Issue 06-10-2017

Featured story

Thought for the Week: Why I became a Quaker

FREE 5 Oct 2017 | by Peter Boyce

In Matthew 27:51 we read: ‘And behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain from top to bottom.’ The veil of the Temple kept the devotees away from the Holy of Holies where God and the Arc of the Covenant dwelt. Only the high priest could enter the Holy...

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Top stories

Living in the Light

5 Oct 2017 | by Tony D’Souza

'There was an ocean' | Photo: John O’Sullivan / flickr CC

I remember a conversation between two Friends back in the 1970s. The two old men were reminiscing about their youth before the second world war. The thing that struck me about their conversation was not only that they had an experience of the Inner Light which I was expecting, but...

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The common good

5 Oct 2017 | by Sue Newsom

'What can Friends do to create a fairer economic system?' | Photo: olivierterrier / flickr CC

Evils which have struck their roots deep in the fabric of human society are often accepted, even by the best minds, as part of the providential ordering of life. They lurk unsuspected in the system of things until men of keen vision and heroic heart drag them into the light,...

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Mental health and Quakers

5 Oct 2017 | by Alison Mitchell

The Retreat grounds and labyrinth | Photo: Courtesy of Alison Mitchell

We live in turbulent times and mental health issues can be part of this. We live in a society with increasing levels of mental distress identified, diagnosed and discussed. Friends are worried about their own mental wellbeing and worried about that of people they love. There are Friends experiencing mental...

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A New Forest reunion

5 Oct 2017 | by Anthony Woolhouse

Mist over New Forest | Photo: David Pearson / flickr CC

In 2013 a group of Friends completed the two-year Equipping for Ministry course at Woodbrooke and, since then, have formed a community that continues to grow.

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The universal Spirit

5 Oct 2017 | by Gerard Guiton

‘…the Source of One-der and joy’ | Photo: Volalto / flickr CC

Jesus was a man, not God. He did not ‘come’ to ‘redeem’ us from our ‘sin’, nor was he ‘sent’ by God to ‘atone’ for our wrongdoings. Instead, he chose to die for Love, his Abba-Imma (Hebrew for ‘faith-mother’). This Love (or ‘Word’ as John calls it in his gospel)...

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Celebration in turbulent times

FREE 5 Oct 2017 | by Harry Albright

Friends around the world celebrated World Quaker Day on Sunday 1 October. Across the country, Friends have welcomed people during Quaker Week (30 September-8 October), an initiative of Britain Yearly Meeting to raise the profile of Quakerism and explain what being a Friend is all about. People who are exploring faith journeys...

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Friends arrested at arms fair are named

5 Oct 2017 | by Harry Albright

Friends who witnessed against the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair in London last month and who were subsequently arrested have been named.

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Global ban on nuclear weapons in sight

5 Oct 2017 | by Harry Albright

Quakers were observers at the United Nations in New York in late September as a historic treaty, which aims to rid the world of nuclear weapons, gained fifty nation states’ signatories on the first day it was open for signing.

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Seoul Quakers witness for peace

FREE 5 Oct 2017 | by Harry Albright

Members of Seoul Monthly Meeting held a demonstration against the presence of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missiles in South Korea.

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RE teaching criticised

5 Oct 2017 | by Harry Albright

The rules governing religious education teaching are not ‘fit for purpose’, a new report states.

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White poppies

5 Oct 2017 | by Harry Albright

The Peace Pledge Union and ForcesWatch have produced a ‘White Poppies for Schools Pack’ and are working with local groups around the UK to promote it in to schools.

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Friend signs book deal

5 Oct 2017 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Stephen Cox, a member of North London Area Meeting, has signed a two-novel publishing deal with Jo Fletcher Books, an imprint of Quercus.

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Pilgrimage

5 Oct 2017 | by Evelyn Shire

Earlier this year at a Kindlers workshop on prayer we were asked to meditate on being in a calm, peaceful place (real or imagined) where we felt very safe and to create in it an inner sacred space. The place that ‘came’ to me was a real place I have...

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Letters - 06 October 2017

5 Oct 2017 | by The Friend

Mental health: the challenge John Myhill (22 September) abhors possible collusion with the label ‘mental illness’ and the close association of mental illness with mental health. While making a good case for wariness in diagnosis it is unfortunate that he likens mental health services today to the Inquisition. The Inquisition was...

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