Calendar | Interfaith Harmony Month 2025

Upcoming Events:

New Year’s Celebration Service
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
1:00 pm–2:30 pm
SGI Nichiren Buddhism, South Carolina
228-B O’Neil Ct., Columbia SC 29223
SGI Nichiren Buddhists will celebrate the beginning of  2025 by gathering at the SC Buddhist Center on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at 1:00 pm.  The service will begin with the morning Buddhist prayers, an explanation of the basics of the faith,and member’s reflections of the past year.  We also will have musical performances and videos from 2024 Buddhist events nationwide.  Join us to learn more about our faith and meet some local members. Questions contact

Fire Communion Service
Sunday, Jan 5, 11am-12pm
Presented by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia
2701 Heyward St. Columbia, SC
Regular service with an annual ritual using fire. Questions contact

Spirituality through Poetic Expression
Tuesday, January 7, 7-8:30pm
Presented by Rev. Mela Borawski of Greenwild Spiritual Fellowship
(Virtual) https://tinyurl.com/poeticexpression
In this workshop, we will discuss the power of poetic expression as a spiritual practice. We will focus on using poetic devices to write heartfelt prayers and poems. All faiths are invited to participate. You will be taught literary tips, tricks, and poetic forms as well as being guided through the creation of your own poetic prayer using the collect method. Questions contact

Woman of Many Faiths Gathering
Thursday, Jan 9
6:15pm Socializing, 6:45-8pm Discussion
Beth Shalom Synagogue at 5827 N. Trenholm Rd, Columbia, SC 29206 (use back door)
Women of Many Faiths invites our sisters of all faiths to join us for our gathering for Interfaith Harmony Month at Beth Shalom Synagogue. Socializing begins at 6:15 with desserts. The program begins at 6:45 with a discussion and sharing about The Value of Laughter (especially considering the suppression of women’s voices and laughter in Afghanistan and what is so fearful about their voices/expressions). Elizabeth McLendon is our facilitator. Questions contact

Apostolic Impact: Our Call to the Gospel & The World
Saturday, Jan 11, 11:30am-1pm
Presented by Elder T. Dre’An Davis-Thomas of Missionary Temple United
(Virtual) https://meet.google.com/aui-ghms-jbe
A powerful event focused on the historic analysis and role of apostolic movements in shaping the future and responding to today’s challenges, featuring: Charlayne Henry PhD, Presiding Bishop & Apostle of Abundant Life Intl’ Covenant Fellowship. Questions contact

Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Orangeburg
Sunday, Jan 12, 1:00-2:00 PM
BAPS Hindu Temple, 3721 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, SC 29118
Questions contact

Ready to Read Children’s Book Drive
Sunday, Jan 12, 1-3pm
Presented by these Midlands area Pagan Communities: CUUPS Columbia, Greenwild Spiritual Fellowship, Temple Osireion and White Star Circle
Cayce Riverwalk on Naples Avenue in Cayce, SC
The Richland 2 Educational Foundation knows that reading is key to student success. R2 Ready to Read is a year-round initiative which encourages community partners to collect new and gently-used books for Pre-K through 2nd grade. Drop your books by the Cayce Riverwalk on Naples Avenue and grab a snack with some of your local pagan community members! If you’d rather make a dollar donation, you can send that here  Questions contact

Full Wolf Moon Ceremony: Manifesting Your New Year Visions
Tuesday, Jan 14, 7-8pm
Presented by Hearthkeeper Mela Borawski of Greenwild Spiritual Fellowship – Awen Grove
Awen Grove (Outdoors @ Mela’s home) 2620 Sharpes Hill Rd, Gaston SC 29053
Join us for a special full moon ceremony on Tuesday, January 14 to celebrate the energy of the Full Wolf Moon. The theme for this particular full moon ritual is all about Manifesting Your New Year Visions. Bring your vision boards if you have them for a blessing, and bring your hopes, visions, and dreams for 2025 to engage in manifestation and envisioning them into action. Bring a flashlight (it’s dark out here in the boonies), a comfy camp chair, warm clothes or even a blanket to wrap around you or sit on. Snacks are always welcome (but not required!). We will have a fire going. We have folding chairs and some benches if you don’t have a comfy camp chair. Questions contact

S.C. Religious Liberty Conference
Wednesday, Jan 15, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Rice School of Law at 1525 Senate Street in Columbia
[more info to follow]

2 Harps & 1 Voice
Saturday, January 18, 7:00-9:00 PM
Aiken Unitarian Universalist Church
$25 (partial proceed to benefit the food pantry)
Celebrate Interfaith Harmony Month with a unique opportunity for sound and visualization. Join us for a healing circle concert, an ancient practice many traditions use. Experience the contemplative and reflective sounds of the harps. Then, continue the meditative state, allowing the otherworldly vocal tones to lead you on a soul’s journey. The evening begins with some visualization suggestions to complement the music. The improvised harp guides the room’s energy to a deep level of relaxation. The vibration of the harp strings frees the chaotic monkey mind and opens the heart to healing. The music gently unblocks tension and stress. When the harp drifts silently, Wendelin uses her voice as a healing sound tool, sometimes described as inspired and mystical. The vocal tones open the heart and mind to a journey. Questions contact Purchase concert tix here

