In May 2017 we began an ongoing series of open houses in places of worship in the greater Des Moines area. Each open house occurs on the first weekend of the month (insofar as possible). Each visit provides an opportunity to tour a sacred space, learn how religion is practiced there, and meet and connect with people from different faiths and walks of life. Please join us!
Meet My Religious Neighbor is a collaboration between The Comparison Project at Drake University, Des Moines Area Religious Council, and Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. For more information, please visit iowainterfaithexchange.org
SPRING 2020 VISITS
3/8/2020 Celebration of Holi
Hindu Temple and Cultural Center
-Sunday, March 8th, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
-33916 155th Lane, Madrid, IA 50156
– Join us at the Hindu temple for fun, food, and prayer. Meet your host at 11:00 am for Holika Pooja (prayers). Throwing the colors will begin after 12pm, followed by dancing and lunch, available for purchase at 1pm.
4/19/2020 Lao Buddhist New Year Service
Wat Lao Buddhist Temple
-1804 E Park Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50320
– Please join us for the annual Lao New Year’s Service! The event will include a “Tak Bat”, in which lay members of the temple donate “alms” to Buddhist monks; this food later comes back to the community “blessed.” The service includes a washing of the temple’s Buddha statues, as well as a ritual sprinkling of water on the congregation, both of which symbolically remove any evil and wrongdoing from the previous year. Guests are invited to stay past 11am for a short parade, a long meal, and many other festivities.
5/2/2020 Islamic and Cultural Center Bosniak Es Selam Mosque
– 17630 Bosniak Lane, Granger, IA 50109
– Join us for tours beginning at 6:30 pm, Iftar (dinner) at 7:15 pm, and Isha (prayer) at 8:42 pm. Religious leaders are welcome to come in religous clothing or formal dress. Men need to wear pants, regardless of weather. Women need to use a scarf to cover their head and wear clothing that covers to their ankles and wrists. Also, be prepared to remove your shoes when entering the building.