Yearly Meeting 2015

information from Yearly Meeting 1-4 May 2015 LINK

some specific links you might like to go to:


The link to the Minutes can be found here [PDF].

 

Epistle for Yearly Meeting 2015 [PDF]

Letter from Yearly Meeting to Evangelical Friends Mission in Nepal [Word document 60kb] link may be broken due to Quaker uk website remake

Minute 36: Living out our faith in the world – are we ready to meet the challenge? 2015

Yearly Meeting asked: “Can we transform the way the world is going and recognise that everyone and everything on the planet matters and can be thought of as a divine commonwealth, or kin-dom? Quakerism is all about putting our faith in a power which transforms us.”

 

Minute 36: Living out our faith in the world – are we ready to meet the challenge?

How are we led to live out our faith in a world where we see systemic injustice and increasing inequality?

We have been reminded that God’s work is where our deep gladness meets the deep suffering in the world, as in Psalm 85:
‘Mercy and truth are met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other,
truth shall spring out of the earth;
And righteousness shall look down from heaven.’

We are all activists and we are all worshippers. Our worship and action spring from the same spiritual source. The light not only illumines us but pushes us to seek change.

We recognise the problems in the world and the urgency of acting on them. Our current political and (especially) economic systems only recognise and encourage part of the human condition, the selfish, competitive, greedy part. So much of what is good and beautiful and true in the world is being trashed. The model of power as domination needs to be challenged and replaced with a model of power as service to the community; in doing this, we need to live our testimony and hold firm to its source in faith.

The damage of the present systems, like the benefits, are not shared equally. We need to recognise how many of us benefit through the possessions we hold and the houses we live in, and to consider when we are part of the problem. In living out our faith in the world, we may be called to give up our privileges, but if we do so our voice and our lives will be all the more authentic and powerful. We can be at our most powerful when we are vulnerable.

The damaged and damaging structures of the world are not the only influence on our lives: there is also the power of faith and the leadings of the Spirit, which if followed will lead us, will push us, towards a better world. That, then, may be the first action we need to take: to be more faithful.

What are the changes which are needed to the systemic injustice and inequality that we see in society? We need to go deeper to find the roots of our social ills, and how we might uproot the powers that maintain them. We should rethink what needs to grow in this world and what does not. Can we transform the way the world is going and recognise that everyone and everything on the planet matters and can be thought of as a divine commonwealth, or kin-dom? Quakerism is all about putting our faith in a power which transforms us.

Many of us have spoken of the anger we feel about the current injustices of the world, and sometimes our hearts are heavy with all the things we cannot do. Anger can be a spur to action, but we need Light and guidance to use it wisely and sparingly. We already have a way of finding this wisdom in our corporate discipline

and our testing in worship of leadings. Through these our righteous anger and passion can be transformed in order to tackle the root causes of injustice and inequality. Our action begins in worship, in seeking and reflecting before we act. Our practices of listening within and being open to what comes to us from without are rarer than we think, and are a precious gift that we should both use and share.

We are called to consider what we each can do and also make and build on connections in our communities and across the globe.
We are also called to be a community of Friends as a yearly meeting, pushed towards the important things we can only do together. We have a body of experience we can draw on and maintain. We are in this for the long haul. As a yearly meeting we are restless to take corporate action to change the unequal, unjust world in which we live.

We ask Friends and meetings to engage with the evil of social and economic injustice which creates a world in which the wrong things are valued. To do this requires owning and upholding the work that is already being done by Friends and in our name; helping to fund that work as generously as possible; and becoming involved in however small a way. For ourselves we need to find some action however simple to do now.

We ask Meeting for Sufferings to take the work on social and economic injustice forward, co-ordinating the work of local and area meetings who might wish to become more deeply involved, and encouraging the deep spiritual and intellectual searching that could underpin a ‘true social order’ for our age.

We ask Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee to align their work with that of Meeting for Sufferings and to keep this issue before the Yearly Meeting for further consideration over the next two years. Between Yearly Meetings we should all try to share our experience. We ask our Recording Clerk and staff to make our concern about social and economic inequality known as widely as possible and in particular to challenge the incoming UK government to adopt policies which decrease inequality and value equally the contribution which all can make to developing a more just and sustainable society.

We must remember that what makes the real difference is not adding further to the words in the world but being and living out the new social order, testing our leadings together and trusting to our Quaker processes, ‘opening ourselves to the Light to guide us in each small step.'

Global Campaign on Military Spending - action by end April 19th!

