Women Only Event
Precious Pearls - Celebrating Women Across Faiths & Cultures via ZOOM
11th March 2021
Time: 6.30pm – 8.00pm
Share the talents of Luton women
Meet women from different backgrounds
Enjoy yourself with different cultural entertainment
For info & online link, please contact:
‘Ghar se Ghar’
Coop Group (Hindi/Urdu words meaning Home to Home)
gharseghar@btconnect.com
Quakers in Britain have joined 16 other representatives of faith bodies to call on the UK government to immediately ban the use of public money to fund fossil fuel projects overseas.
The open letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, states that the UK has “a moral obligation to support developing countries to 'leapfrog' dirty fossil fuel energy and move straight to clean energy sources. We must not allow UK finance to lock countries into years of high-carbon, polluting infrastructure, while we ourselves transition to clean energy."
In December, after years of campaigning by organisations including Christian Aid, Tearfund and Global Justice Now, the government announced that UK Export Finance and the overseas aid budget would no longer fund fossil fuel projects. With details of the policy yet to be finalised, campaigners are now pushing for a full and immediate ban with no loopholes.
The interfaith letter asks the government to ensure the ban extends to “gas power, hydrogen projects that involve fossil fuels, and fossil fuel related infrastructure". It also calls for the inclusion of a requirement to divest from existing fossil fuel investments.
Paul Parker, Recording Clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “The government's recent announcement on overseas fossil fuel finance was a significant and welcome step. Quakers recognise every human life as sacred. If we are serious about this commitment to equality, we cannot allow more fossil fuel infrastructure to be dumped on poorer countries while we phase it out here. We want to ensure the government keeps its word and that the new policy is watertight, so we don't see new fossil fuel projects slipping through before the ban comes in. Only by being good stewards of our planet's limited resources can we safeguard future generations."
Shanon Shah, Director of Faith for the Climate, said: “We are pleased to be able to support this letter, which shows the strength of feeling on this issue across all the major UK faiths. An immediate end to overseas fossil fuel finance would be a basic but important step in the right direction. A strong policy on this now would send a positive signal about the UK's commitment to climate action as the COP26 climate talks approach."
You can read the full text of the letter here: Faith leaders' letter to Kwasi Kwarteng MP.pdf
The consultation on the proposed policy for overseas energy support is open until 8 February. Global Justice Now has produced a tool to help individuals respond – click here to add your response.
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis has recorded her latest message which reflects on the last month where people have “dug deep to do the right thing”.
The message can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/jUPD2aM4no4
The Lord-Lieutenant sends her very best wishes to you and asks that you share her message far and wide with your contacts.
Kind regards,
Lisa Hutchinson
Member/Civic and Ceremonial Support Officer (Lieutenancy)
Resources Directorate
Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ
Direct Dial: 0300 300 6090 / Internal: 76090 / Work mobile: 07391 411880 / Email: lisa.hutchinson2@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
https://ctbi.org.uk/what-does-racial-justice-look-like-in-church-and-society/
Wednesday 10 February 2021, 7:30-8:30pm
Sunday 14 February is Racial Justice Sunday (RJS) in British and Irish churches, and is a day for everyone to Remember, Reflect and Respond to racial justice matters:
Remember the importance of racial justice.
Reflect on human diversity and thank God for it.
Respond by working to end injustice, racism and ignorance through prayer and action.
This year, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) is hosting a webinar which includes some of the keenest minds in our churches to explore what racial justice looks like in Church and society.
Last year marked the 25th anniversary of RJS, a date which coincided with the killing of George Floyd, the upsurge of the Black Lives Matter movement, and a pandemic which continues to disproportionately impact Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
Join with others in discussing what steps need to be put in place to turn all the conversations we heard last year into palpable, significant action toward justice, equity and inclusion.
Please register to attend.
https://ctbi.org.uk/what-does-racial-justice-look-like-in-church-and-society/
Hi,
Hope you are well and staying safe at this time.