Peace Prayers
Sunday, Jan 19, 11:30am-1pm
Gurdwara Nanaksar (Sikh Temple) at 11419 Broad River Rd. Chapin, SC
Questions contact

The Spiritual Impact of Trauma
Tuesday, Jan 21, 7-8:30pm
(Virtual – Click to register and receive link)
Presented by IPSC with Rev Carrie Nettles of the Julie Valentine Center in partnership with Kelly Premo of SCCADVASA
Rev. Carrie Nettles, chaplain of the Julie Valentine Center, returns to IPSC with a second presentation in our series called Becoming a Trauma-Informed Faith Community. Carrie will focus on trauma-informed wisdom for those spiritually impacted by abuse in your communities. Kelly Premo of SCCADVASA will introduce Carrie and her work. Questions contact

IPSC Book Discussion Group
Wednesday, Jan 22, 7-8:15pm (and continuing each 4th Wednesday of the month)
(Virtual) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87921305919
Presented by Interfaith Partners of South Carolina
Join interfaith friends to talk about A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster by Rebecca Solnit. “The most startling thing about disasters, according to award-winning author Rebecca Solnit, is not merely that so many people rise to the occasion, but that they do so with joy. That joy reveals an ordinarily unmet yearning for community, purposefulness, and meaningful work that disaster often provides. A Paradise Built in Hell is an investigation of the moments of altruism, resourcefulness, and generosity that arise amid disaster’s grief and disruption and considers their implications for everyday life. It points to a new vision of what society could become-one that is less authoritarian and fearful, more collaborative and local.” We will meet each 4th Wed of the month from January to April. All are welcome. Questions contact

Table for 8 Interfaith Dinner at Clemson University
Wednesday, Jan 22, 6pm
Clemson University, Harvey & Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Center
Following Gandhi was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s first step on a long journey of learning about the shared values across various worldviews and partnering with faith leaders of all backgrounds in the struggle for civil rights. Celebrate the interfaith and coalition-building legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through community. Open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members, this free event will feature dinner and dialogue. RSVP is required. Click to RSVP  Questions contact

Annual Prayer Service
Friday, Jan 24, 9:00am
St. Joseph Church at 3600 Devine St. Columbia SC 29205
Prayer service and inspirational messages from faith leaders of students in St. Joseph School. An annual event with clergy, school families and visitors.

Interfaith Devotional on Unity in Diversity
Saturday, Jan 25, 10-10:45am & 12-12:45pm
Hosted by the Baha’i’s of Charleston at Louis Gregory Baha’i Museum, 2 Desportes Ct, Charleston
This is an interfaith devotional hosted by the Baha’is of Charleston, where we will read and reflect on readings from different religious scriptures regarding unity in diversity. We hope that this program will provide the community with a safe space to meditate together on how we can nurture unity in our diverse community. Questions contact

Christian Unity Prayer Service
Sunday, Jan 26, 2:00pm
Sponsored by SSCM sisters and lay associates at St. Andrew Chapel and Hall, 220 Pinckney Colony Rd, Bluffton SC 29910

12th Annual MLK, Jr. Community Celebration
January 26, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Ascension Lutheran Church, 827 Wildwood Ave., Columbia, SC 29203

Centering Prayer: An  Introduction to Silence as a Spiritual Practice
Tuesday, Jan 28th at 6:30-7:45 PM
Richland County Library, Assembly Street in Columbia, Room N
Retired ELCA Bishop of SC Synod, the Rev. Dr. Herman Yoos will teach an introduction to Centering prayer. Focus will be on Christian faith perspective, but recognizing silent meditation is present in many world religions. Most religions teach about the importance of the spiritual practice of intentional silence.  Centering Prayer is a Christian form of this ancient prayer discipline that helps one go beyond words to experience a sense of the divine. All are welcome. Questions contact

A Secular Humanist Pathway Toward Hope
Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 PM
2701 Heyward Street, Room 8
In celebration of SC Interfaith Harmony Month in partnership with Interfaith Partners of SC the Free thought Society of the Midlands will host a discussion event on how a secular humanist can find hope. All are welcome, no recruiting or proselytizing please. Questions contact

Is the Qur’an the Word of God?
Saturday, February 1, 5:00-7:00 PM
Presented by PICNA and Masjid Noor Ul Huda
Masjid Noor Ul Huda, 517 Winmet Drive, Columbia, SC 29203
Mosque tour, Qur’an intro, Q&A, hijab and henna styling, refreshments. Questions contact 803.210.7355

(More events will be added to our online calendar as details are confirmed.)