PEACEFUL coexistence was the theme when the Mayor of Rugby joined a host of dignitaries at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday for the annual civic service.
Civic Sunday traditionally welcomes Rugby’s new Mayor to the role and recognises the part played by councillors and council officers in the life of the borough.
Mayor Nooria Sayani joined fellow councillors, Freemen of the Borough, former Mayors and senior council officers in a procession from the Town Hall to St Andrew’s Church for the service, which was led by the Rector of Rugby, the Reverend Canon Edmund Newey.
The theme of the service was pluralism and the three ‘Cs’ – community, compassion and cohesion – chosen by Coun Sayani as the theme for her Mayoral year.
In addition to traditional hymns, the service included a rendition of What a Wonderful World by the Rugby Male Voice Choir and a performance of Let All the World in Every Corner Sing by the St Andrew’s Church Choir.
The Mayor’s Cadet – Corporal Joshua Tan from Rugby St John Ambulance – read a Prayer for the Borough of Rugby during the service, while Dr Nour Hanga read an excerpt from the Holy Quran Surah An-Nur in both Arabic and English.
Junaid Hussain, chief executive of EQuIP – one of the Mayor’s charities – read the Act of Commitment and the service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.
Coun Sayani said: “The Civic Sunday service delivered a powerful message about community, compassion and cohesion, reminding us life is temporal and what we do for others can bring spiritual and worldly balance to our lives.
“A pluralistic community shares with one another, connects, asks positive questions, builds friendships and learns to co-exist peacefully for a safer and prosperous Rugby.
“The borough is blessed with an abundance of passion, talent and community spirit, and we have extraordinary people making a real difference every day.”
Visit www.mayorofrugby.org.uk to invite the Mayor to an engagement or support her charities.
