Issue 05-07-2013
Featured story
Thought for the Week: The cooperative vision
A statue of Robert Owen, visionary mill-owner and father of cooperation, stands outside the Co-operative Bank in Manchester. His experiment at New Lanark, of providing housing for the workers and education for their children, had a huge impact. It inspired modern comprehensive education, the cooperative movement, trade unionism and even...
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A good death
…being sentenced to a form of torture… forced to live longer than they want, when they haven’t got the quality of life This was one reflection from a Friend recently in a discussion on assisted dying. The subject of death and dying is of growing importance to Friends,...
Live adventurously
When choices arise, do you take the way that offers the fullest opportunity for the use of your gifts in the service of God and the community? Advices & Queries 27 This has always been my favourite advice, possibly because I never was an adventurous person – far too cautious and...
Money is debt: a vicious circle
The Fox Report on borrowing highlights the tragic personal and societal problems caused by excessive borrowing. As Patrick Chalmers reminds us, ninety-seven per cent of the money in circulation was created by commercial banks lending it into existence in the form of credit.
Inspired by the past
In marking the centenary of the Northern Friends Peace Board we wanted to use the inspiration of the past to take us on into the future of peace-making. With these words Jenny Hartland welcomed the eighty-five Friends who had gathered for the day in York Friargate Meeting House, on 15...
Feeling the pinch
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has highlighted the severe impact that rising living costs are having on low income households. A recently published report reveals that state benefits provide for less than half of what the public considers an ‘adequate’ income.
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Fiftieth EAPPI group confirmed
The fiftieth group of ecumenical accompaniers to visit Palestine and Israel have been confirmed by Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW).
Cooperatives Fortnight
Events have been held across the country to celebrate Cooperatives Fortnight from 22 June to 6 July. Lectures, workshops, food and drink tasting, live music performances, film screenings and visits to local cooperatives were held to raise awareness.
Quaker tribute to Richmond sixteen
The peace witness of sixteen conscientious objectors who were imprisoned in Richmond Castle in 1916 was remembered on Sunday 30 June by British Quakers. A group of Friends visited the cells where the men were imprisoned and also held an open-air Meeting for Worship in the castle grounds.
Connecting with early Friends
Swarthmoor Hall is experimenting with a two hour Meeting for Worship. The sixteenth century Hall is welcoming local Friends and newcomers to join in the extended worship sessions monthly through the summer. The idea came from seeing how visitors feel more connected to early Quakers and their experience of...
Rajagopal steps back
Rajagopal PV, the inspirational leader of Ekta Parishad (United Forum) in India, has decided to step down from his role in the movement.
Prayer
My wife is the kindest person I know. As a little girl she would worry about and pray for all the people in the world for whom no one else was praying. What an onerous burden for tender shoulders! Yet it is understandable enough: the world is full of pain...
The peace pilgrimage
They had set off walking from Iona on 14 May and were due in Riding Mill at lunchtime on Tuesday 18 June. The parish hall was to be full at lunchtime and I was down to provide somewhere for an indefinite number of walkers to eat their lunch. It was all at...
Eye - 05 July 2013
The children’s tale Friends of all ages came together at Cambridge Jesus Lane Meeting on 9 June to tell an inspiring tale. Dressed in period costumes, they performed a play about the children of Reading Meeting in 1665; children who continued to hold Meeting for Worship after their parents had been...
Letters - 05 July 2013
Speaking truth to power In view of the articles by Mairead Maguire, which were an eye-opener to me (6 and 13 June), and the articles by Peter Emerson (7 June) and Jan Arriens (7 June), and the letters from David Bartlett (7 June) and John Lampen (14 June), I wonder if it isn’t time for...