Caroline Cripps

Caroline Cripps January 16, 2017 Leave a Comment

Sheffield Interfaith Walk in Interfaith week November 2016

It was, we agreed, not a pub crawl but a tea crawl. The 2016 Sheffield Interfaith Walk, that is. We started at the A’Mediyya Mosque, where there was a talk about this progressive branch of Islam and hot drinks & biscuits were served. Next was the Sikh Gurdwara, where we discovered that roles are not gender-specific – “at least not in the Gurdwara!” the lady joked. Tea and snacks were served then we went on to a Roman Catholic church that is so popular with local immigrant communities that they cannot accommodate any more events. The church had been warned that we would not need refreshments so we had a look round and went straight to the Islam Community Centre where, yes, we had a sumptuous spread.

As well as old friends from Interfaith activity; I was pleased to see new faces – including some students who had found the event on the inter-webby!

Lynn R

Caroline Cripps January 13, 2017 Leave a Comment

My Jewish Faith Journey – Shirley House Interfaith Centre, 31st January

My Jewish Faith Journey

Judaism is both a religion and a ‘race’. Both Christianity and Islam arose from the Jewish faith, but how much do most of us know about the Jewish way of life and belief? Hearing Irenie Zelickmann’s personal story will bring it to life.

Open to all faiths and everybody
Refreshments included

at Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane,
Sheffield S11 8YL

on Tuesday 31st January 2017
at 7.30 pm
Contact office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk or 0114 267 8289 for further details

Caroline Cripps January 13, 2017 Leave a Comment

Invitation from Hindu Samaj to celebrate Makara Sankranthi/ Lohri/Pongal on 14th January

Dear Devotees,

We Welcome all to join us in celebrating Makara Sankranthi/ Lohri/Pongal

Event : Makara Sankranthi / Pongal/Lohri
Date : 14th January 2017 ( Saturday) TOMORROW

Day Program :

18:30 till 19:30 : Pooja & Maha Aarthi in Temple
19:30 till 21:00 Prasad
Sponsor : Hindu Mandir & Anisha Singh

Apologies from Sheffield Interfaith for putting this post up so late

Caroline Cripps January 12, 2017 Leave a Comment

Food and Friendship in 2017

Food and Friendship

Happy New Year to all. It seems a long time since we gathered to share a meal, so let’s come and renew our friendships, and make some new ones. If you are able, please bring some food suitable for people from different faiths and cultures, and/or food typical of your own faith or culture; but come anyway. The world needs more interfaith friendships, perhaps especially now.

We welcome everybody who would like to come
at Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane, Sheffield S11 8YL

Thursday 19th January 2017
at 6.00-8.00pm

(Number 4 bus leaves Sheffield Interchange at 17.35)

Caroline Cripps November 27, 2016 1 Comment

Christmas wishes to all from the Muslim Council of Great Britain

Ahead of the Christmas holidays, the Muslim Council of Britain issued two simple Christmas greetings, ‘Keep Calm It’s Christmas’ and ‘Don’t Panic, Christmas is not Banned’.

The posters were a playful nod at the ‘Keep Calm, And Carry on On’ posters.

The message emphasised that some Muslims will join in those celebrations, remembering too that Jesus was an important Prophet of Islam. Others will not join.

But very few Muslims will be offended at the celebrations taking place, and no one should be obliged to change their celebrations at risk of offending Muslims.

Our message has gone viral on Twitter and Facebook and was reported, amongst others, in the Guardian and the Huffington Post.

Dr Shuja Shafi of the Muslim Council of Britain, presented the message to the Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral alongside a delegation of Muslims offering Christmas greetings to Christian leaders.

Caroline Cripps November 24, 2016 Leave a Comment

Dissent and a Sanctuary Interfaith service at Upper Chapel

Caroline Cripps November 24, 2016 2 Comments

Quiz Night and Party, Shirley House Interfaith Centre December 7th

Quiz Night
How much do you know about the various faiths
followed in Sheffield? Bring a team, or join one on
the night, for a light-hearted introduction to some
beliefs and traditions of some faiths, and maybe
dispel some misconceptions.
Open to all faiths and everybody
(Festive) refreshments included
at Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane,
Sheffield S11 8YL
on Wednesday 7th December 2016
at 7.30 pm
Contact office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk
or 0114 267 8289 for further details

Caroline Cripps September 29, 2016 3 Comments

Sheffield Donations for Refugees

As you know, the refugee situations in Calais, Lesbos, Turkey and Syria continue to worsen, and many individuals and faith groups in Sheffield are continuing to so what they can to help.
Sheffield Donations for Refugees is not a faith-based group, but a committed bunch of people from a wide variety of different backgrounds and ages who have been coordinating and sorting donations in Sharrow Old School, but the building is currently unsafe. They have recently relocated to Meersbrook.

