News

ELCA Church Welcomes Muslims During Ramadan

SDPB Radio | By Lori Walsh

Published June 15, 2018 at 8:28 AM CDT

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South Dakota Muslims pray at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Bishop David Zellmer Eats with members of the Sioux Falls Muslim and Lutheran community

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Children eat at an Ifthar gathering at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Muslims pray at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Prayer rugs are stacked as Lutherans and Muslims dine together at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Men and women from the Sioux Falls Muslim community pray at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Pastor Amy Martinell (green sweater) dines with members of the Muslim and Lutheran community at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Men and women pray at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Dinner scene, Augustana Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls

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Desserts await Muslims and Lutherans at a joint gathering at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls

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Beverages await guests at the joint gathering of Lutherans and Muslims at Augustana Lutheran Church

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, where 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset for 30 days. It's a communal, spiritual, and celebratory month. And it usually doesn't involve the Lutheran Church.

The ELCA of South Dakota, in conjunction with South Dakota Voices for Peace invited members of the Muslim community to break the fast of Ramadan Wednesday night at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.