The EiF Monthly Inter-Faith Dialogues offer short but regular opportunities for youth aged 17-35 years to experience authentic, meaningful and focused Inter-Faith Dialogues. The sessions are usually held on weekends over half-a-day. In general, the sessions are limited to a maximum of 30 people. Participants are divided into dialogue circles comprising no more than 8-12 persons. Each circle is led by trained Inter-Faith Facilitators. Dialogue sessions are fun and engaging . They have potential for both breadth and depth as each session is focused on a particular theme.

Participants are informed of the Dialogue Theme PRIOR TO the particular dialogue session. They are expected to make some effort to read and know more about what their OWN faith tradition says about the particular theme being discussed. On the day of the dialogue, participants get to know each other and their respective faiths better as they share, clarify and ask about what each faith has to say about the topic being discussed. Some of the Themes at past EiF Dialogue sessions have included:

Faith & Beginnings Faith & the Environment Faith & The Concept of God/Gods Faith & HIV/AIDS Faith, Life & Death

Each EiF Dialogue session will also feature an introduction to one of the faiths being practiced in Singapore. This is usually followed by a short tour of the place of worship (if the session is held at such a venue). EiF Dialogue sessions typically end with a cozy lunch for participants, facilitators and the host religious community to better get to know each other and form bonds of friendship and trust.

The EiF Programme is organized by South East Community Development Council (SE CDC ); a network partner of the Peoples Association.

The Dialogue Theme on Saturday 11^th February 2012 shall be: FAITH & MUSIC AS PRAYER & DEVOTION

Some of the issues that will be shared and  explored together include:

1 What does your faith tradition have to say about Music?

2 How does music influence you in your faith tradition? How does it affect the faith community?

3  Is Music part of prayer, meditation or other rituals in your faith tradition? What is the role of music in your faith tradition?

4  What are some of the music traditions in your Faith? In what way are they influenced by tradition,    

     faith & culture? Are there contemporary expressions of music in your faith? What themes do

they express? How do the lyrics, melody and rhythm interact?

 Live Sharing of Faith Inspired Music

For this session, we are blessed to have live musical performances from various faith-based traditions being shared.

Some of the performances at this event shall include:

                 Sikh Shabad Kirtan by the Traditional Sikh Ensemble from the Gurmat Sangeet

                 Muslim Devotional Hymns by the Nur Irsyad Nasheed Group

                 Hindu Bhajans by the Krishna Bhakti Sangha Group (Sri Krishna Temple)

                 Buddhist Devotional Chanting & Contemporary Songs by Soracco Performing Arts Group of The Buddhist Fellowship

                 Contemporary Christian Musical Expressions by Thng Yiren & Lee Jia Wei on Violin & Saxaphone

Special Guest

We are also blessed to have with us Father Cyprian Consiglio, a Catholic monk of the Camaldolese Congregation, who is also a musician, composer, writer and teacher. Father Cyprian earned his MA in Theology from St Johns Seminary in Camarillo, California, USA and remains a student of the writings of Bede Griffiths, OSB and Abhishiktananda, OSB. He has a great love for comparative religion and has done much work in inter-faith ritual and world music. He regularly leads conferences on contemplation, has written numerous articles and is currently working on a book on prayer and meditation.

Fr Cyprian currently lives near Santa Cruz, California and spends about half his time at home, and half his time on the road performing and teaching. Much of his music and his teaching revolves around the Universal Call to Contemplation through spirituality and the arts. Over the years, he has recorded over a dozen albums covering a variety of musical styles that includes sacred chant, a cappella, oratorio, contemporary, Negro spiritual, and world music/ percussion, including five collections of original music.

Fr Cyprian has been to Singapore regularly, usually en route to India, where he was both teacher and student. Whilst in Singapore, he gave performances of his music and also led a silent retreat. He will be visiting Singapore in February 2012 where he will be conducting a series of conferences and retreats as well as performing music from his very-recently released album. You can find out more about Father Cyprian and his work at www.cyprianconsiglio.com

Programme

The Programme for the day shall be:

12.00 noon Lunch (Optional) with Sikh Host Community at the Silat Road Gudwara (Temple)

Participants joining the lunch are invited to proceed directly to the communal dining area <langar>. Please wear a scarf or cloth to cover the top of your head <hair area> as you enter the temple/langar area. This is a mark of respect in the Sikh tradition. Do ask any sikh member there to show you the place where the head cloth is stored. You may loan a piece for the duration of your visit to the temple area. Please return the cloths when you leave.

1.15pm -  Sound and Light testing at the auditorium 1.45pm -  Registration

2.00 pm   Welcome and introductions

2.30 pm Music and Faith Traditions My journey                                   sharing by Father Cyprian Consiglio

2.45 pm Sharing or Faith Music from other faith traditions (performances) 3.30pm Dialogue 5.00pm -  End. Light Refreshments.

The Venue

The session will be held at The Sikh Centre Temple (located next to the Silat Road Sikh Gudwara/Temple). A Location map of the Sikh Centre can be found at this URL:

http://www.streetdb.com/singapore-street-directory-WORSHIP-p169541-SIKH-CENTRE­(THE-CENTRAL-GURDWARA-BOARD).htm

We will meet at the Theatrette /Auditorium. Lunch will be served at the Silat Road Gudwara (Temple) Langar (community kitchen/dining area) between 12noon-1pm.

Commitment

There is only space for 80 participants. If you are keen to participate in this dialogue, please secure a place by sending an email Mr Tan Jun Yue of SE CDC. His email address is listed below. You may also contact Ms Pritam Kaur at This email address is hidden from email harvesters via JavaScript or Hp no 91056841. Please do turn up if you have made a booking so as not waste this unique and meaningful opportunity. If you are unable to attend due to unexpected and extenuating circumstances, please try to get someone to attend in your place. Do share with him/her any pre-dialogue preparations you have made so that he/she will have a meaningful experience.

EIF programmes are highly subsidized (90%) by SE CDC. Participants need only contribute a nominal amount of $2.00 on the day of the dialogue as a token of their commitment to attending the programme. The amount collected is directly donated to the host faith community on the day of the dialogue.

Once again, please do read up and prepare for the dialogue session. The richness & quality of the interfaith experience at the session depends so much on the contributions from the participants. Thank You!