Editor’s Message

This is our second newsletter which we are publishing. Our purpose is to

• keep you informed of the progress related to the Coventry Sacred Space Initiative and other similar work.
• act as a portal, to a perspective and view from Coventry people with influence and power.
• provide interesting and useful information that could help you in your area of work, interest, or development.
• welcome and invite you and your organisation to share your news, possibly of events, activities and puzzles that stretch the mind.
• stories, that elevate the heart, increase the pulse to act and words that comfort and bring healing.

In doing so, our hope is to help people, communities, and providers connect more meaningfully. Thereby secure and maintain an environment that encourages everyone to prosper, live fully and sense of love for others, nature and that binds all things together. I hope you find the contents of our first issue all of the above, I welcome your comments, suggestions and thoughts

Deepak Naik

The Society was founded by George Fox, who as a young man, left his home in Fenny Drayton, a village quite near here in the Nuneaton area, and travelled the country, meeting and talking to other ‘seekers after truth’.  He convinced many people that everyone could have a personal experience of God without the intercession of any third party, such as a priest.  He challenged people to look within their own hearts and towards an inward teacher – Quakers often call it the ‘inner light’ – so that they might see their own darkness and be transformed by the experience.  He urged Friends to live in such a way that they might ‘come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.’

The most distinctive element of our Quaker faith is our way of worshipping together.  Here in Coventry that takes place in our meeting house in Hill Street, on land we have owned since 1668.  It’s convenient to have such a place, but a meeting for worship can be held anywhere – for instance, in someone’s home or as an act of witness outside a place where nuclear weapons are being made. Chairs are usually arranged in a circle and there’s probably a small table in the middle with flowers, our book of Quaker writings old and new, Quaker Faith and Practice, a bible and other spiritual works.  As the first person enters the room and sits in silence, the meeting has begun. As others join them, they may nod and smile in greeting, without speaking.  So what do we do in the silence? For me it’s paying attention to that which is most profound, worthwhile and opening myself up in the quiet, the stillness, trying to tune into power both within and beyond myself. What do I call it?  It’s hard to define – the Light, the Divine, the Spirit, a Presence that some call God as a sort of shorthand to describe the indescribable.

GOD could stand for Great Other Dimension.  It’s a personal matter that everyone has to decide about for themselves.

Most importantly it’s not a journey I’m taking alone, which I could do as meditation at home on my own.  It’s a communal experience, a mysterious togetherness; all the more powerful for being combined and of course a different combination each time.  ‘Gathered ‘ is the word Quakers use to describe a meeting that really seems imbued with a special power. Anyone present may stand and speak into the silence if they feel compelled to do so – what we call spoken or vocal ministry.  Words are usually brief and hopefully don’t destroy the silence; they emerge out of it and then after the speaker finishes, the silence enfolds everyone once more.

Meeting for worship is about waiting and listening in the silence to what might emerge for me – at best answers to dilemmas maybe or acceptance of matters that can’t be resolved.   Hearing vocal contributions may provide me with helpful insights or be moving in a way that helps me better understand the speaker.  Sometimes that ministry might not speak to me or worse might really jar with me – then I try to see what that says about me.  Does it hold some sort of lesson about my attitude, my intolerance perhaps, or is it just meant to help someone else who is present?

Every meeting is a challenge and an opportunity and is the source from which Quakers draw the strength to do whatever work they do in the world, enterprises large and small.  It’s also one of the ways in which we seek companionship as fellow travellers on life’s journey and helps bind us together as a community, a Society of Friends.  Worship is part of our lives not something set apart; we see everything as sacred and part of daily life.  There’s a Quaker poster that shows a city square with people walking through, going about their everyday business.  The caption reads Daily round, holy ground.

I’ve mentioned our book Quaker Faith and Practice – this contains Quaker writings, spiritual insights and reflections, both from the earliest days of the Society up to the present.  The first chapter, which is also available as a separate booklet, is called Advices and Queries.  As the title suggests, it contains challenging questions and snippets of advice, ‘offered for the comfort and discomfort of Friends,’ as it says in the introduction.  Not for a rule or form to walk by, but for guidance, something to aspire to through the power of the spirit.

If you’ve read or seen the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy you will recall that the answer to the meaning of life, the universe and everything was 42! Well, the spiritual insights in the 42 sections of this little booklet encapsulate what we call our Quaker testimonies, ways of living and behaving, which can be summed up under the headings: truth and integrity, equality, simplicity and peace.

Early Friends were known as ‘Friends in the truth’ – Quakers try to be honest in our dealings with people and organisations, which may mean taking an unpopular stand, going against the ways of the world.  We don’t swear oaths in court, as this implies a double standard, but affirm that we are speaking truthfully as we always try to do.

