The City of Cape Town hosted an Interfaith blessing of the Newlands Springwater at the new collection point on Tuesday the 22nd May. What a special moment! The rains were included in the ceremony, and the Water and Sanitation Department shared some interesting background to their very challenging task. This beautiful event included prayers and blessings from many traditions including Baha’i, Buddhism, Hindu, Islam, Judaism, Catholic, Unitarian, Anglican, AfricanTraditional and Quaker.
James Ellman, CTII Director, recently represented the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative at the United Religions Initiative (URI) Regional Assembly in Malawi. The Regional Assembly brought together all the Cooperation Circle (CC) leaders, from South Africa, Mozambique, and Malawi. The Cape Town Interfaith Initiative has been a Cooperation Circle of URI since 2014. James described the experience as follows;
“The Malawi experience with URI has brought together people from various backgrounds throughout Southern Africa. It was an opportunity to learn from the various representatives about the challenges they face and how they respond to these challenges. I was inspired by the way they deal with their challenges using non-violence as their vehicle to respond.
CTII also shared experiences and participants were encouraged by the way CTII makes interfaith interaction a reality. CTII is seen as a beacon of hope to them guiding the way of getting involved in interfaith dialogue.
The one challenge I found that most of the organisations present shared, was getting funding for the great work being done. People in Malawi and Mozambique live in extreme poverty but they are positive and keep moving forward making a difference one step and one person at a time. Living in South Africa, I also see poverty and I am re-inspired by these CCs to stay faithful to the vision of CTII.
One of the main outcomes of the regional assembly was that a work plan was set up for the journey forward into 2018 and beyond for URI Southern Africa.”
Thank you James for sharing the experiences of CTII and being a voice for interfaith dialogue at this important gathering!
On the 1st September, the Cape Town Interfaith initiative participated in a wonderful event held to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for creation as we start the Season of Creation.
The service started with words from the Laudato Si
“The poor and the Earth are crying out. Help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future” read by Rev Natalie- Simons Arendse, Deputy Chair of CTII.
The event was organised by the Green Anglicans, SAFCEI and CTII to bring together different faith communities to offer prayers of blessing for creation, and to call us to action in commitment to protecting and saving our precious Earth.
The service ended with a planting and blessing of a tree.
See what else happened for this special day all around the world: https://medium.com/@CathClimateMvmt/season-of-creation-begins-f885ecc4645f
On the 6th November 2016 at Erin Hall the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative presented its annual Music Of the Soul Concert. A wonderful line-up of professional and amateur musicians offered songs from their religions with much devotion.
The first group were members from Ananda Kutir Ashrama, a centre that teachers Integral Yoga. This group sang an universal song, which included ‘The Universal Prayer’ of Swami Sivananda, improvised singing of short one-line prayers from various faiths, and a sanskrit hymn invoking the blessings of the prophets, saints, sages and gurus of all religions.
This was followed by beautiful and joyful singing by the Soul Singers of Baha led by Clare Mortimore representing the Baha’i religion. The group consisted of a choir of male and female voices singing harmonious praise songs. Dominique Sylvester also rendered a beautiful song on vocals and guitar.
The third act was offered by the international musician Madosini accompanied by Pedro the Musicman. Madosini offered African Traditional songs and played on traditional instruments. She sang soulfully about various aspects of life interspersed with some humour as well.
Then Thazkiyah offered Qawwali songs in the Islamic/Sufi tradition. Their music was vibrant and their lead singer Haroon Hussein gave wonderful translations and teachings of the songs.
Reverend Peter Fox, accompanied by Colin Leo on supporting vocals, Nic Paton on guitar and Garth Hammer on piano, sang soul-stirring Christian hymns, one of which was composed by Nic Paton. The love of God and mankind was heard through their voices.
The final offering was presented by the opera singer Belinda Silbert whose songs representing Judaism. Her beautiful operatic voice resounded through the hall as she offered classical as well as modern songs, one of which was a song that she had received in a vision.
The concert was enjoyed by all participants as well as the audience. The variety was wonderful and the atmosphere was charged with devotion. It was evident that the devotion is the same in all. There is only one religion, the religion of the soul.
CTII was invited to participate in this event to build and promote peace in Africa, by contributing interfaith prayers. Organised by the Art of Living, initiated in 2013, this year was hosted at the V & A Waterfront Auditorium, Saturday 28th May 2016.
After a welcome by the Consul general for India, followed by vibrant African dance performed by energetic children, prayers for peace in Africa, were said from Baha’i, Buddist, Brahma Kumaris, Muslim and Christian traditions while candles were lit.
A total of 76 countries internationally were then lead into a peace meditation live from India, by humanitarian and global peace ambassador His Holiness Sri Sri Ravishankar. A beautiful experience and such encouragement we appreciated by the large crowd gathered.
– Mary Frost, CTII Exec Member
