SIX YEARS OF INTERFAITH ACTIVITIES AT

ASPLEY UNITING CHURCH

748 Robinson Road

Aspley Q 4034

In 2003 the Aspley Uniting Church Council Outreach Committee decided to expand its understanding of ‘outreach’ to include the sponsorship of locally based interfaith activities. Consequently, Rev Garth Read, a retired UnitingChurch minister belonging to the Congregation was invited to join the committee. Garth has had extensive experience in multifaith religious education in Queensland and in England. He was also at the time, Coordinator of the Brisbane Interfaith Multicultural Forum.

The AspleyUnitingChurch continues to list the following statement among its mission goals:-‘To expand and enrich our relationships with people from other world Faiths who live and worship in our local area’.

Early in 2008 the Aspley Uniting Church Interfaith Committee met with representatives from the Local Anglican, Catholic and Muslim Communities and agreed that we should form a North Brisbane Interfaith Group to continue and develop interfaith activities on this side of Brisbane. Representatives from the Queensland Forum for Christians, Jews and Muslims also attended this meeting.

Events

2003 to 2007

2003

The first Interfaith event held at Aspley involved members of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities. The focus of this event was on prayer and worship. It was held on a Saturday evening to coincide with the end of the Jewish Shabbat (Sabbath).

  • Jewish people performed the rituals and prayer associated with the closing of Shabbat.
  • The AspleyUnitingChurch people performed segments from Sunday Morning Worship -Introit, reading the scripture for the day and prayer.
  • The Muslims present performed ‘isha’ (the last of the daily prayers).

2004

In April 2004 the theme was ‘Festivals, Food and Faith’. During the first half of the evening the audience (100 people) was seated at tables of 8/10. Samples of the symbolic foods used during three festivals were placed on each table.

Jewish:- Symbolic foods used during the Seder Meal at the beginning of Pesah or Passover:- Matzah - unleavened bread and haroset – representing the mortar used by the ancient Hebrew slaves to make bricks in Egypt.

Christian:- Symbolic foods used during Holy Communion and on Maundy Thursday during Holy Week:- Bread and Wine.

Muslim:- Symbolic foods used by Muslims as Iftar at the end of each day’s fast during Ramadan - Glass of water and dates.

Rabbi Uri Themal, Rev Alan O’Hara and Ismail Moola in turn gave a short commentary on the festivals of Passover, Easter and Ramadan.

Rev Prof. James Hare spoke about Interfaith Dialogue. A panel of young people from the three Faiths responded to Prof. Hare’s address.

2005

The emphasis during 2005 was on strengthening relationships between the Aspley Congregation and the local Muslim and Hindu communities.

In August a group of 12 members of the Congregation visited the HinduTemple at Boondall for their celebration of Lord Krishna’s Birthday.

In September, AspleyUnitingChurch held its annual Congregational Dinner and invited representatives from the local Anglican, Catholic, Muslim and Hindu communities to attend. In all 130 people sat down for dinner. Archbishop John Bathersby gave the address.

In October few members of the Aspley UC Congregation attended

a Brisbane Divali (Hindu Festival of Lights) celebrations at the

RNA Show Grounds.

2006

On Saturday 1st. April, 2006 we held an Interfaith /Multicultural Concert. The AspleyUnitingChurch choir and the Aspley young people’s band opened the program and then artists from each of the Muslim, Hindu, Maori and Scottish communities presented their items. Approximately 200 people attended.

On Tuesday 11th. July Professor Norkaya Muhammed, an overseas visitor to the National Assembly of the UnitingChurch visited AspleyUnitingChurch and the Mosque at Bald Hills.

On Saturday evening 18th. November we held an Interfaith Coffee Shop. This event was sponsored jointly by the AspleyUnitingChurch, the Bald Hills Mosque and the Multi Faith Centre, GriffithUniversity.

2007

Eight members of the AspleyUnitingChurch traveled to the Maleny Showgrounds on Saturday 10th. March to attend the first National Interfaith Festival.

On Thursday 19 April the AspleyUnitingChurchInterfaith Relations Committee met with the Management Committee of the Bald Hills Mosque and a representative of the Hindu community to discuss the possibility of a joint project designed to assist interfaith activities in Fiji.

On Thursday 14th June Imam Tariq Syed delivered the monthly lecture at the Aspley Classes for Seniors on the topic Understanding Islam.

On Wednesday 5th December The Aspley Uniting Church and the Bald Hills Muslim community co-sponsored an Interfaith Forum and Dialogue evening with George Negus, SBS television personality as the keynote speaker. Opening prayers were given by Jewish, Christian and Muslim representatives and choral items were rendered by the Sweet Chilli Choir of Maleny.

Rev Garth Read, Chair

Aspley Uniting Church Interfaith Relations Committee

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