Our most recent event at South Street Mosque to share a Ramadan meal was very well attended. Thank you for this support. It was lovely to see the mosque absolutely full of the Muslim community based there, regular members of the Reading Interfaith Group and several members of the local community coming to one of our events for the first time. It is difficult to say how many people attended because we did not all fit in to the main worshiping hall. I gather also that those providing food had a sudden rush of adrenaline as it suddenly became obvious that everything available was very likely to be eaten!
This event was advertised as an opportunity to learn about Islam from the Muslim community based there, witness their prayer ceremony, ask loads of questions and make friends over a meal together.
We are very grateful to everyone who helped publicise this event including our friends in the media Linda Fort at the Reading Post, Rose Harland at the Reading Chronicle and Clare Catford from Radio Berkshire. Since routinely we ask those attending our events how they had learned it was taking place, it is obvious to the organisers how much all these efforts on our behalf have made a difference.
Naturally I would like to thank the members of South Street Mosque for their kind, generous and very enthusiastic welcome. In building bridges they certainly proved to be masters. This process involved some thoughtful contributions besides practical support. Some wonderful cooks must have spent a considerable amount of time and trouble preparing for this event.
This proved an exceptional evening. Looking round it was evident to me that the Friendship Walk is taking place in Reading all the time through a very long tradition of open mindedness, kindness, generosity and the way in which so many of our community have chosen to live their lives.
MestreechCity's photostream through Flickr
