Neighbors in Religion: Immanuel Temple to hold ‘Come Together Day’ as payback to community

The Rev. John F. White II is one of those pastors who practices what they preach. For 13 years, White and his wife, the Rev. Maria Mallory White, have encouraged the congregation of whatever church they were leaders of at the time, to join them in a free “Come Together Day.”

In 2012, when the Revs. Whites founded Immanuel Temple, they continued the tradition. The event is the church’s no-charge community festival for children who receive free or reduced-fee lunches at public schools, and their parents or guardians.

This year’s “Come Together Day” will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Betty T. Ferguson Community Center, 3000 NW 199th St. in Miami Gardens. All students in Miami-Dade and Broward counties receiving the free or reduced lunches are eligible for the uniform giveaway of one free top and one free bottom per child. Parents or guardians must present proper identification and there will be only three uniforms per family.

White, a native of South Florida, has been a pastor in Florida for a decade. He has hosted the annual event at each of the churches he has served. He said the event is his commitment to demonstrate tangible love and service to the community and its children.

In addition to the uniforms giveaway, “Come Together Day” will also feature a health fair, music, games, food, fellowship and fun, White said.

“We do this at Immanuel Temple as a foundational principle,” he said. “Our church has committed to ‘tithing’ back to the community 10 percent of its income from tithes and offerings. With a budget of more than $18,000, the ‘Come Together Day’ is the largest single activity in that effort. Our church is not only in the community, it it one that gives back to the community.” White said the church will transport children from the Homeless Assistance Care Center at 1550 N. Miami Ave. to the festival.

“We could not do the event without the help of the church’s members and friends who have been instrumental in supporting, planning and developing the effort, along with the many volunteers who serve on the day of the event,” White said.

Immanuel Temple meets for worship at 10 a.m. Sundays in the Florida Memorial University Chapel at 15800 NW 42nd Ave. in Miami Gardens.

For more information on the event, call White at 850-212-2573.

Jewish-interest tour of India

If you have ever wanted to go to India, here is your chance. Dr. Nathan Katz, an internationally recognized authority on Indian Jewry, will lead a 13-day Jewish-interest tour of India Feb. 16-29, 2016.

The tour will offer opportunities to meet and interact with members of India’s diverse Jewish communities, and has an itinerary that includes New Delhi, Agra (home of the Taj Mahal), Mumbai, Jaipur, and Kochi, where travelers will attend services at the city’s 16th-century synagogue.

The tour is fully escorted and costs $6,995 per person, double occupancy. It includes deluxe hotels, all meals, tours and cultural events and domestic travel throughout India.

Katz is one of the world’s foremost experts on Indian Jews and has written a dozen award-winning books on the subject, including the National Jewish Book Award nominated, Who Are the Jews of India? He also is a four-time Fulbright scholar and was a delegate to the 1990 Tibetan-Jewish dialogue hosted by the Dalai Lama, who he brought to Miami three times.

In addition, Katz is a distinguished professor emeritus at Florida International University and is the founding director of the university’s Program in the Study of Spirituality. He will retire on July 31, after 40 years of college teaching and said he is “excited” to share his knowledge of and love for India where he has lived and traveled extensively for years.

The tour is being organized by Lotus Tours, Two Mott St., New York, NY, 10013, and registration is now being accepted. To register, email info@lotustours.us or call 212-267-5414.

Problem-solving discussion

The community is invited to a public “fireside discussion” on the topic, Consultation: The Power to Solve Problems, at 7 p.m Saturday, July 25, at the Baha’i Center, 9300 S. Dixie Hwy., Suite 209. The speaker will be Andrew Moo, a long-time teacher at Miami Dade College.

Said Moo: “We need an effective, nonviolent, inclusive means of solving problems. In the Baha’i scriptures, we read of the importance of consultation and compassion, which tells us that no well-being can be attained except through consultation.”

A discussion will follow Moo’s presentation. The event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served.

Also, at 10:30 Sunday, July 26, the center will host a community devotional. Both events are open to the public and there is no admission charge or solicitation of funds. Call 786-472-2240 for more information.

Jason Marsalis to perform on vibes

Jason Marsalis, of the New Orleans famed first family of jazz, will be in concert with his Vibes Quartet at 8 p.m. July 30 at the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, 3010 De Soto Blvd.

Jason is the youngest of the four Marsalis brothers — Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo, all jazz artists. Their father Ellis is an internationally known jazz pianist.

While Jason is well known for his prodigious drumming, it wasn’t until the release of his 2013 album In a World of Mallets that listeners came to recognize him for his unique sound on the vibraphones.

Appearing with Jason on the vibes will be bass player Will Goble, drummer David Potter and pianist Austin Johnson.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 each at the door for general admission; and $50 in advance and $55 at the door each for patron tickets. To purchase tickets, call 305-448-7421, ext. 153. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. You may also go online at CommunityArtsProgram.org to purchase tickets.

This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Neighbors in Religion: Immanuel Temple to hold ‘Come Together Day’ as payback to community."