September Update

September has sped by so quickly here's a round up of what's happening next ..........

Courses The new academic year is picking up pace. The e-learning programme offered by The Woolf Institute - Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe: Modern Challenges, begins earlier this year. Details in our blog you need to register by 14th October, the course begins on 7th November.

Festivals It’s also a particularly busy time for festivals across many faiths. I have started blogging key points from the messages of greeting the Archbishop of Canterbury publishes with links to the full text on his website. For those in Southwark Diocese (available to all but they have the Southwark logo on the back in addition to the Church of England’s) don’t forget you can purchase packs of greetings cards to send to faith leaders and communities (from the Diocesan office, email john.beaumont@southwark.anglican.org).

Events It would be churlish to suggest the only important upcoming event is The 2011 PEN lecture on 31st October but please do publicise it.
St Ethelburga’s has a very interesting autumn line up. Although ‘The Spirit of Hijab’ clashes with the PEN lecture, note that it is the first in promised series so why not sign up for details of more. Secondly the ‘Conversations for the Soul’ is of particular interest for Chaplains.
The next JustShare event at St Mary le Bow is Tuesday 18th October at 1.05pm - Talk for National Ethical Investment Week: 'The Ethics of Investment Banking' with John Reynolds.
The next Theos discussion is on Thursday 20th October entitled ‘Is there a future for Multiculturalism?’ The event will be held at LSE in partnership with the LSE Forum for Religion. For details and invite contact alanna.macleod@theosthinktank.co.uk

Looking further forward CUF, Church Action on Poverty and St John’s Waterloo (SE1 8TY) begin what they hope will be biannual series of day seminars on Wednesday November 9th , 10.00am – 3.30pm, Power, Poverty and The Church. Speakers include Dr Luke Bretherton, Canon Paul Hackwood & Baroness Maeve Sherlock (tbc) for more and booking : http://powerandpoverty.eventbrite.com/

Pastoral Having just received their latest newsletter it seems a good time to plug the support group for those in a Christian Muslim marriage or seeking to care for those who are or who may be considering such a marriage http://www.mcmarriage.org.uk/

Michaelmas Blessings (and there's a clue to the picture!)

Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe:Modern Challenges

This three-part course offered by the Woolf Institute focuses on the relationships
between Jews, Christians and Muslims and their impact
in modern Europe, looking at their history, culture and
issues of citizenship. The course is taught at a final-year undergraduate level.
Applications are now being accepted for the next course commencing 7 November 2011.
The closing date for applications is 14 October 2011.
For more see here

Archbishop of Canterbury's Rosh Hashanah message

The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued his annual greeting to Jewish friends and fellow workers on the occasion of Rosh Hashanah 2011.

In it he speaks of the challenges that continue to face Jewish communities, in the UK and elsewhere. Changes engulfing the Arab world "will undoubtedly bring fresh concerns - as well, we hope, as opportunities ."

The message also speaks of the conference hosted earlier this year at Lambeth Palace on the position of Christians in the Holy Land. The Archbishop expresses appreciation for the part played by leading members of the Jewish community in Britain and friends from Israel through their contributions to the discussion and the emotional energy required to ensure all voices were heard and respected.

The message and greetings can be found here

PEN Lecture 2011

What do we bring to the party?
The Mission of the Church in a Multi Faith Neighbourhood

Given by
The Revd Dr Toby Howarth
Secretary for Inter Religious Affairs to the Archbishop of Canterbury and National Inter Religious Affairs Adviser for the Church of England

The Revd Patrick Morrow, The Revd Dr John Perumbalath,
The Revd Mina Smallman & The Revd Ruth Worsley
will respond followed by questions from the floor

Monday 31st October 7.00pm
Light refreshment served from 6.30pm
St Marylebone Parish Church
17 Marylebone Road London NW1 5LT
Admission £5 Booking via pen@theology-centre.org

Two on the Bible

As 2011 enters its final quarter the celebrations of the 400th Anniversary of The King James Bible show no signs of flagging.

St Paul's Forum events this Autumn take the theme, The People's Bible: Lovers, Poets, Sinners, Pilgrims. The public debates (Tuesday 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th & Monday 31st October, and Tuesday 8th November) look at Eve, Moses, Job, Mary, Judas and Jesus. The meditative services on Sunday evenings (6.00 - 6.45pm) in October reflect on Cain and Abel, Sarah and Hagar, David and Jonathan and Jacob and the Angel. For full deatils or a copy of the full programme email forum@stpaulscathedral.org.uk All these events are unticketed and free.

Westminster Abbey meanwhile has a series of lectures, The Law The Bible and Politics on Wednesdays at 6.30pm on the 5th, 12th, and 19th October. With Lord Judge (Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales), Lord Bragg (author and broadcaster) and Nick Spence (research director of Theos) are the speakers. These events are free but a ticket is required from kjblectures@westminster-abbey.org or 020 7654 4832 also see related events at www.westminster-abbey.org/events