For those of you who are key workers in the health service, social care, food production and distribution and the many other essential jobs (some of which were recently described as ‘unskilled’ and are now being appreciated as vital) – THANK YOU. You will be working very hard and will not have the time or energy for leisure, but I hope you have some spiritual support from your faith community and/or family.

For others who are stuck at home, alone, without much to do, we hope your faith gives you support and strength, plus maybe a community accessible by phone or internet. I was grateful to be able to worship at home on Sunday using an order of service produced by the Methodist Church and have since spoken to others in my congregation who did the same thing at the same time. I am sure other churches and faith groups have done the same on their various holy days.

If anybody would like to send in their thoughts, or any favourite writing, prayers or poems that provide helpful ideas for getting through this difficult time, and builds our interfaith relations while we are separated, we would love to hear from you. Email us at Sheffieldinterfaith@hotmail.co.uk

The Dialogue Society invite you to their upcoming event on Monday, 16th March at 7.00 pm. This time the event will be at Shirley House Room 1 (31 Psalter Lane, S11 8YL). The event will be a seminar/talk on “Life After Death” and will be presented by Dr Chris Hewer, who comes from a background in Christian theology, education, Islamic studies and inter-faith studies.
We would be delighted to have you at the event. You may also forward this invitation to whoever you might think could be interested. We are looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the event. Please RSVP for the event to sheffield@dialoguesociety.com

Sheffield Interfaith Food and Friendship

Welcome to a New Year and a New Decade. Join us for a bring and share dinner and make some new friends, from different faiths. Bring some food from your own culture, if you are able, but come anyway.

We welcome everybody who would like to come

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

Mon 13^th Jan at 6.00-8.00 pm

(Buses 218 leave interchange: 17.35 & 17.55)

Bevis Marks – Talk by Kath Lawrence

Bevis Marks Synagogue, in the City of London, is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the UK. It was founded by Sephardic Jews, who came to Britain from Spain and Portugal. Learn about the building and the people.

Refreshments provided

Open to all faiths and everybody

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

7.30 pm Thurs 23^rd Jan

Statement following attack at London Bridge

Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by the terrorist stabbing attack at London Bridge on Friday afternoon in which two were killed by the attacker and several injured.    We condemn, in the strongest terms, terrorism and the extremist ideologies that underpin it and we call on all to stand together and speak out in the strongest terms against them.   With each terrorist attack in recent years, there has been horror and anger at the atrocity; condemnation; prayers and sympathies for those killed or injured; admiration for courage and resilience displayed; and a call to ‘stand together’.  And where terrorists or extremists have drawn selectively on religious writings and history, there has been disavowal by faith communities of this evil twisting of elements of their traditions into distorted and dangerous forms to justify the unjustifiable.     It is a matter of profound sadness and concern that voices of faith communities have to be heard again and again in the context of responses to terrorist attacks and also hate crime. There are so many important social justice issues on which their voices need to be heard as well as broader issues such about how we live together well as people of different faiths and beliefs in the UK.    Yet we cannot remain silent in the face of terrible actions, with their impacts both on those directly affected and on our society more generally. We end, as we began, with thoughts and prayers for those killed, injured, bereaved and otherwise affected by the attack on Friday and a call to all to come together to stand together in the face of terrorism and to speak out in the strongest terms against it and against the extremist ideologies that underpin it.   The Inter Faith Network Co-Chairs and Faith Communities Forum Moderators

Winter Party – The Hat Game

Find out what it is! Suitable for all ages (and all faiths or none). Eat, drink, play and be merry. Bring some party snacks and drinks to share if you can.

Open to all faiths and everybody

(Festive) refreshments included

Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane, S11 8YL

7.30 pm Tues 10^th December

Contact office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk

or 0114 267 8289 for further details

The Baha’is of Sheffield are also holding a meeting in Interfaith Week. It is a specially commissioned film to celebrate the bicent-enary of the birth of the Bab, the Herald of the Baha’i Faith. This is to be shown at The Auditorium,Sheffield Students’ Union, Western Bank, S10 2TN Sheffield The date is Monday, 18 November 7 to 8.30 pm All are welcome.  For more information see the link or the attached below https://www.google.co.uk/url Dawn of the Light: Film Screening, Public  · Hosted by The University of Sheffield Baha’i Society & Film Unit

In view of the state of the world, with so many wars, civil wars and climate change causing hostility in previously amicable communities, and refugee crises which may in turn lead to further hostility from areas to which migrants flee, some kind of monthly prayer meeting or peace vigil in Sheffield has been suggested.

We would like to know whether you would attend such a gathering, what form it should take, and when and where would be suitable?

For example Wakefield Interfaith Network hold a 5-minute silent witness outside the cathedral at 11.00 am on the first Saturday of every month, followed by coffee and conversation in a nearby cafe. Would this be a good model for Sheffield, or would you rather book an indoor meeting place such as a room in the Friends Meeting House or Upper Chapel – but what about the cost?

Or would it be a good idea to rotate around different faith buildings in different parts of the city? Would you like people to lead prayers aloud or remain silent?

We would love to hear what you think and what you would be prepared to do (such as book a space, lead a session etc). Bear in mind that something that may seem culture- or faith- neutral to one person may feel very exclusive to another, which is one reason why silent vigils are often used. Please either submit a comment here or contact us on sheffieldinterfaith@hotmail.co.uk

Evening Prayer will be said at St Patrick’s Church – Barnsley Road, Sheffield Lane Top, S5 0QF on Wednesday the 24th April for those who were killed on Easter Sunday. We will also remember those killed in the attacks on the Mosques in Christchurch, the Synagogue in Pittsburgh, as well as the countless others killed because of their faith.

We will start at 8pm. Although the service is a Christian one, everyone is warmly welcomed to participate in what ever way they feel able to. There will times of silence and reflective music.