 Week of Prayer forNewsletter October 2003
We are all delighted to hear that Carmel Momen, our Minute Secretary, and her husband, are expecting a baby in January 2004. Although Carmel had to miss the 17th September committee meeting through a doctor's appointment I am happy to report that Carmel is now in excellent health and feeling fine. Trudie Charles our Administrator presented a very encouraging report to the meeting. So far this year, 134 orders for leaflets have been received, leaving three thousand still available. Many of the orders have been for smaller quantities. Many purchasers have been sending postage stamps. Orders for posters have increased. People are looking for help with an inter faith approach to school assemblies and youth groups. David Self of the Times Educational Supplement has asked for information about the Week. Trudie suggested that the annual Chairman's Letter could include a request for reports on how people observe the Week, so that this can be passed on to enquirers. Professor Roger Grainger has indicated his willingness to act as chief compiler of next year's prayer leaflet. He is very keen to receive contributions to the leaflet from all the faith communities involved in our work. Please send them to him as soon as possible at 7 Park Grove, Horbury. Wakefield W4 6EE Tel. 01924 272742. Norman Taylor and Joyce Meadows are working together on the posters for 2004, and Martyn Payne and Norman Taylor are working together on the leaflet for use in schools. it was agreed that a Gordon Wilson Peace Award in the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds be made to the Chinmaya Mission, for their Rural Health Project and Training Centre Sidhabari. I have been in correspondence with the President of the Mission, who says they very happy to accept the award. We look forward to the presentation at the inter faith gathering of prayer for peace at the Hounslow Mosque on 19th October at 3 p.m. The Imam of the mosque, Sheikh Nisar Ahmed Hussain-Sulaimani, asks that everyone taking part in the gathering will include a prayer for the suffering people of Iraq. He asks all persons attending to remove their shoes before entering the prayer hall, and asks that all ladies attending be modestly attired and wear the hijab (head scarf). The faith representatives appointed to perform the readings from the Scriptures of the faiths are reminded that with eight religions being represented, brevity at this point of the gathering is essential, A short, characteristic prayer or short text is called for, not an extensive statement and defence of your faith's theological position! The approach to the mosque by public transport is via Hounslow West Underground station on the Piccadilly Line. Turn left out of the station, and walk 100 yards for the H28 bus. If you are coming by motor car, be assured that there is plenty of parking space at the back of the mosque. If the car park becomes full, overflow parking is available in the car park of the school next door. The year 2004 will mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Week of Prayer for World Peace. To commemorate the fact that the Week of Prayer was inaugurated in Westminster Abbey in October 1974, the Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd. Dr. Wesley Carr, has agreed that Evensong in the Abbey on Sunday 17th October 2004 at 3 p.m. will be for the inauguration of the Week of Prayer for World Peace 2004. I have received a very welcoming letter from Canon Robert Wright, who will be Canon-in-Residence at that time, in which he says that he has notified the Director of Music and the Precentor of these plans for the day. At the other end of the Week, there will be a multi faith gathering of prayer for peace of the type which has by now become traditional, on Sunday 24th October 2004 at 3 p.m. The year 2004 is a significant year for the Sikhs. It is the fourth centenary of the first opening of the Guru Granth Sahib. Param Sandhu is making arrangements for this gathering to be in a Sikh Gurdwara. The Revd. Fergus Capie and our Vice-Chair the Revd. Megumi Hirota are working together on encouraging more overseas participation in the Week of Payer for World Peace, and encouraging visitors from overseas to support the two prayer gatherings being arranged for 2004. Revd SIDNEY HINKES, Secretary WPWP, 1 The Bungalow, Bremilham Road, Malmesbury SN16 ODQ Tel. 01666 825249, e-mail sidney@fish.co.uk |