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Press Releases
The 3-Faiths Pilgrimage To Jerusalem on Radio 4
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91Èȱ¬ Radio 4's Daily Service heralds a groundbreaking development in radio worship programming with the 3-Faiths Pilgrimage To Jerusalem which will complement the network's forthcoming documentary and feature output from Jerusalem this week.
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Six pilgrims from the UK, two from each Abrahamic faith, visit the holy sites of Jerusalem and share insights from their scriptures around a number of themes.
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Scriptural Reasoning – the sharing of scriptures across and between traditions – is seen in some academic and religious circles as a way of promoting friendship, understanding and trust between the Abrahamic traditions without compromising their integrity.
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This will be the first time it has been conducted on air.
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This is a sensitive time for people from the three faiths – but also a pertinent moment to look at the differing theological perspectives springing from each other's sacred texts as the members of the group experience the Old City's sights, many of which have different and conflicting symbolic values.
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The pilgrimage will be a theological and geographical journey, and hopefully a route to dialogue and increased understanding.
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Scriptural Reasoning is regarded as a safe way for delegates to experience and explore those theological issues which highlight the differences between the faith communities, for that is very much part of the story of relations between Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
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The services will take a meditative approach and will be structured around themes that highlight both consonances and dissonances.
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Music will touch both familiar elements and draw on the music of faith from around the world.
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Important elements of the Daily Service's Christian worship will be preserved in sections of this innovative week for the 91Èȱ¬'s oldest daily radio programme.
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Two of the pilgrims, as well as the Facilitator, Rev Ernie Rea, are established Daily Service presenters - Canon Chris Chivers, of Blackburn Cathedral, and Becky Harris, who teaches English at King David High School in Manchester.
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The remaining participants will be: Imam Dr Musharraf Hussain, Director of the Karimia Institute and one of the founding trustees of Muslim Hands (one of the largest Muslim international relief organisations); Anjum Anwar MBE, Dialogue Development Officer at Blackburn Cathedral since April 2007, until recently Education Officer for the Lancashire Council of Mosques and outgoing Chairperson of the Lancashire Forum of Faiths; Dr Ed Kessler, Founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations, and Founder of the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations; and Rabbi Dr Alan Unterman, Minister of a Manchester synagogue and Lecturer in the University of Manchester.
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Sunday Worship at the end of the week (Radio 4, 8.10-8.50am, Sunday 10 June) will come from the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, which is situated on the road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
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It will be led by the institute's Vice-Rector Sister Bridget Tighe FMDM and the preacher will be the Rector, Father Michael McGarry.
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The service will take as its inspiration Lauds, one of the Roman Catholic Church's most ancient offices, and will come from the Chapel of the Institute.
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The Custody Choir from the Magnificat School of Music in Jerusalem will lead a congregation of local Christians from the nearby village of Beitsafafa, and scholars and pastoral workers from around the world currently studying at Tantur.
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The Tantur Ecumenical Institute assists the search for Christian unity and interchurch harmony among diverse Christian communions, as well as exploring relationships between Christians and peoples of other world faiths, especially Jews and Muslims.
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The institute participates in the search for world peace and justice, through theological study and through exploring human rights and conflict resolution in different religious and social contexts.
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The 3-Faiths Pilgrimage To Jerusalem is produced by Philip Billson and Christine Morgan.
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The Daily Service: The 3-Faiths Pilgrimage To Jerusalem is broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 LW and on digital radio at 9.45am, Monday 4 to Friday 8 June 2007 . Ìý
Radio 4 Publicity
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