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Musical Talks Finale 4th Dec

"Best yet" ..the verdict on this season's talks, that ended with a delightful music evening. Starting with members of the choir from Elstow Abbey and their MD, intoduced by Rev Mary Railton-Crowder and her husband. The audience joined in a specially written interfaith song was sung.

After a break for tea, we were treated to tabla playing by a visiting Sikh expert from India, Tirath Singh explained how the beats work. Tom Short demonstrated various instruments which are used to ring the beginnings and ends in Buddhist meditative periods and treated us to recordings of their use in practice. Bharti Taylor demonstrated how music and dance are used to greet the deities in Hindu tradition.

Fourth Autumn Talk - for Domestic Consumption Thursday 27th Nov

Faith & Food in the Home, the fourth of this year's series of talks was about the significance of food in the home for the different faiths.

Contributors hard work into prepairing examples, really made for another successful and rewarding evening. A packed hall was treated to examples of several celebrations from Jewish and Christian traditions, interest in the Hindu uses was warmly received and all was washed down by a traditional ( secular ? ) cup of tea.
 

Third Autumn Talk is Food for Thought Thursday 13th Nov

The third of this year's series of talks was on Food and Worship.
What is symbolic and actual uses of food within places of worship ?

Bharti Taylor brought plenty of examples and gave us an interesting talk on how food is used at a Hindu Mandir and how different food and drink is used for different deities and different occaisions (Bharti remarked how difficult it was, even today, for Hindus to display their symbol - that people accociate with the Nazi swastika, as part of these practices).
We had an explanation of Jewish Kosher wine, how and when it is used and how it is prepared and an explanation of the wine and the 'bread' used in Christian services. The Sikhs offered 'Prashad' (communion) to everyone.

Second Autumn Talk Builds on Success Thursday 30th Oct

The second of our Autumn Talks was on Architecture & Worship and sought to address how architecture is used to enhance the experience of worship within the various faiths.

First we were treated to a talk on the key features of the Baha'i faith's seven "Mother" places of worship, architectural designs and the interesting fact that these are open to multi-faith / interfaith sharing.

We then had 'potted history' on the development of the Buddhist temple, it was interesting to hear how Buddhist have seen the Buddha's internment architecture influence spread across the 'far east' and Asia over the centuries.
The Baha'is, Buddhists and Sikhs put on displays. After refreshments, the Sikhs showed us some of their traditional 'Gurdwaras' in India and Pakistan and introduced their new Bedford temple - they invited all BCoF members to join them in their 'Nagar Kirtan' on November 8th (procession through the town).


Adorned Start to Autumn Talks a Gripping Success Thursday 23rd Oct

A good turn out for the first of this year's very interesting Autumn Talks on how dress, colour, fabrics & scents are used to adorn people & holy places made a gripping evening for all present. The main speakers on Hindu and Jewish experiences alternated their illustrated talks with several actual examples, so we where able to compare similarities and special aspects.

right Jewish prayer / meditation artifacts
After the break, the Sikhs demonstrated the tying of a turban ( thanks to the Rev. Trevor Maines left who volunteered as 'model' for this demonstration ) - Buddhist Tibetan meditation flags ( known in the west as "prayer flags" ) can be seen in the background.

Beturbaned Trevor went on to demonstrate and explain Christian clerical garments

The talk was supplemented by tables demonstrating examples from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh faiths.


Membership Unanimously Vote Constitution Changes at EGM Tuesday 14th Oct

Members unanimously passed the newly amended BCoF Constitution at the EGM. Members contributed with helpful amendments. Once proceedings commenced matters were steadily concluded in good time. The meeting finished at 8:25pm. The EGM was followed by an ordinary BCoF Committee Meeting. The changes became necessary, due to BCoF's intention to register as a charitable organisation. the amended BCoF Constitution is now available from our homepage (link),

New Horizons

Daniela Thau (co-chair of BCoF) has been co-opted onto the Bedford Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Executive Board. A presentation on the new ' Wixams' town was given (to be built on the old Elstow storage depot), giving BCoF opportunity to support, guide and plan towards catering for the multi-Faith needs of the new community.

DMU Chaplaincy (29th July 03 meeting)

The Reverend Mary Railton-Crowder, Ecumenical Chaplain at De Montfort Universtity, presented a talk on the work done by the chaplaincy and their commitment to support students of all faiths. Mary made a request for each faith in Bedford to provide contact details for students. Mary also suggested establishing a student based 'Faith Forum'.

New BCoF Secretary

At its meeting on the 29th July the BCoF committee voted in Trevor Maines and George Chaplin to 'job share' the post of BCoF Secretary. BCoF would like to publically thank them for stepping forward and undertaking this important role, whilst BCoF is in the process of securing future administrative assistance, through its development as a charitable organisation.