We (Near Neighbours and Church Urban Fund) are hoping to deliver a free Covid Cash Course. (see attached posted)
COVID Cash Recovery is a free 2-hour workshop (online) to help communities recover from financial problems that have arisen due to the coronavirus. COVID Cash Recovery is an information and signposting workshop; the workshop covers everything from general entitlements, rights, government and charitable support, budgeting, help with bills, loans, debt, and money strategies for making it through these next few months. The information and resources we provide provides support to local people in a flexible, non-advisory manner.
The workshop is tailored to local groups and communities to include content that is most relevant for those it is delivered to. This includes translating the content to reach those where English is not a first language.
If this is something that you yourself, your organisation, your group would be interested in then please let me know as soon as possible, so I can see the interest and get a date booked in, we would like to deliver this either in the last week of February or the first week of March.
If you know of a group that you think would benefit then pass on the details.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Kim Greig
Near Neighbours Coordinator (Luton)
c/o Grassroots Programme
47, High Town Road, Luton, Beds. LU2 0BW.
Tel: 01582 416946 / 07930601640
In Interfaith week last year (Nov) Near Neighbours Luton ran an event called Stories of Hope, it was an event for people to share their experiences of the lockdown and how it has impacted their community, organisation, life, etc. It was a well-attended event with a lot of positive feedback, and more than that it was the chance to network and share activities and events being run on zoom and in person.
We will be running a Stories of Hope 2021 on Tuesday 23rd February from 11-1pm. The event is an opportunity to share learning, network, hear positive stories, support and talk about the projects you are developing or hope to develop and deliver in 2020.
If you are interested in attending, please contact me for the zoom link.
I will be allocating a 5 minute slot for people who would like the space to share, please let me know either by email or my mobile number.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Best wishes,
Kim Greig
Near Neighbours Coordinator (Luton)
c/o Grassroots Programme,
47, High Town Road, Luton, Beds.LU2 0BW.
Tel: 01582 416946 / 07930601640
The NHS is currently offering the #CovidVaccine to people most at risk from the virus: people aged 80+, some over 70, some clinically extremely vulnerable people, people who live or work in care homes, health & social care workers.
The vaccine is free, safe and the best protection against #COVID19!
Near Neighbours Greater Manchester
Dear Friends,
The candles (seen in pic below) were sent from Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) members and friends: flames lit on Holocaust Memorial Day and placed in windows around the country. Wednesday was also the day when deaths due to Covid-19 passed the 100,000 mark in the UK. The candles lit that day are symbols of the human spirit, of life, and of hope for the future -- and, in our case, of Jews and Christians standing together in remembrance and solidarity.
In his comments at the national HMD ceremony, Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, spoke powerfully on being the light in the darkness, the theme of this year's commemoration. 'Today we recall how the light of humanity, decency, and compassion was extinguished, when darkness descended on the earth,' he said. 'But darkness can only endure where we fail to shine a light. Let us never forget that even a tiny flame can banish darkness. If each one of us can become that flame, this will be a different world, a world in which light will prevail'. The service was also notable for the images it conveyed of Judaism in all its diversity -- indeed of the diversity of all the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides, whether gay, straight, disabled, Black, Muslim, Christian, Asian, African, or any number of identities and ethnicities.
If you missed the HMD ceremony click here to watch it.
This was a Holocaust Memorial Day with a special relevance, and not only because of the grim Covid-19 milestone. CCJ was one of several signatories to a letter which appeared in The Times on 27 January, connecting the horrible events of the Holocaust with recent atrocities committed against Christians in Nigeria, Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and Uyghur Muslims in China. The letter called on the UK government to take decisive action in accordance with the UN Genocide Convention, concluding, 'The time for excuses and delay is over, the time for action is now'. Wednesday was a sobering day to remember, to grieve, and to commit ourselves to action.
Yet the day was not without hope. That morning, BBC Radio 4 LW used CCJ resources in their short act of Christian worship marking HMD. 'Jesus calls us to be a light shining in the darkness', the worship leader said, quoting a litany prayer prepared for the CCJ resource by Fr Jan Nowotnik, National Ecumenical Officer for the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. The candles we lit were signs of our personal commitment in CCJ to be the light in our communities: signs of resolve and action.