We are urged to live simply, only buying according to in our needs, living lightly on the earth and embracing the ideas of sustainability, so vital to continuing life on the planet.

We believe that everyone is precious, worthy of equal treatment in society.  This has led to us being at the forefront of many social revolutions, such as working for the abolition of the slave trade, organising the Kindertransport to get Jewish children out of Nazi Germany, and in modern times, campaigning for restorative justice for offenders, pressing for same-sex marriage legislation.

Perhaps we are most well-known for our peace testimony.  Quakers have always been actively engaged in peacemaking activities and education; many have been in trouble for refusing to fight or have served alongside armed forces in peaceful roles, like working in the Friends Ambulance Unit in two world wars.  I first noticed the Quakers in my youth when I marched to Hyde Park in the anti-nuclear demonstrations of the 60s – always there with their colourful banners – an outward expression of an inner conviction.

None of this activity could happen without the strength and inspiration gleaned from our way of worship, whereas George Fox urged us, ‘we meet and know one another in the things that are eternal.’  From that grounding, we can learn to ‘live adventurously and let our lives speak.’

Coventry Moves Together

Community and faith leaders from across the city are urging local people to join them as Coventry Moves Together on Saturday 5 June 2021. The event begins at 8 am and will be enjoyed and experienced by the people of the city, region and across the nation online and through broadcast and will tell the story of Coventry and look ahead to its future.  

It starts with a solitary voice and will culminate in a unique, once-in-a-lifetime, collective moment for the people of Coventry at 20:21, called Coventry Moves Together when the whole city will form an orchestra – simply by switching on their radios or web-based devices and tuning in to one of the local or community radio stations taking part. 

Composer and sound artist Dan Jones, who has worked in film and on other major commissions for UK City of Culture 2017 and Paralympic Games, has created a new piece of music – including the voices of Coventry schoolchildren.  The track has been split into multiple streams and will come together as a full piece of music when radio stations can be heard simultaneously. 

So, families, friends and neighbours are being asked to head out to their doorsteps, into their gardens or on their balconies and tune into different streams so that the whole city can hear the full, eight-minute piece.  It is being implemented with the support and collaboration of local businesses and services such as libraries, faith groups, retail units, hotels, supermarkets, music venues, charities, transport networks and police, ambulance and fire services, which will join with the whole city is broadcasting one of the streams. 

The piece has been inspired by the legendary Coventry-born composer and mathematician, Delia Derbyshire, and will be broadcast via BBC CWR, Hillz FM, Radio Panj, Radio Plus, Vanny FM, Fresh Radio, Arawak, Block Radio and Radio Abbey to create a world-first moment – a city-wide surround sound musical performance. 

The aim is to reach 350,000 individuals from all communities on their own doorsteps, in their gardens and at workplaces across the city. The piece will later be shared with the rest of the world through broadcast and online – but only after it has premiered on the doorsteps of Coventry. 

Jon Davis, a Producer of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Coventry Moves is going to be a very special day for Coventry and it will culminate in a very moving collective moment at 20:21.

“We want the whole city to join us as Coventry Moves Together by helping to join all of the pieces of the Coventry Moves Together jigsaw by tuning into different radio stations to help make the composition sound complete.” 

For further information, please contact: 

Lee Corden – lcorden@advent-communications.co.uk – 07734 888129

 Or visit Coventry City of Culture on: 
Website: https://coventry2021.co.uk/  
Facebook: @Coventry2021 
Twitter: @Coventry2021 
Instagram: coventry2021 

Inter Faith Week 2021

Inter Faith Week takes place this year from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 November 2021.

It is a tremendous platform to learn more about different faiths and beliefs and the communities that follow those; highlight the contribution of faith communities to society; encourage understanding about and between different faith and belief groups, and encourage inter faith cooperation.

It’s a Week for everyone – young and old and of different faiths and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs.  Activities benefit those who take part; they also send a strong message that good inter faith relations in the UK matter and that there is an appreciation of people’s faiths and beliefs and how those inspire them to contribute to the community and live well together.

Inter Faith Week’s aims are to:

• • Strengthen good inter faith relations at all levels
  • Increase awareness of the different and distinct faith communities in the UK, in particular celebrating and building on the contribution which their members make to their neighbourhoods and to wider society
  • Increase understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs

For further information, please go to Inter Faith Week

Funding

There are number of funding opportunities that may be relevant to local communities.

Ocado Foundation grants programme

Ocado Foundation has launched a grants programme for UK charities and community groups, with BizGive. It offers grants of up to £1,000 to successful applicants, with in-kind goods also available on request and applications for digital volunteering also accepted. Applications are accepted until the end of the year.  More information is available here.

National Lottery Community Funds – After being paused due to the coronavirus crisis, the National Lottery Awards for All, Reaching Communities, and Partnerships funding programmes are open for applications again.