Beltane – Sunday, 12th May at the Dor Kemmyn Peace Field, Penmount

Join the Cornwall Faith Forum celebrate Beltane on Sunday, 12th May at 2.00 pm at the Dor Kemmyn Peace Field, Penmount, Truro.  Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Beltane is one of the four “fire” festivals celebrated annually by many Cornish pagans. It is celebrated on May Day, the 1st May, (or in the Southern Hemisphere, 1st November). Although it is spelt in many different ways, “Bel” is thought to refer to an ancient Celtic God, the Bright One, god of light and fire. It is a joyful festival where we celebrate the waxing power of the sun and the rising power and energy of Spring.

For many it marks the beginning of summer, but it is mainly seen as a celebration of fertility. We see the promise of fertility being expressed in Nature in new life all around us.

Historically, Beltane was celebrated by the lighting of fires, often on hilltops. “Jumping the fire” is a Beltane tradition for many pagans. In the past, lovers would jump over the magical Beltane fire hand in hand ; travellers would jump to ensure a safe journey. Young people would jump wishing for a husband or wife; young women to ensure fertility. Livestock would be driven over the embers, or between two Bel fires, in order to give protection from diseases and ensure a good increase in flocks and herds.

There are many other May Day celebrations around the country: Maypoles are perhaps the most widely recognised. Here is Cornwall of course, we have many May traditions of our own, including the Padstow’s Obby Oss and Helston’s Flora Day.

Festival of Ridvan – Sunday, 28th April 2019 at Cafe Chaos, Truro

The Cornish Baha’is will be celebrating the Festival of Ridvan on Sunday April 28th at 2.30 pm.  The venue is now Cafe Chaos, Tregolls Road, Truro TR1 1RN (owing to predicted windy weather)
This is one of the holiest and happiest days of the Baha’i year.

Baha’u’llah, the prophet Founder of the Baha’i Faith was banished to Baghdad from his native Iran  by a Persian government that feared the rapid spread of his teachings and their progressive impact on society. Far from stemming the tide of His teachings, they increased, and Baha’u’ llah declared :

We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment….That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled — what harm is there in this?

Baha’u’llah announced the mission of this new Faith to the believers in the Ridvan Garden in 1863.

The Cornish Baha’is will celebrate Ridvan this year with flowers , cake and tea to share, (Please bring your own cup if you can !) -with a telling of the ‘Garden of Ridvan’ story, together with live musical songs and prayers.

We welcome everyone to join us and help us celebrate this special Baha’i Holy day.

Tree Planting at the Dor Kemmyn Peace Field – Sunday, 24th March 2019

Join us for some more Spring tree planting at the Dor Kemmyn Peace Field, Penmount, Truro (in the Crematorium grounds).  This year there will be donations of trees by the Jewish and Buddhist Faith Communities.

Meet at 2.00 pm for tree planting, refreshments and catch up!  All very welcome.

For more information contact Rita Stephen, [email protected] tel. 07775 937485

Holocaust Memorial Day – Sunday 27th January 2019

Sunday, 27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day and the Cornwall Faith Forum will be marking this by reflecting at the Peace Pole at the Dor Kemmyn Field, Penmount, at 2.00 pm.

Each faith will reflect on the Holocaust and convey prayers for peace.  All are welcome to attend.  There will be hot drinks and cakes served afterwards.

For further information contact Rita Stephen [email protected]

Remembrance Sunday – Time of reflection around the Peace Pole – Sunday, 11th November 2018

Sunday 11th November 2018 at 2.30 pm -Time of reflection around the Peace Pole at the Dor Kemmyn Field to mark the centenary of the end of First World War 1914-1918.
Join the Cornwall Faith Forum for reflection and peace prayers from the faith communities paying their respects to those who gave their lives for the country during World War 1.  For further information contact Rita Stephen [email protected] or tel. 07775 937485.

Cornwall Faith Forum Review of the Year & AGM – Thursday, 18th October 2018

The Cornwall Faith Forum will be holding it’s Review of the Year and Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 18th October at County Hall, Truro TR1 3AY.  Refreshments served at  7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start.  All are very welcome.

It’s been a busy year!  Hear updates of our three strands:

  • Learning for Peace
  • Sharing for Peace
  • Learning for Peace

Also individual faith reps will be sharing with us:

  • A joy from their life as a Faith Community over the past year.
  • A hope that they have for the forthcoming year.
  • A concern for the people or place of Cornwall at this time that their community might be thinking about at this time.

