Issue 20-08-2021
Featured story
Return of phrase: Philippa Somerset’s Thought for the Week
I first stepped into a Quaker Meeting two years ago, half way through my A-Levels and in desperate need of stillness. I had just lost members of my family, one tragically young, and came to Meeting in search of time to understand my grief, and in hope that I might...
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Inside information: Simon Dell prepares for chaplaincy
The ‘Going Inside’ Woodbrooke training was a wonderful start to a new phase of my life. Like-minded Friends were embarking on the role of chaplaincy within prisons. Some, like me, were newly nominated and going through an induction process. Some were already engaged within their teams, so experience and understanding...
Return of phrase: Philippa Somerset’s Thought for the Week
I first stepped into a Quaker Meeting two years ago, half way through my A-Levels and in desperate need of stillness. I had just lost members of my family, one tragically young, and came to Meeting in search of time to understand my grief, and in hope that I might...
Thanks for the memory: a chaplain supporter remembers a prisoner
Three years ago I joined a small team of Quaker prison chaplaincy supporters. I began visiting a prison; the Quaker Meetings I join are attended by men who’ve found an expression of faith that they are able to relate to. Their encounter with Quakerism is through the ministry of...
New director for QUNO
The South African Quaker Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge has been appointed the incoming director of Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva. The former government minister from Western Cape Meeting delivered this year’s Salter Lecture at Yearly Meeting Gathering.
Double cross: Tony D’Souza explores big mind and shallow mind
The novice monk had been in the Zen monastery for three years before he discovered a translation of the New Testament in the library. He read the book from cover to cover with mixed feelings. Sometimes he was amazed, sometimes alarmed. When he had finished, he approached the elderly abbot...
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Faith groups to ‘Make COP26 Count’
Faith groups should prioritise amplifying the stories of frontline communities impacted by climate breakdown. This was one of the conclusions that came out of an interfaith climate event last month. The Make COP26 Count event, organised by an interfaith coalition including Quakers in Britain, brought MPs, peers and faith representatives...
Campaign against Liverpool arms fair
Quakers are among those campaigning against an electronic arms fair that is to take place in Liverpool in October.
Henley Friends unveil peace tree plaque
Twenty Quakers from Henley Meeting gathered last month to unveil a plaque for their peace tree. The plaque bears a quotation from John Greenleaf Whittier, saying: ‘Love shall tread out the baleful fire of anger, and in its ashes plant the tree of peace.’
QSA highlights mental health for men
Quaker Social Action (QSA) has highlighted the prevalence of male mental health struggles, as it launches an online wellbeing course for men.
Friends return for Edinburgh Fringe
Quakers have been busy for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, despite the fact that the Meeting house is not open as a venue.
Quaker Concern for Animals campaigns with the Animal Interfaith Alliance, sign open letter
We write to ask you to engage in a genuine dialogue concerning some of the practices of your company.
Fond of the shipping forecast? Try the Gathering hindcast
Pendle Hill sun rise, zooming easterly: Kent East, East Scotland, Sussex East. Nominations proceeding rather quickly north: Northamptonshire, North East Thames, Northumbria, North London, North Scotland, North Somerset, North West London. Pastoral care, light to moderate in Cumberland; Teesdale & Cleveland; Wensleydale & Swaledale.
An open book: Antony Barlow on his father’s reading in the FAU
During lockdown, many of us read more than usual. I thought I’d take a look at the books my father took with him to the Middle East during his time in the Friends Ambulance Unit. He referred to them in his letters: ‘On the whole I was very satisfied...
Poem: ...passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7)
Not a bit of this and that, but tarmac and vapour-trails. Every where? Everything else. This grass, that star among and between in here, over there without membrane or integument.
Letters - 20 August 2021
Still Green During a presentation at Yearly Meeting Gathering (YMG) on the Friendship Cohousing Community, Jackie Carpenter urged Quakers to consider the cohousing model as an approach to sustainable living. Later that same day, Milton Keynes council’s planning committee approved an application for the major redevelopment of the centre...