How do you center yourselves around the idea of sacredness? 
We are invited to see the spirit of God as we would understand it while at sea in a kayak. There is the “Awe” of seeing the wonders of the created world. There is the sense of the gifts that give the kayaker “Agency” to give that kayak direction and move it forward. But then there is, lastly, “Acceptance.” Water will out. God will out! We also hear that Jews see a world where everything is sacred and to be blessed. And we learn that  women bring everyone around the table to that blessing .

Listen in as Bryant Franks Hosts the InterFaith Leadership Council’s 19th Faith & Works Podcast

Our podcast series, “What is Sacred in our Lives Today?” continues with episode nineteen, “What is Sacred About Friendship or A Jew and a Muslim do NOT walk into a Bar.?” Join in with our experts as they explore the importance of seeing each other as fully human and appreciating the value of each friendship.

We welcome your comments at [email protected]

Featured Guests

Dr. Saeed Khan

Associate Professor of Teaching, Near East & Asian Studies and Global Studies, Wayne State University

Dr. Howard Lupovitch

Professor of History, Director of the Cohn-Haddow Center for Judaic Studies, Wayne State University

Listen in as Bob Bruttell hosts the InterFaith Leadership Council’s 18th Faith & Works podcast. 

Our podcast series, “What is Sacred in our Lives Today?” continues with episode eighteen, “Does AI Threaten the Sacred?” Join in with our experts as they discuss how advancements in AI technology may pose challenges to elements of life that hold sacred or profound significance.

We welcome your comments at [email protected]

 Featured Guests

✧Dr. Saeed Khan – Associate Professor of Teaching Near East & Asian Studies and Global Studies, Wayne State University

✧Dr. Chris Gilliard – Professor of Creative Writing and Literature, National Expert on Digital Surveillance

✧Dr. David Koukal– Professor of Philosophy, University of Detroit Mercy


 

Music by BenSound.com

Listen in as Bob Bruttell hosts the InterFaith Leadership Council’s 17th Faith & Works podcast. 

Our podcast series, “What is Sacred in our Lives Today?” continues with episode seventeen, “Surveillance and Sacrality?” Join in with our experts as they discuss how surveillance is impacting privacy and what you can do to maintain sacrality.

We welcome your comments at [email protected]

 Featured Guests

✧Dr. Saeed Khan – Associate Professor of Teaching Near East & Asian Studies and Global Studies, Wayne State University

✧Dr. Chris Gilliard – Professor of Creative Writing and Literature, Macomb Community College, National Expert on Digital Surveillance

Music by BenSound.com

“I can’t think of being as connected to my God without music”. Says Cantorial Soloist, Bryant Frank. 

“This podcast will touch your heart” says Bob Bruttell. 

Listen in as Professor Saeed Khan hosts the InterFaith Leadership Council’s 16th Faith & Works podcast. 

Our podcast series, “What is Sacred in our Lives Today?” continues with episode sixteen, “What is Sacred in our Music Today?” Join in with our experts as they identify their favorite sacred artists, discuss what is sacred about sacred music today, and answer questions about how music helps to define sacred space.

 Sacred music is part of the sacred experiences that enrich your spiritual life. “We are all trying to make a connection between what is sacred and the sincerity behind it.” “Where are we now with sacred music and how are we attracting young people? What is it doing for our community?” asks Dr. Deborah Smith-Pollard.

 What would make a piece of music sacred that [otherwise] may not be deemed sacred? John Thorne offers artist Gregory Porter’s song “Take Me to the Alley”, and states, “It’s about the people [of God]; just look at the lyrics.” Listen in as Rev. Robert Jones shares his musical talent with us as he plays parts of “Hallelujah” and how he has personally seen the influence of music on children.

 We welcome your comments at [email protected]

 Moderated by Professor Saeed Khan – Associate Professor of Teaching, Near East & Asian Studies and Global Studies at Wayne State University.

