Caring for our neighbours. Interfaith Week Day 1

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We are in a period of history like no other and living a life that we would never have envisaged a year ago. Today, on Remembrance Day we pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the line of duty during the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts in order to keep our freedom today. We remember that those who fought for our freedom included men and women from across the world.

Inter Faith Week is particularly poignant this year as we call to mind those who we have lost this year to Covid including the thousands from our frontline services.

At least two things have become starkly clear for us over the last 8 months: firstly the extraordinary care and compassion we have seen from so many people - from the NHS to our local authorities to grass roots communities. Loving your neighbour has taken on a whole new meaning.

But what has also become clear is how Covid has disproportionately affected Black, South Asian and minority ethnic communities and the poorest in our society. The virus has revealed deep inequalities which call for deep reflection and action from all of us. This is not something to sweep under the carpet.

What we are doing today and this week is to celebrate the contribution of grass roots faith and community groups who have worked relentlessly during Covid to support one another and especially the most vulnerable and most in need among us.

From phone calls to support the lonely and isolated to delivering food parcels to families who need it the most. Within faith institutions this was on top of going online and trying to keep their congregations going with prayers and sermons.

This is why we want to say a huge thank you to all our partners in West Yorkshire for their commitment to their communities. We will be sharing snapshots all week of just a some of the work that has gone on with our established partners.

Please clap and celebrate them with us and join us by celebrating yours with #IFStoriesOfHope hashtag throughout Interfaith Week.

Bishop Toby and Kaneez