Shirley House Interfaith Centre (SHIFC) Annual Report to ECC
April 20245 Caroline Cripps
- The committee met in April and July 2023 and January 2024. All were ‘hybrid meetings’ with some people attending via Zoom.
- Dr Mike Heap from the Sheffield Humanist group joined the committee.
- Shirley House Interfaith group has continued to host monthly meetings through 2023. Many of these have been hybrid live-and-Zoom meetings.
- We have also hosted Sheffield Interfaith AGM and one bring and share dinner this year.
- The National Interfaith Network had government funding withdrawn and subsequently closed. SHIFC is a congregational member of Sheffield Interfaith, which was a member of IFN.
Events since April 2023 are listed below, those in italics not Shirley House Interfaith events:
- April 25th Mikhail Brown on “Why I converted to Islam”. An interesting personal story, with a lively question and answer session
- May 23rd The environment in faiths –a discussion about theological and scriptural approaches to the environment in different faiths.
- June 8th Council of Christians & Jews (CCJ) visit to the Orthodox Synagogue on Brincliffe Crescent. Combined with a school visiting at the same time, which made it even more interesting.
- June 15th Faith & Identity. What are they? How do they influence each other? Personal thoughts and experiences by individuals from different faiths.
- July 10th Webinar by Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet ‘Rabbi Josh – Jesus in a Jewish context’. Leeds CCJ , Excellent and fascinating.
- July 16th Interfaith barbecue lunch. Unfortunately cancelled due to wet weather.
- 27th August Dialogue Society Annual Picnic – Graves Park
- 10th September Madina Masjid Mosque Open Day
- 19th September 11th Interfaith quiz as part of Nether Edge festival. In Shirley House
- 20th September Leeds CCJ ‘The World in 2023’ Talk by Michael (Lord) Howard of Lympne CH PC
- Tuesday October 17th, What does a multifaith chaplain do? Talk by Helena Roulston from Sheffield Hallam University chaplaincy
- Sunday 22nd October CCJ‘Ask the Rabbi’ (At the Synagogue). Cancelled due to Israel-Gaza war.
- Tuesday November 14th (Interfaith Week) What do different faiths say about Forgiveness? Discussion chaired by Mike Heap– What? Why? How? – good discussion; people talked openly about their experiences, some challenging contributions.
- 15th Nov "God protect us from such Christians” Zoom talk by Rev Douglas Emmott. Leeds CCJ
- 11th December Poster display on Christians and Muslims who rescued Jews from the Holocaust – excellent, most informative. Well attended, invitation only because of Israel/Gaza war.
- 14th December Winter party - few people, but good. Board games, moving around tables.
- 21st January 2024 Repeat of Interfaith poster display on Christians and Muslims who rescued Jews from the Holocaust URC Norfolk St, also followed by a concert.
- 30th January 2024 Film show Waiting for Anya; also about helping Jews to escape from occupied France across the Pyrenees.
- February 6th Sheffield Interfaith AGM held in Shirley House. New format for activities: alternating Food & Friendship dinners with Zoom discussion about ‘a faith issue’ or experience.
- 22nd February– Part of the ‘Life on the Breadline’ project at Highfield Trinity Church. Interfaith Forum- Faith Responses to Poverty: learning & listening in our multicultural city.
- 4th March– well-attended Sheffield Interfaith Food & Friendship bring & share dinner
- 7th March Why I converted to Paganism- stimulating talk by Rachel Rodham
- 24th March. Dialogue Society Iftar Dinner ( theme “Peace and Unity”). Hallam Community Hall.
- 18th April Introduction to the Dialogue Society, presentation and social meeting with snacks.
- 23rd April 7:30-8:30 - Sheffield Interfaith ‘Online sharing’ topic tbc