Showing posts with label British yearly meeting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British yearly meeting. Show all posts

Friday, 5 July 2019

monthly notices 07/2019 hysbysiadau misol BYM


Listings, newsletter and more
from the Quaker Centre Bookshop:
Books of the Month July 2019 LINK TO PDF
Children & Young Adults Books of the Month 2019 LINK TO PDF

Woodbrooke Upcoming Courses July 2019 LINK TO PDF

CIRcular, Issue 37, Yearly Meeting 2019 a digest of activities undertaken both by the Quaker Committee for Christian & Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) and Friends in interfaith and interchurch work across the yearly meeting. LINK TO PDF

The Young Quaker, Issue 21: May 2019 – The Literary Issue The Young Friends General Meeting magazine. LINK TO PDF

Seeking Routes Art Exhibition, 20 July–8 September, Swarthmoor Hall An exhibition by Quaker artists supported by Quaker Arts Network on the theme of Quaker witness to sustainability – including a programme of workshops, lectures, poetry and performances.
Support for meetings LINK TO PDF

BYM and Woodbrooke Trustees decision
On 7 June Trustees of Woodbrooke and Britain Yearly Meeting met to discuss next steps, after the evaluation of the Vibrancy in Meetings pilot showed it helped Friends in these areas feel more connected, confident and supported. The aim is to have a Local Development Worker within reach of each Quaker community within five years.
LINK TO PDF More information is available at www.quaker.org.uk/blog

Quaker Week
Quaker Week 2019
Saturday 28 September to Sunday 6 October 2019
Quaker Week is all about Quaker stories. Do you know each other’s stories? Can you share your meeting’s story with the world? LINK TO PDF FLYERS
If you are on social media, use the hashtag
#QuakerStories to find examples and share your stories.

Mental Health forum
Quaker Mental Health Forum – Mental health in community
Saturday, 19 October 2019, The Priory Rooms, Birmingham, B4 6AF
Quaker Life would like to encourage meetings to attend the Quaker mental health forum. This year’s forum will explore the impact of community on mental health, consider what makes a healthy community and reflect on Quaker witness in creating spiritual connections within the community. LINK TO PDF FLYER


Witness against the arms trade
Stop the Arms Fair this September
September 2019, mainly London & some events across Britain
The international arms fair, DSEI, is setting up shop in London in September 2019, to export war and conflict around the world.
When we play host to one of the world’s largest arms fairs, war, repression and injustice start here. Let’s stop it here.
Friends interested in opposing the arms fair can see the flyer on activities by Roots of Resistance (printed copy included) and an additional flyer on the monthly mailing web page about the vigil.

Asylum and migration conference
Envisioning a world that is open to all: let us see what love can do
27–29 September 2019, Woodbrooke
A weekend conference learning about asylum and migration, hearing from those who have felt its impact, and working together to create the change that we need. Speakers, workshops, performances and panel discussions will explore the interplay between race, privilege and migration.


Hardship grants for individuals
Hope grants for individuals
Grants of up to £750 are available to improve the quality of life for Quaker members and attenders who are unemployed or unable to make a living wage. Past grants have funded: equipment for a new or developing hobby; help with the cost of attending evening classes    or lessons; help with cost of participating fully in the life of the Society of Friends; help with travel costs, like visiting an aged relative.
Applications must be supported by an overseer. For details see:

Pollard & Dickson Trust has grants of up to £1,500 available for Friends & attenders in Britain to help those unable to meet daily living expenses and to support Friends to attend activities, courses or events that will have benefits for the wider Quaker community
Contact Augene Nanning, Pollard & Dickson Trust Administrator

William Gunn’s Charity
This Charity exists to assist individual Members who are in personal financial need by making grants of money to them or by paying for services and / or items needed by them.
Grants Secretary: Val Brittin 01905 25472 Clerk to Trustees: Jackie Fowler 01952 253378

Children and young people

Facilitation and Leadership
Friday 18 – Sunday 20 October 2019, Woodbrooke
An energetic and interesting event for 16 to 21 year olds, helping them understand groups and try out skills. It is for those new to facilitation and for those with previous experience – developing confidence, understanding and skills alongside considering how to engage with Quaker aspects of facilitation. LINK TO PDF FLYER
Cat Waithaka, catw@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1011

