The October gathering of Religions for Peace Tasmania Branch will be held (not in our normal meeting place because it’s Seniors Week and every place is booked out) at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centre, 51 Risdon Rd, New Town (cnr Bell St). The gathering will be on Tuesday 14 October from 12.15-1.15pm.
Bob Faser from the Uniting Church and the Liaison Officer for Tasmanian Council of Churches will come to speak about Emergency Ministries training.
Welcome
You will find news of the next Parliament of the World’s Religionss at this link, and also news of Australian Interfaith at this critical time at: https://religionsforpeaceaustralia.org.au/
We hope you can find the time to pause for peace this month as the world needs every peaceful, loving thought we can give it…
October Meeting
The October gathering of Religions for Peace Tasmania Branch will be held (not in our normal meeting place because it’s Seniors Week and every place is booked out) at the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Centre, 51 Risdon Rd, New Town (cnr Bell St). The gathering will be on Tuesday 14 October from 12.15-1.15pm.
Emergencies Ministries Training
Bob Faser from the Uniting Church and the Liaison Officer for Tasmanian Council of Churches will come to speak about Emergency Ministries training.
This is an excellent program which aims to give interested people the skills to respond to people traumatised by disaster. It is subtitled “Compassion in Times of Crisis“.
This is an interfaith program and trainers encourage interested people from all faith communities to take part in it. After all, members of every faith are caught up in disasters and need emotional and spiritual support to help them through.
Come and hear what it is all about!
After Bob’s talk, we will take time out for a picnic before a visit to Emmaus Monastery at Rhyndaston.
If you are interested in joining this visit, could you let Terry know for car-pooling purposes? We expect to be back in Hobart from Rhyndaston by about 6.00pm. Feel free to join us and bring a little picnic.
Launceston News
News from the North – Warm Spring greetings – following on from a very well supported and received World Peace Day gathering, our monthly Launceston Interfaith Friendship Circle Circle meets Monday 20 th October at 1.00 pm in the Ida Birchall Room, 38 Paterson St.
Discussion topic: “Prophets, gurus, masters, saints – does anyone inspire you to a deeper sense of self?.” Through the ages renowned and lesser known spiritual and religious figureheads and guides across all traditions have inspired and nourished humanity toward a deeper state of consciousness, spiritual growth and well-being. This month we share insights, teachings, scriptures, readings and personal experiences about those whose who have impacted our spiritual awareness and understanding in beneficial ways – bring all such offerings with you.
Many thanks, yours in Interfaith
Shari Landeg (facilitator)Ph: 0431 909 172
Launceston Interfaith Friendship Circle
Interfaith Tasmania
http://interfaithtasmania.blogspot.com
Tasmania Council of Churches News:
(1) Revised and improved TCC website
Please visit the TCC’s website at www.tcctas.org.au . You’ll find that it’s been revised and significantly improved, in terms of its attractiveness and in its ease of access to up-to-date information. Please visit the site and let us know what you think. (Particular thanks need to go to David Morris, the TCC’s president, for doing the heavy lifting in terms of getting the improved site up and running.
(2) E-mail address for Emergencies Ministry
As of now, the TCC’s Emergencies Ministry has its own e-mail address. It is emprojects@tcctas.org.au . If you are contacting the TCC specifically on an issue relating to the Emergencies Ministry, please use this address. E-mail sent to this address will be automatically forwarded both to the TCC office and to the Emergencies Ministry Project Officer, Pastor Gus Yearsley.
(3) Choral performance for peace
On Saturday evening, 25th October, the Hobart Orpheus Choir and the Friends Singers will present “The Armed Man: a Mass for Peace” by Karl Jenkins at the Friends’ School, North Hobart. One description of this work tells us that:
“’The Armed Man’ was written for the centenary of the Armouries in the UK but it coincided with the war in Kosovo and as such was dedicated to the victims of that war. It has since become a work often performed as a dedication/remembrance for all victims of war at a global level. The work draws material from the Christian Mass, the Islamic Call to Prayer, the Hindu Mahabharata as well as texts from Rudyard Kipling and one of the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima. In our time of global unrest and nations ill at ease with each other it seems fitting to have a work such as The Armed Man performed where peoples and nations of all faiths have a common goal ‘better is peace than ever the war’.”
Lecture: Between War and Peace: Australia’s Past and Future
In preparation for commemorating 100 years of ANZAC, Australians must look their past in order to envision a future.
Emeritus Professor Joe Camilleri will give a talk at the Friends Meeting House, Hobart, on Australia’s Past and Future. Prof. Camilleri has an easy-going conversation style and will raise challenges and questions during his talks. This is an occasion not to be missed.
As we prepare for the centenary of Gallipoli, we must embark on a national conversation on Australia’s identity and the place of war in its past and future.
This conversation needs to address several questions:
- Was Australia ‘formed as a nation’ in war and conflict?
- What of the contributions of so many Australians in developing a rich legacy of peacemaking, progressive social legislation, and a vibrant multicultural, multi-faith society?
- Why is it that our political and military leaders have consistently looked to great and powerful friends for our security, and to involvement in other people’s wars?
- What are more promising paths to peace and security?
Joseph Camilleri is Emeritus Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University. He has written and lectured extensively on international relations, governance and globalisation, human rights, North-South relations, international organisations, the United Nations, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Emeritus Professor Camilleri is actively engaged in international research, education and advocacy on issues of human rights, civilisation dialogue, global governance reform, peace and security. He is the recipient of St Michael’s Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, and past Australian President of the International Christian
Peace Movement, Pax Christi.
