Late report from an event

[robiszoo]

On the 25th of November 2007 at 6.30 pm i took part of an interfaith event called "PROMISE....." in the beautiful Southwark Cathedral in London and i would like to share my experiences with you.

The actuality of The Multi-Faith service was the upcoming World AIDS Day on the first of December.
The event started with a Welcome to the Cathedral and service by the Dean, the Very Reverend Colin Slee.
Then we stood and sang together and during the hymn the candle, quilt and any books of remembrance were brought into the Cathedral.
That was followed by some meditations/prayers from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish and the Buddhist tradition.
After that Jay Singh read verses of the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji from page 701 of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It was very nice to see Sikh men in turban wearing the Red Ribbon.
At the end we did the Act of Commitment then the Dean offered us his blessing and dismissed us.
After the service there was a little reception with some refreshments to meet old friends and make new ones.
It was such a great feeling having so many people from different religions working together for the same cause.

The service was coordinated by the London Ecumenical AIDS Trust in association with NAZ Project London and Jewish AIDS Trust.

Next year's service will be at 6.30 pm, on Sunday 7 December 2008 same place.
Everyone is more than welcome!

[Moderator]

The following is the reading that was given by Jay Singh at the World AIDS Day service at Southwark Cathedral:

Page 701 of the Guru Granth Sahib – Verses of the Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji

One who has the Lord of the Universe as his help and support is blessed with all peace, poise and bliss; no afflictions cling to him.
He appears to keep company with everyone, but he remains detached, and is not deluded by the pursuit of all that is transient
He is absorbed in the love of the One Lord; he understands the essence of reality, and the True Guru grants him wisdom.
Those whom the Lord and Master blesses with His kindness, compassion and mercy become sublime and hallowed Saints
By keeping company with them, oh Nanak, one is saved; with love and exuberant joy, they sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord.

The Lord of the Universe is my existence, my breath of life, wealth and beauty.
The ignorant are totally intoxicated with emotional attachment; the Lord is the only lamp in this darkness
Being blessed by your presence is rewarding, O my Beloved God; Your lotus feet are incomparably beautiful
So many times, I bow in reverence to You, offering my mind as incense to You.
Exhausted, I have fallen at Your Door, O God; I am holding tightly to Your support
Nanak says please lift Your humble servant up, out of the pit of fire of the world

If only someone would unite me with my Lord!
I hold tightly to His feet, and utter sweet words with my tongue; I give my breath of life as an offering to Him.
I make my mind and body into pure little gardens, and irrigate them with the sublime essence of the Lord.
I am drenched with this sublime essence by His Grace, and the powerful hold of the corruption of the delusional pursuit of the transient has been broken.
I have come to Your Sanctuary, O Destroyer of the suffering of the innocent; I keep my consciousness focused on You.
Bless me with the gifts of the state of fearlessness, and meditative remembrance, Lord and Master; O Nanak, God is the Breaker of bonds.

The rainbird longs for the rain to fall
O God, ocean of mercy, shower Your mercy on me, that I may yearn for loving devotional worship of the Lord.
The chakvi bird does not desire many comforts, but it is filled with bliss upon seeing the dawn.
The fish cannot survive any other way - without water, it dies.
I am a helpless orphan - I seek Your Sanctuary, O My Lord and Master; please bless me with Your mercy.
Nanak worships and adores the Lord's lotus feet; without Him, there is no other at all.

The Lord, my breath, my life force, abides in my mind and body.
Bless me with Your mercy, and unite me with the Company of the Holy, O perfect, all-knowing Lord God
Those, unto whom You give the intoxicating herb of Your Love, drink in the supreme sublime essence
I cannot describe their value; what power do I have?
The Lord attaches His humble servants to the hem of His robe, and they swim across the world-ocean.
Meditating, meditating, meditating in remembrance on God, peace is obtained; Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of Your Door.