Last week, FUM Programme Officer Getry Agizah (standing, at right) visited schools in western Kenya to launch the Quaker peace curriculum in some schools and encourage existing peace clubs in others. “This exercise was well received by heads of schools, and most going through [the curriculum] felt it is indeed a needed item for schools and students,” Getry said. “Some schools are planning peace gardens where it will be a meditation site for both teachers, students, and workers who have difficult days. So far we have gone round to nine schools—seven secondary schools and two primary schools. Out of the seven secondary schools, four were Quaker schools.”
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Dear Friends,Our time in Belize has come to an end. And all I can say is . . . thank you. As I leave Belize, the church is growing from week to week under the leadership of Oscar and Miriam Mmbali; the school has just graduated the biggest class in several years, as our dear principal Frank Tench bids us farewell; and the center is partnering with many other organizations with help from our own Athina Major! The Belize Friends community is transitioning in many ways and though transitions are never completely smooth, I am leaving so impressed by the vision and energy these leaders bring to our community. What more could I ask for?
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The story reminds us that we can be the drivers of the bus, or passengers in the bus: drivers because we have leadership positions to help steer the congregations or meetings; passengers because we could be part of those being directed by the leadership...
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Emily Provance writes about how Quaker communities might begin to think about caring for parents and families, based on the second year of the Quaker parent mutual support groups co-sponsored by Friends United Meeting, New York Yearly Meeting, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Chief among her findings: Quaker parents feel profoundly isolated. "Some parents are literally alone...Other parents feel isolated despite not being literally alone. Parents in the group talked about the isolation of being the only Quaker in their geographic area or the only Quaker family in their meeting. They talked about the difficulty of developing deep friendships in modern society. They talked about their hunger for connections with parents in similar circumstances: other disabled parents, other single parents, other foster parents, other parents with shared custody arrangements. Facilitators heard it repeated again and again: 'I feel so alone.'"
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Throughout our history, the people known as Friends (or Quakers) keep rediscovering an essential and enduring truth: There is one who speaks to our most basic needs and most significant hopes—Christ Jesus the Lord. Both individually and communally, we are learning to know and follow the Voice that guides us in the way we should go. Together, we seek to understand and obey that truth which sets us free. As a people, we share in the experience of that powerful life which makes all things new. Maybe you are searching for an authentic and transforming faith and community to call home—if so, come in and join us as we seek to know and follow Christ.
Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved, and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.
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