Open Iftar at The Globe
The Ramadan Tent Project held an open Iftar of the year at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London, in an event including poetry, performance by a Muslim children’s arts and theatre school, prayer and a communal meal. Dr Farah Karim-Cooper, co-director of education and research at the Globe, attended along with 700 people in an event which, the organisers say, also illustrated that Shakespeare is for all. Report on Hyphen Online here. Last night, hundreds more people attended another Open Iftar at Hays Galleria, a large shopping precinct near London Bridge.
Difficulty in pinning down the date for Eid ul Fitr
The UK government has provided information for the sighting of the crescent moon which will mark Eid ul-fitr, the end of Ramadan. According to the charts from HM Nautical Almanac Office, the “instant” of the new Moon takes place on Thursday 20 April at 04:13 Greenwich Mean Time, but it will only be visible by telescope in certain parts of the world. The document says it is impossible for the moon to be sighted by the naked eye anywhere in the world on Thursday night, 20 April, but it will be visible everywhere on 21 April. Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. The working assumption in the UK is that Eid will start on 20 April and last until 21 April, but if the moon has not been sighted by the naked eye, Muslims will be relying on local astronomical groups.
Chief Rabbi’s shock at killing of a mother and two daughters in the West Bank
The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis has spoken of his shock and sadness at the deaths of the two British-Israeli sisters Maya and Rina Dee, and the indescribable pain of the subsequent death of their mother, Lucy, who were all killed in a terrorist attack on the West Bank. In a statement he said it was heart breaking news and both Lucy and her husband father Rabbi Leo Dee, who served at Radlett United synagogue in Hertfordshire before moving with his family to Israel nine years ago, were “dear colleagues.”
Evangelicalism in the Church of England “a destabilising force, a liability”
The expected explosive summer which awaits the Church of England, as strident evangelicals continue their campaign against same sex blessings, is considered by Theo Hobson, writing in the Spectator. He says failure to hold the factions together is a deeply sad moment for the national church, but he reports a solidifying of mainstream Anglicanism, as Anglo-Catholicism and liberalism become firmly wedded together. Evangelicalism has always been part of the Church of England, he says, but now it has “become a destabilising force, a liability. And it is less indispensable than it thinks.. Let it no longer claim to be central to the Church of England. Let the Puritans depart in peace”.
Wealthy Buckinghamshire parish threatens to withhold money from CofE over same sex blessings
The Guardian reports that Great Chesham parochial church council in Buckinghamshire, is considering withholding its contribution to the diocesan fund, in protest at same sex blessings. It quotes a spokesperson for the diocese of Oxford saying that it had not been advised of any move to cancel the parish share payments but was aware of discussions underway. Last month ten clergy set up a parallel “deanery chapter” in the city of London for those opposed to same sex blessings.
Mike Pilavachi resigns as a director of the Soul Survivor company
The Telegraph reports that the Rev Canon Mike Pilavachi, founder of Soul Survivor, has resigned as a director of the company. Documents filed to Companies House reveal that he ended his role at Soul Survivor on 4 April. It is registered as a company and a charity. The move came two days after his congregation in Watford was told that he was stepping back from ministry as an investigation was underway over his sending of inappropriate messages. The Church of England National Safeguarding Team, the St Albans Diocese, and the Soul Survivor Watford trustees, have previously said that the situation was neither a “criminal investigation” nor a “clergy disciplinary matter” and happened a long time ago. The Telegraph report is here
Man charged after churchgoer stabbed following Easter Sunday service
A man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, after a church goer was stabbed as he left the Easter Sunday service at St Stephen’s Church in Nottingham. Joseph Easom-Cooper, aged 20, of Dale Street in Sneinton, was also charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place and possession of cannabis. The victim, in his 40s, remains in hospital but his injuries are not said to be life threatening.
Investigation into Virgin Mary statue’s “tears of blood”
An investigation is underway into the claims of Maria Giuseppe Scarpulla, who claimed that a statue of the Virgin Mary in the village of Trevignano Romano north of Rome, wept tears of blood and communicated messages to her. Hundreds of people came on pilgrimage to the site and donated thousands of pounds, regarding her as a saint. But a judicial investigation is underway after a private investigator alleged the blood was in fact from pigs. Ms Scarpulla has left town but her lawyer said she had simply gone on holiday and the allegations were a sensationalist witch hunt. Guardian story here