BCoF To Issue New Quarterly A4 News Sheet

It was agreed at the 24th April 03 committee meeting, to start a quarterly BCoF news sheet. The first issue is expected this summer. Please email BCoF with material for inclusion, invites for coverage etc.

This will help BCoF to reach local religious devotees with local interfaith matters, who do not have, or have difficulty with access to this website.

Election Results: 2003-4 BCoF Committee Members & Officers

Committee

Faith representitives & co-opted members

  • Baha’i; Malcolm Lee, Wendi Momen
  • Buddhism; Tom Short, Charles Hamilton
  • Christianity; Trevor Maines, Monica Whitmore, Mary Shaw & John Tibbs
  • Hinduism; Bharti Tailor
  • Islam; Terry Shah
  • Judaism; Daniela Thau, Laurie Bender
  • Sikhism; Shaminder Singh Billen, Tirath Singh Bhavra, Norman Ash
  • Society of Friends; Heather Mitchell, Sheila Holderness, David Maxwell
Officers
  • Co-Chair: Daniela Thau [Trevor Maines (nominated), Monica Whitmore (seconded)]
  • Co-Chair: Tirath Singh Bhavra [Trevor Maines (nominated), Monica Whitmore (seconded)]
  • Treasurer/Membership Secretary: Trevor Maines [Stephen Buckle (nominated), Ruth Cooksley (seconded)]
  • Minutes Secretary: Tom Short [Daniela Thau (nominated), Paulette Denton (seconded)]
  • Secretary: Stephen Buckle [Mary Shaw (nominated), Tom Short (seconded)]


BCoF Choir

There has been a proposal to form a BCoF Choir. Any one interested in this, BCoF would be delighted for them to contact us.

BCoF Meetings Venue

At the BCoF committee meeting on 24th April 03 it was agreed to try to meet at different venues, this is subject to availability of alternative venues.


BCC Request

After BCoF's successful meeting with Bedford County Council, the council has requested BCoF to give a presentation to council members and staff, about our aims and activities.


Inter Faith Network for the UK Statement

Statement by the network's executive committee on Iraq • 20th March 2003

War is a human tragedy, regardless of any justification there may be for it. As the present military action begins in Iraq, our first thoughts and prayers are for those who will become victims of this conflict. We urge our Government and all the other Governments involved to ensure that every possible step is taken to minimise loss of life on all sides and to alleviate the suffering which will inevitably arise.

The present conflict is not one between different faiths, but it could have an impact on inter faith relations here as in other countries. We must ensure that any strongly opposed views which there may be in the UK in this situation are not allowed to damage the relationships between people of different faiths and beliefs. We welcome the many initiatives that have been taken across the country in recent weeks to bring leading members of different faith communities together to declare their commitment to maintaining the good inter faith relations which characterise our society.

The desire for a just and true peace is passionate and universal among all people. We join together in heartfelt prayer and yearning that it may come, and come soon.


5-7 Tavistock Place
London WC1H 9SN
Tel: 020 7388-0008 Fax: 020 7388-7124
http://www.interfaith.org.uk.


BCoF AGM • 26th February 2003

Another well attended AGM, in which a long statement of the years achievements was read out (Details).


BCoF Hits the Local Air Waves • 23rd February 2003

BCoF hit the local air waves on Sunday morning on BBC Three Counties Melting Pot programme at 8.10 a.m. for 20 minutes. Its Faith Alive slot was presented by Nigel Gayler. Three Counties Radio appears :-
  • Beds : 95.5 FM
  • Bucks : 104.5 FM
  • Herts : 103.8 FM
Winter Social • Kempston Youth Centre • 26th January 2003 • 3-7pm

group picture of the event   2 ladies in front of Independence display

BCoF was delighted to put on this 'winter social' jointly, in conjunction with Maitrini Asian Womens' group in Kempston. We thank them for hosting the event and all the hard work they put into making it a success.

With the theme 'Winter Festivals', this event featured displays of Major Religious Winter Festivals showing how they are celebrated. A variety of people of faith brought materials from their own religious festival for display and any vegetarian food associated with it, to share.

This coincided with India's Independence Day and you can see the special display the ladies had made in the righthand picture above. In the lefthand picture you can see some of the ladies with Shaminder Singh Community Development Officer for Bedford Kempston Regeneration Partnership and member of BCoF. BCoF member Bharti Tailor on the righthand side, was key coordinator of the event.


 
  The group consists of representatives from various religious traditions within the community
email: bcof@bcof.org.uk           address: c/o 69 Victoria Road, Bedford, MK42 9JR