Hello
And
Welcome
To
The New Look
www.enfieldfaithforum.org.uk

During the next few weeks, I will continue to alter the format, the contents and even the style of this web pages. Hopefully, eventually, I will get some of you offering me some feedback or even material to incorporate herein.

This was not a complaint, just an observation. In the previous versions, I only seem to incorporate information provided by some of you. Only a few provided information about their events or activities that they wanted publicised for the benefit of the community of the Borough of Enfield. It did not include all of you. I am hoping that this New Look website will get more people involved.

Well, I have been thinking about how I could get the younger generation off the crime ladder and on to the progressive ladder. Needless to say, I am not the first one to think on this basis and most certainly will not be the last one around. I hope I can help make the difference. So, Let me start by just letting you in on a little bit about me.

I am Bhasmank Mehta and I enjoy reading religion. I have read the Holy books of most major religions in their original format; albeit an English translation and the best one at that as I understand the case to be. The problem, I noticed, was that most of the material therein required reading same paragraphs again and again. Some more so than others. PhD in English would have made my life much easier – I kept telling myself! Now that I have the theoretical knowledge, there are so many good things therein that the young people – AND EVEN OLDER PEOPLE – could make use of that the best way I thought of was to re-phrase some of it or even simplify.

So, what am I talking about; you may ask! Am I asking you to join my or someone else's persuasion? Am I asking you to join your own local Church, Temple, Mosque, Synagogue or (other) your chosen place of worship? Am I asking that you start reading religious books as well?

All I am asking you is to follow your own faith and if you do not understand any part of it, all you need to do is ask. If I do not have an answer, I along with a team of faith leaders that I associate with will find an answer for you. Please do not be led blindly by anyone you do not feel comfortable with.

In this New Look website, I am introducing three additional sections:

1.Elaboration on a Quote from a Holy book. It is possible that people in the know – having working knowledge of a particular religion may not agree with my understanding or explanation. Since this is MY version, please feel free to either correct me or help me improve on my explanation. Please note that no offence is meant or intended and ought not to be construed to mean offensive in any form, shape or manner.

2.Non-Religious but encouraging stories. Over the years I have written some interesting short stories and would like to share them with you. I hope you will help me promote same amongst friends and relatives.

3.Stories written by you, the young and the old (If you would like to be calling yourself Old!) person from Enfield – The Theme of the story? - Simple, Positive Thinking/Attitude. Must be your own work. Name, Address, Contact Number and Email Address must be included. Please note that no personal details will ever be published or abused in any way.

In closing, all that is expected of you and I humbly request that you honour and respect the writer's ownership of any articles appearing herein. Also, if you like any particular story or article, please let me know and if such article belongs to someone other than me, I will ensure that such comments are conveyed without undue delay.

Now other issues before returning to the aforementioned topics:

Please join me in extending our Thanks and Appreciation to Enfield Metropolitan Police for their donation towards the continuation of this website. Our appreciation should also be extended to PC Garrett Pennery for his efforts and persistancy towards ensuring the continuation of this website. Personally, I would like to thank all those who conveyed their messages via Garrett to get the website back on line. Your support is most appreciated and is very encouraging.

All the usual topics such as Events, Archives, Minutes etc. will be added as I get them. As this is a fresh start with a New Look, all the old material will be Archived in the near future if enough people should so demand/wish.

And finally – Yes! I know. Grammatically, a sentence must not start with “And” but for exception! - here is your first story:



- Pilgrimage … -
Does It Enhance One’s Character?
Author: Unknown - Circa 15th Century
Translation: Bhasmank Mehta

Once, in his home town under a Banyan tree in the Common, Saint Tukaram was engrossed in his thoughts to create a new poem. Although this place gave him a lot of ideas, it was mainly due to conversations with the passers-by along with observations from watching others who came there.

One day a small team of men and women came to pay their respects. They eagerly and respectfully asked him to join them for a pilgrimage. The saint politely declined the offer despite the costs being met by the group. He gave them a cotton sawn bag containing bitter-lemons. As he did so, he asked the group to look after the bag and dip it into the holy waters of the rivers or the lakes or the ponds that they visit and take a dip themselves. “On your return, please hand this bag over to me” he requested.

During their venture, the members of the group did exactly as Tukaram had requested. Meditating God’s name, every place that they took a dip in the holy waters of the river, the lake or a pond, they also remembered to dip the bag. After a few days, they had visited all the places they had planned and therefore decided to return home.

As they approached the Common, they stopped by Saint Tukaram offering to return the bag they had so religiously looked after confirming that his wishes had been met on every occasion without fail. The saint, as a goodwill gesture and to show his appreciation asked all the participants to be at his place for an afternoon lunch the next day.

