London Inter Faith Centre

Coming Soon

New Book Group at London Inter Faith Centre

14 September 2009 - 10.15 for 10.30 a.m. in the Library at London Inter Faith Centre - followed by a light lunch - and thereafter on the second Monday of alternate months (i.e. 9 November and 11 January).

Normally one of the new acquisitions at the Library will be discussed - but on this first occasion your suggestions are invited. The book needs to be not too long and not too expensive - and preferably recently published around the area of faith / ideology / culture / community.

Please send your suggestion to us at info@londoninterfaith.org.uk ,  marking the subject line ‘ New Book Group’. Free lunch for the winner!

There will alwyas be at least two fo the four of us (Fergus Capie, Magfgie Hindley, Laurence Hillel, Joseph Voelker) as part of the conversation - and we look forward to you joining us. We need an RSVP if you are staying to lunch: please contact us on infor@londoninterfaith.org.uk.

The deadline for the book suggestions is Monday 10 August. The book chosen will be announced here on 14 August, for you to get and read for our discussion on 14 September.

Ongoing Event

Thursdays weekly beginning 14 May 2009 6.15 p.m. Christian Zen Group

Introducion for beginners at 6.15 p.m., sitting 6.30 - 8 p.m. with two short periods of walking meditation.

Please bring your own mat and Zen cushions if you have one. You are welcome to sit on a chair or on the floor as you choose.

Sitting (Zazen) is a centuries-old practice by which we seek to experience clear reality in the present moment by sitting still and silent in God’s presence, quieting the constant stream of thoughts.

‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Psalm 46.10

Further information from the Rev. Maggie Hindley at the Centre on 020 7372 1765 or maggie.hindley@londoninterfaith.org.uk

Ongoing New Course

Mondays weekly - The Arts and Spirituality

began spring 2009 - you may still join - contact info@londoninterfaith.org.uk

Led by Dr Lucien Jenkins

As part of a process of majority culture re-self-examination, to enable deeper and fuller engagement with the wider world, London Inter Faith Centre offers this course on the Arts and Spirituality.

Each session in the course will open with a lecture laying out issues and historical context, followed by a seminar to discuss specific works. The course will examine works from literature, music and the visual arts, within the broad western Christian tradition, relating them always to the wider world.

background information on the work of LIFC …

The Centre aims to provide a space where inter faith meetings, study and dialogue can take place amongst different world religions. The centre is funded and run by a single faith (Christian) but with many faith involvements. The London Inter Faith Centre was founded by the Church of England ten years ago, for the last five of which it has been joined by the United Reformed Church. As a ’single faith’ Christian hosted place of meeting, study and dialogue between faith communities and with the secular world it functions ecumenically and benefits increasingly from many faith involvement.

The Centre works with a definition of inter faith as faiths in encounter and the issues raised thereby The Centre seeks through a variety of courses, conferences, seminars, open occasions and events, to promote the encounter between faiths, without foreclosing on the conclusions.

Just as the Centre works with a definition, so it has a motto true to self and open to others - and thus endeavours to create a safe space within which those of differing and sometimes conflicting points of view can start to build communication with one another, leading to mutuality, trust and sometimes cooperative shared action.

Many of those interested in such issues may not represent or wish to be perceived as representing a whole tradition or even part of it - and so the Centre also has a Friends scheme for individuals, whereby individuals as individuals, of any faith or none, can actively participate in particular aspects of the work.

‘Inter faith’ means different things to different people - and for some involves multi-faith worship. While recognising that there are ways in which different traditions can explore sacred space and time together (See Sacred Silence) and while pursuing issues of spirituality that impact upon the spectrum of religious and even sometimes non-specifically-religious response, nonetheless the Centre avoids that which may effectively compromise mainstream worshippers of different religions. This site is under development to address these and other issues. We would be interested to know your views.

Ongoing