Film Night: The Baptism of Jesus Christ

Our Next Meeting will be held at St. Ethelburga’s on Wednesday, October 8, 7pm.

For this gathering we are concentrating on the medium of film and will be showing the documentary film The Baptism of Jesus Christ: Uncovering Bethany beyond the Jordan. As part of the evening there will be an opportunity to hear from the film’s director Mustafa Gouverneur Henry and Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia [tbc].

Space is limited; to reserve a place please email us at nia0001@googlemail.com

It is a truly fascinating documentary film uncovering the pieces of the ancient mystery of where Christ was baptized. Lost in time for almost 1000 years, it is the remarkable story of the site’s rediscovery and the ongoing excavations taking place there. Only 5% of the area has been dug until today. Who knows what else lies beneath this place and what it could reveal about Jesus Christ and the birth of Christianity.

It concerns the area known as ‘Wadi al-Kharrar’ on the east bank of the river Jordan, the “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” of the Gospels. A complex of unique churches, baptismal pools and monasteries are amongst the important discoveries uncovered so far. The area, since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, was a military zone and heavily mined making it impossible of access. However in 1994 after Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty, archaeologists begun their excavations…

“A remarkable account of recovering a foundational part of our Christian heritage.”
- The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Head of the worldwide Anglican Communion

“An important, groundbreaking film…This film takes its subject seriously. Christians must see this film. Everyone should see this film! “
- Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General. World Conference of Religions for Peace, New York

“The Baptism of Jesus Christ: Uncovering Bethany Beyond the Jordan” is a beautiful film that will speak to pilgrims of all faiths…This film is a blessing.”
- The Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director, United Religions Initiative

Film Night: Wed 8th Oct, 7pm at St Ethelburga’s

cost: free

location: St Ethelburga’s Centre is five minutes walk of both Bank and Liverpool Street stations (Zone 1). You can walk over the bridge from London Bridge Station in about 15 minutes. view a location map here

 

Open Forum: an invitation

Our Next Meeting will be held at St. Ethelburga’s on Thursday, August 21, 7pm.

For this meeting we are inviting artists to put themselves forward to give a ten-minute presentation. Presentations should include examples of your work and say something about the relationship between your arts practice and your spiritual practice. We will have a few artists primed to get the ball rolling, including storyteller Sarah Clive, visual artist Abdul Ghaffur Doherty (one of the founders of NIA) and Iraqi physicist and artist Mohammed Sanduk.

Artists are welcome working in any medium and from any spiritual background or tradition. Audio playback and data projection will be available. Following presentations and discussion, time will be set aside for reflection and meditation.

If you’d like to take part or just want to know more, we’d love to hear from you: nia0001@googlemail.com

Open Forum: Thurs 21st Aug, 7pm at St Ethelburga’s

cost: free

location: St Ethelburga’s Centre is five minutes walk of both Bank and Liverpool Street stations (Zone 1). You can walk over the bridge from London Bridge Station in about 15 minutes. view a location map here

e-flyer: August 2008

 

First Meeting

The Network of Islamic Artists presents a series of meetings to explore the role of faith and spirituality in arts practice.

Meetings will involve presentations from artists drawn from a number of disciplines (including visual art, written word, sound & music, and film) and different backgrounds and faiths. Following the presentations, a panel-led discussion and then open questions will lead to time for reflection and meditation.

The meetings aim to establish a forum for arts practitioners on a spiritual path to present work, and to discuss and exchange ideas; to establish an intellectual platform dedicated to exploring the relationship between arts practice, faith and spirituality in the contemporary setting.

Two related ideas underpin this initiative: firstly, the importance of art as a medium through which notions of difference can be explored in order build bridges of understanding and appreciation across cultural and religious divides in Britain today. And secondly, recognition of the dynamic, if sometimes conflicting, role that the self plays as the medium through which both arts practice and spiritual practice are realised.

First meeting:

Wed 4th June, 7pm at St Ethelburga’s

Our first speakers are Baluji Shrivastav (world renowned Hindustani classical musician) and Abdul Mateen Sansom ( UK based Muslim sound artist and musician)

cost: free

location: St Ethelburga’s Centre is five minutes walk of both Bank and Liverpool Street stations (Zone 1). You can walk over the bridge from London Bridge Station in about 15 minutes. view a location map here

e-flyer: June 2008