For the Global Day of Action on Military Spending, QPSW has created an online ‘People’s Ballot’ LINK inviting people to choose how they would spend £38 billion which the UK currently spends on the military annually. Before Monday 20 April, Friends can add their vote online at http://demilitarize.org.uk/gdams-survey-2015/ (takes 1 minute). The final results will be published here.

Positive steps towards full inclusivity

Quaker Disability Equality Group asks local and area meetings to consider “how can we make the meeting a community in which each person is accepted and nurtured” (Advices & queries 18). Quaker Life is pleased to acknowledge the important work that the Quaker Disability Equality Group is doing to encourage that Quaker meetings and activities are fully accessible.

A LINK TO  THE DOCUMENT

Quaker Disability Equality Group (QDEG) is a listed informal group of British Yearly Meeting - A LINK TO WEBSITE

relating to political engagement

Climate Lobby
A QPSW day of action on climate change, including lobby of MPs
Wednesday 17 June 2015 12.00 - 17.30 Palace of Westminster

‘As members of this beautiful human family, we seek meaningful commitments from our leaders and ourselves, to address climate change for our shared future, the Earth and all species, and the generations to come.’

From Facing the Challenge of Climate Change, a shared statement by Quaker groups, January 2015, signed by Quakers in Britain.

A LINK TO MORE INFORMATION

Hustings
Friends may be interested to know that we are holding national hustings at Friends House in London on Tuesday 31 March (international affairs), Thursday 9 DOWNLOADS: Principles for a just housing policy 2015 booklet (PDF, 177KB), Housing our spiritual concern 2015 booklet April (community and sustainability), and Tuesday 21 April (economy and social justice). If you happen to be in London then, we’d love to see you there. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

It is hoped there will be similar national hustings in Scotland and Wales and many Friends are holding constituency hustings.

A LINK TO QUAKER VOTE: GENERAL ELECTION 2015

Housing booklets reissued
Might be of particular interest after the talk by Shelter Cymru  in Caridigan.

Inequality in housing in Britain is widening and housing options are narrowing. There is a strong sense of the need for radical change in the housing situation in Britain today. Principles for a just housing policy offers a way of describing what that change might look like. Housing: our spiritual concern offers a way of exploring how we might contribute to that change. To help Friends prepare for both the general election and Yearly Meeting 2015, these two booklets have been reissued by Quaker Housing Trust, Yearly Meeting’s own housing charity. A6 printed copies of both booklets are freely available from: Paula Harvey, paulah@quaker.org.uk
To download the leaflets: Principles for a just housing policy 2015 booklet (PDF, 177KB), Housing our spiritual concern 2015 booklet (1.56MB)

Also A LINK TO QUAKER HOUSING TRUST

A Talk about Homelessness in Wales

Andrew Jones from Shelter Cymru talking about homelessness in Wales

Is this an election issue?

Wednesday 25th March 7:30 PM

Canolfan Byd Bychan / Small World Centre

Bath House Road

Cardigan / Aberteifi

Ceredigion SA43 1JY

Organized by Cardigan Quakers

All Welcome

Link to Shelter Cymru website


 

for World Day of Prayer

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service.
It is held on the first Friday in March - 6th in 2015

This prayer was read out some weeks ago in Meeting for Worship

Prayer for faithful and fruitful service

Dear God, Spirit of transparent love:
Grant us courageous attention,
Help us accept the mystery of your will.
Teach us to be helpful, gentle and persistent,
Help us awaken to your patience.
Keep us open, honest and adjustable,
Help us be flexible instruments, humbly altruistic.
Forgive our immodest pretensions,
Help us let go of harmful judgments.
With Christ Jesus as our guide,
Help us in our relationship to others.
Release us from desire to control,
Help us create harmony as agents of your design.
You are the awe inspiring power of good,
Help us work in mirthful serenity, a selfless joy.
Serving aware of your call for Peace among us,
Help us listen to each other, seeking your voice.

Friends World Committee for Consultation: Americas section. 2014 Link to publication

Link to Women's World Day of Prayer 2015
Link to World Day of Prayer main site

From Quaker Peace & Social Witness: Earth & Economy

Urgent action: Infrastructure Bill

Can you write to your MP today?

On Monday MPs will get to vote on fracking.

They will be debating the Infrastructure Bill. This will be the last real chance for us to influence the Bill.

We want to ensure that new legislation does not lock the UK into a direction of travel inconsistent with rapid reduction in carbon emissions, making the UK energy system less equitable for people and the Earth.

Can you email your MP today [link]?

QPSW is most concerned about provisions in the Bill which:

• Change the trespass law so as to allow companies to extract oil and gas from under your home without your permission, including by fracking.
• Legislate for maximising the economic recovery of UK oil.

