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It's very satisfying that every years over the past 17 years we've come together to affirm
our unity and diversity within that unity. Also our unity of purpose.This peace walk
has a chequered history but it goes from strength to strength. This year we have more colleagues,more
friends, more brothers and sisters doing it. It gives me great pride to be here today to
see so many people that always take part in the walk but this is what Luton's all about
all the communities working together. Wherever I go across the country I always
talk about the work you do at this wonderful peace march which happens every year and brings
people together. It demonstrates that with all our wonderful differences & great variety
we are all one people as well.We're all human beings, we're all Lutonians. I think we demonstrate
that every year by this march and show that we can live together in peace & harmony.
Like others it's a privilege to be here this afternoon again as the bishop with a particular responsibility
for Luton. This has become one of the important dates in my annual diary. Just down there
one of the posters says "Loving Our Neighbours" that great invitation that transcends the
various faith communities and indeed all communities of goodwill. It always seems to me that one
of the questions that we have to keep on asking ourselves is 'who is my neighbour?' . And
then when we think we've found the answer to that we need to ask the question again
because it always pushes us to a deeper and fuller and more complete understanding of
our oneness as human beings created by God working together for the common good. And
so it seems to me that this afternoon is very much about that so let's always go on asking
'who is my neighbour?' because then we discover the friend's that we do not yet know we have.
I come from Wisbech. I'm an adopted Wisbechian and delighted to be here because Johny came
to see us back in the summer to speak to us and we thought let's show a little gratitude.It's
lovely to be here. Get the rain away please.
I'm moving to Luton because I admire the community and I think there is so much here on offer for us all. We should love our neighbours.
We have so much to teach the rest of our country. Good afternoon to everyone. I am so pleased to
be here. I just want to say that the youngsters, their hard work they have bought different
food from the central Mosque and have bought here different kinds of foods and I hope you
will enjoy your peace walk. These initiatives are fantastic because they
campaign two three weeks but moving forward as a community with the welfare reforms that
we're seeing we really, really need to push and support groups like the Luton Foodbank
because the welfare reforms isn't here for two weeks, not here for a year. It could be
here for many years and interestingly enough Riyad said to us a few weeks ago there have
been people who were on a £100,000 salaries who lost their jobs and they had to resort
to the foodbank. So it's not about who you are, where you are from, whether you are poor
or you are rich it's a time of need and if you can support us that's fantastic. Hopefully
we at the central Mosque,the biggest Mosque in Bedfordshire, purpose built in 1982 would
love to get involved in any future projects and be a part of the steering group for the
foodbank. Thank you once again and have a fantastic day guys. Love you neighbour,feed your neighbour.
But I would definitely say that this is a
wonderful initiative and you know I don't think It's really about the numbers It's about
giving this message across worldwide really. We want to give this message of peace, love
and unity I think the Muslims here, I can confidently say that the Muslims here represent
the majority of Muslims all over the world. So this is really what we all belive in and
I think that from now on...next year we are going to promote this as much as we can so
I think the future is very bright for this...
Rabia school is an Ofsted registered school. It's an Islamic faith school and we welcome all faiths to join and we have in 2012 recently
received an outstanding grade from Ofsted so we are in a good place. Mathematics and
our SATS results are very good as well and we're working with..planning...Father's here...seen
him somewhere...we just met...we are planning to work with St Joseph's Catholic Church.
They have a school. They also have already been here and it's been wonderful..some of
the questions they ask...I tell you...you know children from other faiths , the questions
they ask..I mean literally..'why are women not allowed in the Mosque?"...you know...oh
no that wasn't the question 'why do mean and women sit seperately?' you know..I so I literally
had to think for a minute, 2 minutes I had to think about the answer because we had the
teachers at the back looking at me thinking 'now you're stuck...let's see you answer that Mr
Smooth' So it was quite interesting. Tell you a little story, only a couple of
words. A friend of mine, he works for me. He's actually flying to Mecca today, to Saudi
Arabia and I especially went to see him today to say goodbye and do my prayers when he actually
gets to Mecca. So it's the same as when I go to my temple in Luton I meet many
people, they say where are going? I say I'm going to my God, so do a prayer for me as
well so it doesn't matter what religion you are we all believe in one thing.
Only a few hours ago we came our separate ways to join together outside the town hall.
I think it's been good today that some people have done part, and others have done the whole
of the walk.But each step that we've taken in public witness in the centre of Luton recommits
and confirms what is in all our hearts and why we are here and what we want to do. What
we are doing. And as you get up tomorrow and you take your first steps of the new day remember
the steps that we took together today and make those steps tomorrow count in just the
same way.In a few moments we're going to share mouthfuls.Tomorrow when you enjoy your food
and you take mouthful after mouthful remember your contribution to the foodbank and what that
is going mean to those people who receive your gifts. One of the most blessed things
I think we can do is to give and to share. I think it's sad that we're having to do this
and have this foodbank but it is a fact of life. I would like to thank all the members
of the Mosque. You truly have given us the warmest of welcomes. It is my second time
coming here.The warmest of welcomes and I don't know about you but when I go into a
building you get a feeling almost as soon as you step inside the door you know what
estate agents say that it's so many seconds and you know whether you like the house or
not and I feel that within those first few steps inside here that Luton Council of Faiths,
Grassroots and all the communities are part of those organisations have now a really positive
new home and we talk about all our different homes that we have because we do not have an
official base. Our home is everywhere that we go.And here is another one that is really
important in our lives together. But thanks you for coming. Thanks for your hospitality
and thank you all for the smiles and the laughter this afternoon which I think has been an entirely
new and added thing to this afternoon's peace walk. God go with you.