Register for 19th; Blog Launch: Read Posts!; "Letting go"

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Oct 6, 2008, 1:15:48 PM10/6/08

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Dear all,

REGISTER!

With just 13 days left before the main first event, we encourage you to register as soon as possible if you haven't already done so. Please email eve...@stethelburgas.org to let us know you're coming on Sun Oct 19th and we look forward to welcoming you there.

LAUNCH OF FAST FOR THE PLANET BLOG

No doubt you've already seen the website. Now we're pleased to announce that we also have a blog that we hope to update from time to time! The web address for this is http://fastfortheplanet.blogspot.com & already there are two short, personal stories that have been posted that we invite you to read. Whilst the Fast for the Planet concept is inclusive regardless of faith or spirituality, the two short stories in this instance are from a Christian and Muslim perspective. We hope to include other perspectives too in the near future. Here's a few lines of the two we've got up...

i) 'Not Hasty to Assume - But Fast - Take Time to See for Real': A Short Story by Peter Challen

As I contemplate the call to Fast for the Planet I pen this:

I was nurtured and continued in the Christian tradition of making Lent and Advent periods of voluntary abstention from habits and patterns that I took for granted. These not unhappy extended periods of discipline fed the weekly practices associated with preparing for worship and for the application of the same in daily disciplines of sustaining and practising the wholistic faith in which I had been gently nurtured.... Read more here: http://fastfortheplanet.blogspot.com/2008/09/as-i-contemplate-call-to-fast-for.html

ii) 'Remembrance' (and a poem on fasting by Rumi): by Nevine Nasser

Brought up as a Muslim in Egypt, fasting during the Holy month of Ramadan was a prescribed part of life from an early age. At first the perception of this practise was a sort of celebration. A celebration of solidarity, compassion and good will between people on various levels, which included the Muslim world at large, the nation, the society, right down to our community and family.... Read more here: http://fastfortheplanet.blogspot.com/2008/10/remembrance.html

3) FURTHER REFLECTIONS

Some further reflections as we prepare to fast for the planet….

Fast for the Planet – a concept of “letting go”

Fast for the Planet is a whole concept, rather than just an event. It allows for two kinds of movements. A movement towards, and a movement away from. This will now be explained:

The practise of fasting from food is in one sense usually a practise of temporarily 'letting go' of a need that is essential to our survival. By voluntarily letting go of such a need, we are taking a form of direct action that cultivates our ability to let go of patterns and entities that are not only not essential to our survival, but in the longer run are undermining it. The fact that we have a need to strengthen this collective ability demonstrates the grip that these life-destructive patterns and entities can have on human societies. Equally, the scale and pace of the destruction that is taking place points to the immense importance of taking responsibility right now.

You can read more about the idea of moving away from and towards on our website: http://fastfortheplanet.net/Concept/letgo.htm

We look forward to seeing you on the 19th at St Ethelburga's when we'll break fast together!