FUM News

Prayer of Lament

On the one year anniversary of Hamas’ violent incursion into Israel, and Israel’s violent response against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, FUM General Secretary Kelly Kellum has been asked to participate in a service of lament sponsored by Churches for Middle East Peace. This state of ongoing war affects us all, but most especially our friends—students, teachers, and staff—at Ramallah Friends School, who have been living with uncertainty, an ever-increasing military presence, aerial bombardment, and escalating settler violence for the past year. In commemoration and sorrow, we want to share with the entire FUM community the prayer that Kelly will be offering at the ecumenical service of lament:

Friends and the U.S. Election

Editor’s note: During this election season, when our political life in the United States seems especially contentious, Friends United Meeting has invited a variety of Friends to share their thoughts on how to navigate as a Quaker through these divided times. Our sixth installment is by Michael Jay, of New Association of Friends. I’ve considered what it meant to be a Friend at the ballot box since my first election. My Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice had a testimonies section which included a number of testimonies that were understood to be political positions. Unfortunately for me, these positions did not match the names on my ballot.These testimonies are in an unsorted list, so for convenience I will put them in three categories: Public Morality, Life Issues, and Human Dignity. Again unfortunately, no candidate nor political party used Faith and Practice to build the planks of their platform.

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FUM Journal

Thirty Days of Prayer - Day Twenty Five

As One Who Seeks First The Kingdom Of God We need not beg to enter into the presence of God. Whether we recognize it or not, we are always and forever loved and watched over by the Divine Spirit. Instead of seeking and knocking to get into the presence of God, we have to knock on the door to get out of the prison of worldliness we have built for ourselves out of the things that we thought we desired but which do not satisfy us.

Thirty Days of Prayer - Day Twenty Four

As One Who Listens Like many older people, my Dad spent his later years wearing a hearing device to amplify the voices around him. I’m sure he had a legitimate degree of hearing loss, but our family was often amused and sometimes irked by how Dad could miss something that was said clearly in front of him, yet pick up on a conversation going on in another room. Mom’s diagnosis was that Dad was just “hard of listening.”I wonder if that is how God might view me! How many times has God spoken clearly to me and I’ve completely missed it?

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An Enduring Truth

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.