Psalm 112, an acrostic psalm beginning with different letters of the Hebrew alphabet, has a curious half-verse for zayin, the seventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In that verse, the one who fears the Lord will shine like the sun -- 'rise (zarach) in the darkness as a light for the upright; this one is gracious, merciful, and righteous' (NRSV, verse 4). Its twin Psalm 111, also an acrostic, uses similar adjectives in its zayin verse, but referring to God: there, the Lord is 'gracious and merciful'. The God-fearing individual shines in the darkness and exemplifies, you could say, God's own graciousness and mercy. That light was shining on Wednesday: by Jews, Christians and others remembering in their own ways and also standing together.
Below please find a blog from Rabbi Anna Posner for Tu B'Shevat, in which Rabbi Anna notes how the holiday celebrates trees, creation, and the replenishing of the Earth. Please also find information about a new Programme Manager and a Poet-in-Residence for CCJ. Please share these latter two widely! As always there events and media which may be of interest and the final notice of the CCJ Leeds Branch event One Rabbi’s Musical Journey (3rd of February).
Wishing you a safe, restful, and healthy weekend,
Nathan
Interim Director , Council of Christians & Jews (CCJ)
Dear All
I hope this finds you safe and well. We’re glad to let you know that the council website has been updated with a full range of materials explaining the great importance and benefits of Covid 19 vaccinations. You can find all resources here:Covid-19 Vaccine page
They cover a broad range of formats (factsheets, videos, graphics etc.) as well as community languages, cultural and religious perspectives, and BSL materials. We will be updating them continually as soon as new and relevant resources come to our attention or can be produced.
As you know, there is some hesitancy around having the vaccine across our community. We hope these resources will help anyone seeking information, advice and evidence as to why the vaccination programme is being promoted to protect the whole community.
We would be very grateful if you could:
· review them as soon as possible;
· signpost them to all those you are in touch with who are seeking trustworthy information;
· and distribute whichever resources you feel will have greatest impacts across your networks.
If you have any further suggestions for adding to the resources please don’t hesitate to let us know. As always, with thanks for your assistance and support for this collective community effort.
Best regards
Marek Lubelski
Social Justice Manager
Policy, Community, Engagement
Luton Council
01582 548779
07876 034933
LUTON CARES: Collaborative, Ambitious, Respectful, Empowering and Supportive
Dear Friends
I need your support with the Talk, Listen, Change (TLC) COVID-19 project.
In Luton data has shown that there is a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 in Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, black African and black Caribbean population groups. The aim of the TLC COVID-19 project is to seek community views in order to understand the reasons for the differences in impact, to tackle inequalities and co-develop solutions.
Please see attached flyer which includes a link to the community survey/questionnaire. I need everyone to circulate this flyer through their networks and encourage as many people as possible to complete.
Thank you.
Dr Nasreen Ali
Reader in Public Health Equality
MSc Public Health Course Lead
University of Bedfordshire | Park Square Campus
nasreen.ali@beds.ac.uk / M:07969062428
In a world crying out for justice and peace, the theme of the 2022 assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), “Christ’s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity,” speaks of hope for a future in which resources are shared, inequalities are addressed and all can enjoy dignity, according to a new publication reflecting on the assembly theme.
For full article please click here.
The theme reflection underlines the need for an “ecumenism of the heart,” noting that many people are urging that the search for unity should not be only “intellectual, institutional, and formal, but also based in relationship, in common prayer, and above all, in mutual affection and love.”
A world that is “crying out for profound love, for community, for justice and hope needs churches that are visibly in communion, longing for oneness where there is division, and finding a new future for humankind and all creation.”
Discover more about the Assembly theme and symbol
Learn more on the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches
This year, the UK will host the largest gathering of world leaders ever to take place on British soil: the ‘COP26’ climate talks.
As Prime Minister, Boris Johnson must push world leaders to show the ambition we need to keep temperature rises below the disastrous 1.5-degree threshold. This means that all countries must play their part. Wealthy nations, who bear the greatest responsibility for the crisis, need to step up.
