Evington’s Faith and Friendship Tent was launched at the Jubilee Garden Party in 2022. It began as a St Denys Church project bringing people together from across Evington’s different religious traditions to work with artists on creating an imaginative and inspiring space for building friendships across difference. The Tent has since been at the village fete and in City of Leicester College during Interfaith Week in November.
The Faith and Friendship group who come from Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Baha’i as well as Christian backgrounds have continued to meet for creative workshops from card-making to marbling to poetry-writing to knitting. The knitting was such a hit that they have been working on knitting as many angels as possible to give away during April when a number of different religious festivals are being celebrated including Eid, Easter and Vaisakhi. Lots of people outside the group have got involved and have been knitting away too.
If you see a knitted angel (or a rabbit!) with a label somewhere in Evington village in April, please do give it a good home and spread the joy and love with which they have been made. To find out more about the group, contact St Denys Church office@stdenys.org.uk
For some years now, the week following Remembrance Sunday has been designated Interfaith Week. It’s a week to highlight cooperation and build new relationships across difference as well as to learn from the religious diversity that is part and parcel of modern life. In Evington we are truly blessed to live alongside neighbours of many different faiths. Remembrance is one of those times when we come together and with cadets, scouts and residents of all faiths and none, we remember those who went from our community and died in conflicts past.
Last weekend, our Faith and Friendship group met in the parish centre. This group of people originally came together from across the community to work with artists on the Faith and Friendship Tent that was launched earlier this year by the Bishop of Loughborough. They continue to meet to work on art and craft projects, making beautiful cards and bookmarks to sell for Christmas, laughing, sharing and breaking into song together. There are even plans afoot to prepare for a fashion show in 2023 using upcycled clothing!
On Tuesday, Mark our curate and Sarah our youth and community worker went into City of Leicester College with the Faith and Friendship Tent. They took part in a “human library” where students got to speak to visitors of several different faiths. They answered questions as part of a panel and listened to students talk about their own religious traditions. It was an absolute delight and we look forward to working more with City of Leicester College in future.
On Friday, Anthony and Sarah went to meet the new headteacher at Krishna Avanti Primary School. St Denys have had a wonderful relationship with the Hindu school ever since it was founded 10 years ago and we have successfully worked on many projects together. We are really looking forward to sharing Christingle with the whole school in a couple of weeks time.
Many of us at St Denys have friends and neighbours who are from different religious traditions. With respect and understanding, these relationships can be hugely enriching. As Christians, we follow a Jesus who wasn’t afraid to cross boundaries. Engaging with religious difference can deepen our own faith as we ask questions of ourselves and others. In a world that struggles to know how to live well with difference, we need ever more spaces for building faith and friendship.
Do you enjoy singing? Can you read music or pick up a tune by ear? We are looking for keen singers with any level of experience to join us for our traditional Nine Lessons and Carols Service on Sunday 18th December. You don’t have to be a member of St Denys already to join us. All are welcome!
Weekly rehearsals begin on Thursday 10th November at 8pm, and then on 17th and 24th November, 1st and 8th December all at 7.30pm. Final rehearsals are on Friday 16th December at 7.30pm and on Sunday 18th at 4pm before the service itself at 6pm. We will also be singing carols at the Stoughton Grange Christmas Market on Saturday 3rd December. For more information about joining, contact Wendy at wsls99@yahoo.co.uk.
On Friday 11th November at 10.45am Reverend Anthony will lead a short act of remembrance at the War Memorial with the help of students from local Evington schools. This will include the 2 minutes silence at 11am to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict as well as an invitation to lay wreaths. All are welcome.
On Remembrance Sunday 13th November there will be a full parade service with our local uniformed organisations. This will begin at 10.45am at the War Memorial to include the 2 minutes silence and laying of wreaths, after which the service will continue in St Denys Church with hymns, readings and prayers to conclude around 12noon. Refreshments will then be available in the Parish Centre. For those not able to stand at the War Memorial, there will also be an act of remembrance in the church shortly before 11am. Everyone of whatever faith or none is very welcome to join in part or all of the commemorations.
