Interfaith Peace Blessing in Birmingham, UK

Interfaith Peace Blessing “Towards the Ideal of One Family Under God” Birmingham, UK, February 27, 2016 By David Earle Introduction, Recognitions and marriage, and the value of the family, in Speech Presentations. maintaining a healthy society and building

H eld in the Unitarian New Meeting Church in the city February 27th 2016 was a momentous a world of peace. So much heart, collective centre of Birmingham, and day for the city of Birmingham, and effort and preparation had gone into this attended by people of all faiths, beyond! 70 couples and, altogether 160 day, such that we were able to create a cultures, races and nationalities, coming participants, people of sincerity, beautiful atmosphere together, together to recognise the central representing so many faiths, races, transcending all our differences and importance of the family, and marriage, in cultures and ethnic backgrounds - it felt making us genuinely feel like ‘One Family building a harmonious society where we like the whole world(!) - came together under God’, the overarching theme of this can live together with one another in centred on our common recognition and day of blessing. peace. understanding of the importance of This tradition of blessing was begun many years ago by the Founders of the Universal Peace Federation, Family Federation and Women’s Federation for World Peace, Father Moon and his wife, Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, and has become widely known and supported by religious leaders and adherents of all faiths during the last 25 years. Some participants had travelled several hours to attend the event, from Wellingborough, Leicester, Coventry, Sheffield and Lancaster, in addition to those of us from the West Midlands. We began by recognising their presence, and the effort made by all of us to make it such a special occasion. We then recognised some of our ‘VIP’ guests and dignitaries : our Deputy Police Crime Commissioner, Cllr Yvonne Mosquito; 3 former Lord

Nagoo, representing the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jathar community, and a non-executive director of the Nishkam Centre, spoke not only from a Sikh perspective but also as a wife, a mother, an educator and as someone passionately concerned about our children’s future, and the future of the whole of modern-day society. She suggested that we live in a ‘post-secular’ time which offers a chance for more dialogue between people of faith and secular positionings as to what ingredients are necessary to generate personal, family and societal wellbeing. We should reflect more deeply what faith perspectives can bring to the table. ‘Family’ evokes ideas of kinship, interconnectedness and interdependence, Mayors - Cllr Chaudhury Rashid, Cllr Patricia with Iranian and Syrian women all reflected in the Sikh logo for Oneness, Mahmood Hussain and Shashi Dholakia, Ik Oankar. These ideas and feelings bring a the latter now the Chair of the different mood and tone to how we relate Wellingborough Interfaith Group; our to each other and collaborate in the wider Deputy Lieutenant - Dr Jagjit Singh society. In Sikhism, family life itself Taunque MBE, representing his wife (grihasti jeeavan) is valued as a gift and Satinder Taunque OBE; Resham Singh responsibility, and as a vital first base to Sandhu MBE, who held the position of nurture spiritual traits which all humans High Sheriff of Leicestershire, the oldest are born with, the spiritual ‘inheritance’ secular office under the Crown; city passed down to us from our Creator. Both councillors Mohammed Idrees and adults and young people, therefore, have a Mariam Khan, the latter being the Councillor Yvonne Mosquito role to play in bringing the best out of each youngest to currently hold this public other, and then naturally making a office at 25 years of age; the President of difference in the wider world. the Hindu Council of Birmingham, Tarang It is always very empowering to see the Shelat, and his wife; Sheikh Arif Abdul fundamental commonalities which we Hussain, founder of the Al Mahdi Institute share, particularly relating to the centrality (1993), and its current Director and Senior of the family in society, expressed so Lecturer; Gopinder Kaur Sagoo eloquently from our different faith representing Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh perspectives. and the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sevak Jathar community; United Nations Gopinder Kaur Sagoo (GNNSJ) representative of many years standing Mrs Friederike Rice; several Christian Dr David Earle, MC for the occasion, and ministers, including Rev Eve Pitts, the first officiator for the Blessing with his wife black woman to be ordained as a Deacon Patricia, began the proceedings, in the Church of England in 1992, and introducing each of our 4 speakers in turn. ordained as Rev Canon Pitts in 1994; and Sheikh Arif spoke of our fundamental long-time friend and media representative essence as a man or woman, beyond all Dhiren Katwa, Senior Editor at Asian external labels and circumstances, and Voice. Quite a list! how, in our coming together, ‘love changes Kathleen Roche-Nagi spoke on ‘parenting’ We were also extremely privileged to have everything’. Cllr Yvonne spoke in a very ‘human’ way about her recent trip to The David Earle then gave a brief with us 5 women from Syria, and we asked them to stand for us, in recognition of our Gambia in west Africa, where her heart of presentation on the significance and compassion was moved by the plight of importance of this Blessing, solidarity with all the many thousands of some of the people there, and she both felt emphasising the value of making a new families and individuals who have suffered in the Middle East crisis. This provoked a and treated them as if they were part of her start, particularly as couples but also own family. Kathleen Roche-Nagi, collectively, representing so many spontaneous round of applause, and was a Director of ‘Approachable Parenting’ in strands of our modern ‘global village’. very moving, poignant moment for all of us in the room. Birmingham, described the broad range of He also stressed the crucial value of the courses and skills which her organisation integrity of the family which we uphold has to offer, to Muslim and non-Muslim and stand for in this blessing ceremony, alike, and described herself as a teacher, and that in standing for the integral life-coach, counsellor and community family we are not standing against mediator. Her soft-spoken, unassuming something else. We can only feel style belies the impact which she and her compassion and empathy where there is organisation have had on hundreds of pain and brokenness. Our challenge is to people, particularly helping many children try and bring more of God’s love into with their self-esteem and achievement each of our families, as a parent for our through the ‘Positive about You’ children, as a husband and wife for one Sheikh Arif Abdul Hussain programme. Finally, Gopinder Kaur another, as a child with a heart of love