 Featured Guests

✧Dr. Deborah Smith Pollard – Professor, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Co-host “Sunday Morning Inspiration” on MIX 92.3 FM Detroit

✧John J. F. Thorne – Executive Director, Detroit Catholic Pastroal Alliance and former Choir Director at Sacred Heart Catholic Church

✧Rev. Robert Jones – Pastor, Sweet Kingdom, MBC, Adjunct Faculty Berkley School of Music, Musician and DJ

✧Bryant M. Frank – Attorney, Cantorial Soloist

Music by BenSound.com

Bob Bruttell, Vice-Chairman, hosts the InterFaith Leadership Council’s 15th Faith & Works podcast 

Have we abandoned sacredness today? This podcast, “How Do You Define What is Sacred in our World Today?”  explores how we know something is sacred. Many faith traditions hold things to be sacred, but as a society, how do we identify what things are deemed sacred today?  “The present we are living in right now feels like a historical pattern wherein America is not able to identify what is sacred. Have we abandoned sacredness?” asks Bruttell. 

Is there a way to infuse the sacred into the mundane? Janet Torreano Pound responds, “It isn’t about doing great things; it’s about doing small things with great love.” The simple actions in your day-to-day life can seem mundane, but they are little actions done with great love. Bringing positivity into those small things is God working through you. “God’s Grace is like the oxygen in the atmosphere; it is always there” adds Nasy Sankagiri. Positivity. Recognizing the presence of grace in our lives. These are sacred today.

 Listen in as we discuss what is sacred. How do you define it, and how do you know it when you see it?   Send your comments to [email protected]

Moderator:
Rev. Robert Jones – Pastor, Sweet Kingdom Missionary Baptist Church, Musician, Radio DJ for WDET’s “Blues from the Lowlands” and “Deep Waters."

 Guests:

✧ Bishop Dr. Corletta J. Vaughn – Pastor, Holy Ghost First Gospel Church, Board Member, Detroit Public Schools

✧Janet Torreano Pound - Casting Director, Author, Writer, Film Director, Actress. Member of Baha’i Faith

✧Narayanaswamy (Nasy) Sankagiri - Chair of Outreach Committee, Bharatiya Hindu Temple of Metro-Detroit, Editor, Temple Quarterly Magazine 

Producer:
Interfaith Leadership Council of Detroit
 
Intro track:
"Retro Soul” by BenSound.com

Moderator:
Bob Bruttell - Vice-chairman, Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit and Adjunct Professor, Religious Studies and History - University of Detroit Mercy

Panelists:
Rev. Dr. Jimmie Wafer - 

• Board member, Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit 
• Co-chair, Bridging to Belonging, an IFLC program  
• Pastor, New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Rachel Cannon-

• Co-chair, Bridging to Belonging, an IFLC program  
• Board member, Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit

Producer:
Interfaith Leadership Council of Detroit
 
Intro track: "Retro Soul” by BenSound.com

Faith & Works Podcast: Connecting Our Common Values
Episode 13:  Are Our Children Sacred to Us Today?

Moderator:
Bob Bruttell - Vice-chairman, Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit and Adjunct Professor, Religious Studies and History - University of Detroit Mercy

Panelists:
Saba Maroof, MD - Double Board Certified Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist - River's Bend, PC

Producer:
Interfaith Leadership Council of Detroit

Intro track: "Retro Soul” by BenSound.com

Faith & Works Podcast: Connecting Our Common Values
Episode 12:  Is There a Conflict Between Vaccines and Religion?

Moderator:
Saeed Khan - Senior Lecturer and Director of Global Studies at Wayne State University

Panelists:
Jim Tubbs - Adjunct professor of medical ethics, University of Detroit Mercy
Rev. Vic Clore - Pastor of Christ the King Roman Catholic Parish, Detroit

Producer:
Lauren Talley

Intro track: "Retro Soul” by BenSound.com

Faith & Works Podcast: Connecting Our Common Values
Episode 11: The Effects of COVID-19 on Practices of Worship

Moderator:
Robert Jones - Pastor, Sweet Kingdom Missionary Baptist Church

Panelists:
Rev. Cindy Rudolph - Senior Pastor, Oak Grove AME Church, Detroit
Shaykh Mohamed Almasmari - Imam, Muslim Unity Center in Bloomfield Hills
Rabbi Dorit Edut - President, DION: Detroit Interfaith Outreach Network
Ganga Rajkumar - Ex-officio member, Bharatiya Temple of Metropolitan Detroit

Producer:
Lauren Talley

Intro track: "Retro Soul” by BenSound.com