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Westminster Interfaith Newsletter
Issue 65 – February 2010
Dacorum Interfaith Group, (Hemel Hempstead)
The Dacorum Group began as a result of a meeting arranged by a member of the Dacorum Borough Council who had previous experience and had invited speakers from several different faiths. After various preparatory meetings, the Abbot and the community at the local Buddhist monastery welcomed members from different faiths to an inaugural meeting. The local MP came to support the initiative. Since then a constitution has been adopted and trustees appointed.
At the next event a speaker from the local Muslim community gave an extremely interesting illustrated talk about the five pillars of Islam. There was a great welcome from the Muslim host community and questions were readily answered. The local MP was also there.
During Inter Faith Week in November 2009, the Dacorum Group invited a Jewish speaker, a doctor practising in Stamford Hill, who worships in a Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St Albans. He spoke of some of the differences between Orthodox and Liberal Judaism and was so interesting that he has been invited to come again. There was a good response to the advert for the evening which had been placed in local churches and in the library.
In the local Catholic parish which has three churches, a parishioner from each spoke at each Mass emphasising the necessity of furthering relationships with people of different faiths and how this can be developed to day. These short talks were well received.
Margaret Slynn.
'Sharing of Faiths' (Dacorum)
The following events will all be held at: Nash Mills C of E School Belswains Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9XB
Wednesday, 24 February, 7.30pm ‘What it means to me to be a Sikh’: Jessie Rayat.
Tuesday, 23 March, 7.30pm ‘What it means to be a Muslim family’: Marziyah and Murtaza Panju.
Wednesday, 21 April, 7.30pm ‘The work of an Imam’ to be confirmed.
Planned events include visits to a synagogue, Buddhist and Hindu speakers and insights into contemporary Christian religious communities.
Chair: Revd David Lawson – davidmlawson@lineone.net
Secretary: Revd John Quill – johnsquill@btopenworld.com
