2015issue 17

on the inside

Weaving Womens Wisdom

Councillor ONeill shares his thoughts on KFFs AGM

Your Feedback Matters

Thanks to everyone who participated in National Interfaith Week. We ran a number of faith awareness events in North and South Kirklees and we had a great turn out. The Forum wanted to commemorate the centenary of the First World War and based the weeks events exploring how people of dierent faiths contributed, and the eect of war.

The week was launched at a Clerics Supper gathering at the Al-Hikmah Centre where Muslim and Christian Clerics met to discuss national and international issues.

Over four hundred people from North and South Kirklees joined Kirklees Faiths Forum to learn about dierent faiths and the importance of faith in our communities.

Continued on page 2

National Interfaith WeekCommemorating the Centenary ofWorld War One in Kirklees

National Interfaith WeekCommemorating the Centenary ofWorld War One in Kirklees

Continued from page 1

Kirklees Faiths Forums Annual General Meeting was held at The University of Huddersfield and was a lively aair, especially the amazing performances given by children from Spring Grove School who sang acapella to guests and danced to Pharrell Williams Happy to round the evening o. Kirklees College Catering student volunteers helped with hospitality, yet again, a sterling job proving many hands make light work. Thank you to speakers on the night; the Mayor of Kirklees - Councillor Ken Smith, Cllr Peter ONeill -Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, Carol Gilchrist - Engagement and Cohesion Manager and Partnership working, Karen Selley from the Welcome Centre and Rachael Loftus from Cities of Service.

Winners of KFFs Good Neighbour award received their medals to acknowledge helping others in their communities. A big congratulations to all our winners.

Hands-on-Faith workshops included a pop-up exhibition at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Huddersfield about Sikhs and World War One, A Travelling Military Museum came to the Al-Hikmah Centre in Batley. Jahan Mahmood, a renowned community and military historian brought his private collection of artefacts and items belonging to Indian and British soldiers from the First World War. Local historian Christine Leveridge and Reverend Kathy Robertson presented a local view of how the war aected people at the time and how important a part faith played in Dewsbury, and Kiran Bali looked at how Mahatma Gandhi contributed to the recruitment of Indian soldiers and his teachings. We were also joined by Julia Kay at Batley Resource Centre who gave a presentation on Jewish religious attitudes to the war in the context of The Great War. All very thought provoking workshops.

Wed like to thank everyone involved and our small team of three greatly appreciates your loyalty and friendship.

National Interfaith WeekCommemorating the Centenaryof World War One in Kirklees

National Interfaith WeekCommemorating the Centenaryof World War One in Kirklees

Kirklees Interfaith Week is something I always look forward to, as an annual celebration of the diversity of faiths in our borough. The diversity itself is enriching and by exploring each others faiths, we become spiritually uplifted and gain a better understanding of ourselves and how we can flourish as a harmonious society.

The highlight of the week for me is the Kirklees Faiths Forum (KFF), AGM/Celebration evening, which this year was hosted by the University of Huddersfield, who provided a magnificent venue for the evening. It was not only a business meeting; it was a celebration of all, whose lives are touched by faith in Kirklees.

There were a number of inspiring speakers who spoke on subjects dear to people of faith. It was interesting to hear how KFF is one of the partners who contribute to community engagement and cohesion. (This was evident when KFF played a key role in supporting the We love Batley event in the wake of the EDL demonstration there.)

We also heard of the invaluable work carried

out by the Welcome Centre, who provide food

parcels for the needy. This also

makes us

Councillor ONeill shareshis thoughts on KFFs AGMCouncillor ONeill shareshis thoughts on KFFs AGM

ponder on the question raised by Archbishop John Sentamu, that as well as fishing bodies out of the river, should we not venture up-stream and explore why people are falling in, so measures can be implemented to prevent it?

One speaker highlighted the aim of people of faith, to love their neighbour, as an expression of their love for God, a message that has always been central to the work of KFF. This was shown clearly in their Good Neighbours Awards, which was one of the highlights of the evening. It was an acknowledgement of the noble activities of ordinary people who make sacrifices for their neighbours, day in, day out.

The good neighbours theme also came across in the Cities of Service presentation. This project focusses on impact volunteering and has identified two themes to begin with. Firstly, Out and About a project aimed at alleviating loneliness in Kirklees elderly population, by other older people supporting them to participate in the community and be active. Secondly, MENtors a mentoring programme for young men to help them find their way through transitions and set personal goals, which requires older men to act as good

role models.

Finally, the social aspect of sharing a meal and thoughts and ideas with groups of people who do not often

come together in this way, was the most

valuable aspect of this occasion. Embracing our common humanity is the real purpose of KFF and thats what it excels at.

The Kirklees Faiths Forum Book Club group have been working very hard over the past few months to produce their very own creative weave to support the Weaving Womens Wisdom Project.