We all then stood for everyone to be sprinkled with holy water, symbolising a new start, and then took a universal vow, promising to remain true to the values and virtues coming from God and our respective faith traditions, aspiring to develop a true parental heart, to keep fidelity within our couple, to help our children maintain their purity of mind and body in a very difficult world, and to share God’s blessing with our extended family , neighbours and the wider society. We hope to make a real difference in our fractured society, and will try and influence government and media, particularly on the issues of pornography and the sexualisation of our young people, to develop programmes of marriage and respect towards our parents and similar events were taking place all over preparation and marriage enrichment, and elders, and beyond that to be a blessing the world, with brothers and sisters of to help young people in schools through for our neighbours and community. We all nations and cultures following the character education. reflected that one way to do this is same ritual, linking our hearts and lives through a willingness to forgive one together as one human family. We After a presentation of flowers, we all another for past hurts and mistakes, and concluded this part of the proceedings turned to the East and, thinking about the having the courage to apologise for with a sincere prayer, promising to founders of all our different faith things we may have done wrong - make a new beginning, individually, as traditions, Abraham, Jesus, Prophet through a ‘Spring-cleaning’ of the heart. couples and families, for our city, and Mohammed, the Hindu saints and sages, for our nation. Guru Nanak, the Lord Buddha, and Holy Nectar Ceremony finally Mother Moon in Korea, we offered Blessing a collective bow to the Divine. This was We next invited representatives from followed by a musical offering, an original the Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu song composed by Tom Pritty called and Sikh faiths to offer words and ‘Making Rainbows’ , very appropriate for prayers of blessing on all the this unique occasion. Tom, his son participants. The depth and sincerity of Patrick, and Viola Dirnhofer sang each one’s offering was beautiful to together : “Christians, Muslims, Hindus, behold, and a fitting way to begin. Jews; Sikhs and Buddhists, all religions; one God, Allah, Yahweh, Brahma; it’s good to be together…”

Sam and Alex Lukwago

Words from the Holy Qu’ran Presentation of flowers

A Christian prayer Willem & Carolina Hollmann Tom’s original song After spending a few quiet moments in reflection, all the participants shared a cup of Holy Nectar, the wife drinking half the cup first, then the husband drinking the remainder, representing our new beginning and symbolising our oneness under God. This gesture of peace towards one another is a familiar part of some of our faith and cultural Anjana reading from the Hindu traditions. We reminded ourselves that scriptures Congratulatory remarks

