Letters – 11 November 2016
From Quaker faith & practice in prison to Meeting and reading
Quaker faith & practice in prison
How wonderful at Wayland Prison (Norfolk) on Saturday to see a group of prisoners arriving for Meet-ing for Worship, each bringing with them their own copy of Quaker faith & practice (Qf&p) and two of them choosing to read out a passage that spoke to them. What a treasure it is and so moving to see Qf&p being valued, affirmed and bringing comfort, inspiration, nurture and hope to those in need. Thank God for Qf&p!
David L Saunders
Membership means ‘Holding the roof up’
I am an ex-attender who finally applied to join the Religious Society of Friends in 1986 because there was no Meeting for Worship in Kuala Lumpur, and having heard of two unknown other ‘enquirers’ heading for Malaysia, decided to join and start a Meeting.
Thirty years later I would still tie membership to the existence of the Local Meeting (and Area Meeting and Britain Yearly Meeting), rather than issues of personal spirituality. I’m currently taking my turn as an elder, and thus feel moved to write and tell you my conception of membership’s essential meaning, having read Richard Hankin’s article (14 October).
Membership is a commitment to spend time and effort ‘Holding the Roof Up’ by being part of the Quaker community that maintains the Meeting for Worship, both physically (the building) and in worship (the Meeting community), and in organisation (avoiding a hierarchy developing). My local Ditchling Meeting definitely keeps me in ‘loving survival’ against a too-busy and complicated life. Thank you, Friends!
Judy Moody-Stuart
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