Light of Hope: Contemplative Practice and Shared Meal for Interfaith Week

Light of hope: Contemplative Practice and shared meal to mark interfaith week

We warmly invite you to ‘Light of Hope', an intimate Interfaith Week gathering at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, in our Bedouin Tent and the Nave.

Events unfolding around the world can touch us in deeply personal ways, and at a time when so many places are in conflict, and so much can feel divided, many of us are seeking meaningful encounters with those of different faiths.

This open invitation is for people of all faiths, traditions, spiritual expressions – and none – to come together in silence for contemplative practice, followed by a shared meal and a facilitated conversation on what we hold sacred and the light of hope we share.

‍More about Contemplative Practice

Contemplation is a universal practice that can be found in faith and secular traditions from around the world. Some call it prayer, others meditation, and still others would call it simply silent reflection. For us at St Ethelburga’s, sharing silence in community has always played a vital role in our work and many join us for our monthly gathering of Contemplative Practice.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Peace Tent

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of our Peace Tent, a space dedicated to hospitality, dialogue and bringing people together across differences. Since opening in 2006, the Tent has welcomed people of many faiths, cultures and worldviews to listen, reflect and find common ground. As we gather for Interfaith Week, we will honour these twenty years of shared encounters and reflect on the hope we wish to carry into the future.

‍The evening’s Interfaith celebration evening format

6.15pm Doors Open

6.30pm Arrival and welcome - Contemplative Practice begins

A brief introduction to Contemplative practice, and a short reading drawn from different faith/ secular sources.

35 minutes of silent contemplation. Participants are welcome to use any prayer or meditation practice they use in their own tradition. For any who are new to contemplative practice, the facilitator will offer a practice you could use to start with.

A short blessing to close the shared silent space.

7.30pm Shared vegan meal – in celebration of the diversity of London’s faiths, traditions and spiritual expressions, we are inviting people to stay on for a light vegan meal and facilitated conversation.

9.00pm Close

Fees

Ticket contributions help sustain our work and make the shared meal possible. We do not wish cost to prevent anyone from joining us. If the ticket price is a barrier, please email jo.winsloe@stethelburgas.org to enquire about attending as our guest.