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Oldham Evening
Chronicle Friday, 15
February 2002 Faiths united in celebration by
Janice Barker A celebration to mark Eid, for the end of the
traditional Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, will be held in a Greenacres church
on Sunday, February 24. The joint Muslim-Christian lunch marks a
sacrifice which is common to both faiths — Abraham, the great messenger who
was willing to give up his son Isaac, until God intervened and a lamb was
slaughtered instead. It has been arranged after the two local
religious leaders became friends at an inter-faith meeting with David Ritchie,
who led the inquiry into last summer’s race riots. Mr Chappell, who has been minister since 1993,
said: “We found we got on well, and Mr Rahman rang me out of the blue to wish
me and my family a happy Christmas. “This event is a real first, and the
congregation is looking forward to this. “We spoke about this at our church meeting the
week before last, and last Sunday announced it in church. “We will have our church service first, and
there will be a programme in the afternoon including a curry meal which the
mission representatives will bring with them.” Mr Rahman, who comes from Pakistan and lives in
Salisbury Road, Oldham, is also a national executive member of the mission
and priest at the Lees Road mosque. Among its annual events there is also a
public-speaking contest in Urdu and English, won three times by his son,
Hafiz Muneebur Rahman (19), now a university computer student. The suggestion that different faiths should
join together came from the mission’s national executive. Mr Rahman said: “Obviously I am very pleased we
have been invited here and looking forward to it.” The celebration includes readings from the
Koran, and representatives of Oldham’s Mayor and from Churches Together in
Oldham will also be there. Reprinted with permission from the
Oldham Evening Chronicle 
 Oldham Evening Chronicle Monday, 18th March 2002 Leader Article Unity Congratulations are due to the Minister of
Greenacres Congregational Church, Rev Neil Chappell, and the President of the
Northern Region of the UK Islamic Mission, Shafiq-ur-Rahman, for their
decision to organise a joint event to celebrate Eid. The joint celebration takes place this
weekend at the Congregational Church when church and mosque members will come
together for readings from the Bible and the Koran, a combined service and an
afternoon event that includes a curry meal, which the mission representatives
will take with them. Extending the hand of friendship across
the faiths in this way is setting a splendid example which, hopefully, others
will follow. Such demonstrations of unity at a time
when Oldham has seen the cross-community tensions rise in wake of the death
of Gavin Hopley is a real manifestation of how religion – all religions –
really can be a power for good. Reprinted with permission from the Oldham Evening
Chronicle  Who are the Deacon’s? Denis Berry Peter Butler Joy Dean Fred Fowler Margaret
Fowler Gail Hindle David Hopkins Ken Locke Joyce Ogden Audrey Whiteman What are their responsibilities? Denis Berry – Transport Peter
Butler - Publicity Joy Dean – Pilots Fred
Fowler - Finance Margaret Fowler – Pastoral David Hopkins - Worship Gail Hindle – Brownies & Guides Ken Locke - Coordination Joyce Ogden – Admin Audrey Whiteman – Youth work  |
 Oldham Evening Chronicle Monday 11th March 2002 A matter of faith in the future . . . A FORUM set up to promote understanding and harmony
between the many different faiths and cultures across Oldham welcomed a
number of new members yesterday. The Oldham Inter Faith Forum, set up in February, has
representatives from all the church denominations across the town, together
with Muslim and Hindu leaders. On Thursday, the forum met at the Link Centre, Union Street,
where Father Phil Sumner was elected as chairman and Basit Shah was appointed
as vice chairman. Manzoor Shakir and Rev David Joynes are the new secretaries,
while a Hindu secretary is still to be chosen. The treasurer is Rev Neil
Chappell. Member David Joynes said the forum had been set up in the wake
of the Ritchie Report: “In view of the troubles we experienced it is vital
that people in the different communities understand each other. “Different faiths in Oldham have been brought together, and we
will welcome other communities when they emerge.” Part-funded by the Manchester Church of England Diocese, the
forum will recruit a community development worker for three years, if match
funding can be found. Reprinted with permission from the Oldham Evening Chronicle  Date of Next Church Meeting Quarterly
Church Meeting Tuesday 21st May 2002  Ladies Guild Coffee Morning Once again the Ladies served up a springtime
treat with their coffee morning. The Church Hall was filled to overflowing
with friends of the Church and the sound of pleasant conversation. On a
wonderfully bright spring morning over Ł300 was raised for Church funds.  Greenacres Congregational Church Ramblers and Strollers Club
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