Living as a Quaker
18–21 October 2019, The Sustainability Centre, Hampshire
Exciting opportunity for 12 to 15 year olds – residential event exploring personal beliefs alongside outdoor skills and activities organised by the Children and Young People’s Team and Youth Work project.
Book at https://forms.quaker.org.uk/laaq-2019 or ring 020 7663 1013
Deadline 21 September

How young Quakers can witness for peace at the arms fair
Monday 9 September, 2019 from 6pm to 8pm.
Meet Tidal Basin Road, outside Royal Victoria DLR at 6pm
Come and meet other young Quakers and attend the silent vigil
held the evening before the September DSEi arms fair. There will be Friends House staff and people who campaign for peace at this event. Young people attend this event independently. Friends House staff will support young people joining the vigil and parents/guardians should be happy that the young people attending the event are of an age where they can take responsibility for themselves.
Cat Waithaka, catw@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1011



Wednesday, 30 May 2018

Yearly Meeting 2018


Epistle LINK TO PDF

 
Substantive minutes LINK TO PDF [my scanner is not the best quality and I couldn’t find this selection online]

 

All the minutes! LINK TO PDF

 

Link to lots of documents & videos including Salter Lecture: “Bearing witness or bearing whiteness?”

 

The Swarthmore Lecture: Chris Alton: “Changing ourselves, changing the world” LINK TO AUDIO and MORE INFO

 

From Paul Parker Recording Clerk of BYM

 
Some thoughts from Sam Barnett-Cormmack having read a lot of the material available


Thursday, 8 March 2018

Monthly Notices from Quaker in Britain / British Yearly Meeting 03/2018




Yearly Meeting 2018
Registration for Yearly Meeting 2018 is now open at www.quaker.org.uk/ym
Yearly Meeting is for everyone, whether or not they have been before, and those unable to attend
can still support the discernment of Yearly Meeting. This year we will be asking ourselves how Quaker faith & practice should look for the next generation.
Within the next few days you will receive the first set of Yearly Meeting documents: Preparing for Yearly Meeting, Agenda and Notes and Epistles and Testimonies. Please ensure these are widely circulated within your meeting. Friends should find Preparing for Yearly Meeting helpful in terms of both practical and spiritual preparation

Young People’s Programme 2018
4-7 May 2018, Felden Lodge, Hemel Hempstead
Do you have young people in your meeting (aged 11-15) who would benefit from the opportunity to attend the Young People’s Programme (YPP) at Yearly Meeting 2018? Limited places available. Young People's Programme 2018 flyer (PDF)
Booking by 18 March at www.quaker.org.uk/events/ypp2018 cypadmin@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1013

Live Adventurously: A residential event for 8-11 year olds
25–27 July 2018, Gilwell Park Activity Centre, Essex
This event gives participants the chance to try all sorts of adventurous activities. There will be fun, games, a chance to make new friends, worship and thinking about what it means to ‘live adventurously’ as a Quaker. The cost is £80 per person which includes travel from Friends House, all food and activities. LINK TO LEAFLET
Mel Cook: melaniec@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1014

Action on nuclear disarmament
Friends have been asking what they can do next now that the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has been adopted.
‘A guide to calling on the UK government to attend the 2018 UN High- Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament from May 14-16’ provides some tips as well as key phrases to use when writing to your MP to call on the UK government to attend the conference at the highest level. Available shortly at www.quaker.org.uk/nuclear-disarmament
Sahdya Darr, sahdyad@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1108

Fly kites not drones
18–25 March 2018
Reclaim the sky for peace this Persian New Year (Nao Roz) by flying kites not drones. Everything you need to know to make kites and explore the issue of armed drones is at dronecampaignnetwork fly kites not drones blog
Order a pack LINK on this webpage £5 from Quaker book shop
At QPSW we’d love to see your kites via email: ellisb@quaker.org.uk or @kitesnotdrones on Twitter

Recruiting for 2 QPSW UK based peaceworkers
One year fixed term contracts with UK peace organisations starting in September 2018
Opportunity to work in a UK peace organisation for a year, funded by QPSW, on issues including addressing the roots of conflict, innovative work on nuclear weapons and militarism especially in schools.
If chosen you’ll be offered a place with an organisation which we think matches your skills. www.quaker.org.uk/job-opportunities/jobs

Seeking Ecumenical Accompaniers – human rights monitors
Quakers in Britain are recruiting Ecumenical Accompaniers to serve in the West Bank and Israel in 2019 for 3 months’ service.
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine & Israel (EAPPI) provides protection by presence, monitors human rights abuses, supports Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and advocates for an end to the occupation.
For more information and to download an application pack please check the website: www.quaker.org.uk/applyeappi

