Interdenominational Commission on Racial Justice in Luton

http://lutonchurchestogether.org.uk/interdenominational-commission-on-racial-justice/

Following three well attended meetings where church leaders spoke openly of their experiences of racism, their hopes for the future and their regrets for the past, it is believed that the best way forward is to create a smaller representative group that will be able to bring a lead to the church in Luton on racial justice. This would involve the smaller group in

• Building deep, meaningful, honest relationships between ourselves, something that was repeatedly mentioned as key to racial reconciliation.

• Identify how we can look at history, even the painful parts, so that we can build together a new future.

• Identify the spiritual forces at play, and how we can deal with them through forgiveness and defeating strongholds that have existed for generations.

• Bottom line, as a smaller group seeking to learn from each other, then sharing that learning with the larger group and eventually our congregations and the society at large.

The group will be as diverse as possible including men and women, leaders from various racial and denominational and non-denominational backgrounds.

In their efforts to seek to serve the purposes of God together in racial reconciliation and justice, please do feel free to contact

Pas Tony Thompson (HOPE Church) tony.thompson2@ntlworld.com

Pas Vincent Cox (New Testament Church of God) vincentcox18@hotmail.co.uk

http://lutonchurchestogether.org.uk/interdenominational-commission-on-racial-justice/

NEAR NEIGHBOURS Video on Vaccination

NEAR NEIGHBOURS Programme is pleased to launch videos on its website, why vaccination is important for everyone.

Please click here to view:

Covid Videos — Near Neighbours https://www.near-neighbours.org.uk/covid-videos

You can also find the complete ‘full version’ of the above video on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpcL4EqwCgw

The County of Bedfordshire Service of Thanksgiving for His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

Following the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the life of His Royal Highness in the presence of HM The Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire will be held on Friday 16th April at 5:00pm at The County Church of St Pauls.  

You are invited to join in via You Tube Live Stream on Friday 16th April at 5pm at https://youtu.be/u2pGGiBRcw0 

This means that, although many people will not be able to attend the service in person due to Covid-19, the County will be able to join together virtually to celebrate and give thanks for HRH’s life. 

Please see the press release for further information. 

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis said, “ I do hope that many will be able to join me virtually and will share the link with friends, family, staff, volunteers so that as many people in Bedfordshire can pay their respects and pray for the life of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HM The Queen and the Royal Family. “

Join You Tube Live Stream on Friday 16th April at 5pm at https://youtu.be/u2pGGiBRcw0 

Census 2021 - There is still time to complete it

As you will be aware the Census took place on the 21st March this year.

If you haven’t done it,  there is still time to complete the Census and you can do this throughout April and into May.

The online Census completion date has been extended from the 4th May for another week.

The paper request date via our helpline numbers below, remains the same, the 30th April, but forms can be completed and returned during May.

For language support, see https://census.gov.uk/help/languages-and-accessibility/languages

For language helpline & interpreters, call 0800 587 2021

For support center, call 0800 141 2021

To request a paper questionnaire, call 0800 876 6276

For the local drop in support center at ESOL College, Dunstable Road (open Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 5pm), please call in advance to make an appointment at 01582 410069

https://census.gov.uk/downloadable-resources

See Press Release & Myth Buster document here.

Samantha Glicksman

Census Engagement Manager-Luton | Office for National Statistics | 

+44 (0)7452939497| samantha.glicksman01@field.census.gov.uk | www.census.gov.uk

Happy Vaisakhi

Baisakhi or Vaisakhi, the festival of positivity, is the harvest festival of Punjab (Northwest India), which people across religions celebrate.

In Bangladesh it is known as ‘Boishakhi’ and is celebrated vibrantly as a social and cultural festival.

However, for Sikhs, the day is also associated with the laying down of the foundation of the Khalsa community (the body of fully initiated Sikhs) by the Sikh Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Khalsa was created with the ‘Panj Pyare’ – the five beloved ones – each one embodying the virtues of compassion, righteousness, courage, commitment and oneness.

In normal times, devotees across the globe wear new attire and visit gurudwaras to offer prayers. However, owing to the pandemic, half a million British-Sikhs marked the Vaisakhi festival under coronavirus lockdown restrictions for the second year running.

