The Shining Heart Community of Greater Kansas City is holding its Annual Festival of Rumi, a celebration of the 13th century Sufi poet and mystic Jelaluddin Rumi.

Why should I seek? I am the same as He.
His essence speaks through me.
I have been looking for myself !
     from The Essential Rumi. Translation by Coleman Barks

Thursday December 11
Dances of Universal Peace
7:30 pm at Unity Temple on the Plaza
707 W 47th St, KCMO

Join us in Temple Space next to Eden's Alley as we center our class around the words of Rumi set to music. The dances use music and phrases with simple steps to help us attune to his mysticism.
$5 suggested donation

Friday Evening December 12
All Rumi, All the Time: An Evening Celebrating Rumi
7:30 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
13th & Holmes, KCMO

Vocalist David Basse and the Shining Heart Community presents All Rumi, All the Time: an evening celebrating Rumi’s exquisite poetry with music by Gerald Trimble, Gong Bathing with Ganesh Veal, Nur Rahman Locke, and The Sound Posse, Amory Bottorff, and Habib Levison. There will be readings by spiritual leaders Khabir Kitz, Allaudin Ottinger, Stephanie Nuria Sabato, Zahir Orest, as well as youth leader Shannon Clare Gorres and poet Paul Goldman. Plus, the evening features, as Rumi, our very special guest Dan Furst.

Please bring a warm blanket that will be used in the program and, if you like, leave it for Project Warmth to help those in need. Stay tuned for details. $10 suggested donation

Saturday December 13
A Day of Celebrating the Festival of Rumi
at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
13th & Holmes, KCMO

Turning Class , 4:00 – 5:00 pm
with Murshid Khabir Kitz and Habiba Dollard
Join us as our semazens instucts participants into the meditative turn of the dervish as well as the meanings behind it.
$10 suggested donation

Creating Sacred Space 5:30 to decorate the church

Celebration of Rumi's Urs 7:30
with Murshid Allaudin Ottinger

The main event of the festival features music, dance, zikr, and the poetry of Rumi. We are honored once again to have our semazens do the mediative turn as we sing zikr. Come, come, whoever you are!
$10 suggested donation
Snack-luck following evening celebration.
Bring something sweet.

Child care
Child Care provided during the celebration as known and needed. Please contact Safia if you will need childcare.

Link to historic St. Mary's website

Sunday December 14
11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Join us at Don Bosco Senior Center at 580 Campbell
(across from Columbus Park)

Service of Universal Peace 11:00
Community Potluck Feast follows.
Bring an open heart and a side dish. Turkeys provided. Pie welcome.
Bazaar open during the feast. Contact Safia if you intend to be a vendor. Your 10% tithe will go to the Don Bosco Senior Center.

For more details, call Safia at 816-769-6247 or email her at safiashc@yahoo.com