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Oasis Day: Monday 15 March 2010, 10.45 am-3.15 pm ‘Peace and Reconciliation – a journey and a process’ led by Pat Gaffney of Pax Christi, an international Catholic peacemaking movement. ‘Oasis Days’, offered in conjunction of the Leprosy Mission (London), offer quiet reflection for people who need a day to re-charge their spiritual batteries and enjoy the stimulation of an excellent speaker. All welcome; no charge. Donation toward lunch. RSVP for catering purposes to info@londoninterfaith.org.uk or 020 7604 3053.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Workshop: Saturday 27 March 2010, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ‘On how people perceive the world and make decisions’ led by Steve Crabb, an MBTI practitioner, author and consultant. Doors open and coffee from 10.30am. The cost of the day is £10 per person, payable to LIFC. A limited number of places is available on a first come first served basis. Please register via info@londoninterfaith.org.uk whereupon material will be posted which needs to be completed and returned to LIFC by Thursday 18 March at the latest.
Holy Week Christian Zen: 1 – 4 April 2010 Maundy Thursday – Easter Sunday Meditation at 41 Windermere Avene, NW6 led by Richard Garlick and Maggie Hindley. Further information from info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Texts to Live By … Introduction and Taster: Hindu and Christian Texts 25 April 2010 3 -5pm. Over four Sunday afternoons we will put together contemporary issues and ancient texts, exploring the significance of traditional texts for those to whom they belong; examining the potential significance of these texts to others; and allowing the possibility to extend our mutuality and friendship. At each meeting, short texts are presented by a representative of several traditions; the presenter explains how people of their own tradition live by it, and what relevance there is for the wider world. Future dates: 24 October 2010, 27 February 2011, 22 May 2011. Enquiries to info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Religion UK: Sunday 9 May 2010 3-5pm The well-known academic Alan Le Grys will come to us for his now annual visit. Alan will give us an overview update on current UK ideological and religious issues, trends and figures. His visits are always greatly appreciated. Do arrive in good time to be assured of a seat. Further information info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Book Group: Monday 10 May 2010 12.05-1pm Book choice for May: The Word of God by Keith Ward. All welcome – but RSVP essential to info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Shariah Law, British Law and the Archbishop: The Case Sunday 23 May, 3-5pm. Since the Archishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, gave the Royal Courts of Justice Lecture in 2008, there has been an upsurge of interest in Shariah law. What is Shariah law, how is it viewed in Islam, what are its implications, why did the Archbishop’s comments on its relationship to UK law cause such controversy? These and other questions are explored by Jack Harris, who is an Anglican priest, a qualified barrister and an interfaith specialist, working freelance.
Zen Day: Saturday 19 June 2010 Following the success of event in May 2009, Giles Charrington is kindly returning to us to resource a further day on Zen. From 10 am to 4 pm. Further information from info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Oasis Day: 21 June 2010, 10.45 am-3.15 pm ‘The Search for Beauty’ led by Jenny Hawke, artist. ‘Oasis Days’, offered in conjunction of the Leprosy Mission (London), offer quiet reflection for people who need a day to re-charge their spiritual batteries and enjoy the stimulation of an excellent speaker. All welcome; no charge. Donation toward lunch. RSVP for catering purposes to info@londoninterfaith.org.uk or 020 7604 3053.
Ongoing Events
Thursdays weekly 6.15 p.m. Christian Zen Group
Introduction for beginners at 6.15 p.m., sitting 6.30 – 8 p.m. with two short periods of walking meditation.
Please bring your own mat and Zen cushions if you have one. You are welcome to sit on a chair or on the floor as you choose.
Sitting (Zazen) is a centuries-old practice by which we seek to experience clear reality in the present moment by sitting still and silent in God’s presence, quieting the constant stream of thoughts.
‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Psalm 46.10
Further information from the Rev. Maggie Hindley at the Centre on 020 7372 1765 or maggie.hindley@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Ongoing New Course
Mondays weekly – The Arts and Spirituality
began spring 2009 – you may still join – contact info@londoninterfaith.org.uk
Led by Dr Lucien Jenkins
As part of a process of majority culture re-self-examination, to enable deeper and fuller engagement with the wider world, London Inter Faith Centre offers this course on the Arts and Spirituality.
Each session in the course will open with a lecture laying out issues and historical context, followed by a seminar to discuss specific works. The course will examine works from literature, music and the visual arts, within the broad western Christian tradition, relating them always to the wider world.
Spring Term 2010 begins on 11 January 2010 and ends on 29 March 2010. There will be half-term break on the 15 & 22 February.
background information on the work of LIFC …
The Centre aims to provide a space where inter faith meetings, study and dialogue can take place amongst different world religions. The centre is funded and run by a single faith (Christian) but with many faith involvements. The London Inter Faith Centre was founded by the Church of England ten years ago, for the last five of which it has been joined by the United Reformed Church. As a ’single faith’ Christian hosted place of meeting, study and dialogue between faith communities and with the secular world it functions ecumenically and benefits increasingly from many faith involvement.
The Centre works with a definition of inter faith as faiths in encounter and the issues raised thereby The Centre seeks through a variety of courses, conferences, seminars, open occasions and events, to promote the encounter between faiths, without foreclosing on the conclusions.
Just as the Centre works with a definition, so it has a motto true to self and open to others – and thus endeavours to create a safe space within which those of differing and sometimes conflicting points of view can start to build communication with one another, leading to mutuality, trust and sometimes cooperative shared action.
Many of those interested in such issues may not represent or wish to be perceived as representing a whole tradition or even part of it – and so the Centre also has a Friends scheme for individuals, whereby individuals as individuals, of any faith or none, can actively participate in particular aspects of the work.
‘Inter faith’ means different things to different people – and for some involves multi-faith worship. While recognising that there are ways in which different traditions can explore sacred space and time together (See Sacred Silence) and while pursuing issues of spirituality that impact upon the spectrum of religious and even sometimes non-specifically-religious response, nonetheless the Centre avoids that which may effectively compromise mainstream worshippers of different religions. This site is under development to address these and other issues. We would be interested to know your views.
