Author: swindoninterfaith

Our chairperson Waleed and all the committee at Swindon Interfaith  would like to offer our very best wishes to you and your family for 2020.

We know each year brings opportunities but also we sometimes face personal challenges and family upsets which can disturb our calm and require a lot of our energy and willpower to face.

We really hope that our interfaith activities  during this new year can offer some spiritual inspiration, encouragement  and friendship  to you.

We thank you for your support in 2019 and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events on 29th January  where our Hindu friends will be our hosts at their Temple and then on 25th March we will have our AGM.

The details of these events will be emailed  and on our website and facebook page shortly.

A massive thank-you to everyone who joined in our various Interfaith Week events here in #swindon this week! We’ve had a diverse range of events and it’s been great to see everyone participating.

Of course, Interfaith is about more than just one week! We at Swindon Interfaith hold events throughout the year and will be back with our next event in January 2020 – more details on that soon!

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This poem was shared yesterday at our Interfaith Week Launch event. It has been written for us by local poet Katherine Owen.

In The Name of Religion (What do we do?)

What do we do when the gun goes off

and we feel people’s loss of ones 

they’d built their life around?

‘Not in my name,’ we say.

Yet it has been done 

in the name of religion.

What do we do?

Do we resign from the group,

leave its name to ones who do not stand 

for anything it stands for?

Or do we choose to stay and claim 

the beauty of our tradition?

What do we do when the explosion roars?

People point towards us, saying,

“He, she, is one of them.”

Do we build walls, shut ourselves in with those who share our label?

Or do we reach out– share our home, our table,

do what we can to show we are against the violence?

What do we do?

We take time to bless the enemy–

we see Love pour down on one who contemplates an atrocity,

we see them choose again. 

We reach out to those who feel victimised, marginalised.

We include, we educate.

What do we do?

We bring what we know to bear–

our blessings, our forgiveness, our rituals, our prayer,

our holding to the knowing that

there is a Love beyond all things

and without it we are nothing.

What do we do?

We hold a vision of a world at peace.

We pray for leaders to be guided wisely.

We pray for those who take care of our security. 

We pray for those who have lost 

a limb, a loved one, a life.

What do we do?

In the name of all religions and of none

we choose to be here together today.

As the native Americans wisely say

“Which tree is so foolish that 

its branches fight among themselves?”

https://www.a-spiritual-journey-of-healing.com/media-files/interfaith-day-poem-katherine-t-owen.mp3?

Please come and join us for our launch of “National Interfaith Week” this Remembrance Sunday at St Augustine’s Church, Summers St, SN2 2HA

There will be short speeches from our faith representatives who will reflect on the effect of wars and religious persecution on their communities and in general.

Our mayor, Councillor Kevin Parry will be joining us and we hope he will offer some closing remarks.

This is one of many events taking place all over the UK during “National Interfaith  Week” and we are encouraged that through dialogue there is so much goodwill and co-operation between faith groups across the country, please come and support us as we really feel we can help create a positive climate that can be an example to others.

On a practical note unfortunately the heating system at St Augustine’s is not working and could not be repaired in time for our meeting, so please wrap up warm for the formal program.    There will be warming teas and coffees available after the talks.  

If possible please be seated by 3.50pm for a 4pm start.

Parking is very limited around St Augustine’s, please consider parking in the Outlet Village car park, it will only cost £1; (The right-hand section has usually more spaces) then it is a 10 minute walk to the church.

We look forward to seeing you.

We would very much like to invite you to join us for any of our events during “National Interfaith Week”.    

As it does every year the start of “Interfaith Week” coincides with  “Remembrance Sunday”  so we will dedicate the first event to remember those who fell during world conflicts as well as the many people around the world who are even now suffering in war zones or being persecuted because of their religious beliefs.

It will be a short service with readings, poetry and prayer where our faith communities will reflect on past and present history from their perspective.

Schedule of events

– Sunday 10th November. Launch event –  Remembrance Service   

4pm at St Augustine’s Church, Summers St, SN2 2HA

 – Monday 11th November. Movie “Dawn of the Light” from the Baha’i community.    

7.30pm at Broadgreen Community Centre, Salisbury St, SN1 2AN

 – Tuesday 12th November. Celebration of 550th birthday of Guru Nanak, and also witness “Sukhasan”, the closing of the day ceremony.

You are welcome to join any or all events during the week.

swindon-interfaith-leaflet-for-interfaith-week-2019.pdf