With the eyes of the world on the UK, we must urge the Prime Minister to make sure communities hardest hit by the climate emergency are listened to at COP26.
Dear All
In order to help build community confidence in the vaccination programme, CCG colleagues have offered some early slots for faith and community leaders to be vaccinated at the L&D Hospital tomorrow (Wednesday 27th Jan) and Thursday (28th January).
If you are able to support in this way, please can you email me back directly at marek.lubelski@luton.gov.uk, ideally with a contact number, and any preferences for the day and time? You will also need to confirm and bring your NHS number to the vaccination centre.
We’d ask that you arrange for a photo or video to be taken of the vaccination, which you can use to promote in your networks and that we can share as part of the local campaign. More details on this will follow asap.
Many thanks for your support - we hope as many of you as possible will be able to take up this early offer to help address the concerns we know may be worrying some of our community.
Best regards
Marek Lubelski
Social Justice Manager
Policy, Community, Engagement
Luton Council
01582 548779
07876 034933
LUTON CARES: Collaborative, Ambitious, Respectful, Empowering and Supportive
Dear Friends and Colleagues
As we mourn the passing of over 100,000 of our neighbours due to Covid19, we may find comfort in coming together in reflection and prayer as suggested in the wonderful letter from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, which can be accessed at: 20210126 Letter to the nation.pdf (churchofengland.org)
Kindest regards
Helen Nellis
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
Twitter @LLieutenantBeds
07711289403
NEAR NEIGHBOURS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANTS are OPEN now. Please see the Criteria & Guidance, DRAFT application form with questions, Example budget sheet and check list for your information.
Alternatively, you can also see the criteria and download a copy of the questions and the budget template here. https://www.near-neighbours.org.uk/small-grants
Firstly, you need to contact Kim Greig on 07930 601640 or email near.neighbours-luton@btconnect.com regarding your project, to have a chat/zoom conversation about your grant application and project idea, after which if feasible, you will be given the LINK for the ONLINE APPLICATION FORM.
We strongly encourage you to fill in and complete the word document (draft application), and when completed (feel free to email Kim Greig at near.neighbours-luton@btconnect.com the draft application for review) then you will need to copy and paste the answers on to the online application form (once again, the link for this is with Kim Greig, so please contact Kim to arrange a time to talk and receive the link).
IMPORTANT - you will NOT be able to save your application part way through and come back to it, you will need to do it all in one go, so please complete the draft form fully, ready to copy and paste, ensure you have the required documents ready to attach, including your budget.
IMPORTANT - If you applied for a grant in our NN last round of grant (successful or not), you CAN still apply for this Community Covid Relief grants.
IMPORTANT - For these Covid Relief grants we do not ask for groups to work across different faith/ethnicities/cultures unlike our normal NN grants programme.
IMPORTANT - It will be a first come first serve basis, so although we do not have a deadline, once our funds are gone, they're gone!
Near Neighbours London Office will aim to make a decision within 2 weeks and communicate this to you.
Any questions please contact Kim Greig on 07930 601640 or email near.neighbours-luton@btconnect.com as soon as possible.
Gathering for an annual meeting from 19-20 January, the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue and World Council of Churches Office of Inter-religious Dialogue and Cooperation discussed ways of sharing more widely the document “Serving a Wounded World in Inter-religious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond,” which was co-produced by the two offices in 2020.
“This is the most recent of a series of joint publications that the two offices have produced during the course of more than forty years of ecumenical friendship and collaboration aimed at promoting inter-religious dialogue together,” reads a communique from the meeting.
Earlier documents focused on Inter-religious Marriage, Inter-religious Prayer, African Religiosity, Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World, and Education for Peace.
The offices also expressed their ongoing commitment to grow in ecumenical communion as well as renew the common commitment to intensify their collaborative works in the realm of inter-religious dialogue by focusing on wider reception and implementation of the documents.
For more details, please see World Council of Churches Website
To read the full document, please click here; “Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 and Beyond”
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) has been jointly organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church since 1968 from the 18th to the 25th January every year.