Three rousing cheers of happiness - Presentation of Ambassador for Peace awards

After some final, eloquent words from Ambassador for Peace award at the Dr Jagjit Taunque who, together with event. I feel very blessed, truly humbled his wife Satinder, has represented Her and inspired to work hard further and Majesty the Queen in the West serve the community. Ram and I Midlands for a number of years now, enjoyed the event. It was organised so we concluded with 3 rousing cheers of well and was very inspiring indeed. “Ok Mansei” wishing everyone, quite Have a blessed day, Dr Chithra literally from the original Korean, ‘ten Ramakrishnan FRSA thousand years of happiness’ ! How Good morning, Patricia and David. wonderful ! May I first of all thank you for inviting Before indulging in the banquet of food With members of a West Bromwich church myself and Usha to the Interfaith Peace which awaited us, Patricia Earle Blessing yesterday. It was such a joyous presented the prestigious ‘Ambassador event that we were so glad we could for Peace’ award to a number of well- take part. Our friend, Bhupendra, deserving ladies. Brief biographies can thoroughly enjoyed it too. I mentioned be found at the end of this report, to you that I have recently been asked representing so much collective to Chair the Wellingborough Interfaith goodness on the part of all these Group. Our AGM is set for Tuesday wonderful women. 12th July at 7.00pm. I am requesting Most people then stayed for the food you to be our Guest Speakers for that and refreshments on offer, a event, and hope that you will be able to substantial part of it kindly donated by A beautiful inter-racial couple accept this invitation. Hope to hear arguably Birmingham’s No 1 Asian from you soon. caterer, Shankar’s Sweet Centre. Shashi Dholakia Musical entertainment was provided by Good morning, Patricia. several of those who had been Thank you for encouraging me to take attending the blessing, and the whole part in the annual World Peace affair concluded with a genuine sense Blessing. I would love to see it taking of happiness and fulfillment. As in place at a central place in Birmingham previous years, it was a unique and - the Town Hall, the Council House, unforgettable experience, and we hope even the International Convention everyone came away with a sense of An ‘impromptu’ band providing Centre - with more churches, renewal and a greater feeling of hope in entertainment mosques, synagogues, temples, etc the future. taking part. Maybe get young people to help with social media to get the word Some comments out. PEACE and LOVE… so very Dear David and Patricia, important in today’s world. You have I just wanted to take this opportunity to done fantastically well … and continue thank you, from the bottom of my to be a voice for Peace and Love. heart, for inviting me/us to the Have a great Sunday, Patricia. Love Interfaith Peace Blessing today. I Lucretia enjoyed every moment. Thank you for acknowledging me, a symbol of our true and cemented friendship. Keep in Brief biographies of some of our touch and may you continue to fly the new Ambassadors for Peace. (14 flag for peace, harmony, love and unity awards were presented in total) higher and higher. You have, I feel the blessings of many. Amra Bone Kind regards, Dhiren Katwa Amra has been involved in interfaith Greetings. activities for more than 20 years, Ram and I would like to thank you for including with the West Midlands Our youngest city councillor, Mariam inviting us to the Interfaith Blessing, Faiths Forum and the Coventry Circle Khan. and honouring me with the for Peace and Reconciliation. Her work

in the UK has also been supplemented Education work with children, quite Labour Group and Deputy Chief Whip. by visits to Germany and Jerusalem. literally risking their lives in the Yvonne has chaired several committees She sits on a Sharia Council panel in process. They joined the West Midland including: Birmingham City Council’s Birmingham’s Central Mosque, helping Quaker Peace Education Project when People & Organisation Committee, the women to come through difficult they returned to England in 1994, West Midlands Immigration Strategic marriage experiences, and she always working in many local schools. After Board, the Social Cultural & Health stands up for ‘gender justice’. Amra has the break up of Communism, they were Board and the Birmingham Housing been a Maths and English teacher, and invited to Belarus and Ukraine to train Benefit Review Board. currently teaches Islamic Studies at teachers and hundreds of children in Yvonne was formerly Vice Chair of Universities in Birmingham, Warwick, the skills of communication, co- West Midlands Police Authority, where Bristol and Cambridge. She has operation, conflict handling and she served on several committees, devoted much time representing the mediation. Each experience has taught including as Chair of the Personnel Islamic faith in personal conversations, them so much, which they could then Committee and Vice Chair of the in debates and in television take into the next adventure. They both Equalities Committee. Other previous documentaries, all for the purpose of feel that they have been guided by God experiences include being Chair of the greater cohesion in our society. throughout their lives. Council of Black Led Churches (112 Diana Lampen Cllr Yvonne Mosquito. West Churches), advisor on the Interfaith Midlands Deputy Police and Crime Religious Board, Chair of the Diana and her husband spent the first Birmingham Women’s Enterprise twenty years of their marriage living Commissioner Development Agency and co- and working in a special school for Yvonne Mosquito was born in Balsall coordinator of two Supplementary emotionally disturbed boys. They learnt Heath, Birmingham. Her community School projects Additional experience so much there about the hurts that can work began at the age of seventeen has included serving as: Commissioner lead to violent behaviour and about the when she became a supplementary of the Legal Services Commission and long slow work of healing. school teacher assistant. She was representative for Initiatives of Change Subsequently, they lived in Northern elected as a councillor to Birmingham which is a world-wide organisation Ireland during The Troubles, joining in City Council in 1996 and has served as promoting respect and peace. many of the efforts to bring about a Executive Member of the Birmingham more peaceful society, including Peace City Council Cabinet, Chair of the