We are supporting amendments put forward by MPs which would remove these clauses; and new clauses being put forward which would insert a ban or moratorium on fracking into the Bill.

Please can you email your MP today asking them to support these amendments? Even better could you send an email to your MP(s) as a meeting, perhaps after Meeting for Worship on Sunday?

We have drafted a template letter [link - you will find further link to Word document lower part of page] to help you with this. Please amend it as you see fit. You’ll find the email address and other details about your MP here.

We have also prepared a briefing for Friends [link] intended to provide you with information about the Infrastructure Bill; how draft legislation within it challenges our commitment to sustainability; and what you can do to change it.
Contact Sunniva Taylor, Sustainability & Peace programme manager for more information, on sunnivat@quaker.org.uk or 02076631047

PS If you are in London on Monday you may want to come along to a rally at Parliament calling for ‘No fracking anywhere’. It will take place 12.30 – 3pm, Old Palace Yard (On the west side of St Margaret Street/Abingdon Street), opposite Parliament, Westminster, near SW1P 3JX. Sunniva will be there at 12.30 for an hour or so, with a ‘Quakers for Climate Justice’ banner. More details here.

New meeting in Haverfordwest

See link to Cwrdd â’r Crynwyr: Hwlffordd // Quaker Quest Haverfordwest blog for more information.
3rd Wednesday of the month


LINK HERE

Voices of Conscience short films and discussion in Aberteifi/Cardigan

On Wednesday 26th November Cardigan Quaker meeting will be showing the films from the Voices of Conscience series followed by time to discuss the issues raised.
A warm welcome to all at Canolfan Byd Bychan/Small World Theatre, Aberteifi/Cardigan 7.30pm - there will be tea and coffee served! 
The project was initiated by South Wales [Quaker] Area Meeting - the DVDs have teachers notes and have been sent out to all schools and FE colleges in the South Wales area. teachers would be most welcome to this event to explore the ideas.

A link to Small World's information page for address and parking information

you can see the short films here in Cymraeg or English

"This new resource aims to explore a lesser-known aspect of World War I through the true stories of people who made a personal stand against war on grounds of conscience, and who looked for another way. The stories shed light on the World War I period, but are also relevant to contemporary society. They are particularly powerful because they allow ordinary people to tell their own stories, accompanied by photographs and illustrations.

This is a South Wales Area Meeting project of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). It is generously funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, with contributions from South Wales Area Meeting, North Wales Area Meeting, Mid Wales Area Meeting, Southern Marches Area Meeting, Meeting of Friends in Wales, The Spirit of Sulien Trust, Cynefin y Werin and many local Quaker Meetings and Quaker individuals from across Wales and beyond."


A link to UK Quakers projects looking at WWI, of particular note are The White Feather Diaries the first instalments have been posted there will be more next year

Forces Watch at Area meeting

South Wales [Quakers] Area Meeting had a bilingual afternoon workshop given by Forces Watch
There is a lot to read but well worth it is you are interested in
a. the age of recruitment to the armed forces in the UK - with parental consent you can sign up from the age of 16 - the UK is the only European that allows sign up before the age of 18
b. and/or the recruitment that goes on in schools
c. and/or "The new tide of militarisation" [this links to a Quaker publication - England & Wales do have different education policies]] in the UK - in schools and general life.


The information from Forces Watch 4 links to pdf documents:
Link to briefing overview that they gave up
Link to Military activities in UK Schools & Colleges: what are the issues & what can you do
And an overview  of conscientious objection in the UK armed forces today


Those people who signed up at 16 were more likely to die on active service in Afghanistan than those who sign up later [is this because of their youth or the actual job they end up doing in the armed forces]. Although armed service personnel are not put on the front line until they are 18 there were some notable mistakes with regard to Afghanistan.


There are several issues to think about here and you might not be in agreement with all and some may feel they wish to see the total abolition of the armed forces.


Forces Watch website
Forces Watch on Twitter
Forces Watch on Facebook

the Swarthmore lecture 2014

If you'd like to just listen






The book "Open for transformation: Being Quaker – the 2014 Swarthmore Lecture" is available from the bookshop at Friend's House - printed or digital formats LINK TO BOOK

Readings at Meeting for worship & other things that came up

Advices & Queries 4




"The Religious Society of Friends is rooted in Christianity and has always found inspiration in the life and teachings of Jesus. How do you interpret your faith in the light of this heritage? How does Jesus speak to you today? Are you following Jesus' example of love in action? Are you learning from his life the reality and cost of obedience to God? How does his relationship with God challenge and inspire you?"

