Singing and Festivities

The Mixed Up Chorus Rehearse

What better way to cope with the long dark evenings, the damp and the cold than to sing? Two new choirs have sprung to life in recent weeks. The Contextual Theology Centre's own Tom Daggett has been working with Revd Niall Weir at St Paul's West Hackney. In just a few weeks the Cantignorus Chorus has formed, learnt a specially composed song, and made a recording at Angel studios. Due for release in a couple of weeks 'Holding Out a Helping Hand to You' hopes to challenge for the Christmas No 1 slot. What is really special about the choir is that it brings together people form diverse groups, many of whom are vulnerable or excluded. The enterprise is part of the wider SingSpire Community music project which aims to use music as a way of helping people value themselves and build up the wider community  across some of the barriers that often divide. Read Tom's recent blog post  for more details.
Meanwhile, the Three Faiths Forum has launched Mixed Up Chorus. Directed by Jeremy Haneman who also directs the Royal opera House Community Chorus. Mixed Up Chorus is not for the confused but for those who rejoice in the diversity of our great world city. Whilst Cantignorus Chorus is special to West Hackney, Mixed Up Chorus is looking for more members from all over London so if you are free on Tuesdays between 7 and 9 pm get in touch. The choir rehearses at Three Faiths Forum HQ and is part of their Urban Dialogues programme using the arts to connect people.

A third multi faith choir, Berakah,  has it's inaugural concert on 17th December at the London Inter Faith Centre (which has it's own annual music festival of the faiths) details here

As the noise of the Diwali Fireworks fade, Happy Hanukkah to Jewish friends and a Happy New Year to Christians this coming Sunday 1st December

Walks and Pilgrimages

Pilgrimage is common to several faiths. The month of Hijjah, pilgrimage, has just ended in the Islamic

calendar.Walking together as people of faith is also something which is growing in popularity.
This Sunday 10th November  (2.30 - 5.00pm) worshipers at the Al-Kheo Mosque, Shree Swaminarayan Temple and the shared Church of St Andrews and St Anne's will be opening their doors and warmly welcoming visitors and participants in the Brent interfaith Pilgrimage. All three communities have recently been exploring the story of how their community and place of worship came in to being, and a small exhibition of images and words will be on display at each location. Pilgrim visitors can also learn about Muharram - the first month in the Islamic calendar and thus new year, and Diwali - the festival of light celebrated by Hindus (also marked by Sikhs and Jains for slightly different reasons) and their new year. The pilgrimage starts at St Anne's and St Andrews, 126 Salisbury Road, NW6 6PB (nearest station Brondesbury Park , overground, or Queen's Park, Bakerloo line. For further details email jo.winsloe@stethelburgas.org

Meanwhile, The South London Inter Faith Group  has bagged the cafe area in City Hall (it's the curved glass building near Tower Bridge SE1 2AA 10 minutes walk along the River from London Bridge Station) to exhibit Sixteen years of Inter Faith Walks in London in words and pictures. The exhibition opens on Monday 18th November and runs until 29th November -opening hours Mon-Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm on Fridays). Apparently the cafe food is good too!