Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain 2018

This year Yearly Meeting will be considering whether it is time to revise Quaker faith& practice, the book of discipline for Britain Yearly Meeting. Everyone, whether coming in person or upholding Yearly Meeting at home or in local Quaker communities is asked to help the discernment of Yearly Meeting by doing the preparation set out in Preparation for Yearly Meeting [Link] 

 

Yearly Meeting is for everyone – members and attenders, people able to come and those upholding Yearly Meeting in their local Quaker communities. It follows that preparation of hearts and minds is also for everyone. You can prepare as an individual or with your local or area meeting.

 

The link at the end of the first paragraph takes you to links of all documents. Here is the Link to Preparing for Yearly Meeting – there are hard copies available!

 

Link to: Register for yearly Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo © Mike Pinches 2014

Monthly Notices from Quakers in Britain April 18

Books of the Month April 2018 from the Quaker Centre Bookshop. Link to PDF

Woodbrooke Upcoming Courses April 2018 Link to PDF

Among Friends Issue 141, Spring 2018 The magazine of the Europe and Middle East Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation. This issue introduces new Assistant Secretary, Michael Eccles. It also includes reports from the Sanctuary Everywhere conference that took place in Brussels in December, and the Conference of European Churches’ workshop on gene editing. With news from Woodbrooke, Quaker Voluntary Action, book reviews and much more. LINK to PDF

CIRcular Issue 36, Yearly Meeting 2018 CIRcular is produced annually by the Quaker Committee for Christian & Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) and is a digest of activities undertaken both by the Committee and Friends in interfaith and interchurch work across the yearly meeting. Link to PDF

The Young Quaker, Issue 17: February 2018 – Rest Issue The Young Friends General Meeting magazine for young Friends published three times a year to coincide with  YFGM weekends. View online at www.theyoungquaker.org.uk or order extra copies by emailing theyoungquaker@gmail.com

Governance

General Data Protection Regulation: more information

The General Data Protection regulation comes into force on 25 May. You can change how your information is shared at any time, contact the Clerk or SWAM membership Clerk

Children and young people

Volunteers available to support local, area and regional work with young Quakers

If you are short of a volunteer or two for your event or activity with young people, then help is at hand. Over 30 Friends have offered to be part of a database of volunteers who are willing to offer their

service on local and area event teams. All will have been referenced and DBS checked. If you require help in this way please contact Lucy Sam, Children and Young People’s Officer, detailing the help you need. Requests will be forwarded to those who are on the database asking who is available to support your event or activity.

Lucy Sam, lucys@quaker.org.uk, 0207 663 1160

Resources for meetings

Logos to download

Quaker logos for meetings and groups are now available to download. The amended designs replace the ‘bespoke’ logos created for each meeting. Logos and guidance on their use are at www.quaker.org.uk/logo

 

Climate, the environment & economic justice

 

No Faith In Fracking

Fiday 27 April, Preston New Road Fracking site, Nr Blackpool PR4 3PF

Quakers from the North West are working alongside a range of faith communities to create a week of peaceful protest against Fracking and shared witness to the sacredness of all of life. Join Quakers and others on Friday 27th for a day of faith based peaceful witness against the Fracking industry and to call for climate justice. Follow Facebook page ‘no faith in fracking’ for updates. For further information contact: Maya on mayaw@quaker.org.uk or 020 7663 1056 or look at this Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/603770453295358/

 

Quaker Week

 

Speakers for Quaker Week 2018

29 September – 7 October 2018

The theme for Quaker Week 2018 is ‘Room for more’. Sharing food and spiritual nourishment is central to this year’s campaign. As Quakers we offer a table rich with good things, but recognise that it could be more inclusive. There is room for more at the table, and we value everyone who might sit at it. How can we let people know that there’s a space for them? You can now book your speaker for Quaker Week. We can offer speakers on a wide range of subjects. It is worth thinking carefully about the topic, and whether it will encourage people from other parts of your community to attend speakers@quaker.org.uk

 

Glenthorne Quaker Guest House and Conference Centre

Link to PDF version of their newsletter

There are still spaces left on some of the spring special Interest holidays:

Renewing ourselves in Sound and Silence. Friday 6th  - Sunday 8th April

Finding out about Quakers. A weekend for newcomers.  Friday 13th - Sunday 15th April

Boat, Boot and Goat.  Monday 16th - Friday 20th April

Walking holiday.   - Monday 30th April - Frdiay 4th May

You can browse through all the holidays/courses on the new website www.glenthorne.org, there will be something that catches your attention!

The 4 charities we will suport in the coming months

Prison Phoenix Trust link in their words:

"The Prison Phoenix Trust encourages prisoners in their spiritual lives through a daily practice of yoga and meditation, working with silence and the breath.