Sanjeev Kumar MBE, General Secretary Guru Ravidass Sangat Luton, who have been distributing hot meals, food parcels and personal protective equipment said, “During the pandemic, Sikhs have shown their compassion and commitment by serving their local communities with langar – free kitchens – serving everyone, regardless of their background, recognising humanity’s oneness.”

Guru Nanak Gurudwara Luton decided the best way to celebrate Vaisakhi was by holding a vaccination clinic at the Gurudwara, where a Sikh volunteer, Gurch Randhawa, who is also a professor of diversity in public health at the University of Bedfordshire, said, “What better service than opening up a pop-up clinic that reaches out to anybody of any religion,” said Randhawa, who helped organize the event. “We have had Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, all coming in to be vaccinated.”

High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Award to Guru Ravidass Sangat Luton for their services to Luton’s communities during the Pandemic

Mr Baljit Singh, President Guru Nanak Gurdwara taking vaccination at the Sikh temple in Luton (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Building Resilience during Pandemic

The ongoing global Coronavirus pandemic has put everything to test. Besides promoting information around vaccination and other guidance to prevent spreading the virus, we also focused upon how in other ways pandemic is impacting our local communities. Funded by NEAR NEIGHBOURS PROGRAMME We therefore produced series of VIDEO CASTS to address range of practical and real issues impacting people’s general health and well-being, under an overarching theme of building resilience during the pandemic through art, faith, storytelling. Hope you find it helpful viewing the following links.

Building Resilience from a Faith Perspective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXNAJK2_iu0

Building Resilience Through Arts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTO8FUL-ZPc

Building Resilience: Young people's voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v4IUzD-08s&t=30s

Health and Resilience during the Pandemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ7bFXKzrgk

Resilience and Racism in the context of the Pandemic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vWgpwan1N0&t=17s

Resilience - Beyond Death

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l586QtNuU8s

The Duke of Edinburgh 1921 – 2021

It is with huge sorrow that we learned of the death of Her Majesty The Queen's beloved husband, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, this morning.

He passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle.

His long and dedicated service to our nation will forever be honoured and respected.

We join with Her Majesty and members of The Royal Family in mourning his loss deeply.

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis said "On behalf of the people of Bedfordshire, may I express our sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen and to the Royal Family for the loss of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. His contribution to the life of this nation and to the Commonwealth was enormous. He was a welcome and popular visitor to our county, always ensuring that every person he met felt special. His good humour and his genuine support for so many organisations will always be respected and remembered. May he Rest in Peace."

Please find Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire press release here.

Chair of Luton Council of Faiths Zafar Khan said, “Prince Philip's passing sees an end of an era not only in the United Kingdom but throughout especially, the old British Commonwealth. For many of us in Britain, Prince Philip and Her Majesty the Queen have been a permanent fixture for many decades. Prince Philip's death therefore is not only a great loss for Her Majesty the Queen, the British Royal family, but one feels, has also created a sense of loss, and sadness for many millions of people in Britain. The Prince will be remembered for many things in times to come; but the Duke of Edinburgh's award would remain one of his enduring contributions among others within the British society.”

The tributes from those of many faiths that are being shared are a testimony to the wide appreciation among the UK’s faith communities of his life of service and the significance of faith within that.

Please find Luton Council of Faiths press release here.

Please find Inter Faith Network for the UK press release here.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (10 June 1921 - 9 April 2021)

Journey to COP26 Wherever You Are (10 - 11 April 2021)

https://www.quaker.org.uk/events/journey-to-cop26-un-climate-talks

An invitation for people of all faith communities and none to join together remotely and share our belief in the sacredness of all life, ahead of the UN climate talks, COP26.

In November 2021, governments of all nations will converge on Glasgow for the UN climate talks known as COP26.

This is a crucial time for building the movement for climate justice. People in Britain and beyond want radical action to prevent climate breakdown – and we must make sure that the UK government knows that.
Many people in the UK share a deep concern for the damage being done to the Earth, our home. In our concern, we recognise that every place is sacred and that we all have a responsibility to protect the Earth and all its inhabitants.

We are a group of Quakers calling on all concerned communities in the UK, including people of other faiths and people of no faith, to join us in celebration of the sacredness of all life and places on Earth.

On Saturday 10 April and Sunday 11 April we invite you to participate in this celebration of our environment by making a short journey to any place that is sacred to you.

Your journey could be to your garden or local park, or a day long hike! If your sacred place is your own living room it could even be a spiritual or virtual journey. It could be taken as a group or individually.

