Issue 06-07-2018
Featured story
Thought for the Week: Render unto Caesar…
Jesus said: ‘…render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.’ (Matthew 22:21) This saying is often quoted – more often by the partisans of Caesar than by those of God – but is not well understood. Even Henry Thoreau missed the point....
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The life of Edmund Rack
This morning a public breakfast was appointed on behalf of a gentlewoman in distress recommended by a public letter from the Bishop of Worcester – but it did not raise her five pounds. I recommended another distressed family the same time by public letter, and without personal application have received on...
Education, values and change
The world of contemporary education is the focus of a new book written by a group of British Friends who share a concern for the future of education in Britain and view it from a distinctive, Quaker position. The book, Faith and Experience in Education: Essays from Quaker perspectives, edited...
Joy of the gospel
It is seventy years since the World Council of Churches (WCC) was formed in Amsterdam in 1948, one of several organisations that, following the second world war, aimed to bring about peace and reconciliation. The Council is made up of national churches, Protestant and Orthodox. The Roman Catholic Church, being international,...
wake
Thirty years ago Gillian Allnutt, the recipient of the 2016 Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry, was one of four editors of a controversial anthology: The New British Poetry. Each of the editors began their section with a foreword. Gillian Allnutt, presenting the feminist poets, offered various thoughts, including: ‘Poetry must...
prayer
may I make amendment not in the mind – Le Corbusier’s machine for living in his signed environment –
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Friends join Armed Forces Day protests
Friends throughout the United Kingdom joined protests against events held to mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday 30 June. There were vigils and demonstrations in Glasgow, Southampton and Blackpool, as well as in smaller towns, such as Folkestone and Guildford, and elsewhere in the UK.
‘Peace tree’ at WWI centenary event
A ‘Tree for Peace’ adopted by Friends is to play a key role in a world war one centenary event in Woodbridge, bringing together Quakers and members of the Royal British Legion (RBL), on 8 July.
More Glasgow arms fairs are ruled out
Quakers were celebrating last week after an announcement by Glasgow City Council that it will not hold arms fairs in the future, following strong protests.
Young Friends address ‘Economy Now’
Young Friends gathered last week for a day of conversation and workshops to explore how today’s economy works. The ‘Young Quakers: New Economy Now’ event was held on 30 June at Friends House and asked: ‘Who’s the economy for?’ ‘What’s wrong with today’s system?’ and ‘How...
QCA plans research into Quaker centre food
Quaker Concern for Animals (QCA) is researching the provision of plant-based diets in Quaker centres overseas and in the UK.
Exhibition to mark war’s end
The Library of the Religious Society of Friends has contributed material to an exhibition to mark the centenary of the ending of world war one.
‘Naked Dietician’ on stage
A Quaker and former NHS worker performed a one-woman ‘spoken word’ show last month exploring the links between political and social factors and poor diet. Raise the Roof by dietician Lucy Aphramor, also known as ‘The Naked Dietician’, was shown at the Glasgow Women’s Library on 12 June.
‘Shadow World’ talk
Brighton Quakers hosted a showing of the film Shadow World last week. Speakers included the director, Andrew Feinstein, who took part in a question and answer session.
Truth
The concept of truth has always fascinated me, both spiritually as a Quaker, and psychologically as a child and adolescent psychotherapist, so I was interested in how this could be explored using song and movement.
Letters - 06 July 2018
Helping hands There is good sense in our Friend Raymond Hudson’s suggestion (1 June) that we should look at a charity’s website before deciding whether to donate. But I cannot agree that money should be withheld from charities in order to put pressure on them to cease supporting people...