Issue 14-12-2018
Featured story
Thought for the Week: Finding hope
The annual remembrance service at St Martin-in-the-Fields in London for homeless people who have died on the street was held on 8 November. The church was packed to capacity with people from all walks of life, including many homeless.
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Some broader current?
‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ I realise some writers call this a bad question – certainly an annoying one, since it is so common. Yet it’s an honest one: a seeking after truth.
The New Retreat
From 1 January 2019, The New Retreat will come into existence. The new entity will maintain the Quaker commitment to mental health care and our involvement in direct provision. It will continue to have charitable status, and a Quaker-led board will continue to be responsible for its operation. But it will no...
‘Let go and let God’
Have you ever thought of joining a Meeting for Worship for Healing? It can be a very powerful experience. The Friends Fellowship of Healing is holding its third nationwide Quaker Day of Healing in spring. You may be surprised by the depth of worship and spiritual experience it can generate.
Gathering at a ‘thin place’
The October 2018 gathering of Meeting of Friends in Wales took place at The Pales Meeting House on a brilliantly sunny but cold Saturday. We were over forty Friends from all corners of Wales. Friends made their contributions in Welsh or English, with the usual excellent simultaneous translation. Holding a Meeting...
Unconscious bias
In a well-filled George Fox Room at Friends House two months ago, London Quakers considered the notion of ‘unconscious bias’. ‘Unconscious bias? I’m not biased!’ you might say. Well, Friend, you may not be, but I am – all the time, whether I am aware of it or not. I...
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Activists found guilty of ‘terror’ charge
The ‘Stansted Fifteen’ group of protestors have been found guilty of endangering the safety of Stansted Airport, under counter-terrorism legislation that could result in life imprisonment.
Circles UK celebrates tenth anniversary
Quakers hosted an evening to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Circles UK, the charity that works to provide ‘circles of support and accountability’ to convicted sex offenders. ‘Celebrating the Circles 10 year Journey’ at Friends House in London included conversation, films and performances highlighting the ‘richness and diversity’ of its work...
Brexit squeezing out climate change debate, MP tells Friends
MP Andrew Mitchell told Sutton Coldfield Friends that Brexit was ‘dominating the parliamentary agenda’, so there was little time to debate sustainability.
Bury St Edmunds Friends support UN special rapporteur’s report
Bury St Edmunds Quakers have sent a statement to the local press acting on a concern about the UK government’s response to the report by UN special rapporteur professor Philip Alston last month.
Quaker MP highlights violence against women
The Quaker MP Ruth Cadbury has signed a pledge to work towards ending violence against women.
London Quakers explore plans for New Economy
More than forty people attended a workshop organised by London Quakers at Friends House last month.
Heaven on Earth
During the 1990s, three Woodbrooke tutors engaged in a sustained and fruitful dialogue based on their respective areas of research and teaching. This resulted, initially, in a course, and subsequently in a book, Heaven on Earth: Quakers and the Second Coming, published in 1998. The book has just been republished to...
Eye - 14 December 2018
Friendship and fellowship Quakers in Bradford have been extending the hand of friendship to a local community group. Local Friend Carolyn Piggott told Eye that in November ‘Friends welcomed the Bradford East Africa Community (BEAC) to a shared lunch and, in addition, were delighted to welcome a family from Gaza...
Letters - 14 December 2018
‘Quiet Day’ Were the disputes currently happening over Brexit occurring at Local Meeting level, Friends would probably be calling for a Meeting for Clearness. It is unlikely that all the parliamentary factions would agree to attend such a meeting, even if invited by the heads of the churches and other...