Website and blog for Sheffield Interfaith
ASSIST is looking for volunteers to fill several new roles, including a Housing Support Volunteer, Accompanying Coordinator and volunteers to provide advice and guidance to people who come to the Sanctuary with a variety of asylum related issues. Please contact Craig craig@assistsheffield.org.uk or Jochen (jochen@assistsheffield.org.uk) for further information.
They would also like donations of gardening tools so that asylum seekers are able to do some gardening at their accommodation.
Firstly, some good news about Pride Mbi Agbor, whom you may have supported during his journey to refugee status. He has now been accepted onto a degree course at the University of Sheffield to study Biomedical Science starting in September.
There was a Sheffield People’s Theatre production at the Crucible last week, called “Songs from the Seven Hills” and written by John Hollingworth, which weaves together stories of Sheffield folk with the struggle of a Syrian family to find sanctuary in the city.
The Sanctuary on Chapel Walk goes from strength to strength, with lunches served on Tuesdays, English language classes, and choir practices among other activities. They also want to raise funds by collecting used printer cartridges -please take them in.
PAGANISM
A Talk by Lynn Rishworth,
the Pagan Federation Local Co-ordinator, at
Walkley Carnegie Library
on May 4th at 19.00
Refreshments will be available
the event is free but donations welcome
95 & 52 bus routes
Sheffield and Balby Quaker Meeting met on Sunday 11th March and expressed their deep sorrow and outrage on hearing of the letter circulated by person or persons motivated by hate. Entitled “Punish a Muslim day”, the letter urges an escalating series of “punishments”. We Quakers wish to offer a hand of friendship and solidarity to all Muslim communities and invite people of all faiths and none to stand with them against racism and hatred.
No doubt most of us agree with this Quaker statement, further responses will be published shortly.
People representing different faiths and beliefs walking together in Burngreave is a familiar sight. Once again, on a very sunny afternoon on 7 January 2018 there they were. This time around there were 40 or so walkers. The date was close to New Year Day and the feast of epiphany tide when Christians remember the visitors who came from the East and the gifts they brought to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. It was an appropriate time to celebrate the rich ethnic, cultural and faith gifts and diversity in Burngreave, and to walk together as an expression of our faith, hope, togetherness and prayer for peace.
The walkers met on the green near the Al Rahman Mosque in Spital Hill, and walked a one mile route. When they passed a centre of worship they paused outside for silent prayer for the community that prays there. The route passed eight local Churches, four Mosques and the nearby Hindu Mandir. The walk concluded back at Spital Hill green. There were no banners, and no speeches, only silent prayer.
Over the last hundred years people have come to live in Burngreave from many parts of the world. After World War Two many came here for work in the steel industry. More recently many have come from counties in or close to conflict and violence, and come here for safety and peace, bringing with them their gifts of faith like prayer. Burngreave is one of the most multifaith and multicultural areas in Sheffield. Our diversity is a gift and enriches us all as a community of communities.
We all need to do all we can to challenge hatred and hostility, to build relationships of mutual respect and trust, and to work and pray together for the safety and welfare of each other.
Look out for the details of the next prayer walk.
Inderjit Bhogal
The national Vulnerable Faith Institutions Scheme is currently open until 17 August 2017. Sadly, this is to provide funding for faith centres/places of worship that may be vulnerable to attack by extremists of one sort or another. We wish this was not necessary, and hope that this type of behaviour is rare in Sheffield- but we know it happens, and would like to draw your attention to this funding stream if you feel your meeting place is not the safe place it should be.
The Home Secretary has announced a £1 million fund for faith institutions who are concerned that they are vulnerable to attack on the grounds of race, religion or ideology. The aim of the scheme is to provide physical protective security measures such as CCTV cameras, locks and fencing to places of worship and faith based community centres who may feel vulnerable to such attacks. To be eligible for the scheme you must provide reasonable evidence that premises are vulnerable to and/or have been the target of an attack on racial, religious or ideological grounds.
Bids will be considered from places of worship in England and Wales including (please note this is not an exhaustive list): Mosques; Gurdwaras; Temples; Churches; associated faith community centres (for example a community centre run by a place of worship or near a place of worship that is faith based). A similar commitment has been made to support Jewish community sites through a grant administered by the Community Security Trust.
There is no cap on the amount of money that can be bid for. However, costs must be proportionate to the security measures needed and successful applicants will be required to meet 20% of the total cost of the security equipment.
The scheme opens on 30 June 2017 and closes on 17 August 2017. Bids for funding will be considered by an independent panel who will meet twice. First at the end of August for bids received by 20 July and again in mid-September to review the remaining bids for funding.
To find out more about the fund and to apply please visithttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/vulnerable-faith-institutions-scheme
If you have any questions or need support in completing the application please emailVFI@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Chris Hewer is back in Sheffield early in July and will be leading his introductory day on Islam in 4 different venues in and around Sheffield: –
St Peter’s Methodist Church, Green Lane, Dronfield on Saturday July 1st
St Joseph’s RC Church, Swinston Rd, Dinnington, S25 2RX on Tuesday July 4th
Stephen Hill Methodist Church, Manchester Rd, S10 on Friday July 7th
Hoyland Methodist Church, Market Street, Hoyland, S74 9QR on Sat July 8th
All these days run from 10.00 am – 3.30 pm. There is no charge, although donations will be welcome on the day. Please bring a packed lunch. For further details and to book a place please contact Rev Liz Wills on 0114 261 0732, or e-mail johnwills@callnetuk.com
To learn more about Chris, his experience and work in the field of Understanding Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, go to www.chrishewer.org
Our website exists to promote interfaith events in Sheffield and to be a local resource for local people to find out more about the different faiths in Sheffield. If you have suitable material to go on our website then please contact us at sheffield.interfaith@hotmail.co.uk
If you want to support Sheffield Interfaith then why not consider becoming a member. As a member you not only provide some financial support for us, but you can help develop what we do, and help us in our work. There are two ways to become a member.
By post Send a cheque for the relevant amount (£5 for individual or £15 for an organisation) to Sheffield Interfaith, Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane, Sheffield, S11 8YL. Remember to include your Name OR the Name of your Organisation, AND either your address OR email address
By Internet banking Send your payment to our account – Sort Code 40-41-07 / Account number 42022273. Please use your surname as the reference and then email us at sheffield.interfaith@hotmail.co.uk (You can set up a Standing Order this way). Remember to include your Name OR the Name of your Organisation.
Best Wishes
Andrew Crowley
Chair.