This year, due to the pandemic, Churches Together in Luton has asked Christians to hold events online and show their support by adding the #wpcuwall to their Twitter posts.
The theme for this year’s WPCU was “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”. It is based on the Bible passage from the book of John 15:1-17. It calls for the reconciliation and unity in the Church and the worldwide human family.
Christian Aid as usual provided the “Go & Do” action points for each of the WPCU daily reflections – backing up prayers with actions for the relief of poverty and advocacy of justice. One such actions point was getting informed about and taking action on refugee and asylum issues and campaigns, which are bound up with many other issues of conflict, climate change and Coronavirus etc.
Bob Fyffe, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland said “The ancient rhythm of prayer is an important gift for the Church today struggling with pandemics and lockdowns and more widely with other serious challenges of climate change, racism and poverty. Thank you for joining us in this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and entering into a place of community and blessing.”
Epiphany – a moment of revelation is a Christian feast that marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas and commemorates the three wise men's (Magi's) visit to Jesus.
Popular Epiphany customs include singing, chalking the door – having one's house blessed, consuming Three Kings Cake, removing Christmas decorations as well as attending church services, which is restricted for most due to the pandemic.
In an online event in Luton, Sr Maire Hayes, Inter Faith Coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Northampton, recalled that last month the planets Jupiter and Saturn had appeared closer and brighter than they have been in 800 years. It was called a “great conjunction”.
She reflected ‘The Star of Bethlehem’ that guided the Three Wise men may have been such “a great conjunction”.
Is this telling us something in 2020, which may have been a grim year but we know there have been flashes of hope.
Let us reflect on what stars have shone for us last year. Who have guided us? What has thrown light in our path? What vision or values have held us steady, when we were not sure of the way ahead? What were our moments of Epiphany?
After visiting Jesus, the Wise men were told to return by ‘another road’, for the old way was no longer safe or sustainable.
What will be ‘another road’ for us in 2021? We know it cannot be business as usual. It is not sustainable for us and our environment.
Animo! Bon Courage! Be steadfast!
The Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings sweet bread) decorated with candied fruit, popular in Hispanic countries
As governments and international organisations work together to determine who will get the COVID-19 vaccine first and how quickly, several faith organisations and leaders have raised moral questions in policy discussions around vaccine distribution.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) & the World Jewish Congress (WJC) have released a joint paper asking for global equity in the distribution of available vaccines, ensuring those living in poorer countries are not excluded.
Maram Stern, Executive Vice President WJC, said “The document is drafted in a spirit of interfaith dialogue and cooperation, drawing inspiration from our respective Jewish and Christian traditions, which have helped to guide us through this life-changing time.”
The paper urges religious leaders of all faiths to “consider confronting publicly the unsubstantiated rumours and conspiracy myths which undermine public trust in health authorities and services and in tested and approved vaccines themselves – and that thereby threaten an effective public health response to the pandemic. In some cases, such conspiracy myths have an explicitly antisemitic basis which should in any event be denounced,” reads the paper.
Zafar Khan, Chair of Luton Council of Faiths said, “We hope and anticipate that sooner rather than later, we shall be able to get the virus under control. Reflecting on the past twelve months’ challenges, we must feel confident in the fact that despite our human failings, we have God-given inner strengths and fellow feelings as the most effective means to keep going.”
In the New Year, we light a candle of HOPE for a better world and better life for all
During the Interfaith week 2020, and we would like to bring people together.
We are pleased to invite you to join our Near Neighbours Luton Zoom event - Stories of Hope: sharing of life, community, projects, people, engagement 2020, see poster attached.
If you are able to join us next Tuesday 10th November from 11-1pm then please let me know via email or phone and I will send you the zoom invite.
This is a sharing opportunity, and each person can have up to 5 minutes to share/talk, please let me know if you would like a slot, feel free to join without speaking.
Look forward to hearing from you,
Best wishes,
Kim Greig
Near Neighbours Coordinator (Luton)
c/o Grassroots Programme
47, High Town Road,
Luton,
Beds.
LU2 0BW.
Tel: 01582 416946 / 07930601640