Here is the news we have been waiting for! Sheffield Donations are go once again. However, things need to be different for various reasons. Please read before donating
Meersbrook Hall have wonderfully offered us two rooms to collect and store in. Due to the imminent eviction of Calais camp and us having less space we are ONLY going to collect specific items for the next 6 weeks. After that we will assess the situation. We massively appreciate every tiny bit of contribution from everyone but we want to do what we can to best help in Calais with the resources available.
Please if you can collect and drop the following:
– Sleeping Bags (3-4 season)
– Complete Tents – in good condition
– Roll Mats
– Large Rucksacks
– Rolling Suitcases

Meersbrook Hall is open 9-5pm Monday Friday for donations drop-off and sorting sessions will be on Monday and Thursday 11-1pm. All are welcome
If you are coming to help us at Meersbrook Hall please read these points:
You need to sign in and out when going.
If you put the inside door on a wedge please shut it when finished.
When using the rolling shelving put wooden blocks in first.
It’s a great space in a lovely place. Come and join us Mondays and Thursdays 11.00 – 13.00

We are also fundraising and we will buy as much food and items above as we can and send to Calais at the end of October. Our funding page is here – any donations and shares massively appreciated.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/donationsforrefugees

Caroline Cripps September 27, 2016 1 Comment

Sounds of the Spirit

Benefiting from the publicity of the Nether Edge festival, this event on 22nd September at St Andrews Psalter Lane Church attracted about 70 people, including all the presenters. Not quite a concert, but neither an act of worship, the evening provided insights into different traditions of chanting or repetitive use of music and human voices in spiritual ways.

It started with Sikh Simran (remembrance of God), which included both hymns and sections of the Guru Granth Sahib, accompanied by tabla drums and harmonium, producing a beautiful sound.

The Amida Buddhist tradition contrasted with this by reciting short phrases repetitively, Nembutsu (calling the name of the Buddha), but with various voices creating harmony. They pointed out that their tradition varies around the world, using local music as well as that of Indian origin, and demonstrated this by using a Christian tune from the Taize community in France for one of their chants.

After refreshments we then listened to some more songs from Taize, and joined in with ‘Bless the Lord my soul, and bless his Holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into light’- English words that summarise the role and thoughts of chanting and recitation in many faiths.

The final presentation was Islamic Nasheeds (spiritual songs) which, like the Sikh Simran, were longer songs involving epic poems and hymns, some very ancient, others more modern.

The whole evening was a moving and spiritual experience, a beautiful musical concert and an opportunity to learn about the practices of other faiths and to see how much we have in common.

Caroline Cripps September 27, 2016 Leave a Comment

Sheffield Events In October and November

Forthcoming Events

1st-8th October Quaker Week- look out for publicity

10th October, 6.00-8.00 pm – Food and Friendship Bring and Share dinner, Shirley House Interfaith Centre, Psalter Lane, S11 8YL (Number 4 bus leaves Sheffield Interchange at 17.35)

What more do we need but food and friends to eat with? September is for many a time of new studies and jobs, so whether you are new to Sheffield or have always been here, come and share a multi-cultural meal. Bring some of your favourite food, perhaps a traditional food from your family or culture, if you are able. We like to learn about each other and would like to learn about you.

We welcome everybody who would like to come

24th October – SIF committee meeting 4.30 pm SHU multi faith chaplaincy New members welcome
Thursday 27th October 7.30 pm ‘My Sufi Faith Journey’ (Talk) Shirley House Interfaith Centre, Psalter Lane, S11 8YL

4th November- Chris Hewer’s talk ‘Quranic insights into a society fit for humans’, Islamic Mission, Abbeydale Road

Wednesday 9th November– Book Evening. 7.30 pm. Sharing about books that have influenced your spiritual or faith life: biographies, fiction, scriptures, poetry or any book. Why recommend them, what they mean to people of a certain faith etc. Shirley House Interfaith Centre, Psalter Lane, S11 8YL

*** Interfaith Week 13th-20th November *** – More details to follow shortly

Tuesday 15th November ‘Love Your Neighbour’-7.30pm Show and Tell stories from your scriptures, faith traditions or personal experience that represent ‘loving your neighbour, especially those of other faiths. Shirley House Interfaith Centre, Psalter Lane, S11 8YL

19th November- Interfaith Walk, Lower Don Valley (Ahmadiya mosque, Gurdwara Temple, St Charles Church, Bodmin Street Mosque) Time and meeting place to be confirmed later