Issue 11-01-2013

Featured story

Thought for the Week: What does love require of you?

FREE 9 Jan 2013 | by Felicity McCartney

Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Responding to divine guidance, try to discern the right time to undertake or relinquish responsibilities without undue pride or guilt. Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness.  Advices and queries 28

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Top stories

Rotten barrels or rotten apples?

FREE 9 Jan 2013 | by Pam Ratcliffe

'Is this a systemic fault, or the fault of individuals – rotten barrels or rotten apples?' | Photo: Photo: Fang Yan / flickr CC.

Is it possible to consider the market economy as a school for virtues? This was one of the opening questions given by Geoff Moore when he spoke to Northumbria Area Meeting at an event organised by the Economic Justice Group in late 2012. Geoff is an Anglican lay reader and professor...

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Road to God

9 Jan 2013 | by Noël Staples

A painting of one of Noël’s two vivid dreams in 2011. | Photo: Artist: Lise Griffiths’ http://captureadreamartwork.blogspot.co.uk

‘Noël’s experiences seem to be profoundly mystical and extremely valuable for us all. According to the historical records of the great mystical figures from the past, mystical experience is arrived at after massive effort of heart, mind and will. Noël seems to find it very easy. So...

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Just a few leaflets

9 Jan 2013 | by Richard Stewart

In Quaker faith & practice the section on our Peace Testimony states that ‘as Friends we have never been satisfied that corporate statements and personal witness are enough. We have always sought to give a practical expression to our faith’.

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Peace is a process

9 Jan 2013 | by Helen Drewery

Good morning. Two incidents of horrific violence have shocked us all in recent days: the church organist killed in Sheffield on his way to Midnight Mass, and the medical student in Delhi whose funeral was held yesterday. In the light of those I want to tell you two different stories...

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Arson attack on new Pennsylvania Meeting house

FREE 9 Jan 2013 | by Symon Hill

Chestnut Hill Meeting House under construction. The crane on the left was damaged by arson and the second one brought in to complete the work. | Photo: Photo: Philip Jones.

A Quaker Meeting in Pennsylvania has sparked controversy after choosing to use non-union labour to build a new Meeting house.  An arson attack on Chestnut Hill Meeting house on 20 December has been blamed on local trade unionists, although the accusation has been denied.

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All articles

Shelter highlights rent crisis

9 Jan 2013 | by Symon Hill

The number of people struggling to pay their monthly rent or mortgage has risen by forty-four per cent in only a year, according to new research by the charity Shelter.  The rise means that 7.8 million people are now in this position. Shelter warn that the number is likely to...

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Dorset Quaker recognised

9 Jan 2013 | by Symon Hill

A Dorset Quaker has been recognised in the New Year Honours List for supporting people who are facing poverty in her local area.  Margaret Barker was offered, and accepted, membership of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). She has worked for twenty years with the Dorchester Poverty Action...

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Almeley Wootton awarded grant

9 Jan 2013 | by Symon Hill

A Quaker Meeting in Herefordshire has received a £40,000 government grant for the upkeep of their Meeting house because of its historic importance.  Almeley Wootton Meeting was given the money by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust.

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Business Meeting innovation

9 Jan 2013 | by Symon Hill

With many Meetings struggling with low turnouts at Meeting for Worship for Business, Friends in Nailsworth in Gloucestershire are experimenting with a radical new format.

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Feelings are OK!

9 Jan 2013 | by Judy Clinton

Feelings are the most accurate guide we have to who we are and how we are conducting our lives. As very small children we were in touch with how we felt about everything, and we freely expressed our feelings – as long as we weren’t in an unsafe environment. Most...

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Are you a collector?

9 Jan 2013 | by Michael Golby

‘Are you a collector?’ asked the pleasant lady attendant in a new ‘gallery’ in Exeter’s swanky new shopping centre. ‘He’s very collectible just now, Rolf Harris’, she said. ‘He is eighty-three after all.’

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Eye - 11 January 2013

9 Jan 2013 | by Eye

New beginnings Nestled in the rolling countryside between Bournemouth and Salisbury lies Fordingbridge. This small town has a Quaker history dating back to 1659, with a John Hunt mentioned in the list of Sufferings and the census showing thirty Quakers resident in 1788. A Meeting house was opened in 1696 and rebuilt in 1835. ...

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Letters - 11 January 2013

9 Jan 2013 | by The Friend

Drone warfare Last March the Friend, helpfully, published my letter about ‘stopping drones’ and how a healing ministry and/or ‘concern’ might be remedies (2 March 2012). There was an encouraging response from readers, both with further printed letters, and private ones to me. Thank you. Then, the five Local Meetings in...

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