Help QPSW take action on climate change
Quaker Peace & Social Witness and Friends across the country are calling on the UK government to tackle climate change. To do this, we want to know what parliament thinks about climate policy. We’re asking Friends to help us do this by writing to their MP and sharing responses with us. If you can help, visit the climate justice page on the Quaker website at www.quaker.org.uk/climatejustice, where we have provided more information and some guidance questions. If you’d like support to engage with your MP, or to take action on climate change, please contact Chris Walker using the details below.
Chris Walker, chrisw@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1047

Christian Aid Week 2018
13–19 May 2018
Quakers are founding members and a sponsoring church of Christian Aid and have supported their work for over 70 years. Please continue to support them, especially during Christian Aid Week.
Further details at www.christianaid.org.uk/christian-aid-week
LINK TO FLYER

Talking Friends
Is there anyone in your meeting who is visually impaired or finds it difficult to read for other reasons? If so, you can help them to access Quaker publications such as the Friend, Quaker News and Friends Quarterly. A subscription to Talking Friends will give them audio recordings produced by volunteers at half the price of the printed publications. See the flyer for further information.
Contact Alan Johnson, alanjohnson1@blueyonder.co.uk 0121 476 0217, www.talkingfriends.org.uk
LINK TO FLYER

Monday, 5 February 2018

February 2018 notices from British Yearly Meeting / Quakers in Britain


Books of the month link to PDF
Woodbrooke Upcoming Courses February 2018 link to pdf
Swarthmoor Hall 2018 Programme Guide link to pdf
Young Quakers Calendar link to pdf  
 
Gatherings & conferences
Yearly Meeting 2018
All Friends (whether in membership or not) are invited to participate in Yearly Meeting
to be held at Friends House, London from 4–7 May 2018. Enclosed in this mailing is the calling letter with registration details. Please circulate this letter to as many Friends in your meeting as possible.
 
Keynote speaker at QPSW Spring Conference announced
23–25 March, The Hayes conference centre, Derbyshire
The keynote speaker at the QPSW Spring Conference will be Elsie Whittington. Her keynote title is “Awkwardness as activism: embracing vulnerability in love, activism and witness”. The Spring Conference theme is ‘Journeys of Witness’.
Booking deadline extended to 11 February!
Kristin Skarsholt, bymevents@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1121
 
 
Sign up to new e-newsletter
Get the best of Britain Yearly Meeting’s digital content
Quake! is the new monthly email update on the work of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) and Quakers in Britain. It will include discussion
and exploration of Quaker life and worship, insights into faith-based activism, and links to new publications as well as the latest news, events and public statements from BYM. This newsletter replaces the Quaker Life Network monthly email and aims to provide an essential monthly digest of the best of our digital content.
Sign up to Quake! HERE
 
 
Meetings and mental health
Friends Quarterly Quakers and mental health
The theme of the current Friends Quarterly. is mental health with articles written by Quakers from a range of perspectives. A complimentary copy has been sent to us.
Oliver Waterhouse, oliverw@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1007
 
New leaflet: Mental health in our meetings
Quaker Life has just published this new leaflet on mental health in
our meetings. It offers advice and guidance to help meetings respond when mental distress is present. It is a helpful resource for those with responsibility for eldership and oversight and useful for all Quakers to be aware of. A copy is available in Meeting and we can order more.
 
Spiritual life of the meeting
Experiment with Light
Quaker Life recognises that for some Friends, Experiment with Light can be a powerful way of deepening their spiritual life. Experience has shown that the practice contributes best to the life of the meeting when it is undertaken in a group that is in the care of the meeting and supported by elders. In 2018 Experiment with Light Network offers opportunities for people with a range of experience of the practice.
Friends can find out about the practice from a very basic level of understanding or, as a practitioner, might wish to be immersed in a 24-hour retreat, or local meetings might request a workshop.
 
Outreach
Quaker Week 2018
29 September 7 October 2018
Have you started planning your outreach for Quaker Week 2018?
We hope even more meetings will get involved this year. Details of the theme, ideas for activities and a range of resources will be shared over the next few months. There will be regular updates in the clerks mailing and information on the Quaker Week web page. Remember for outreach to be most effective you may need to go out into your local community rather that expecting people to cross the threshold of the meeting house.
 
