A few years ago, The Village Square did a dinner program called A Rabbi, A Priest, A Pastor & An Imam (you must click on the link to see our Photoshopped image of them all outside of a bar). As part of my personal preparation for the event, I worshiped with the congregations of each of the panelists (and – I might add – in rapid succession). Since I’m an Episcopalian, the priest was a cinch, and didn’t require much stretching. But in the other three unfamiliar environments, I was warmly and sincerely welcomed as a new friend. My visits included Bethel AME – a major southside African-American church – where I teared up at the sermon, was moved by an unbelievable choir and loved the hats more than I can even describe to you. Then I visited Temple Israel Valdosta, where without warning they sent me to the lectern to tell everyone about the program we were about to host. During the service, my immediate neighbors helped me navigate the mechanics of the Jewish liturgy (the whole left/right thing) and I enjoyed a wonderful meal with them after worship. Finally, I went to a mosque, where I took my shoes off and worshiped with the women while sitting on a carpet. Afterwards, the women sat with me on the floor and answered my questions, laughed and more than you’d be able to imagine it felt a lot like hanging with my college girlfriends.

My experience was a profound one. I left with a deep conviction that if we only crossed each others thresholds every now and again, much of our difficulty would be gone. There was just so much in common connecting these islands of humanity and it was obvious as I visited each of them over about a week.

After the dinner program, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we ought to have something like the group of them all the time to offer a bit of wisdom, break a little bread, maybe love a neighbor or two. The next year we had a program with a bit of the same DNA: Here I Am, Stuck in the Culture War with You. For that program, we added an agnostic-borderline-atheist to the mix and we had a warm, rollicking, memorable and bonding experience.

I had all that in my mind before the tenth anniversary of 9/11, when I walked into Uptown Cafe one morning to find a rabbi and priest. I took the opportunity to mention the concept to them and – really – they were there to consider a doing something pretty similar. It was then that what I’m affectionately calling the “God Squad” was born and it’s on Friday that they host their first Faith, Food, Friday. The programs will be roughly once a month during the school year and over time will feature a broad conversation and a broad cross-section of our community participating in the conversation.

We think it’s past time for neighbors to give this conversation a go. (The program is free, a hot lunch is $8. Please RSVP by Wednesday at noon as an act of kindness toward First Baptist Church’s food service staff)