New info from Leeds Churches Together in Mission

Dear LCTiM friends,

I hope that those of you who managed to make it to the LCTiM meeting last week found the information about Leeds City of Sanctuary useful and inspiring (for those who weren’t there I will circulate further details with the minutes of the meeting in the next week or two). If you; your Church; or your Churches Together group have not yet signed the City of Sanctuary pledge, I have attached a promise form that you can fill in and send to the City of Sanctuary office to pledge your support. I’m also attaching details about the new Asylum Justice and Release group that Sarah came to speak about at last week’s LCTiM meeting, and below are details of their upcoming Skillshare date.

Details about a number of other forthcoming events and activities that have been brought to my attention are below, and I’d particularly like to highlight the Hope for the Nations event on Briggate this Saturday celebrating the diversity of international church communities in Leeds.

If you have any events or activites that you think would be of interest to other Churches Together groups in the city, please do send details through to me for future info emails.

With peace and blessings

Jonathan

LCTiM Development Worker

Hope for the Nations
The Call to Dialogue
Devaluing the Pound
Asylum Justice and Release Skillshare day

1. Hope for the Nations

Date: Saturday 25th June

Time: 12noon to 4pm

Location: Briggate, Leeds

Hope for the Nations’ celebration will take place again this year on Briggate this coming Saturday from 12 noon. The event will include stalls from international church communities here in Leeds, worship bands, dancers, drummers, face-painting, refreshments and much more. The activities will kick off with the parading of the 126 countries flag banner down Briggate at 12 noon. This is an event for all the family celebrating the basis of Christian hope in the heart of Leeds, please do come and join us.

2. The Call to Dialogue - Exploring the Catholic Bishops’ statement on interreligious dialogue: “MEETING GOD IN FRIEND AND STRANGER”

Date: Saturday June 25th

Time: 9.30 for 10.00 start to 1.30 pm lunch

Location: Wheeler Hall, St Anne’s St, Leeds LS2 8BE

What does the Church teach about dialogue? Is it part of Christian mission? How is the Church “called” to dialogue? How can I, my parish, school, youth group or organization get involved? If Christ is the way - do other religions have any validity? How should we relate to members of other religions? What are the problems, the opportunities?

Can we pray with members of other religions? What about interreligious marriages? What’s happening locally? Do peace, justice and care for the planet depend on religions working together?

All are welcome – no previous experience required – to listen and share discussion. The conference will be of particular interest to those involved or interested in developing relations and dialogue with members of other religions: in parish or school, in youth work and ministry, in catechetics and adult formation, in family life ministry and in Catholic organizations – as clergy, religious or lay folk.

Members of other Christian denominations and of other faiths are welcome – as an Anglican, Methodist etc and as a Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Jew or Buddhist – what should I expect of Catholics in dialogue? What can I offer them?

How has Church teaching developed since Vatican 11? What has been the experience of interfaith dialogue over the last ten years? Is the Holy Spirit calling Catholics to view dialogue as part of their calling and to recognize that what is true and good in other religions is the work of the same Spirit?

There is no charge but donations up to £5 are requested to help cover costs. Please book places by contacting David Jackson: Telephone 01274 581094; email: dandt55@btinternet.com; 43 Moorhead Crescent, Shipley, West Yorks BD18 4LQ.

3. Devaluing the Pound-A Christian Contribution to the Question of Money.

Date: Saturday 2nd July 2011

Time: 10-3.30pm

Location: Leeds Church Intstitute, 20 New Market Street

With speakers - Philip Goodchild ‘Exposing Mammon‘;Tarek El Diwany ‘Listening to Islam’; and Kathy Galloway ‘Living by the Rule’.. Please contact Wendy at LCI if you wish to attend 0113 245 4700 or email wendy@leedschurchinstitute.org

4. Skillshare and training day for people who want to support asylum seekers in detention, destitution, and danger of deportation.

Date: Sunday July 17th

Time: 12.30-17:00

Location: All Hallows Church, Regent Terrace, LS6 (www.allhallowsleeds.org.uk)

Workshops include:-being alongside and offering friendship; offering hospitality; advocacy and working with lawyers;advocacy and housing; understanding trauma; standing bail. With input from Immigration lawyer John Donkersley, and SOLACE (counselling and psychotherapy service). Lunch will be provided.

AJAR has grown from the experience of bail and support of a group at All Hallows, and includes people who have sought asylum and know what the needs are. We are now seeking to involve more people from all faiths and none as there are many more people in detention and in need of support. Please consider joining us, whatever your experience! There are all kinds of roles and levels of commitment needed.

This event is for people of all faiths and those of humanitarian conviction. It is free (donations welcome). Booking essential to ensure enough lunch! To register please contact AJAR at ajarleeds@gmail.com or phone / text us on 07970 749329