S.C. Interfaith Harmony Month 2026

Thursday, January 1
New Year’s Day Celebration
1:00-2:30 PM
SGI-USA (SGI-USA.org) members worldwide celebrate the beginning of each new year.  Join the Columbia SC members on Thursday, January 1, 2026 to learn about Nichiren Buddhism and the SGI worldwide organization.  Enjoy songs, videos and more! Hosted by the Columbia Chapter of SGI-USA
SC Buddhist Center, 228-B O’Neil Ct., Columbia, SC 29223
Libby Hendley, eahendley@gmail.com (803) 240-2037

Thursday, January 8
Interfaith Coffee Break
10:00-11:30 AM
Second Wave Coffee & More, 529 S. Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072.

Thursday, January 8
2^nd Annual S.C. Religious Liberty Conference
9:30 AM-3:00 PM
S.C. State House, Gervais Street, Columbia, SC, 29201

Saturday, January 10
SGI-USA (Buddhist) Columbia Chapter Meeting
11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Join the SGI-USA (SGI-USA.org) Columbia SC members to learn about Nichiren Buddhism and the SGI worldwide organization.  Enjoy songs, videos and more! Potluck lunch to follow! Hosted by the Columbia Chapter of SGI-USA
SC Buddhist Center, 228-B O’Neil Ct., Columbia SC 29223
Libby Hendley, eahendley@gmail.com (803) 240-2037

Saturday, January 17
Sacred Space Tour
2:00-4:00 PM
Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, 265 N. Shelmore Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Sunday, January 18
Open worship and langar
11:00 AM-1:00 PM
The Sikh gurdwara invites all to visit their beautiful morning prayers and music, followed by a langar meal together.
Gurdwara Nanaksar, 11419 Broad River Road, Chapin, SC 29036

Sunday, January 18
The 14^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration
4:00 PM
Please join us in honoring the life and legacy of
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
with an ecumenical worship service & potluck meal.
The service will include reflections from a special guest speaker and greetings from various community organizations. Please plan to stay and fellowship with one another after the service during a potluck meal. Bring your favorite dish to share with the community.
Ascension Lutheran Church, 829 Wildwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29203

Sunday, January 18
Interfaith Youth Panel discussion and refreshments
6:00-7:30 PM
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1883 Saluda Road, Rock Hill, SC

Monday, January 19
7:00-7:45 PM
New Moon-New Year Virtual Ritual
Join us online for a new moon ritual focused on the new energy of 2026. Greenwild Spiritual Fellowship invites you into a space of cleansing, contemplation and consideration. You’ll need a piece of paper or journal and something to write with to fully participate. You are welcome to simply observe, and you are not required to turn your camera on. Our ritual will include a short meditation, sound and energy cleansing, opportunity to share what you write down.
Questions greenwildfellowship@gmail.com
Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/2s4ndk7a

Tuesday, January 20
Zoom Into Interfaith
7:00-8:15 PM
Interfaith Partners of South Carolina hosts a livestream discussion with representatives from two different religions. In January we will hear from and interact with a Humanist and a Pagan.
Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/bdhddfd9

Thursday, January 22
Christian Unity Week service and hospitality
2:00 PM
Holy Family Chapel, 901 Orange Grove Road, Charleston, SC 29407

Friday, January 23
Christian Unity Week
9:00 AM
Prayer service with faith leaders from student traditions
St. Joseph School and Church, 3600 Devine Street, Columbia SC 29205

Saturday, January 24
Interfaith Harmony: Working Toward Peace
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Coastal Carolina University, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies in partnership with Interfaith Partners of South Carolina present the first “Voices of South Carolina Spirituality Spring Series.” A panel of local leaders from different faith traditions will share how their teachings and practices help people work for peace in families, neighborhoods, communities and ultimately the world.
Coastal Carolina University, Alford Ballroom, Athenaeum Hall 105, 104 Independence Drive, Conway, SC 29526.

Saturday, January 24
Christian Unity Week celebration and worship
2:00 PM
Bishop’s Memorial AME Church, 2221 Washington Street, Columbia, SC 29204

Saturday, January 24
Demystifying Islam
4:30-6:00 PM
Kynote speaker Imam Omar Shaheed, display Islamic Contribution to World Civilization, Q&A, sunset prayer, food following prayer. Presented by PICNA and Masjid Noor al Huda. Questions contact Chaudhry Sadiq 803-210-7355.
800 Amberley Road, Columbia, SC 29203, use entrance opposite Alcorn Middle School.

Sunday, January 25
Christian Unity Week service
St. Andrew Hall-St. Andrew Chapel, 220 Pinckney Colony Road, Bluffton, SC 29909

Sunday, January 25
Healing Polarization: An Interfaith Approach
5:00 PM
This lecture will look at the causes of polarization, which is problematic for not only today’s politics, but also today’s religions. The need to be right as a form of violence that we inflict on others. This workshop will help to heal the need to be right. From the Hindu scriptures: when a blade of grass is cut the world quivers. From Buddhism: practice, three mindfulness meditations to let go of the need to be right: open mind, freedom of thought, non-attachment to views. And other religious sources. Presented by Rev. Ed Kosak, advisory board member of Charleston interreligious Council, former secretary, and New Thought representative of IPSC.
Hindu temple on 1740 Jervey Street, Charleston, SC

Sunday, January 25
Interfaith Youth Panel discussion
6:00-7:30 PM
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4440 Fort Jackson Boulevard, Columbia 29209

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