This past Friday lunchtime a group of 20 Christian and Muslim young people took their stand to be different.
To demonstrate that it is possible to be friends with people of a different faith and culture, they gave out toffee apples and jalebi in the park around the Birmingham Cathedral, as sweet gifts from the youth of a diverse and rich city. The toffee apples were a traditional English favourite and from the Asian community came the striking and sticky jalebi, with many people trying one for the first time ever.
The young people embraced the opportunity to share their gifts, while speaking about The Feast and the benefits they had gained from being able to share their faith, make friends and together build a stronger and happier community. It was a relief that we received no hostility but lots of encouragement and thanks.
And of course we gave away all of our sweets and brochures!
The purpose of the event was partly in response to the English Defence League’s protest that came to Birmingham on Saturday 29 October.
One of our young people shared “I get really angry at people who just cause hate and stuff, and I just wanted to do something that makes a difference. Today we are showing people that this is not how all people are, and that we are really doing this – loving each other.”
Another said “People today are very nice. The EDL are bad and we are doing a very good thing.”
We were also very grateful for a visit from the Dean of the Cathedral,The Very Revd Catherine Ogle, who was so pleased that our young people were making this positive and generous statement in her churchyard.
This event was a first for The Feast and proved a huge success, especially with the added support from a group of extra adult volunteers who came to stand with us from around the city. Well done team and we hope we can do more things like this in the future.
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2 Comments on "Sharing sweets and a message of hope"
Hello Feasters,
I have a little message that came to me, which you might like to share at your feast at Lambeth Palace, if you thought it had some truth… I’ve been praying a lot about the situation around St Paul’s and last night I was woken with a sense of great joy and light and the idea that Christ would be very happy to see his London churches partly used to store bicycles. It’s wacky but I can see the sense too, so I thought you might like to pray about the matter yourselves, at least. Anyway, I wish you the very best on your trip to London and every blessing for your work and ministry. The first will be last and the last will be first.
Love, Julia xxxxxxxx
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