Anyone can participate in the Journey to COP26. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Start organising your journey. You could do this with friends, family, your faith community or on your own. Think about which places are sacred to you and how you might want to travel. Your journey could involve an event at the end, such as a meeting for worship, a community art exhibition or planting a tree together. It could also be an opportunity to get local politicians or local media to respond to the issue of climate change and draw attention to the COP26 negotiations.

2. Email us for bespoke help. If you want advice, support or ideas for what to do for your Journey to COP26, please get in touch! Email Oonagh Ryder, Activism Support Coordinator: oonaghr@quaker.org.uk.

3. Join our mailing list. We will share information about preparing an action in the run-up to 10 & 11 April, and share news of who else will be participating.

https://www.quaker.org.uk/events/journey-to-cop26-un-climate-talks

Yom HaShoah - 8th April 2021

Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) is observed in memory of the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

A 40 minute Commemoration Service, prepared by the Council for Christians & Jews (CCJ) Oxford, is available to see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_bc64gWEVQ

There is still time to complete the Census

If you have not already done so, although Census weekend has passed, the key message is, ‘ There is still time to complete the Census’.

People are still able to complete the Census either online, or they can request a paper questionnaire., throughout April and even into May.

They can ask a family member, friend etc to help them complete it as well.

We will have House Officers knocking on people’s doors to support and help anyone complete the census from this week onwards, working in line with Covid regulations from outside the house.

I attach some information documents and details below, which will hopefully be beneficial for you and team and for some of the people you support.

We have a contact support center helpline tel- 0800 141 2021

We are also using the ESOL college in the Dunstable road as a support drop in centre over the Census weekend, to help people, it will also be open weekdays from 10.30am to 5pm all April.

We also have our language support services available, with over 30 languages and translations:-

https://census.gov.uk/help/languages-and-accessibility/languages

We have a language helpline, where interpreters will be available, appointments can also be booked in the case of an interpreter not being available at the time of the call.

The language helpline number is- 0800 587 2021

To request a paper questionnaire please call- 0800 876 6276-This will take up to 5 days.

Please see the resource link:-

https://census.gov.uk/downloadable-resources

Please do let me know if you have any questions or require any further information or support for anyone at all?

We appreciate your help.

Kind regards

Sam

Census Engagement Manager-Luton | Office for National Statistics |

+44 (0)7452939497| samantha.glicksman01@field.census.gov.uk | www.census.gov.uk

First ever British Indian Christian High Sheriff of Bedfordshire 2021-2022

In April 2021, Mr Eric Masih Esq, has been sworn in as the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire 2021-2022 at a virtual service of reading and prayers during which he was blessed by the Bishop of Bedford. He is the first ever British Indian Christian to hold one of the most ancient honourable and a ceremonial position in this county.

Congratulating and wishing him well, the outgoing High Sheriff Susan Lousada, whose entire year has been in the lock down, said that we have faced one of the darkest times in the recent history, but this year is also a reminder of just how generous and caring the people and communities of Bedfordshire are, who have helped her distribute over 1800 digital devices as part of her campaign to combat digital poverty. She said, “I leave with my heart bursting with pride and gratitude.”

Thanking Susan Lousada for her contributions, the newly appointed High Sheriff Eric Masih said, “I will promote the peace, wellbeing and prosperity of the county and all its people. The unforeseen effects of the Covid-19 have brought to the surface financial, social and emotional hardships faced by many throughout the county. The focus of my year will evolve around tackling poverty, promoting youth work and community cohesion. I passionately feel through the work of our local voluntary groups we can start to move towards the recovery phase.”

GRASSROOTS congratulates and wishes him well in his commitment to serve with integrity in this prestigious office. 

Mr Eric Masih Esq, High Sheriff of Bedfordshire 2021-2022

United Reformed Church (URC) Statement concerning Myanmar

Many voices in the United Reformed Church (URC) and wider world are expressing deep concern about the military coup and ensuing violence taking place in Myanmar. The Moderators of URC General Assembly, together with URC's Global and Intercultural Ministries, have issued a statement, urging continued action to help bring about a swift end to the violence and a peaceful, just and considered way forward for all Myanmar's diverse peoples.

https://urc.org.uk/latest-news/3778-urc-issues-statement-expressing-shock-at-events-in-myanmar

Changing Paradigms in a Pandemic World

https://wfeb.org/press-release-global-summit-on-ethics-in-the-pandemic/

Changing paradigms in a pandemic world – 2 million viewers from 90 countries to attend global summit on World Health Day

WHO’s General Director Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Global Humanitarian Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Heads of State, Health Ministers, Pfizer’s India CEO and UEFA’S CSR Director among the keynote speakers of this event that will welcome more than 100 speakers in dedicated keynote panels and in 23 in-depth workshop deliberations

Please read full press release here.