And at our Meeting for worship for Business we were read a section of Quaker Faith & Practice 3.09 "Participation on meetings for church affairs":

"On taking your seat, try to achieve quietness of mind and spirit. Try to avoid having subcommittees or conversations just as the meeting is about to begin. Turn inwardly to God, praying that the meeting may be guided in the matters before it and that the clerk may be enabled faithfully to discern and record the mind of the meeting."


Being Friends Together was mentioned:

Being Friends Together has been developed by Woodbrooke and Quaker Life to help Friends in meetings to:

• develop spiritually, both as individuals and meetings
• learn about aspects of the Quaker and Christian traditions
• develop and express their sense of Quaker identity
• grow as communities
• feel supported to live out Quaker testimony in their lives and localities
• integrate all generations into the life of meetings

so we hope that there will be something here to suit every meeting’s interests and preferences! It also offers a simple discernment process to help meetings identify where they would like to focus their energy and attention first, supported by optional visits from experienced Friends or do-it-yourself guidance on the website. LINK TO WEBSITE

today's reading from advices and queries

Come regularly to meeting for worship even when you are angry, depressed, tired or spiritually cold. In the silence ask for and accept the prayerful support of others joined with you in worship. Try to find a spiritual wholeness which encompasses suffering as well as thankfulness and joy. Prayer, springing from a deep place in the heart, may bring healing and unity as nothing else can. Let meeting for worship nourish your whole life.

World Quaker Day October 5th

To Friends Everywhere:

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) invites every Quaker meeting and church from around the world to celebrate WORLD QUAKER DAY (WQD) on October 5, 2014. As the sun rises in each area of the world we want to remember that Quakers are worshiping through every time zone, celebrating our deep connections across cultures and Quaker traditions. We are united in love and can accompany each other on this special day that draws us together. As we worship, let us hold each other in prayer and thanksgiving, and let our hymns of praise resound across the world.

The theme Let Your Life Speak: Living the Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice, connects us to the work we did at the World Conference of Friends in 2012 in Kenya, taking the work forward in the context of our spiritual communities.

FOUR links:
The Kabarak Call as a video - voice and music - the words are below
World Quaker Day website
and resources page
Finding Quakers around the world map

The Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice was approved on 24 April 2012 at the Sixth World Conference Friends, held at Kabarak University near Nakuru, Kenya. It is the culmination of the FWCC World Consultation on Global Change which was held in 2010 and 2011. It is being circulated with the Conference Epistle.

"In past times God's Creation restored itself. Now humanity dominates, our growing population consuming more resources than nature can replace. We must change, we must become careful stewards of all life. Earthcare unites traditional Quaker testimonies: peace, equality, simplicity, love, integrity, and justice. Jesus said, "As you have done unto the least... you have done unto me". We are called to work for the peaceable Kingdom of God on the whole earth, in right sharing with all peoples. However few our numbers, we are called to be the salt that flavours and preserves, to be a light in the darkness of greed and destruction.

We have heard of the disappearing snows of Kilimanjaro and glaciers of Bolivia, from which come life-giving waters. We have heard appeals from peoples of the Arctic, Asia and Pacific. We have heard of forests cut down, seasons disrupted, wildlife dying, of land hunger in Africa, of new diseases, droughts, floods, fires, famine and desperate migrations -- this climatic chaos is now worsening. There are wars and rumors of war, job loss, inequality and violence. We fear our neighbors. We waste our children's heritage
All of these are driven by our dominant economic systems -- by greed not need, by worship of the market, by Mammon and Caesar.
Is this how Jesus showed us to live?

: We are called to see what love can do: to love our neighbor as ourselves, to aid the widow and orphan, to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, to appeal to consciences and bind the wounds.

: We are called to teach our children right relationship, to live in harmony with each other and all living beings in the earth, waters and sky of our Creator, who asks, "Where were your when I laid the foundations of the world?" (Job 38:4)

: We are called to do justice to all and walk humbly with our God, to cooperate lovingly with all who share our hopes for the future of the earth.

: We are called to be patterns and examples in a 21st century campaign for peace and ecojustice, as difficult and decisive as the 18th and 19th century drive to abolish slavery.

We dedicate ourselves to let the living waters flow through us -- where we live, regionally, and in wider world fellowship. We dedicate ourselves to building the peace that passeth all understanding, to the repair of the world, opening our lives to the Light to guide us in each small step.