All welcome.  Look forward to seeing you there!

For further information contact Andrew Yates, Chair, Cornwall Faith Forum, [email protected]  or tel 01872 274351

Flyer of AGM: AGM Flyer 18.10.18

Notes of last AGM held on  19th October 2017 : AGM Notes 19th October 2017 FINAL

Cornwall Faith Forum Accounts from 01.04.17 – 31.03.18:  FINAL CORNWALL FAITH FORUM A_CS 2018

Cancellation of Creationtide Event 6th October owing to predicted bad weather conditions

Dear CFF Friend
We have reluctantly decided to CANCEL the proposed Creation Tide Event scheduled for this Saturday October 6th.
Forecast is for rain – which we can cope with AND for 40 mph which our gazebo will not be able to cope with in such an exposed situation.  Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.  We will have the opportunity to celebrate Creationtide at another time of the year.
Please share this with friends and colleagues.
Kind regards.
Andrew Yates, Chair, Cornwall Faith Forum

World Peace Day Events – An account of an amazing weekend!

The Cornwall Faith Forum had the priviledge in joining in with some of the World Peace Day events which took place in September.  Paul Haines, Peace Activist, gives us a taste of what happened:
“Three days of celebrating and raising awareness for the UN International Day of Peace went ahead successfully. This is now the third year that we have celebrated World Peace Day in Truro, and joined with “One Day One Choir”.
Day 1, Friday 21st September, World Peace Day, started with a first time event at County Hall attended by Mary May, Chairman of the Council, and Julian German, Deputy Leader. Faith speakers from the Cornwall Faith Forum offered prayers for peace along with wonderful singing from a number of Cornish Primary schools. A session of singers and speakers followed on Lemon Quay, and then groups that use singing therapeutically gathered at the Truro Methodist Church. That evening the world famous choir, Tenebrae, performed at Truro Cathedral, dedicating their concert to One Day One Choir. (This is a global choral project for Peace. These 3 days of events in Truro are in support of this inspiring initiative).
Day 2, Saturday 22nd September. A full day went ahead on Lemon Quay, despite the dreadful weather, with many choirs singing for peace and others speaking about peace. In the evening Garth Hewitt sang and spoke about justice, hope and peace, at the Truro Methodist Church, and he was supported by the Callington Community Gospel Choir.
Day 3, Sunday 23rd September, started in the afternoon in the Chapel of Peace and Unity in Truro Cathedral with many prayers, thoughts and messages of peace on display. This was followed by an Evensong for World Peace. The day concluded with a wonderfully reflective Breathing Space for World Peace at the Truro Methodist Church.
All schools, churches and communities across Cornwall were invited to take part and to join with choirs and singing groups across the world to sing for peace on World Peace Day. www.onedayonechoir.org
(Banner image above – Prayers for Peace by the Faith Communities in Cornwall at County Hall, Truro)

Therapeutic sing group session at Truro Methodist Church 21st September

 

Playful Chorus from Lostwithiel on the Piazza, Truro 22nd September

Garth Hewitt and Callington Community Choir at Truro Methodist Church, Saturday 22nd September

Chapel of Peace and Unity, Truro Cathedral 23rd September 2018

Rebuilding the Dome of Human Kindness

Rebuilding the Dome of Human Kindness
The Cornwall Faith Forum is excited about the rebuilding of the Dome of Human Kindness sculpture. Read all about Tom Henderson’s inspiring story of creating the Dome as a life size sculpture with its original art work and unique space inside for reflection. We  have until 9th October to achieve the fund raising goal.  To get involved and find out more click HERE

Creationtide at the Dor Kemmyn Field – Saturday 6th October 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm

On Saturday 6th October, the Cornwall Faith Forum will be celebrating Creationtide at the Dor Kemmyn Field.  Every year Creationtide runs from the Orthodox New Year on 1st September until St Francis Day at the beginning of October. Creationtide is originally an Eastern Orthodox initiative, but has now spread widely among Anglican, Roman Catholic and Protestant congregations, bringing Christians together to pray and work for the protection of the environment that sustains everyone.  We will meet up at 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm.  Hot drinks and cakes will be provided and if wet we will have a gazebo.  For further information contact Rita Stephen [email protected] or tel 07775 937485.