& Pendle Faith Centre Tel: - 01282 682275 Email:-- terry.murnane@.gov.uk Faith Centre Website 28 MAY 2010 Anne Frank: A History for Today . . . around this time of year, when the sun is beginning to shine and thoughts gradually start drifting to the summer and end of another academic year, we like to provide at least one “major” opportunity for people of all ages to come together, learn and of course, enjoy each other’s company. This year is certainly no exception. We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming this acclaimed exhibition, which explores the story of Anne Frank and the history of the Holocaust, as a context for young people and indeed, the community as a whole to reflect and discuss contemporary issues. Interest in the exhibition is very high and all school places have been filled. The exhibition, which runs from 14th – 25th June is open to all. However, it is given over to students from our local schools during the daytime on most days . . . indeed we are delighted to be welcoming circa 25 schools from around the area. A great statement. There are plenty of opportunities for members of the wider community to come and enjoy the exhibition too. Please see the poster accompanying this week’s e- bulletin and do share with others. Finally, the exhibition will be launched on Monday 14th June at 1630hrs, to which everyone is welcome. Within all of this, we are delighted to be working in partnership with so many bodies, not least The Anne Frank Trust UK, The Prince’s Trust, vinspired and of course our schools and community. More info on the 11th June bulletin. Have a lovely half term, if you’re having one. Thoughts go with those revising for examinations. May the sun shine upon you. My peace to you all . . .

Community Fun Day – talking about “major” opportunities to bring people together, it doesn’t come much better than our Fun Day last Saturday. The sun certainly shone (and more) and what a joy it was to welcome hundreds and hundreds of people to our Campus. Plenty of entertainment on offer and so wonderful to see our young people having such a great time. Cohesion in action. Good too to welcome our Gordon Birtwistle MP, our new Parliamentary representative and his wife, Kathleen. Thanks to the many who supported our event. And thanks too to those from Burnley Campus Social Enterprise Ltd who pulled it all together.

LCC Adoption Team – what a pleasure it was to welcome the team to the Centre this week for a meeting with people interested in adoption. They enjoyed using our welcoming space. Coincidentally, further down the corridor there was a programme taking place for those involved in fostering. So pleasing to see our Social Enterprise being used in this way.

The Diocese Urban Focus Group – met this week at the Faith Centre. Good to meet people from across the area, including Archdeacon John Hawley, who has visited here on a number of occasions. Good too to welcome the Dean of Rochester, Adrian Newman, who is visiting the area as part of a sabbatical study. The group were particularly impressed with the extent of diverse activities and facilities when they were given a detailed tour of the Campus.

Many congratulations – to three of our local students who have recently returned from periods abroad, as part of Christian Aid’s excellent Platform 2 initiative. Jessica Midgley and Laura Johnson, both former Thomas Whitham students, spent approximately 3 months working with young people in the deprived communities of South Africa and Ghana respectively. Laura was joined by Katie Ormerod, another Burnley student in Ghana. This week I had the pleasure of listening to three first class presentations by the students at a Mother’s Union meeting at St Andrew’s Church. I was granted a special dispensation! Wonderful to see how their outlooks have broadened, rich in the experience of meeting new people and cultures. So very pleasing as the initial Campus contact with Christian Aid had come via the Centre.

CTRL.ALT.STRIKE - This year marks the first World Cup in Africa and Strike is a 'War of the Roses' style Football Competition for 18 – 30 year olds celebrating this and offering participants the opportunity to win the ancient Lancashire versus Yorkshire battle. The competition will be a form to learn about poverty in South Africa. Platform2 returnee volunteers from South Africa will be hosting a Ctrl.Alt.Shift stall with information about the real South Africa and the impact that the World Cup is having on local people. When: MIDDAY Saturday 12th June (the afternoon before the England v USA game) Where: Powerleague at Range Stadium, 11-18 High School, Wilbraham Road, What: Strike is a 'War of the Roses' Football Competition for 18 – 30 year olds celebrating the first World Cup in Africa How much: £1 per player (in a team of 7) For more info / to register: check out - http://ctrlaltshift.co.uk/strikeroses

Baptism at the Faith Centre – this week we were delighted to welcome 50 – 60 Year 1 students from our neighbours at the Campus, Barden Primary School, as part of a session led by Fr Peter Hapgood-Strickland on baptism. The students thoroughly enjoyed their time with us and at the end of the session decided to call the doll they had brought Dora Mary Smith!!

And finally . . . a number of readers contacted me during the week to say how much they had enjoyed the dialogue between the Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff and the Dali Lama, in last week’s Faith Centre. As a result, here’s the next part of the exchange . . . . .

Dali Lama . . . “I am not interested my friend about your religion or if you are religious or not. What really is important to me is your behaviour in front of your peers, family, work, community and in front of the world. Remember, the Universe is the echo of our actions and our thoughts. The law of action and reaction is not exclusively for physics. If I act with goodness, I will receive goodness. If I act with evil, I will get evil”

(many thanks to John Gildert of Caritas Care Preston for this reflection)