World Interfaith Harmony Week will be observed in Tasmania. Friday Forum at St David’s Cathedral examines why Australia as a nation offers refuge; Gershon Goldsteen conducts an introduction to the Jewish Scriptures and Catholic Earthcare calls for registrations for a sustainability retreat.
World Interfaith Harmony Week
Our first official Religions for Peace gathering will be to celebrate International Interfaith Harmony Day, which means both harmony with each other and harmony with nature.
In tune with many other Interfaith organisations this year, we are taking the opportunity to examine what the world’s faiths teach us about relating to the natural elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether.
What are these teachings and do we bring them practically into our lives?
Our first gathering for the year will begin by respecting Mother Earth at Kris Schaffer’s magical native garden at Neika. Kris is an Aboriginal lady, artist and horticulturalist, who will lead us in honouring Mother Earth and singing up country.
While we previously hoped to be celebrating on the day itself, Saturday 1 February, Targa Tasmania has forced the closure of the road to Kris’ place on that day. The gathering will now be on Tuesday 4 February from 2.00-3.30pm.
Bring readings, prayers, stories and dances to honour the element earth. If possible, could you bring afternoon tea to share? Please pass on this invitation to anyone who might be interested in attending.
Those who would like to attend, could you email me for address details? As this notice may go on the internet and the address is a personal one, it is respectful of Kris’ privacy to limit her address details in this way. However, if you need to contact her because you are lost on the way, her phone number is 0421 042 135.
Kris has passed on a quotation she has found pertinent to this topic: The wise one is a joyous one, because he/she knows enough about nature to know what NOT to demand.
Friday Forum: Not Our Problem?
How and why civil society offers REFUGE to those in need.
Barrister and Refugee Advocate JESSIE TAYLOR will speak and answer your questions.
Friday, Jan 31, 2014 1pm – 2pm St. David’s Cathedral Murray St., Hobart.
Jessie Taylor has a broad practice in private and public law. She works particularly administrative law, crime, compensation, mental health, human rights & equal opportunity and migration.
Jessie is the author of the report Behind Australian Doors: Examining the Conditions of Detention of Asylum Seekers in Indonesia. She is co-writer and producer of the films We Will Be Remembered For Thi (2007) and Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (2011).
Jessie has Honours degrees in Law and Arts from Monash University, and a Master of Science (Humanitarian Action) from University College Dublin. In 2012 Jessie and Afghan refugee Jaffar Ali were the subject of an ABC TV Australian Story special episode Stranger on the Shore.
In 2009 Jessie was contracted by the Federal Attorney-General’s Department as a researcher and writer on the National Human Rights Consultation. Jessie was Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria Refugee Law Reform Committee and sat on the Executive Committee of the LIV Administrative and Human Rights Law section (2009 & 2010). She was a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Human Rights Centre & an Honorary Research Fellow at the Monash Asia Institute.
Jessie received the 2012 Daniel Pollak Reader’s Pro Bono Award for pro bono work undertaken in her first six months at the bar. She is the Senior Vice President of Liberty Victoria (Victorian Council for Civil Liberties).
What: Not Our Problem ~ How and why civil society offers REFUGE to those in need
When: Frday, 31 Jan 2014 1pm – 2pm
Where:St David’s Cathedra, 125 Macquarie Street, Hobart TAS 7000
Cost: Free
More information:http://saintdavids.org.au/event/2014/01/not-our-problem/
ASSISI FORMATION PROGRAM – ANIMATORS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Educators are called to engage students in a conversation about sustainability, a conversation that calls all participants to action.
This is a four day retreat experience for Animators of Sustainability facilitated by Catholic Earthcare Australia and Megan Seneque, an international systems change consultant. For Catholic Earthcare Australia, the acronym ASSISI – A Strategic Systems-based Integrated Sustainability Initiative is used to name their three-day, transformative process for animators.
Gabrielle is putting out an URGENT call for those of you who are considering doing the Catholic Earthcare ‘Intensive Formation, Animators for Sustainability’, Maryknoll Blackmans Bay, April 1-4. The absolute final date for registration is Monday 3 Feb. At this stage, we do not have enough to run the program. Please give me a call on 0407 868 381 if you have any questions. You may read about a recent Brisbane ASSISI program here
Introduction to the Jewish Scriptures
Seminars on aspects of the Torah by Gershon Goldsteen’s seminars are going to be held in the Hawker Centre of All Saints Church, South Hobart, on Sundays, 16th and 23rd February 2014. A flyer is available.
The course will be led by Gershon Goldsteen, a member of the Orthodox Jewish community who has regularly taught adult courses in the Hebrew Scriptures. There is no charge (although donations are welcome) and no need to pre-register (although there are telephone numbers on the notice for anyone with queries).
You can read an account of Judaism in Tasmania on OzTorah.
What: Introduction to the Jewish Scriptures
When: Sunday afternoons, 16th and 23rd February, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Hawker Centre at All Saints Anglican Church, 339 Macquarie Street, South Hobart
Cost: Free, although donations are welcome
Download a Flyer for this event
Dances Of Universal Peace Weekend
Come join us in a weekend of Dances of Universal Peace with senior mentor Anahata Iradah who has conducted retreats for the past 21 years all over the world. Be welcomed into the circle which affirms life through the singing of sacred phrases from the spiritual traditions of the earth in the tradition of the Dances of Universal Peace. All dances fully taught, no experience necessary.
What: Living In The Moment Dancing From The Heart
When:14th – 16th Feb 2014
Where: Fri 14th Feb – Friends Meeting house at 7.00 pm 395 Argyle St North Hobart
Where: Sat 15th – Sun 16th Feb – Sirens 10am – 5.30pm, Upstairs 6 Victoria St Hobart
Cost: Cost: Fri night: $15 Full Weekend: Fri – Sun $165
More information: Nicola 03
6239 3499, 0400 051 963
Download a flyer for this event.
Christian Unity Being Hampered by Divisions Over Sexual Politics
Unity between Anglicans and Catholics is being hampered by divisions over sexual politics and priestly ministry, a former Archbishop of Canterbury has said.
Lord Carey of Clifton told a congregation of hundreds of people gathered into Chester Cathedral on Sunday that the Church of England was being “shaken by seismic shifts and changes as a result of disagreements on ministry, marriage and human sexuality”.
In comments aimed directly at Anglicans present at the service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity he said that “we must not allow ourselves to fracture under the colossal weight of dancing to the world’s agenda”.
His remarks came as the Church of England prepares to ordain women as bishops by as early as Christmas.
They were also made just a month after a Church of England report suggested that same-sex couples should be allowed to celebrate their relationships in Anglican parishes in what has been interpreted as a first step in accepting gay marriages in church.
The plan has already created divisions with the Church of England, with the proposal rejected outright by Bishop Keith Sinclair of Birkenhead, one of four bishops who sat on the working group that drafted the report.
In an exclusive interview for the forthcoming edition of the Shrewsbury Catholic Voice ahead of the service, Lord Carey said that “fractious” in-fighting also undermined the efforts of the Church of England to draw closer to the other Christian churches.
He said that Christian unity meant not only talking to other denominations but also to putting “your own house in order”. Read more of Archbishop Carey’s remarks on Zenit.
In peace,
Terry
Convenor RfP Tasmannia Branch
6272 6521
Religions for Peace Tasmania