What: Public Lecture: Between War and Peace: Australia’s Past and Future
When: 27 October 2014 at 7.30pm
Where: Friends Meeting House, 395 Argyle St, North Hobart
Cost: Free
SOUL FOOD
This month’s program will be “The Dance of Life.” and is dedicated to assisting us with meeting the changes and challenges of life with grace and joy.
The music for this program will be a Xio Xio Qin – A beautiful graceful dancer from North China. We will also have the pleasure of the delightful voice of Mrs. Angela Bryan, so we encourage you come, invite family and friends and contemplate the great promise for mankind given to us to enhance our understanding of God’s promise and continuous Divine Guidance.
Soul Food is a unique, monthly, community event featuring live music, audio-visual pieces and readings from faiths and philosophers, authors, leaders and indigenous cultures from all around the world specially chosen to inspire us to work towards understanding and unity of nations, commencing in our homes, our Communities, States and Countries.
Hosted in the tranquil ambience of the Bahá’í Centre of Learning, (Behind A.B.C. building) 1 Tasman Highway, providing an opportunity to be inspired, uplifted and to celebrate our humanity and oneness in a spirit of friendship and unity.
This pleasant meditative afternoon is a free Community inspired event.
When: Sunday November 3rd , 3pm. Great refreshments served.
For more information please call 6234 7654 http://www.soulfood.com.au/tas/
Meditation to Develop a Calm Mind
UTAS Multifaith Centre TUU Building, Churchill Ave., Sandy Bay
Fridays 2.00 – 3.30pm
For more information contact the Buddhist Representative Chaplain, Thay Thong Phap, 0477 513 281.
Hand Needlework as Contemplative Practice
6 weekly sessions exploring the use of hand needlework as a vehicle forcontemplative practice with Mukula McKenzie. Contemplative Practices in Action through knitting, crocheting, embroidery, cross stitch, quilting, darning, and tapestry VENUE: University of Tasmania Multi-Faith Centre (under Uni Docs TUU building)
For more information, see the attached flyer.
Dances of Universal Peace
Dances of Universal Peace take place on the First Tuesday of each month, 7.30 – 9.30pm at Sirens (upstairs), 6 Victoria St (near cnr Macquarie). Enquiries ph 62 393499 or 0400 051 963 .
More information on the Dances of Universal Peace Website: www.dancesofuniversalpeace.australia.org
Declining Religious News and Media Coverage
Religious Programming on the ABC:
Members who attended the ARPA conference this year will remember hearing a wide-ranging and entertaining speech from Mark Scott at the Awards Dinner about the changing nature of the media and broadcasting landscape, and also John Cleary and Jane Jeffes at the Sunday anniversary lunch, who spoke particularly about the role of ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) in religious broadcasting, outlining the range of their programmes and services. Information about this can be found at: http://www.abc.net.au/religion/
Members would be aware of the recent reports in the media of impending cuts to the ABC, and ARPA has since become more aware of challenges to the continuing broadcasting of some religious programmes. It would be helpful for Australian members to be aware of possible changes to the religious programming schedule of the ABC and to look out for advice about this in the ABC and wider media. At present, religion in general is covered in a seemingly decreasing way in the non-religious media and the ABC is one of the few remaining places where there is specialist unit based coverage, with a team also providing information and comment for other programmes at the ABC and wider afield. Mark Scott noted at the ARPA conference that the religious broadcasting area, like all the areas was not immune from the general reviews that were being undertaken.
If you have concerns and questions for clarification about the future of religious programming on the ABC you could write to the Managing Director, Mark Scott: scott.mark@abc.net.au … Or the ABC Board Executive Officer: Email: board@your.abc.net.au Postal address for either is: Box 9994 GPO Sydney NSW 2001
JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN LITURGICAL CALENDAR
The 2014-2015 edition of the JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN LITURGICAL CALENDAR is now available and is offered free for personal and non-commercial use.
Begin with the new Jewish Liturgical Year September 2014 | 1 Tishrei, 5775, and follow through the Jewish and Christian cycles of holidays, festivals and readings. 16 months from September 2014 to December 2015
Download your copy NOW from the Etz Hayim—”Tree of Life” website http://www.etz-hayim.com/calendars/
Complete Liturgical Readings for Sabbaths and Sundays
16 months of liturgical readings from September 2014 to December 2015 Festivals, Feasts and Holy Days for both Christians and Jews Readings for liturgical cycles for both Christian and Jewish years Facilitates jointly planned activities for Christians and Jews Raises Interfaith awareness and sensitivity Includes Muslim Holidays and major secular events laid out in monthly grid format.
The Jewish and Christian Liturgical Calendar is endorsed by The Isaac Jacob Institute for Religious Law
Coda
This month’s Coda comes from Launceston:
The Launceston Synagogue is a heritage-listed building located in St. John’s Street, Launceston.
In the 1840s the sizeable Launceston Hebrew Congregation borrowed £500 to purchase the land to build the Synagogue. Built in 1844 by Tasmanian builders Barton and Bennell, the building is Australia’s second-oldest synagogue (after the Hobart Synagogue), the oldest place of non-Christian worship in Launceston, and is a rare example of an Egyptian revival architecture in Australia. The building features a distinctly trapezoidal facade and main window bearing the Star of David with a single balcony on the inside accessed via the rear of the building.
A news item in the Launceston Examiner stated that 2014 was the first year ALL the High Holiday Services were being held in the shule since 1989.
In peace,
Terry
Convenor RfP Tasmania Branch
6272 6521
Religions for Peace Tasmania
