Living with respect and confidence with people of other faiths – an exploration for Christians.
An increasing number of us live and work in settings where we are in contact with people of other faiths – in the canteen, at the school gate, as team colleagues. Through these experiences and friendships, we may find ourselves reflecting on our understanding of our own faith. Our own certainties or understandings may well be challenged, and we may find that questions arise for us about the nature of God or the person of Jesus.
We may sometimes therefore want to explore the following thoughts:
How can we live and talk with our neighbours of other faiths with sensitivity, respect and confidence?
What are the commonalities and differences between faiths?
How can my own faith be enriched by engaging with my neighbour’s faith? Can it sometimes also feel challenged?
These are some of the questions we shall be considering together during the three one and half hour evening sessions from 7.30-9.00pm at UTU, led by Rev Gareth Jones.
Dates are Tues 11th Feb, Tues 3rd March, Tues 31st March
As we will be sharing together we ask that people come for the whole series, and there will be a fixed number in the group.
Booking: Cost £36 and £25 for low waged and members for all three sessions
Details in the New Year, but please reply to office@utusheffield.org.uk to reserve a place
January at Shirley House – Monday 13th Sheffield Interfaith Food & Friendship AND Thursday 23rd A Talk about Bevis Marks by Kath Lawrence
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 13th 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 23rd Jan
STATEMENT FOLLOWING ATTACK AT LONDON BRIDGE from the Co-Chairs and Faith Communities Forum Moderators of the Inter Faith Network for the UK
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 – Shirley House Interfaith Centre – December 10th at 7.30pm
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 10th December
Contact office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk
or 0114 267 8289 for further details
Baha’i Film in Interfaith Week – Mon 18th November – University of Sheffield
| 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 |
What do you think about a monthly peace meeting?
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
Praying for those killed in Sri Lanka
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.
Statement from the UK Inter Faith Network re the terrorist attack on mosques in Christchurch NZ –
The following statement has been produced by the Co-Chairs of the Inter Faith Network for the UK and Moderators of the IFN Faith Communities Forum regarding the horrific terrorist attack on mosques in Christchurch NZ –
| Today’s appalling terrorist attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, have been responded to here in the UK with prayers, condemnation, and demonstrations of solidarity with the Muslim community, including at the Friday prayer. As we said after the murderous attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh USA last year, attacks on churches, gurdwaras, mosques, temples and other places of worship of different faiths here and around the world are a reminder of the need to condemn extremist violence in the strongest terms and to stand together and to continue to work together with ever greater urgency against ignorance, prejudice and hatred. Hatred targeting any community because of its faith and belief is a scourge that cannot be tolerated. There must be freedom to worship and practise our faith freely and without fear. The Inter Faith Network Co-Chairs and Faith Communities Forum Moderators |