Children and young people
Growing as an all age community?
There are opportunities for meetings to be helped and supported in developing as all age communities. These are: hosting one of a range of workshops, considering how the new ‘All are welcome’ resource can be used and inviting a facilitator to an area / local meeting event. These are offered by the volunteer Children and Young People’s Work Training Team, supported by Quaker Life staff.
CYP administrator, cypadmin@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1013
 
 
Grants
Adult Education grants available
Grants are available for Quaker members and attenders continuing their education as mature students within the post-compulsory education sector, including vocational, further or higher education or continuing professional development. The grants are particularly
aimed at those studying to equip themselves to serve society and/or Quakers in Britain. Applicants should be in need of financial support to take the course and the course should be offered at a reputable institution within the UK. Please see the grant-making page of the Quakers in Britain website HERE
Closing date 30 April.
Ann Pfeiffer annp@quaker.org.uk, 020 7663 1053
 
Quaker witness
Quakers challenging torture
With this new leaflet Quaker Concern for the Abolition of Torture
(Q-CAT) hopes to raise awareness of the continuing scourge that is torture in the world today, what Quakers can do about this problem and how to find out more and get involved. (Erratum: the word ‘use’ is missing at the end of ‘Quakers and Torture section in printed copy that we have.)


 

Sunday, 20 August 2017

Epistle from Britain Yearly Meeting held in Coventry 29 July – 5 August 2017


To Friends everywhere


For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” [James 2:26]


We send loving greetings from Britain Yearly Meeting gathered in community.

 
This is the third year in which we have explored our theme of Living out our faith in the world; this time we have considered how we work with others to make a difference and build a better world. We have been delighted by the presence of Friends from other yearly meetings and visitors from other churches and faith groups. They have helped us to recognise the way bonds form between different communities for the common good, and to value the richness which comes to us when we welcome diversity in our meetings.


Since our last Yearly Meeting our nations have experienced increasing uncertainty and insecurity. Inequality has become vividly apparent. We are distressed by the trashing of our planet, and angry at the greed, ruthlessness, violence and lies which blight the lives of so many. “What do you mean, says God, that you grind the faces of my poor?” [Isaiah 3:15] In this fractured world, how can we respond? What does Love require of us?


We ourselves are part of the problem. Many are too rich. We damage the land, the sea, and all living creatures. We are stealing the future. Change is urgent. We need to recognize our own selfishness and privilege: to be changed ourselves, to live as if the Kingdom of God were already fulfilled.

 
Throughout our gathering we have heard examples of Friends’ work and involvement in the world as Meetings and as individuals. We are reminded that we all find different ways of being faithful. Inspired by the Fox Cubs (3–5-year-olds) we have worn the ribbons which they gave us to share their concern for hungry and homeless people.

 
When we engage with the brokenness of the world, one of our tools can be our willingness to listen: to the vulnerable, to each other, to those with whom we disagree, and to the leadings of the Holy Spirit. This will enable us to work alongside others powerfully, telling the truth of what is wrong in the world. Sometimes listening will lead us to stillness, at other times to practical action. In all things the Spirit will direct us.


Working with others gives us strength. Their insights may lead us to see our own shortcomings. We can also hold conversations with those in positions of authority and influence.

 
Ours may be a supporting role. We may be called to comfort and uphold, to practise small kindnesses, to admit our own weakness, and to undertake practical tasks which enable others to act. Sometimes being there is enough.


Action may demand courage. This may mean taking part in public protests or acts of disobedience. We may be led to challenge rooted injustices and to use our energy to bring about radical change. Jesus overturned the tables of the money-changers in the temple. He taught that the blessed community was formed of the poor, the hungry and those suffering loss or persecution. [Luke 6:20-22]

 
When our call is clear, we need discipline to test it, and faithfulness to carry it through without counting the cost. May God give us strength and grace to be instruments of change.

 
Therefore, dear Friends, wait in the Light, that the Word of the Lord may dwell plentifully in you.” [Quaker faith & practice 29.19]

LINK to PDF DOCUMENT OF ALL MINUTES FROM THE 2017 GATHERING
lots more reading - but an interesting overview.

Monday, 12 December 2016

Quaker News No. 96 Autumn 2016

In case you missed the paper version of Quaker News an update on Quaker work in the care of British Yearly Meeting

Link to a PDF to view online

it includes an article about the four posters produced for Quaker Week 2015 [I saw one this week used as an advert in Private Eye!]