Everybody born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory. Maya Angelou

The aim of the project is for women to meet and share important stories from tradition and scriptures and to reflect on the wisdom that they have experienced to inspire a rug design. Groups have met from across West Yorkshire to make beautiful weaves which will be combined to make a travelling exhibition known as Weaving Womens Wisdom. The project is near to completion and will culminate in a launch at Bradford Civic Hall in April. More news to follow from the launch.

Kirklees residents were invited by Kirklees Faiths Forum to nominate an individual they felt deserved recognition for their kindness by helping others and making a dierence to someones life.

At the KFF Annual General Meeting and Evening of Celebration, these individuals were acknowledged for their acts of goodness and community spirit by receiving a medal presented by the Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Ken Smith.

Congratulations to Michelle Hainsworth, Saima Bi, Abda Mahmood, Megan Winterburn, Dr Rajpura, Jeremy Cuss, Farida Patel, Lucy Lucy and John Binns for being the good neighbours we all need and value.

Good NeighbourAward

Wisdom is acommon threadwithin all faiths.

Wisdom is acommon threadwithin all faiths.

New faith centre joins

Kirklees Faiths Forum

New faith centre joins

Kirklees Faiths Forum

Kirklees Faiths Forum is pleased to announce and welcome Markazi Jamia Masjid Riza in Huddersfield as a new Faith Centre. We look forward to working together with the hosts at the mosque.

To book a visit to a place of worship in Kirklees visit www.kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk or to speak to a member of KFF team, call 01924 326425

Thank you to everyone who donated tins to local food banks, especially the children from Spring Grove Primary School and members of the Church of God Fellowship in Sheepridge. Your fantastic eorts have helped to support individuals and families in crisis across Kirklees.

Pledge A Poundand Bring a Tin

Pledge A Poundand Bring a Tin

At Kirklees Faiths Forum we like to get

feedback about how were doing. Pupils from

Northowram Primary School in Halifax and St Josephs

Catholic School in Dewsbury were the experts to ask! Dont

just take our word for it read some of theirs.

Updates on events, information and resources relevant to faith communities and interfaith groups are sent out by email to colleagues and contacts of Kirklees Faiths Forum, if you wish to be included on our emailing list send us an email at: info@kirkleesfaithsforum.org.uk

You can also nd us on facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with our recent news and events.

Join Kirklees Faiths Forum Emailing List

Designed by: www.dapsolutions.co.uk

Kirklees Faiths Forum, Batley Town Hall, Market PlaceBatley WF17 5DATel: 01924 326425info@kirkleesfaithsforum.org.ukwww.kirkleesfaithsforum.org.ukContributions are welcome - contact us with your news and comments.

contact Kirklees Faiths Forum

Festivals Calendar 2015March 21st

Naw-Ruz (Bahai)

Baha'i New Year

March 25th

Annunciation (Christian)

Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.

March 28th

Rama Navami (Hindu)

At Rama Navami Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Rama. It falls on the ninth day of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (March/April).

Rama Navami is one of the most important Hindu festivals. Lord Rama is an incarnation of the god Vishnu and the hero of the epic Ramayana, which is recited in its entirety in the week leading up to Rama Navama, and on the day itself.

March 29th

Palm Sunday (Christian)

The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.

2 April

Maundy Thursday (Christian)

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter which Christians remember as the day of the Last Supper. The Last Supper took place on the evening before Jesus's crucifixion. It's also the night when, according to Christian tradition, Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.

2 April

Mahavir Jayanti (Jain)

Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha. Mahavira was the last Tirthankara (great sage) and the most important prophet of the Jain faith. Mahavir Jayanti is marked with prayer and fasting.

3 April

Good Friday (Christian)

Good Friday is the day in the calendar when Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

3 - 11 April

Passover (Pesach) (Jewish)

Passover lasts for eight days. Jewish people celebrate with special ceremonies, and observe specific customs which remember the escape from Egypt, as told in the Book of Exodus

4 April

Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu)

Hindus celebrate the birth of the god Hanuman. It falls in the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (April).

5 April

Easter Day (Christian)

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is the most important festival in the Christian calendar.

14 April

Vaisakhi (Sikh)

At Vaisakhi, Sikhs celebrate the founding of the Khalsa, the collective body of baptised Sikhs created in 1699.

21 April - 2 May

Festival of Ridvn (Bahai)

During the Festival of Ridvn, Bah's remember the 12 days that their founder, Bah'u'llh, spent in the Garden of Ridvn.

Kirklees Faiths Forum KirkFaithsForum

Kirklees Faith Forum Interfaith Book Clubs Meetings take place on the last Thursday of every month at 12.30 pm.

Venues vary so please contact the Kirklees Faiths Forum Team for further information. Everyone welcome read a new book every month (supplied by Kirklees Libraries) and share yourthoughts with others overa cup of tea.