Monday, February 07, 2005
A civic service for all
I attended the Annual Wandsworth Council Civic Service today at St Luke's Church in Battersea. This year's was organised by the Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillor Chief Mrs Lola Ayonrinde JP.
The Mayor told me sometime ago that she intended to break with tradition and have a theme "neighbours of faith". She had decided to change the time of the service from a Sunday morning to a Sunday evening and invite representatives of Christian and non Christian faith communities as well as business communties, voluntary and community organistion within the Borough.
There were Mayors from all over London, Martin Linton MP and a number of Councillors also in attendance.
At the time the Mayor told me of her plans I congratulated her for her inclusive initiaitve. However, the evening was even better then I could have hoped for.Ther were people of all ages, races and religions present in the beautiful Church on Thurleigh and Ramsden Road.
As the Mayor said, an Annual civic gathering in Wandsworth is the only annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the spiritual well being of the Borough. It should serve as a unifying vehicle and provide us all with the opportunity to acknowledge that true collabration does not mean merely working alongside one another, but genuily sharing. Even when there may be profound differences in belief, there sould still be sharing.
Aswell as Hymns, Messages and Addresses from the Bishop of Kingston and Canon John Shephard and readings there were Prayers led by young people who were followers of the seven major faiths in the Borough of Wandsworth; Hinduism, Judaisn, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and the Baha'i faith.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can genuinely say that I felt uplifted during and after the service. This reminded me that the residents of Wandsworth, and indeed Tooting, have so so much in common irrespective, and in fact because, of our beliefs, backgrounds and religions.I often describe Tooting as an oasis in the chaotic world we live in. If we just took more time to search for the things we had in common rather then the differences we have wouldn't live be so much for peaceful and enjoyable?
Sadiq
The Mayor told me sometime ago that she intended to break with tradition and have a theme "neighbours of faith". She had decided to change the time of the service from a Sunday morning to a Sunday evening and invite representatives of Christian and non Christian faith communities as well as business communties, voluntary and community organistion within the Borough.
There were Mayors from all over London, Martin Linton MP and a number of Councillors also in attendance.
At the time the Mayor told me of her plans I congratulated her for her inclusive initiaitve. However, the evening was even better then I could have hoped for.Ther were people of all ages, races and religions present in the beautiful Church on Thurleigh and Ramsden Road.
As the Mayor said, an Annual civic gathering in Wandsworth is the only annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the spiritual well being of the Borough. It should serve as a unifying vehicle and provide us all with the opportunity to acknowledge that true collabration does not mean merely working alongside one another, but genuily sharing. Even when there may be profound differences in belief, there sould still be sharing.
Aswell as Hymns, Messages and Addresses from the Bishop of Kingston and Canon John Shephard and readings there were Prayers led by young people who were followers of the seven major faiths in the Borough of Wandsworth; Hinduism, Judaisn, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and the Baha'i faith.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can genuinely say that I felt uplifted during and after the service. This reminded me that the residents of Wandsworth, and indeed Tooting, have so so much in common irrespective, and in fact because, of our beliefs, backgrounds and religions.I often describe Tooting as an oasis in the chaotic world we live in. If we just took more time to search for the things we had in common rather then the differences we have wouldn't live be so much for peaceful and enjoyable?
Sadiq