#HerFaithMatters ebook published

In its newsletter dated 31st March 2021, the Churches Together in Britain & Ireland (CTBI) Web Editor published this report.

#HerFaithMatters is a collection of stories of women from different faiths reflecting of different issues facing women of faith in today’s society.

They wanted it to be a place to share their stories of joy as well as pain, of courage in the face of fear, of creativity even when others seek to silence.

And this is what we have. Stories of women working at the heart of their communities, generously giving something of themselves in their stories shared here with us, and in the work each of them continues to perform.

This book is a celebration of the faith women in society reveal through their lives and voices.

Ebook

#HerFaithMatters is initially available as an ebook via Amazon.

Call for end to anti-Asian Violence

In the wake of rising anti-Asian violence and hate speech in the USA, religious leaders and ecumenical coalitions in the nation are calling for an end to the violence—and the xenophobia and discrimination that undergird it.

Please read the full article by World Council of Churches here.

Photo: Grégoire de Fombelle/WCC

Easter Service by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire's Virtual Easter Service - YouTube

Easter is the most important Christian festival celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection, which reminds of the eternal hope that death does not have the last word on human destiny. This message has a particular significance in times like these when so many are left bereaved for the loss of their loved ones due to the pandemic.

Reflecting on the Easter message of rebirth and renewal Right Reverend Richard Atkinson, OBE, Bishop for Luton & Bedford said, “The Easter promise is not that challenges go away, but we are able to see through them with hope and promise. There is light in the darkness, decay does give way to new life. The risen Jesus inspires us to know that the story can be different; that good can and will triumph and that all can be made new.”

 In the last 12 months, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis has been keeping in touch with the people of Bedfordshire virtually through her weekly online messages, periodic virtual services and via regular contact with voluntary organisations, businesses, and faith, health & educational establishments.

In her virtual Easter service, she said, “In this moment of our history as we stand at the gateway to a new beginning, and at Easter, which brings the message of renewal, may we all reflect on the possibilities of changing our world for the better and the part that each of us can play. My thanks to all who have pointed the way to a better place. Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter.” 

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire's Virtual Easter Service - YouTube

Bishop Richard Atkinson and High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Susan Lousada (below) at the virtual Easter Service kindly produced by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis (top).

Happy Holi to our Hindu and Indian community

Have a pious night of prayer.

Holi marks the beginning of spring after a long winter, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. It is celebrated in March, corresponding to the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna

If you want to know more about this festival of colours click on this link

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6vh8xs

Passover (Pesach) in the Jewish community

Happy Passover to our Jewish Friends and families in Luton.

Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.

Click here for more info

https://www.chabad.org/.../What-Is-Passover-Pesach.htm

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Message on National Day of Reflection

As we reach the anniversary of the first Covid19 lockdown today, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis shares her message of grief, gratitude and hope which can be accessed at:

National Day of Reflection Message from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis - YouTube

A Week of Prayer in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The World Council of Churches will observe a week of prayer from 22-27 March, one year into the COVID-19 pandemic.

The week will invite a time of prayer and reflection on both the lament and the hope expressed and experienced across the world during what has been a year of unprecedented suffering, but also one when churches have worked together in ever new ways to adapt, respond and accompany communities through mental, physical, economical, spiritual, and environmental crises.  

The week of prayer is convened with WCC member churches and ecumenical partners, and will share prayers and spiritual resources produced in response to the pandemic.

A global online prayer service with participation from the eight WCC regions will be convened on Friday, March 26 beginning 14.00 CET, and a collection of resources will be made available on the WCC website by 18 March 2021, in English, French, German and Spanish.

https://www.oikoumene.org/events/a-week-of-prayer-in-the-time-of-the-covid-19-pandemic

https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/publications/voices-of-lament-hope-and-courage