We encourage this practice by:

·         training qualified yoga teachers for prison

·         helping establish regular prison classes for prisoners and for staff

·         airing a radio yoga class three times per week

·         sending free books and CDs out to prisoners who request them

·         writing regular practical yoga columns for prisoner publications such as Inside Time and Women in Prison

·         offering personal correspondence about prisoners’ meditation and yoga practice

·         producing a quarterly newsletter.

We communicate with all our beneficiaries as individuals and we know that many prisoners have multiple and complex needs. We provide our books in various languages, as well as for people who can’t read at all, and can recommend yoga practices for people with specific ailments and disabilities."

 

 

St Mungo's Trust link in their words:

At St Mungo’s, we know that it takes more than a roof over someone’s head to end homelessness. While sleeping rough is the most visible form of homelessness, the causes and consequences of having nowhere stable to live are often much more complicated. That’s why we’ve developed a recovery based approach for our clients, focusing on addressing the issues a person faces to help them move on with their lives.

 

We look at each individual’s strengths – sometimes known as an ‘asset based’ approach – and use those skills and interests as the basis for recovery.

 

PATCH Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship link in their own words:

 

‘Fighting Hunger and Hardship in Pembrokeshire’
We are a charitable organisation aiming to relieve the effects of poverty for individuals and families within the county of Pembrokeshire.
Since June 2008 PATCH has been giving free food parcels, clothing and household items to those in a financial crisis in Pembrokeshire. We work closely with our referral agencies to help those that are experiencing hardship through perhaps a delay in benefits, fire, theft and escaping emergency situations.

Quaker Homeless Action link in their own words: 
Quaker Homeless Action (QHA) is a national charity run primarily by volunteers. QHA is a small and flexible organization that focuses on projects that are not funded by other organisations. Our projects include The Quaker Christmas Shelter and The Quaker Mobile Library.  We are always keen to hear from f/Friends with suggestions for other areas of work we could support - see our Affiliate Projects page for more information about this.

QHA's vision is for a society where homeless, marginalised and excluded people are empowered and supported to break out of exclusion, poverty, and isolation to experience life in all its fullness.

 

 

 

Today's reading 11/03/2018

Advices & Queries 18

How can we make the meeting a community in which each person is accepted and nurtured, and strangers are welcome? Seek to know one another in the things which are eternal, bear the burden of each other’s failings and pray for one another. As we enter with tender sympathy into the joys and sorrows of each other’s lives, ready to give help and to receive it, our meeting can be a channel for God’s love and forgiveness.

Cynghorion a holiadau 18

Pa fodd y gallwn wneud y cwrdd yn gymuned lle caiff pob person ei dderbyn a’i faethu, a lle caiff dieithriaid groeso? Ceisiwch adnabod eich gilydd yn y pethau tragwyddol; dygwch faich methiannau’ch gilydd a gweddïwch bawb dros eich gilydd. Wrth i ni gyfranogi mewn tynerwch o lawenydd a thrallod bywyd beunyddiol ein gilydd, yn barod i roddi help ac i’w dderbyn, gall ein cwrdd fod yn gyfrwng i gariad a maddeuant Duw.


image: a crocus today at the Bloomfield House Community Centre

Early Spring newsletter from Quaker Peace & Social Witness

Here is a link to the newsletter from Quaker Peace and Social Witness

The main news bit is below,  the newsletter has more information on events such as a "joint Faith Week Against Fracking...

This January we welcomed Tatiana Garavito to the team as the Sanctuary Everywhere Programme Manager. She joins Quaker Peace & Social Witness to support more than 50 Sanctuary Meetings, establish Sanctuary Action Groups, and campaign for the changes outlined in our new Sanctuary Everywhere Manifesto. In a few short weeks she has twice appeared on national broadcast news to speak about All Women Count and migrant rights in the UK's 'hostile environment'. Read her blog post about the work here. Britain is the only country in Europe that detains people indefinitely – up to six years – without trial. Quakers in Britain is one of a handful of charities that is now actively campaigning to close detention centres in the UK for good.
Individual Quakers are responding too, by upholding activists who blockaded a deportation flight, and who now face the charge of terrorism in court. Meetings in the Sanctuary network are welcoming people who seek asylum into their homes, and taking steps to guarantee bail for people locked up in detention centres.

We've also been inspired by the fundraising efforts of Young Friends in Ullswater, Cumbria, who canoed nine miles in a Force 5 gale to raise £4000 for the UN Human Rights Council. Please read and share their written account of how they came to undertake the action, and how their meeting took care to support them in their witness

The multigenerational group canoed through wind, cold and rain to meet their fundraising target.
Photo: Penrith Quaker Youth and Children’s Meeting

 

 

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

Books of the Month March 2018 (Link to PDF) from Quaker bookshop

Woodbrooke upcoming courses March 2018 (Link to PDF)

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

LINK TO FLYER

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