erbil of Pacifica Institute offered a prayer of thanksgiving before Recovery Center residents dined. Thirty minutes later, after doors opened to homeless guests, Rev. Larry Albright of Lincoln Glen Church prayed a blessing over the food and precious guests. When the line for seconds was gone, volunteers also dined together in buddy groups. Finally, Br. Oktay Erbil offered a closing prayer and thanked God for the amazing camaraderie in compassion and service to God, سبحان الله
Special thanks to all the volunteers who prepared the food and made arrangements for the united service. Kudos to Br. Mahmut Altun, Br. Oktay Erbil, and Rev. Larry Albright for their excellent leadership. Many thanks to Michael Carlson and Pacifica Institute for photographing the event to help inspire a world of onlookers longing to see similar initiatives begin in their locale. A thousand thanks to all the donors who made this event possible! Most of all, thanks be to God الحَمْد لله for blessing us all with the strength and resources to serve our neighbors together.
Photos courtesy of Pacifica Institute and Michael Carlson
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON POLITICAL TURMOIL IN TURKEY
Turkey crisis: Cleric Gulen condemns post-coup 'witch-hunt' By BARBARA PLETT USHER
July 19, 2016, BBC News
The Turkey I no longer know by FETHULLAH GULEN
May 15, 2017, The Washington Post
Did the Turkish President’s Security Detail Attack Protesters in Washington? What the Video Shows by MALACHY BROWNE, CHRIS CIRILLO, TROY GRIGGS, JOSH KELLER and NATALIE RENEAU
May 26, 2017, New York Times
Read MoreVolunteers then drove together to serve dinner at Cityteam’s Men’s Recovery Center in San Jose. Chef Reynolds Stewart of Cityteam oriented and organized all for meal service. Then Br. Oktay Erbil of Pacifica Institute offered a prayer of thanksgiving before Recovery Center residents dined. Thirty minutes later, after doors opened to homeless guests, Rev. Larry Albright of Lincoln Glen Church prayed a blessing over the food and precious guests. When the line for seconds was gone, volunteers also dined together in buddy groups. Finally, Br. Oktay Erbil offered a closing prayer and thanked God for the amazing camaraderie in compassion and service to God, سبحان الله
Special thanks to all the volunteers who prepared the food and made arrangements for the united service. Kudos to Br. Mahmut Altun, Br. Oktay Erbil, and Rev. Larry Albright for their excellent leadership. Many thanks to Michael Carlson and Pacifica Institute for photographing the event to help inspire a world of onlookers longing to see similar initiatives begin in their locale. A thousand thanks to all the donors who made this event possible! Most of all, thanks be to God الحَمْد لله for blessing us all with the strength and resources to serve our neighbors together.
Photos courtesy of Pacifica Institute and Michael Carlson
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON POLITICAL TURMOIL IN TURKEY
Turkey crisis: Cleric Gulen condemns post-coup 'witch-hunt' By BARBARA PLETT USHER
July 19, 2016, BBC News
The Turkey I no longer know by FETHULLAH GULEN
May 15, 2017, The Washington Post
Did the Turkish President’s Security Detail Attack Protesters in Washington? What the Video Shows by MALACHY BROWNE, CHRIS CIRILLO, TROY GRIGGS, JOSH KELLER and NATALIE RENEAU
May 26, 2017, New York Times