Bwana asifiwe. A pu Dios Awqui. Gracias Jesús. Jubilé. Salaam aleikum. Migwetch. Tikkun olam. Alleluia!"

World Quaker day on
Twitter
Friends world committee for Consultation 
Website 
Facebook


World map of where most Quakers are & pie chart of religions - and none - in world!

The White feather Diaries

A project from Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain:


The white feather diaries is a social media storytelling project marking the centenary of World War I. It offers an insight into overlooked aspects of war: resistance to killing and the relief of suffering.


The website follows the lives of five young people who lived a century ago and opposed World War I. Their stories, published periodically over three years, take us from the outbreak of war to the introduction of conscription and groundbreaking legislation recognising conscientious objection. Through daily posts we share their moral dilemmas and their often dangerous decisions.


For those wanting to delve further into these fascinating stories, each blog entry includes rich background material about the content of the post or the diarist and their contemporaries.


The white feather diaries sheds light on the hidden stories of those whose bravery saved lives and changed British legislation, leading to a wider recognition of the legitimacy of the right to refuse to kill. It poses the question, "What would you do?" and encourages discussion about issues still relevant today. This fascinating project, drawing from original diaries, letters and other materials, will run from 2014 to 2016. To stay informed about new posts, please follow The white feather diaries on Twitter or Facebook.




A link to the diaries

European and Middle East Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation

Here is a link to Among Friends Summer 2014 [a PDF] from the European and Middle East Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation [EMES]


includes:
the annual meeting of the EMES
the Human Impacts of Climate Change
John Henry Barlow, Quaker Man of Peace


Testimony to him in Quaker Faith & Practice: 18.12

Testimony concerning John Henry Barlow (1855–1924):
Resolute but cautious, judicial and yet sympathetic, a man of quiet strength and almost stern gravity, and yet with a very tender spirit beneath apparent severity, a man slow to take the initiative, yet vigilant and constant in the discharge of responsibilities which were laid upon him – such was John Henry Barlow… His character and his faith qualified him to render invaluable service to the Society as clerk of [London] Yearly Meeting from 1913 to 1919. During these troubled and perplexing years when feelings were often strained and patience nigh to breaking point, when new elements of enthusiastic life were beginning to emerge in the Society, John Barlow showed himself to be a true leader, by promoting real harmony without compromise. ‘He had a great gift in knowing, during those difficult war years, just when the Meeting had got to a place where it might step quite swiftly into a region higher and clearer than itself realised it was yet ready for, and he helped it to take the step by offering minutes which, while they did not compromise, did not on the other hand rouse factious opposition nor lead to subsequent reaction by any over-stressing or labouring of words’.
Warwickshire North Monthly Meeting, 1924


EMES website

Y Ffordd Dawel? The Quiet Way?

What being a Quaker means to people in Wales today.
Beth mae bod yn Grynwr yn ei olygu i bobl yng Nghymru heddiw.


Here is a series of conversations by people living in Wales exploring their own experience of Quakerism and what it means to them.
Dyma gyfres o sgyrsiau gan bobl sy'n byw yng Nghymru, ac yn ymchwilio i'w profiad unigol o Grynwriaeth â'r hyn y mae'n ei olygu iddynt.

Poetry Evening Aberteifi/Cardigan

Cardigan Quaker meeting are having a poetry evening on Saturday 26th April starting at 7.30pm
The evening is entitled Commemorative War Poetry. The initial idea was to explore the poetry of the first world war but it has now broadened.
All are welcome and please do bring a poem in whatever language you wish - the topic is broad enough to include poems of peace.


Free refreshments.
All at Mwldan 4/ Mwldan Studio - across the stream from the main Theatr Mwldan building.

Introduction // Cyflwyniad

Croeso // Welcome

The Cardigan  Quaker meeting is a small meeting in south west Wales, part of South Wales Area meeting.

We meet every Sunday to start a Meeting for Worship at 11.00

We are usually based in the studio of Theatr Mwldan, Bath House Road,Cardigan SA43 1JY. This is across the Mwldan stream on the west side  from the main Theatr Mwldan complex.
The car park behind Theatr Mwldan is pay and display and long stay; if you turn left over the bridge instead of into car park you will find free parking for users of the buildings where the studio is situated. But you will have to walk back round to the "side" entrance as the main doors remain locked on Sundays. The map below is from google maps & doesn't show the new roads only as proposed.

If you don't drive contact us to see if anyone can give you a lift.

Here are some links to some relevant leaflets from quaker.org.uk
Your first time at a Quaker meeting
[please note for the next two links: read page 2 first...you'll understand when you get there!]
Quaker worship
Quakers today