Community update

Buddhist monk to speak

Bhante Seelawimala, a Theravadan monk and professor at the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley, Calif., will speak at the Spokane Buddhist Temple, 927 S. Perry St., next Saturday at 7 p.m.

“Loving Kindness in the Buddhist Tradition” will be his topic.

Born in Sri Lanka in 1947, Bhante received ordination as a novice monk in the Theravada Buddhist tradition when he was 10 years old and was ordained as a monk at the age of 20.

He served as an instructor at the Bhikku Training Center Colombo in 1971 and was invited to the United States by the Buddhist Churches of America in 1976 to join the faculty at the Institute of Buddhist Studies at Berkeley.

Bhante is currently the president of the Buddhist Vihara Society in British Columbia, the California Buddhist Vihara Society and the American Buddhist Seminary; and vice president of the Buddhist Council of Northern California.

He has been instrumental in establishing Theravada temples in Toronto, Vancouver, B.C., and San Jose and Sacramento, Calif.

A $5 donation is requested for the lecture.

Bhante will also present the free “Introduction to Buddhism” lecture at the temple on June 20 at 9:30 a.m., followed by the regular Sunday service at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call 327-7954, e-mail bhantes@yahoo.com, or visit www.spokanebuddhisttemple.org.

Missionary outreach concert

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1703 N. Washington, is hosting a missionary outreach concert next Saturday to benefit an upcoming African missionary trip and the youth program traveling to Mexico this summer.

Khouria Cindy Horton, David Demand, Matthew Gallatin and others will perform the Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano by Claude Bolling as well as several African tunes. Donations will be accepted.

For more information, call the church office at 328-9310.

Day of Prayer on the Farm

St. Pius Roman Catholic Church in Quincy, Wash., will host its eighth annual Day of Prayer on the Farm next Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The event will take place at the Escure Farm, Quincy, and will include Holy Mass, prayer, reconciliation, benediction and adoration, healing service and time for personal reflection.

Speakers will include the Rev. Stephen Valenta of Staten Island, N.Y., founder of Mount St. Francis Hermitage and the Hearts to Heart ministries; the Rev. Tom Kuykendall, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Wenatchee; Bob Fishman and Char Vance.

Music will be presented by David Firth, a well-known composer, liturgical musician, storyteller and recording artist in the Pacific Northwest.

Religious articles, books, and music will be available for purchase. In addition, dinner catered by the Longhorn Barbecue and a youth program will be provided.

Registration is required by calling (509) 787-2622 or (509) 785-5735.