By Loretta Fulton

The 40th annual Festival of Faith, featuring Rabbi Evan Moffic of Congregation Solel in Highland Park, Illinois, gets under way Sunday, Oct. 18, at First Central Presbyterian Church. Overall theme is “The Rabbi from Nazareth.” 

“For more than 40 years, the Festival of Faith has brought distinguished religious leaders and thinkers to Abilene for conversation, worship, and learning,” Rev. Cliff Stewart, pastor at FCPC, wrote in a news release.” 

This year’s featured guest, Rabbi Moffic, is known especially for helping Christians and Jews better understand the Jewish roots of Christianity and the shared biblical story that connects the two faith traditions. 

Rabbi Evan Moffic Photo credit: Robert Tolchin

The festival will continue through Monday evening. Moffic, a graduate of Stanford University, is a prolific author and speaker at conferences and interfaith gatherings. Moffic is the author of The Rabbi from Nazareth and other books exploring Judaism, Christianity, Scripture, and spiritual life. His presentations are designed for people of many backgrounds, including those who simply want to understand the Bible more deeply.

“Through warmth, humor, scholarship, and a deep commitment to interfaith understanding, Rabbi Moffic invites Christians and Jews to discover the wisdom they share while appreciating the distinctiveness of each tradition,” Stewart wrote in the news release.

The community is invited to all Festival of Faith events. All gatherings are free, except for an optional $5 lunch on Monday. The schedule follows:

Sunday
8:30 and 11 a.m. worship services
Theme: “The Greatest Commandment: What Did Jesus Mean?”
7 p.m. worship service
Theme: “The Lord’s Prayer”

Monday
Noon luncheon (Lunch will be available for $5)
Theme: “Jesus Never Read the New Testament…And Other Surprising Truths About the Bible”
1:15 p.m.: Time with professors, pastors, teachers, and other members of the community.
7 p.m. worship service
Theme: ”Reading the Bible Like Jesus Did”

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene