Being used by God in uncommon, remarkable ways

Here's the sermon I shared this morning at St Andrew's Wickford:

Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be perfect to do God's work. We need look no further than the twelve disciples whose many weaknesses are forever preserved throughout the pages of the New Testament. Jesus chose ordinary people - fisherman, tax collectors, political zealots - and turned their weaknesses into strengths.

While Jesus had a large number of followers including women as well as men and those who remained at home to support those who were on the road with Jesus, this passage focuses our attention on the 12 who were amongst the first that were called to follow him, were amongst those closest to him and who became apostles following his Ascension.

Their names, as given here, are: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew (Nathanael); Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus (James the Less), and Thaddaeus (Judas, son of James); Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. (Matthew 10:2-4, emphasis added)

What do we know about them? Peter and Andrew were fishermen in the town of Capernaum working alongside James and John. Peter and Andrew were early followers of John the Baptist. Andrew was the first to follow Jesus and his enthusiasm was evident as his desire to introduce his older brother to Jesus revealed what was already in his heart—a deep love for God. Once Peter was introduced to Jesus they left John and became followers of Jesus. Peter is portrayed as impetuous, always speaking his mind and acting on impulse. He is well known for denying Christ three times after Christ was arrested but became one of the key leaders of the early church after Jesus’ ascension.

James and John were both known for being men of intense passion and fervour. Because of this Jesus nicknamed them the Sons of Thunder. They asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy a village which failed to show them hospitality and also asked if they could sit on either side of Jesus’ throne in heaven. Philip was the one who suggested that Nathanael come and see Jesus and who brought a group of Greek people from Bethsaida to Jesus. Nathanael, also known as Bartholomew, expressed some local prejudice about Nazareth but was recognised by Jesus for the sincerity of his love for God from the beginning of their relationship. Jesus said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Matthew was a tax collector; tax collectors being the most despised people in all of Israel. They were known for taking extra money from the people of Israel to pay off the Romans and to pad their own pockets. Thomas is best known for his moment of skepticism after the Resurrection which earned him the nickname “Doubting Thomas,” a term for anyone who needs proof before they believe something.

James the Less is the son of Alphaeus. His mother’s name is Mary and he has a brother named Joseph. Except for a few details about his family, there is nothing more mentioned about him in Scripture. Maybe that is why he is referred to as James the Less in Mark 15:40. Simon the Zealot was probably a political activist in his younger years. Some have suggested that the fiery enthusiasm he once had for Israel as a Zealot was now expressed in his devotion to Christ. Judas, son of James, is the eleventh name on the list of disciples. Also known as Jude, Thaddeus, and Lebbaeus, he lived in obscurity as one of the Twelve. He is recorded as asking Jesus the question (in John 14:22), “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver but, by doing so, enabled the events of Christ’s Passion to occur as Jesus knew they would.

So, amongst those that Jesus chose are one who denied him, another who betrayed him; while all of them abandoned him at the last. Some were ambitious and some revengeful. Some had complicated and morally dubious backgrounds. They were primarily ordinary working people; none of whom held influence or power. Some were so obscure, even among the disciples, that we know virtually nothing about them.

They are, therefore, great encouragements to us ‘because they exemplify how common people with typical failings can be used by God in uncommon, remarkable ways.’ John McArthur writes, ‘What we know to be true about Jesus is that He chose [those who were] ordinary and unrefined … They were the commonest of the common. They were from rural areas, farmers, and fisherman. Christ purposely passed over the elite, aristocratic, and influential … and chose mostly … from the dregs of society. That’s how it has always been in God’s economy. He exalts the humble and lays low those who are proud.’

All of them were chosen, trained and used by Jesus. Even those who were in the background as disciples were valuable team members. This was so despite their personal failings and failures. None of those things were barriers to being called by Jesus, trained and used by him. That remains true for each of us.

This week some of us have taken part in formation sessions for the new ‘Being With’ course that is being developed here. The wonderings we used took me back to my teenage experiences and the shyness that impacted my personal development. An experience summed well in The Smiths song ‘Ask’, which begins ‘Shyness is nice / and shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life that you’d like to.’

Realising that God loved me unconditionally and as I was, with my shyness and reserve, was key to finding my way through life and using the mix of gifts, skills and interests I developed. Like Jesus’ disciples I wasn’t an obvious candidate to be called to ministry. But none of us are; that’s the beauty of the way God values each person as a unique creation, calling us to be with him so that, over time, our gifts, skills and interests are all utilised in his company.

(This reflection draws on material from https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/who-were-the-12-disciples-and-what-should-we-know-about-them.html and https://overviewbible.com/12-apostles/)

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Adrian Snell - Peace Be With You.

HeartEdge and Sheppard Scholars

St Martin-in-the-Fields is looking for our very first Sheppard Scholar.

Sheppard Scholars is a new Pastoral Assistant scheme at HeartEdge hub churches to support new and refreshed mission and ministry projects. Sheppard Scholars is a year long programme of theological study combined with practical pastoral work.

The role offers not only breadth of experience but also a range of responsibilities from participation and involvement to roles of leadership. The aim is to give a wide experience of ministry at the heart of the life of this church and at the same time to draw on the Pastoral Assistant’s own gifts and faith at a time of growth in the life of St Martin’s and HeartEdge. The role will involve liaising with other Sheppard Scholars, HeartEdge hubs and members.

If you are…..

• Passionate – about creating a welcome and open place 
• Creative – in finding solutions 
• Hardworking – who can take the initiative to get things done 
• Self-starting – excellent at organisation and calm under pressure 
• Friendly – able to work in a large and varied team 
• Approachable – the go to person

 …. please apply.

For more detail about HeartEdge please visit our website https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/life-st-martins/mission/heartedge/.

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St Martin-in-the-Fields - A Hymn For St Cecilia.

HeartEdge - Start:Stop Workshop

Learn about the genesis of Start:Stop (10-minute work-based reflections for people on their way to work) together with Revd Jonathan Evens, Associate Vicar Partnership Development, St Martin-in-the-Fields. 

An opportunity to discuss:

• growing a new congregation;
• engaging with working people;
• ministering in the workplace;
• communicating with busy people.

Free to HeartEdge members, £10 for others. Register with Revd Jonathan Evens at jonathan.evens@smitf.org or 020 7766 1127.

For more information, see www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/life-stmartins/mission/heartedge/.

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Al Green - Morningstar.

Update: Sophia Hub Redbridge

Ros Southern writes ...

'Coming up this week

• Tomorrow - Redbridge Hack Day to try to solve the problem of some residents not going online. Info here
• Tomorrow - Isatu Harrison, South Woodford fashion designer has big Sierra Leone fashion event Info here
• Tuesday - Chamber networking breakfast IS CANCELLED.
• Wednesday - 5.30 Entrepreneurs clubfor 6. Mindfulness for business owners with Pipa Moye. Info and booking here

Sophia Hubs stuff coming up

• Timebank community skills swap - We 've found a nice cafe! Weds 9 November 6pm info here. Please do come and join in.
• Sophia course - from a vague community or business idea to first pilot - Saturday mornings. Info here
• Entrepreneurs club dates until Christmas - available here.

Other great stuff coming up

• Google digital training - Saturday 29 October - info here
• Volunteering fair - Thurs 3 November 11-2 - info here (we'll be there!)
• Tech club for techie businesses - Thurs 3 November 6pm - Info here
• Free open source IT tools - Friday 4 November 1-3. Info here
• Monday 7th November - Wanstead Business Network meeting - open to all
• Next 3 hour starting a business workshop 15th Nov 10-1. Info here

Some of our social media shares/posts this week

• New hub for young entrepreneurs has opened in Newham
• Green Shoots Arts in Dagenham are running a 12 week upcycling course
• Pros and cons of family funding 

Have a nice weekend,

Best wishes,

Ros Southern, Coordinator.
07707 460309

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Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Be The Rain.

Alastair McKay - Priesting

Great to be at my colleague Alastair McKay's priesting (together with Kath Duce, Debbie Hore and Jeffrey Lake) this afternoon at St Stephen Rochester Row. The service was led by Bishop Nigel Stock and featured the parish's liturgical dance group.

Alastair designs and leads adult learning and training along with providing a range of consultancy services to church ministers and lay leaders. He is also serving a half-time curacy at St Martin-in-the-Fields, following ordination in July 2015.

Alastair spent 20 years developing and leading Bridge Builders, handing over leadership in March 2015. Prior to that he worked as a civil servant in the Department of the Environment, in Westminster. He started out his career as a secondary school teacher in West Yorkshire.

Alastair has a Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of Wales and an MA in Conflict Transformation from Eastern Mennonite University. His doctoral research explored how disagreement is handled, and what use is made of facilitation skills, in church staff meetings.

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Eastern Mennonite High School Choir - The Size Of Your Heart.

Enterprising Redbridge

Enterprising Redbridge will be launched on Wednesday 6th April at the Redbridge CVS networking event. This is a significant opportunity for the voluntary and community sector in Redbridge to get support to become more entrepreneurial. The first seminar open to all community groups that sign up, is on Thursday 21st April 6-8pm. For more info click on this blog and to sign up click here.

Ross Diamond of RCVS writes:

• Are you a voluntary sector leader in Redbridge?
• Wanting to make your organisation more sustainable?
• Want to explore new ideas and new ways of working?
• Want to find a positive critical friend to support you in making changes?
• Why not get involved in a project that aims to help organisations to become sustainable through being entrepreneurial?

In the current climate a significant reduction in the availability of grants, particularly from public sector sources, has resulted in some voluntary sector groups closing – leaving a void in local service provision. We believe some of this can be avoided. In order to help local groups move to a more sustainable future, we are offering a programme of seminars, networking opportunities and one-to-one advice on becoming more independently sustainable. We believe this package of support can provide the positive encouragement such groups need.

We know that solutions are not always obvious, as you tend to be (rightly) totally focused on your day-to-day operations.  So this programme gives you the opportunity to think beyond the day to day, the space to consider difficult questions in a safe place, and the chance to say the unsayable. We want this programme to inspire you, challenge you, support you and affirm the work you are doing.

Our goal is to inform and inspire 450+ local voluntary organisations to become more entrepreneurial through the provision of information and online tools. That’s a big ask. But it will depend on you. Your willingness to engage. Your desire to continue change.

For those most committed to trying new ideas or introducing change to their organisation, we will provide intensive tailored support to 10 groups not only to survive into the future but go on to thrive with greater independence.

Interested? Fill out the simple registration form.

This is a project that Sophia Hubs is partnering with RCVS. To read our blog about it click here.

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Deacon Blue - Win.

Enterprising Redbridge: making voluntary organisations more entrepreneurial

Welcome to Enterprising Redbridge … making voluntary organisations more entrepreneurial

In the current climate a significant reduction in the availability of grants, particularly from public sector sources, has resulted in some voluntary sector groups closing – leaving a void in local service provision. We believe some of this can be avoided.

In order to help local groups move to a more sustainable future, we are offering a
programme of seminars, networking opportunities and one-to-one advice on becoming more independently sustainable. We believe this package of support can provide the positive encouragement such groups need.

We know that solutions are not always obvious, as you tend to be (rightly) totally focused on your day-to-day operations. So this programme gives you the opportunity to think beyond the day to day, the space to consider difficult questions in a safe place, and thechance to say the unsayable. We want this programme to inspire you, challenge you, support you and affirm the work you are doing.

Our goal is to inform and inspire 450+ Redbridge voluntary organisations to become more entrepreneurial through the provision of information and online tools. That’s a big ask. But it will depend on you. Your willingness to engage. Your desire to continue change.

For those most committed to trying new ideas or introducing change to their organisation, we will provide intensive tailored support to 10 groups not only to survive into the future but go on to thrive with greater independence.

Sophia Hubs and Redbridge CVS obtained Big Lottery funding to commission Aspiren andUrban Catalysts to take the lead on this project. Take a look at the website for more information and register your interest now. www.enterprisingredbridge.org.uk.

This is an initiative that aims to bring business skills to the voluntary and community sector. We hope that this will make a significant contribution to Redbridge by enabling the sector to learn ways to become less dependent on funding and more resilient.

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Peter Case - Until The Next Time.

Dementia Awareness

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Sam Phillips - I Need Love.

Sophia Hub update

Ros Southern writes:

For an update of all things start-ups, business and community from Sophia Hubs Seven Kings is on my blog: http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/.

20 free pop up market stalls at Enterprise Exchange next Saturday, for info click here.

For an exciting Big Business Skills swap at the Enterprise Exchange on Tuesday morning click here.

For a participatory training on 'Conflict resolution for your business' on Tuesday afternoon click here.

For the exciting Redbridge launch of the London business Timebank on Wednesday 29th click here.

For pics and info on the great day at the Enterprise Exchange last Tuesday and the session by Awele Odeh click here.

For information on the local Transition Town event in Ilford Exchange and all about the Brixton pound, the Crystal Palace local shops smart card and all things Transition Town, click here.

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Adam Cohen - Song Of Me And You.

Sophia Hub update

Ros Southern writes:

"Here is a resume of the information on my blog from this week: http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/

For info and pics on the great enterprise club session this week at Ilford Exchange on right brain business plans click here.

For more info on the great Enterprise Exchange pop up business hub and a special visitor, click here.

For info on the great enterprise club session to take place this Tuesday 14th Oct with local businesswoman and trainer Awele Odeh on stopping procrastination (at the Ilford Exchange 12.30-2.30) click here.

To read about the pop up market on Saturdays in the Ilford Exchange Enterprise Exchange, click here

To find out how you can help us and we can help you with social media, click here.

For info on Funding streams and ongoing funding information, click here.

For an update on the currently running Sophia ACE Course to see if you want to book a place on November's course, click here.

And not forgetting information on the free re-used paint currently on offer in Redbridge!

Have a good weekend and hope to see lots of you at the enterprise club on Tuesday in the Exchange. Please note that this is a 2-hour workshop starting at 12.30, so please do arrive on time."

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Maura O'Connell with Nanci Griffith - Trouble In The Fields.

Dementia Friendly Churches

While at Greenbelt, I attended a session run by Livability and the Alzheimer's Society about Dementia Friendly Churches and, as a result, am now officially a Dementia Friend.

The Dementia Friendly Churches Initiative offers a range of services / resources to support churches to become more accessible and inclusive for people with dementia and their carers.

Dementia Friendly Churches Initiative offers a number of services:

• An audit to assess how dementia friendly your church currently is and develop an action plan.
• Mentoring – on-going mentoring and advice for your church or organisation.
• A one off ‘Dementia Friends’ training session for your church or organisation.
• A four part series of training/workshops for your church/ organisation.

 

Dementia is a disease which impairs people’s ability to remember, think and make choices. Globally, Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is one of the biggest global public health challenges facing our generation. Today, over 35 million people worldwide currently live with the condition and this number is expected to double by 2030 and more than triple by 2050 to 115 million. In the UK alone, it currently affects 800,000 people and that number is expected to double in the next 30 years.

Tackling Dementia has been a key priority for the current Government; in 2012 Prime Minister, David Cameron launched the Dementia Challenge – an ambitious three year programme designed to make a real difference to people with dementia and their carers. One of the aims of the challenge, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society, is to recruit and train 1 million volunteers ‘Dementia friends’ to support people with dementia by 2015. Livability is working alongside the Alzheimer’s Society help achieve this outcome by equipping members of churches and Christian organisations to become dementia friends.

Livability is part of the Dementia Action Alliance, a national membership body comprising over 900 organisations committed to transforming the quality of life of people living with dementia in the UK and the millions of people who care for them. Livability is also a member of the Civil Society and Voluntary Agencies Sub-group for the Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge Committee.

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Love - Old Man.

Mission Weekend follow-up: Lyfe Course

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Vivky Beeching - Needing You.

Sophia Hub update

This coming  Tuesday, 26th August, Bev Stratton will be our speaker at 7.00pm for the Sophia Hub's Enterprise Club. The evening enterprise club session will run from 7.00 - 9.00pm with plenty of opportunity for networking, informal mentoring and peer support.

The topic is customer service.  Bev is highly experienced in supporting businesses and has proposed this topic which is relevant to start-ups, however small. Bev says: 'Many of us have been on the receiving end of bad customer service and in these difficult times customers are more ‘savvy’ than before and are looking for not only greater value for money, but a better quality service as well. What separates a successful business from the unsuccessful is a quality customer service model.'

Bev has worked for the Redbridge Council for 31 years and for 26 of those years has worked closely with business as a Business Development Officer, and for the past ten years as the borough’s Town Centres and BIDs Development Manager. She will provide a few tips on how to create a quality customer service model for your business.

We are also offering our 2nd training session run by a Timebank member. I will lead an hour on an introduction to Twitter - Thursday 28th August, 2pm – 3pm, at St John’s Church. Bring your laptop or tablet or smart phone if you have one (and if you know how it works) – we have wifi. Alternatively you can use/share one of our laptops or just listen in.

I am donating my time and so will earn our Timebank currency of 2 hours (1 for prep, 1 for the session).  Those that attend will donate their Timebank currency (1 hour each).  The ‘money’ we make will be used for things like ‘paying’ to the volunteers for their time in running the Timebank, ‘paying’ other venues to run future sessions, ‘paying’ a member to design a Timebank flyer etc.

Please note – all the transactions need to take place through the Timebank and you need to be a Timebank member.  It’s easy.  Click on the Timebank website on the blue square on the right.

If you are not a member we can help you join up beforehand or if you come at 1pm we can register you before the session – but please let us know you are coming  You will need an email account.  We can help you with this if you don’t have one.  Please contact us.

Timebank members – please click on the offer and send us an email to say you want to come. The offer has been posted on the website.

The Seven Kings Timebank team (7KTB) on sevenkingstimebankteam@sophiahubs.com or Ros on 07707 460309 or 0208 590 2568.

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John Coltrane - My Favourite Things.

Sophia Hub update

Ros Southern writes:

"Thanking you for your interest and support - here are some updates for this week.

The Timebank is recruiting fast and we hope trading will start on Tuesday 1st July.  Please do sign up and ask me if you have any queries.  Info about the Timebank is here.

We are looking for venues and events to hold Timebank community get togethers and skills shares.  We can trade with cafes, restaurants, community centres, schools - you give us some free space (and hopefully teas & coffees) and we will will find people to pay back the hours in some other way!  Read about this proposal and our last community meeting here.  Thanks to Flirt cafe for their support.

We have the training on the various legal structures for a social enterprise on Monday at St Johns 10.30 - 12.00.  Places are available but please let me know so we have enough chairs, cake and handouts!  We have a real expert in David Alcock.  More about Monday's legal structures training here.

The next Sophia course is coming up in July and this time is only for residents living in Valentines ward - with special funding from Redbridge Councils Community First fund.  There will be two more courses before Christmas open to all Redbridge residents.  In the meantime here is information about the course and please take note if you live in Valentines ward!!  This is a special course that gives time to reflect on the area, discover its strengths and generate entrepreneurial responses and ideas that we can then support.

Thanks to our guest speaker at the enterprise club on Tuesday - Sadiq Kothia of Taqwa Carpets in Seven Kings.  Really appreciate your thoughtful advice to our start-ups.  More info here.

Please note - there is no enterprise club this Tuesday due to the training on Monday."

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Paul Weller - Here's The Good News.

Sophia Hub news - legal structures for social enterprises event, enterprise club, Timebank, more

Here is the latest from Ros Southern, Co-ordinator for the Sophia Hub:

"In response to many requests from our start-ups we are running a training session on legal structures for social enterprises on Monday 30th June from 10.30 to 12.00.  We are delighted to welcome David Alcock who highly experienced in this field.  To read his bio click here. Please contact me to book your place.  Open to all.

Thanks so much to our steering group member and local business man Kunle Olaifa for his talk at our enterprise club last week. To read more about this click here.

The Seven Kings Timebank has opened and trading is starting! Please, please register with this Bank-with-a-difference.  This is going to make a very real difference to start-ups and to the area.  Our first Timebank community event was held last week and from this we have an offer to run a facilitation and mediation training course to enable Shahanara Begum to start up a mediation project. Click here to read about the community event.

Our speaker at Tuesday's lunchtime enterprise club (12.15-2.30) is Jeffery Nkrumah.  Jeffery has set up a local social enterprise called Inspired by Sports and is very keen to support new start-ups and be part of our grassroots network.  He will be doing his second talk at the enterprise on the topic of 'adversity to triumph'.  To read about his previous and very inspirational session click here. The talk and main session will be 12.30-2.00.

Carlton Gabiddon of UK Dads is one of the start-ups we are supporting.  He is running a family Father's Day event in Wanstead from 11-1 on Sunday on Christchurch Green and you are welcome to attend.

Please could you like our facebook page and follow us on twitter (@sophiahubs7k) and let me know what we can do to support and promote your work."

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This Picture - Step Up.

Enterprise Club

Here is the latest news of the Seven Kings Sophia Hub from Ros Southern:

"I am pleased to introduce the speaker for Tuesdays LUNCHTIME Enterprise club (change of time!!!) as Stephanie Mugo who has set up a start up osteomyology alternative therapy business in Dagenham.  Read about it here plus the new times. 

Thanks so much to Nigel Camp for leading our last enterprise club and the promise of supporting us in a creating a group blog and a group video!

I am also very pleased to introduce our new Sophia Hubs website and Timebank website and info about it here. 

After a very productive meeting with Redbridge Institute last week we are strongly recommending our start-ups to join a 5 week evening course that only costs £10 starting Monday 9th June.  More info here.  We are going to support the students who have been on this course to develop their networks and offer ongoing back up support. 

Thanks to all those that helped on our stall at the Redbridge Green Fair.

More news to follow on the re-used paint business opportunity,  support from the Redbridge Chamber of Commerce for our start-ups and more.

Have a good weekend and hope to see lots of you on Tuesday from 12 (That's when the parking restrictions end) with Stephanie speaking at 12.30.

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The Frames - Revelate.

New initiatives through Seven Kings Sophia Hub

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George Harrison - What Is Life?

Lyfe-long discipleship

Interesting session on Christian Nurture today at St John's Seven Kings which was led by Rob Hare, the lyfe and Bible Engagement Manager at the Bible Society.

Lyfe was developed with Renovaré (founded by Richard J Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline) to help people discover a deeper life with God through Scripture and spiritual practices. Lyfe provides small group sessions, events and other useful resources to help people discover a deeper life with God. Lyfe helps people to grow holistically and to experience a transforming relationship with God through Scripture and spiritual practices that have inspired and sustained Christians throughout the centuries. Information about lyfe small group sessions, retreats and conferences can be found at www.lyfe.org.uk.

As well as Rob Hare's thoughts on discipleship and sampling of a lyfe session, Vernon Ross helped us reflect on discipleship as both the goal of and the foundation for mission and ministry.

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David Grant - Life.  

Karamsar Gurdwara visit

Yesterday I took a group of ordinands from the North Thames Ministerial Training Course at St Mellitus College on a visit to the Karamsar Gurdwara in Ilford.

The Gurdwara building was originally a Labour Hall which, in the early 1990’s, was acquired and converted into a Gurdwara by the local Sikh community under the guidance of Sant Partap Singh. Initially a single storey building with a prayer hall (Darbar) in the front and the community kitchen (Langar) towards the rear, the Gurdwara enjoyed tremendous success by catering to the spiritual and emotional needs of the community and soon outgrew the existing facilities. 

In 1998 a project was started to build a newly designed Gurdwara. The culmination of this effort is the magnificent Gurdwara now standing in place of the old Labour Hall. It was officially opened in April 2005 to coincide with Vaisakhi celebrations – commemorating the birth of the Khalsa Panth.

The building gracefully combines traditional sikh and mughlai designs with modern western architecture. Its façade and distinctive domes are perhaps its most striking features. Carved entirely from pink sandstone in Rajasthan-India, it was shipped to the UK and reassembled in-situ. The foyer is a grand and simple space with a skylight bringing in natural light all the way from the third floor. It has prayer halls on the first and second floors with the Langar hall on the ground floor. The interior is all white and uncomplicated.  

Our guide to the Gurdwara was Lakhvir Singh Bhui, who shared stories about the Gurus with us as well as information about Sikh beliefs and practices. It was a very interesting visit for us all and everyone was impressed with the hospitality and welcome. 

For anyone wanting to find out more about interfaith engagement the national and Greater London Presence & Engagement sites are the best first ports of call - http://www.londonpen.org/ and http://www.presenceandengagement.org.uk/.

The training materials I have prepared for parishes on Living with other faiths can be downloaded from the Greater London PEN site - http://www.londonpen.org/?page_id=702.

Information about interfaith initiatives in our parish can be found at: Sophia Hub (multi-faith social enterprise project) - http://stjohns7kings.org.uk/sophia-hub; and Scriptural Reasoning Group - http://joninbetween.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/scriptural%20reasoning.

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Noel Paul Stookey - One And Many.

Enterprise Club

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Linda Perhacs - Freely.