of Fort Myers, Florida

           Where Diversity is Treasured

     WHAT WE DO

       TH E   AL L   FA I T H S   WA Y :

At All Faiths, we cherish the right to believe as well as to disbelieve. We are enriched by the faith understandings of Jews, Christians of many persuasions, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, and by those who really don't care for labels, but recognize the importance of taking seriously the gift of life. We are young, old, gay, straight, Black, White, Brown and Red.

In our Sunday morning services of celebration, we sing hymns, have special music, our minister preaches, and our congregation responds and participates in many different ways.

Religious Education is provided for our children, who spend the first 15 minutes in the regular service before going to their classes with professional teachers.

Before our services there is 75-minute workshop of lectures and/or led discussions on a variety of subject. These have been studies of several religions and other subjects that lend themselves to spiritual concentration. After services there are meetings, sometimes discussion groups, an occasional in-house lunch (catered or potluck), and often a 'lunch bunch' gathering at a restaurant.

We are involved with several organizations that help people, by volunteer work and by raising funds, including:

     m    Quality Life Center, which mentors children, works with families, and provides various educational classes,

     m McGregor Clinic, which works with people who are HIV-positive and those suffering from AIDS;

     m Hope House, a place for abused children. We are less active now that the children there are older than when we began, but we still collect needed items for them.

     m Feeding the Homeless: We've joined with All Souls Episcopal Church in North Fort Myers for this effort. Several All Faiths members prepare one meal a month, sometimes two;

     m We are engaged in a Peace Initiative, which has included a 6-week class and an Every Wednesday peace gathering at Colonial and McGregor. Other organizations have joined us, including EPEC, PAX Christi and Quakers.