Website and blog for Sheffield Interfaith
Once again, sorry to mess people about but; no other venue has been found so Anwen has, very kindly, offered to let us have Airy Fairy on the evening of Wednesday 21st. Obviously, I don’t want to put her to any trouble unless people will be there so I need people to let me know if they will be coming.
Please contact ne.sheffield@paganfederation.co.uk or Lynn Rishworth as soon as possible.
Due to a booking clash, Airy Fairy is not able to host the Pagan Federation’s celebration of the Spring Equinox THIS TUESDAY.
If anyone is able to suggest an alternative venue, please contact ne.sheffield@paganfederation.co.uk or Lynn Rishworth as a matter of urgency.
Many apologies for this.
This is one of several events in Sheffield during Interfaith Week 2017.
Gurudev Rabindranath Thakur: A Multi-faceted Genius
– Hindu Samaj Centre
21, Buckenham Street, Sheffield S4 7JQ
Sun. 8th October 3pm-5.30pm – This community event, featuring poem recitations by children, posters, a story, dances, songs and a docu-film (with sub-titles), celebrates the multi-talented genius of Rabindranath Tagore. All are welcome. Tickets: Free, no need to book.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, when his Gitanjali, with its ‘profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse’, was published. Called ‘Gurudev’ or ‘Divine Teacher’, he was a polymath who reshaped Bengali music, language and literature, as well as Indian art and education.
The Programme will be drawn from:
3pm Welcome
National anthems & translations
Recitations by Bal Gokulam children
Dance by children
‘Kabuliwalla’ – Tagore’s famous story retold by Nita Basu Chaudhuri
Songs by Amit Bhaduri & members of Bengali Women’s Support Group
Dance by Shahzad Khan
Dance by Bisakha Sarker MBE
Prof. Bashabi Fraser to introduce a film on Tagore
4pm ‘Images Unbound: the life & times of Rabindranath Tagore’ – Docu-film by Mujibar Rahman
5.35pm Thanks
Tea & samosas
Our Guests of Honour are:
Bisakha Sarker MBE & Bashabi Fraser
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Rabindranath Tagore: Great Sentinel of Freedom
– Humanities Research Institute, University of Sheffield, 34 Gell Street, Sheffield S3 7QY
Sat. 7th October 6pm-7.30pm –Professor Bashabi Fraser, Director of the Scottish Centre for Tagore Studies, will talk about Rabindranath Tagore, his views on freedom, education and internationalism, and the continued relevance of this much-loved writer-philosopher and Nobel laureate. Debjani Chatterjee MBE will chair a discussion and brief readings of Tagore’s work. Tickets: Free, no need to book.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) was the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, when his Gitanjali, with its ‘profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse’, was published. Called ‘Gurudev’ or ‘Divine Teacher’, he was a polymath who reshaped Bengali music, language and literature, as well as Indian art and education.
The main speaker Bashabi Fraser is a well published Professor of English and Creative Writing, and Director of the Scottish Centre of Tagore Studies at Edinburgh Napier University. Setting the historical scene will be historian Oliver Godsmark, who lectures on International History at the University of Sheffield, and has a special interest in modern South Asia, decolonisation and Partition.
Other panelists include Senior Lecturers from the University’s English Department: Ranjan Sen, a Historical Linguist with a special interest in sound change, and Richard Steadman-Jones whose field is the History of Ideas. A fourth panelist is Tagore scholar and Rabindra Sangeet singer Ashim Dutta from the universities of Dhaka and York. All have an interest in cross-cultural encounters.
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
There are many strands of Buddhism, originating in various Asian countries. Gensho (Richard Jones) will talk about the Zen a way of life, where meditation is a central part. Those of a certain age may learn how motorcycle maintenance is (not) involved, and dispel some other myths.
Open to all faiths and everybody
Refreshments included
at Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane,
Sheffield S11 8YL
on Wednesday 28th June 2017
at 7.30 pm
Contact office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk or 0114 267 8289 for further details
Barbara Glasson is the Team Leader of the Touchstone Centre in Bradford (a majority Muslim City) http://www.touchstone-bradford.org.uk and Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire District.
Listen to Barbara how prays:
In this post-Brexit world, the need for interfaith understanding is crucial. We need to understand our neighbours of different faith, to work together to strengthen
communities, to make space for honest conversation and to grow in confidence to
challenge injustice. Touchstone has worked for 30 years in the heart of Bradford and is a key-player in interfaith work both locally and nationally. By our own efforts and the generosity of many people and Churches we have raised nearly 80% of the capital needed to move into new premises and to continue to grow and develop our work. We’re nearly there but we need your help to bridge the gap …… we believe we can do it, but we urgently need your help!If you can help us, with a one off donation or regular gift please complete and return the form (downloadable from the website) to Touchstone, 32 Merton Road, Bradford BD7 1RE http://www.touchstone-bradford.org.uk (01274 721626) Thank You!
You can also become a friend of Touchstone and help them continue their work as a centre of excellence for interfaith understanding and dialogue; again, find the form on the website.
Not specifically a faith-based event, this is a fundraising event for the Interfaith Centre and also St Luke’s Hospice.
You are invited to join us for an evening of fun and laughter
Entertainment by:
‘IT COULD BE VERSE’
Comic Verses and Sketches written and performed by Ray Lawrence and Friends
7.30 p.m. Monday 27th March, 2017
Room 1, Shirley House, 31 Psalter Lane, S11 8YL
Suitable for all.
Proceeds to be divided between Shirley House Interfaith Centre and St. Luke’s Hospice
Tickets inc. home-made refreshments £8, (Concessions £5) Available from Caroline (cripps@uwclub.net/ 0114 258 8932), or via office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk
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.
