Issue 31-08-2018

Featured story

Thought for the Week: Mobile ministry

FREE 30 Aug 2018 | by Noël Staples

Holding a mobile phone is a common sight since the first iPhone appeared in 2007, but I’m self-conscious wielding it in Meeting for Worship. Yet in ministry it’s no different from referring to the book of Quaker faith & practice, which may indeed be what I’m doing via...

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Top stories

Riding into the sun

30 Aug 2018 | by Sally Ingham

Friends preparing to start the Ride. | Photo: Courtesy of Sally Ingham.

Driving home, the two-week ‘Ride for Equality and the Common Good’ over, the sun was bright, low and blinding; it was hard to see what was ahead. Our 360-mile bicycle ride from Swarthmoor Hall to Downing Street has been just that – a ride into the sun. We overreached and overstretched...

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What do Friends mean by equality?

30 Aug 2018 | by Paul Honigmann

Last year there was a letter in the Friend about Ackworth School. It said that the school: ‘…also wanted to tell us that it continues to be Quaker in “outlook and governance”. I wonder what “Quaker” as an adjective means to Ackworth School? For me, “Quaker” involves a testimony to...

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Towards wholeness

30 Aug 2018 | by Maureen Anderson

'...that was the start of my healing ministry' | Photo: Lawrie Cate / flickr CC.

In 1993 I developed a virus, which led to a diagnosis of ME. I was desperately tired all day and ached. I saw an advert in the Friend for people to offer healing in postal prayer groups. I got involved and that was the start of my healing ministry. About five...

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When not to tell the truth

30 Aug 2018 | by Simon Risley

Earlier this year I was asked to speak at Quaker Quest on ‘Truth’. At our meeting beforehand one speaker said that since he’d become a Quaker he never, ever lied – apparently something of a contrast to his previous life. It was my turn next; and when I said that...

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From the archive: King and parliament

30 Aug 2018 | by Janet Scott

The Friends’ Ambulance Unit reports for August 1918 tell of a surprise visit to their Queen Alexandra Hospital by the king. It was noted in the Friend on 6 September that: His Majesty was received by the Principal Medical Officer (Captain Humphrey Nockolds, DSO) and then made a tour of the hospital,...

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Manchester backing for asylum seeker

FREE 30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Manchester Quakers and members of the human rights organisation Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research (RAPAR) gathered recently outside Dallas Court, the Home Office Reporting Centre, in support of asylum seeker Nestor Sylla.

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QVA retreat in Wales for prayer and work

FREE 30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

A group of Friends this month enjoyed a working retreat in the oldest Quaker Meeting house in continuous use in Wales.

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World Quaker Day website relaunched

30 Aug 2018 | by Rebecca Hardy

This year’s World Quaker Day is gearing up with the relaunch of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) website. The fifth annual day of international Quaker celebration on 7 October is on the theme ‘Crossing Cultures, Sharing Stories’.

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QPSW prepare for Armistice Day 2018

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) are working on ‘Remembrance for Peace’ events in preparation for Armistice Day 2018, which is on Sunday 11 November.

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World Service’s programme on world war one COs

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

THE BBC World Service broadcast a programme this month about the history of conscientious objectors (COs) in the first world war. WW1: Britain’s Conscientious Objectors is based on actual accounts from COs, taken from 1960s’ BBC archives, and was aired as part of the BBC’s History Hour.

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Luton Meeting House part of ‘Peace Walk’

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Luton Friends are to open up their Meeting house as part of the route for the annual Luton ‘Peace Walk’, that will take place on 22 September.

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Minehead Friends’ support for Syrian refugees

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Several Minehead Friends are involved in the provision of hospitality to Syrian refugees in Taunton, Somerset. Home stays for a weekend or longer, as well as days out, have been organised.

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Women highlighted in Maldon exhibition

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Maldon Quakers in Essex are putting on an exhibition about the history of the Religious Society of Friends with particular emphasis on Quaker women for the town’s heritage weekend next month.

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‘Putting the protest back in Protestant’ at Greenbelt Festival

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Conversations about the call of protest as a form of witness and how God-words can get in the way when sharing experiences of the divine were key themes in the Quaker presence at the Greenbelt Festival last weekend.

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Day in the sun at Harvington Hall for refugee families

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend Newsdesk

Friends from Bewdley in Worcestershire and Syrian refugees visited Harvington Hall near Kidderminster on 16 August.

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God bothering

30 Aug 2018 | by John Anderson

The clerk of the Meeting dies and goes to heaven where, as he had confidently expected, he is met at the pearly gates by saint Peter: flowing locks, curly beard, white gown, halo and all.

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Letters - 31 August 2018

30 Aug 2018 | by The Friend

Giving voice to humanity Having recently attended Ireland Yearly Meeting, I was very interested to read Peter Lamb’s excellent account (17 August). May I add mention of a special interest group I attended, which I think would resonate widely with Friends as providing a possible tool in work towards reconciliation? ...

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