In Celebration of Rumi

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An evening program of poetry, music, and whirling dervishes celebrating Rumi.

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You are invited to an evening of poetry, music, and whirling dervishes. In Celebration of Rumi Saturday, November 14, 2026, 6:30-8pm ET Eliot Church of Newton 474 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02459 Free with Optional Donation For 26 years, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, through its Ruah Interfaith Spirituality & The Arts Program , presents an evening of music, the whirling of dervishes, and inspiring readings from the work of 13th century Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi, whose poetry is filled with a longing for God the Friend and the Beloved. Rumi (1207-1273) has become the best-selling poet in America. Born in what is now Afghanistan, Rumi lived most of his life in Turkey. His poetic images cross boundaries of time, space, religion and culture, bringing inspiration and guidance. Already experienced in the mysticism of the Islamic dervishes, in middle age Rumi was transformed from sober ascetic/scholar to ecstatic poet by the presence of the wandering dervish Shams of Tabriz. When left in longing for his beloved companion Shams, Rumi turned around a pole as poetry flowed through him. He transformed this whirling movement into a spiritual practice that is called Sema (listening). Preceding the whirling prayer, we will be treated to readings from Rumi’s poetry. The Sema will be accompanied by the beautiful sound of the ney and other instruments from our dear friends .