"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. 'Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!' cries she With silent lips. 'Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’”
America Our Inheritance 3/23/25 Follow Up
An Oath of Office For All Americans
As one nation under God, embracing a commitment to liberty and justice for all given us by our founders, we join this sacred duty to work together as mutually supportive Americans. We seek the truth using respected sources so as to be informed to thoughtfully dialogue with each other toward "a more perfect union." We embrace this sacred task with gratitude to those who have traveled this journey before us. Unfinished and imperfect we may be, America is our inheritance as each of us brings deeper wisdom and insight to this endeavor, so help us God.
Dear friends,
To see and feel the suffering that others endure is a common human characteristic, or so I thought. News reports of the U.S. government ending funding for disabled children and other heartbreaking stories leaves me wondering if it is as common as I thought. We receive daily reports of ending or greatly reducing U.S. government spending that cares for those who are in need of it while the wealthy enjoy a taxing system the rest do not have. As we respond to this injustice I offer you a sacred chant to listen to and to learn. It is the name of an enlightened being who knows how to listen to the suffering that is in oneself and in the rest of the world.
Every one of the Buddha’s teachings is believed to reside within this one powerful mantra. It is repeated over and over again to invoke loving kindness and the unconditional qualities of compassion. Whether said aloud or silently, to oneself or with others, this mantra is used to connect with one’s innately loving and compassionate self.
View The Great Compassion Chant, beautifully sung by the monks and nuns of Plum Village, founded by Thich Nhat Hanh below. Their voices and faces express much that supports our learning and using this sacred practice.
With loving kindness,
Joseph Kilikevice
A Shem Center Interfaith Event
a respectful community gathering
Sunday, March 23, 2025
6:00 – 7:30 pm Central Time (please check the time in your area)
This zoom event follows up our Inauguration Day alternative gathering when two hundred guests joined us on zoom. Together we reflected on the significance of the day, heard some selected quotes from respected patriots and met a few new friends during break out times. We were also offered a partnering opportunity for ongoing mutual support as the country faces the future with a new administration.
You are respectfully summoned to our second post-inauguration day Zoom event. We extend a warm welcome to newcomers and return visitors, to affirm our citizen/immigrant membership and love for America. Our desire to claim our respectful, welcoming and sacred inheritance is what calls us to this gathering.
Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to promote world peace through experiences of inclusiveness that respect people of all religions and spiritual paths as well as those who claim none.
Joseph Kilikevice and Steve Miller will host this event.
Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality
708 North Harvey Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 848-1095
shemcenter1993@gmail.com
Photo Credits: Emory Mead, Stephen B. Starr, Joseph Kilikevice
The Shem Center for Interfaith Spirituality website is awarded a 2022 American Digital Design Award for excellence in design and user experience.
