Faith groups to unite for online service on Hackney Day of Prayer

Hackney’s faith groups are set to come together this Sunday on the borough’s inaugural Day of Prayer.

The online event has been organised through Hackney’s five-year-old open Faith Forum, an independent group brought together to tackle social issues such as domestic abuse, support for those in poverty and for those finding work, mental health and serious youth violence.

Representatives from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, as well as from the New Unity non-religious church, will all lead prayers to provide support to residents of all faiths and none on 3 May.

Faith forum chair Cllr Sade Etti said: “We want to reassure residents that faith groups do care about what is happening and are helping to support the community and council efforts to help feed and care for the vulnerable and needy in Hackney.

“Over the last month we have found new ways to keep our faith, connect to our congregations and maintain our worship. We invite people to join in on the Day of Prayer in their own way.”

Cllr Etti will open the event to be held between 3pm and 4pm on YouTube this Sunday, with prayers then held by a range of speakers, starting with Imam Maulana Hashim Rawat of the North London Muslim Community, Rabbi Herschel Gluck OBE, Chairman of the Arab-Jewish Forum and Rev. Andrew Letby, Superintendent Minister of the Methodist Church in Hackney and Stoke Newington.

Following Rev. Letby will be Rev Rosemia Brown, vicar at St James Church in Clapton, Cllr Ian Rathbone, convenor of Hackney’s ecumenical borough Deans Group, and finally Rev. Dr. Andrew Pakula, minister of London’s New Unity non-religious church.

Deputy Mayor Anntoinette Bramble, set to conclude the service, said: “There’s going to be people of non-faith there as well, but it’s an opportunity to come together, pray, reflect and comfort one another, especially for those that have experienced a loss.

“It’s also an opportunity to thank all of those who are doing all that they are doing, and encouraging one another at this time, because that is so important, that desire for hope and change. That’s what the forum brings for people of faith or non-faith.”

 You can tune into the broadcast here – https://youtu.be/nrG2miI35Go.