14 TheBRIDGE....September 2004

On 18 July Tom dedicated a newly created In memory of Memorial Rose Garden in the grounds of the Church of the Cross, Thamesmead, in memory of the Rt Rev. Jim Let Bishop , former who died last September. A plaque was unveiled by Mrs Sally us Thompson, his widow. Church of the Cross is an Anglican/Methodist/United Reformed Church built in pray 1973. The ‘Rev Jim’ was Thamesmead’s first Anglican Team Rector and Ecumenical September Team Leader. Our thoughts and The Rev Gordon Newton Lighting prayers this month are (Methodist/URC minister in with our children and Thamesmead) said that this garden was a welcome Candles in the young people as they development in a new town begin a new academic where there are no cemeteries year. The family, like the or places of remembrance. Hindu Mandir school, seeks to be a FOOTNOTE: place where children Bishop Jim’s successor in Bath can learn and grow. So & Wells is Peter Price, former “I’ve often wanted to go inside this Hindu . temple, but never dared go in on my own”, a in this International Year Roman Catholic ‘pilgrim’ was heard to say. of the Family we pray the following prayer, 10th Black And Minority Ethnic Forum Conference At the temple, the second the procession moved as a stop on the South Inter living witness of religious which comes from the Faith Group’s (SLIFG) annual harmony through Plumstead new prayer book of the A Roadmap to interfaith Walk, two walkers High Street. Anglican Church of from each faith were invited to St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Kenya. light candles in celebration of Church was the lunch stop. Lord Jesus, as a young their day out together. There a Methodist Minister Higher Achievement The SLIFG collaborated with who chairs the local ‘Churches boy you fully the Greenwich Multi-Faith Together’ led a discussion on expressed yourself as A tenth anniversary is conference for his grace and Wandsworth. The title is “A Forum to plan the route for the Christian faith. Next stop you listened to the favour in bringing us thus far, roadmap to higher their eighth Inter Faith Walk, was the nearby Chinese a mile-stone on any while recognising that we still achievement – issues for black teachers of Jerusalem journey and the tenth which spent an hour in each of Buddhist Temple and the day and asked them journey and the tenth have some way to go. and minority ethnic parents”. five places of worship. ended at the Sikh gurdwara This complements last year’s year of Southwark Some of you may not be The walk started at the with food in the ‘langar’ and questions to the aware of the Forum. Its aim is conferences and builds on one questions and answers about astonishment of your Diocese Black and aspect of the work of the forum Woolwich Islamic Centre where to provide opportunities for the scores of children were the Sikh faith. parents and all around Minority Ethnic for the next few years, which is parents and all around voices and views of black and gathering for their regular At any one time there were Forum is definitely to minority ethnic members of around issues related to the you. Be with our under achievement of our Saturday in madrasseh lessons. between sixty and eighty children as they learn, be celebrated. the church in the Diocese to be ‘pilgrims’, walking together. freely expressed on any matter children. It acknowledges that After the stop, for a warm that in their listening welcome and introduction to They were joined by the Mayor Beverley Fraser of concern, interest and parents have a key role to play and asking of Beverley Fraser in the successful nurturing of Hinduism at the Hindu Temple, and Mayoress for part of the importance to them, and to day. questions, they may writes: enable them to articulate their our children and in turn the perceptions and affirm their success of our communities. “We saw the notice in a shop grow up in wisdom We have decided to save the worship, faith and culture as The conference opens with a 20 years window, we’re really glad we and in stature and in great celebration for the 2005 active members of the family of keynote address by Dr Elaine came” said two young Turkish conference when it will form Muslim women. “We should do favour with God and God. Arnold, Chair of the Separation society... Amen. part of the Southwark Diocese and Re-union Forum, on some of Priests much more of this!” added a centenary celebrations. This year’s conference will local Sikh man. take place on Saturday 30 challenges parents face. She is Canon However, we shall still be For information about the October at St Cecilia School, followed by Prof. Gus John, a in the thanking God at this year’s South London Inter Faith Andrew former Director of Education Nunn in a London borough. Gus has Workplace Group phone Sarah Thorley on long campaigned for schools to 020 8674 5447. For the Sub-Dean take more seriously the needs In July the CHRISM Greenwich Multi-Faith Forum of of African-Caribbean boys who (Christians in Secular contact Fr. Anthony Plummer Southwark 020 8854 0960. under perform in our schools. Ministry) annual conference Cathedral The final speaker will be the celebrated the 20th Rev. Les Isaacs from the anniversary of the first major Ascension Trust. Horrified by gathering of Ministers in the murder of two black young Secular Employment in the A Pre-Advent Retreat CENTENARY UK at Nottingham. women at a New Year’s Eve to be held at Wychcroft Liturgical Music Composition Competition party in Birmingham two years The conference took place ago, he agonised over what he at The Royal Foundation of From Tuesday 23 November To mark the Centenary of the Cathedral and Diocese of could do as a concerned citizen St. Katharine in Limehouse. to Thursday 25 November 2004 Southwark the Dean and Chapter are launching a to stop gun crime in the black It was an ecumenical and competition for new anthems or settings of the canticles community. He set up the international gathering, WAITING FOR GOD : for Evensong (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis). Entrants street pastor movement which involving Anglicans, URC intervenes in tense situations members, Roman Catholics should be aware that the adjudicators will be looking for AN EXPLORATION OF ADVENT and offers to mediate non- and visitors from Germany music which draws on different ethnic traditions but violent solutions. Les will and France. FOR TODAY which can be incorporated regularly into the regular speak about the street pastors The 20th anniversary is The retreat will be led by the Rev’d Dr Ellen repertoire of the Cathedral Choir. who are now active in London, being used to inaugurate a Birmingham and Manchester. Clark-King, who works as a spiritual director at Prize: a cash prize of £1500, plus a possible memorial to a key mover It is your Forum. Let’s make behind the 1984 conference St Anthony’s Priory, an ecumenical spirituality performance of the work on BBC Radio 3 Choral this a gathering to remember. the Rev. Michael Ranken, centre in Durham. Evensong. Come and join us in the who died last year. A Library celebration of the first ten for Christians in Secular We will look together at the ways in which God is Entry: Details of the competition and an entry form can still ‘Emmanuel’ - God with us - today. be obtained by post from: Peter Wright, Director of years of a challenging but Ministry will be set up to be a rewarding journey. Details and resource for the further Music, Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 Cost: £85 application forms can be development of MSE – for 9DA. Website: www.dswark.org. E-mail: obtained from your vicar. those exploring their own Booking details: [email protected] ministry in secular Bookings Secretary, Wychcroft, Bletchingley, Beverly Fraser is Chair of Final Submissions to: Peter Wright, Director of Music, employment and for those Redhill, Surrey RH1 4NE the Southwark Diocese researching into the roots of Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 Black and Minority Ethnic the movement. Tel: 01883 743041 9DA by Friday, 25th March 2005. Forum