Next day, the Saint treated them with a curry made from that bitter-lemon. After meal, they all sat down for some idle chat when Tukaram said in a ‘matter-of-fact’ manner that despite having visited so many different destinations and despite having dipped this bag of bitter-lemon in the holy waters of so many rivers, lakes and ponds, it’s taste still remained the same.

In exactly the same way, a lot of us do not let go of our bitterness towards others. We continue to behave in exactly the same way as we used to. We do not even attempt to mend our attitudes. In fact, the reason for pilgrimage was to cleanse and even enhance ourselves by removing the vices we may have acquired throughout our lives.
16 June 2009

Why Shout?

This one is a lovely mail and you should read ….. A good one too……..I am sure you will like it.
A saint asked his disciples, 'Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?'
Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.'
'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint.
'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?'
Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint.
Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.'
Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...'
The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love.
Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'
MORAL: When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.

Every morning leave your worries outside gate,
'coz that's where they pick up the garbage .

04 July 2009

Events

Weekly

24th June 2009 and every Wednesday thereafter you can join the Healing Prayers

17 June 2009
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11 July 2009 - Saturday - Jubilee Park Event Safer Neighbourhood teams & local partners are holding an event in Jubilee Park on Saturday 11th July.
As well as local Safer Neighbourhood teams, also present will be the Police Helicopter, Mounted Branch &Traffic section. LFB & LAS will be carrying an RTC demonstration, removing the casualty from the vehicle.
There is a local school football competition taking place throughout the day.
There is also a climbing wall for people to try out - Tottenham Hotspur football coaches will be on hand with hints & tips !
The event is free & there lots to see and do (Only cost will be small fairgrounds for young children & refreshments).

Further to that, a raffle is being held to support local schools in the area -
tickets cost £1 & prizes include:

2 tickets to an Arsenal game Emirates cup
A tour of the Emirates stadium
2 tickets to a West Ham game
Metropolitan Police Skid Pan Day for 2 people
Quad bike day for 1 person
5 day family pass to Enfield David Lloyd centre (Value £240)
£50 Southbury Leisure Centre vouchers
Body Shop make-over
£40 TGI Friday voucher
2 rounds of golf at Whitewebbs for 4 people
£20 McDonalds voucher (Dearsley Road branch)
Kettles & Toaster
£10 Sainsbury's voucher
£5 Argos voucer
Original signed Spice Girls picture
And much much more to be announced!

Tickets available from Jubilee Safer Neighbourhood Team at Ponders End (2nd floor)
Vicky Larcombe, Rm 2.04 at Edmonton Police Station
Kim Humberstone, BIU at YB

(Prizes will be drawn the week of 13th July & winners will be notified)

The teams have worked really hard to put this event together, please show your support.

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26th July 2009 with Andy Love. A public talk on Building Stronger Communities.
Venue: Rumi Mosque & Dialogue Centre at 20:00 hours.
See you there ...

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The dates and locations of the Community Festivals are:
25 Jul - Snells Park, Edmonton N18
26 Jul - Cowper Gardens, Southgate N14
15 Aug - Elsinge Road, Enfield EN1
12 Sep - Chelsfield Green, Edmonton N9
13 Sep - Springfield Road, New Southgate N11
Do you have any people within your premises/community that may want to highlight something, whether it be Fair trade, arts and crafts, anything that they may consider good to highlight?
Then, for a deposit of £25 which you have returned as long as you turn up then, feel free to contact the Community Festival co-ordinator, Michelle Cox, on the details below and arrange to have a stall at one, some, or all the five community festivals.

Michelle Cox can be contacted at:
Direct Line: 020 8375 8385
Place: The Edmonton Centre, 36-44 South Mall, Edmonton Green, N9 0TN
email: michelle.cox@enfieldhomes.org
Mobile: 07903 970 113
website: www.enfieldhomes.org

Police Safer Neighbourhood teams will be at all the festivals, along with the mobile police station, police volunteers and Special Constables, and me!
I'm planning to allow young people to try on my public order protection kit and be photographed IF THEY SO DESIRE :-)
I'll also be highlighting Septembers' Month of Peace events, and the Enfield Faith Forum.
Be good to show the community how well we want to work together.
Also, it's a chance to raise funds for your particular group, whether it be with a raffle or other similar type of method.

See you there?

Garrett Pennery PC764YE
Police Faith Officer
11 Centre Way
Claverings Industrial Estate
Edmonton N9 0AP
Tel: 07930 695723
Email: Garrett.Pennery@met.police.uk

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3 July 2009

Information

Community Housing Services for Asylum Seekers - Please see attached document

Interfaith Action is seeking to partner with faith and community/youth groups in Enfield. Click for Further Information

You can review Community Safety Handbook as it provides safety information for Enfield.

4 July 2009