On a two and a half hour stroll
through the countryside
on Sunday (8/14/05), along
the way I gotinto some nettles,
we walked along the canal system that
runs right through the center of Bradford-on-Avon
(originally known as Broad ford on avon,
avon meaning "on the river" in Celtic.
Walking through fields, river boats dotting
the canals and sailboats on the river.
On the way back to the meeting house,
we stopped at
Mr. Salvat's Tearoom
and for the first time in my life I
ordered a fruit scone with butter,
clotted cream and strawberry
jam with my second cup of Earl Grey tea.
since arriving in Bradford-on-Avon.
That weekend was also the first time
that I have tried fairtrade chocolate,
and I think I'm addicted. It even comes
in a variety of flavors: orange & spice,
mik chocolate, dark, white and many others
I had some more at the World Gathering, and
then brought a few bars home with me.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Meeting for Worship
It's time for meeting for worship
again at the World Gathering of Young Friends
here in Lancaster, England. Across the landscape of Great Hall
I see a variety of colors, colors of their skin.
Many countries represented here
and six continents. Many languages, from
Spanish and French,
to Nepalese, Russian and Bahasa (the
language that Indonesians speak).
It's interesting watching how Quakers
on an international level
act and react to others around them. Despite ranging
views and beliefs on Quakerism,
they act in a peaceful manner,
solipsistically, and cyclical, rewriting history
once again, only to be told in thousands of years
to a much different group of individuals. Programmed
meeting is interesting, lots of
messages being relayed to the audience, spectators of the crowd.
Silence,
the sound of the absence of sound. Peacefully
awaiting the
word of God, prayer, knowing that there is a higher power that hears
everything and takes it into consideration. I wonder, does God use
Quaker process to conduct his business? Does he set
up a business meeting to discern which prayers to chose to grant to individuals.
Hush, go quietly.
again at the World Gathering of Young Friends
here in Lancaster, England. Across the landscape of Great Hall
I see a variety of colors, colors of their skin.
Many countries represented here
and six continents. Many languages, from
Spanish and French,
to Nepalese, Russian and Bahasa (the
language that Indonesians speak).
It's interesting watching how Quakers
on an international level
act and react to others around them. Despite ranging
views and beliefs on Quakerism,
they act in a peaceful manner,
solipsistically, and cyclical, rewriting history
once again, only to be told in thousands of years
to a much different group of individuals. Programmed
meeting is interesting, lots of
messages being relayed to the audience, spectators of the crowd.
Silence,
the sound of the absence of sound. Peacefully
awaiting the
word of God, prayer, knowing that there is a higher power that hears
everything and takes it into consideration. I wonder, does God use
Quaker process to conduct his business? Does he set
up a business meeting to discern which prayers to chose to grant to individuals.
Hush, go quietly.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
The religious and spiritual challenge
Many have challenged us young Quakers this week.
All four of the speakers (Deborah Saunders,
Ute Caspers, Oliver Kisaka Simayu, and Colin
Saxton) have urged us to go out into the world
and live the lives of activist Quakers and
travelling ministers. Benny (from Cuba YM)
and several others have challenged us to visit
and stay with Quakers from other yearly meetings
around the world to learn more about their practices
and beliefs and to help us become both closer to
each other as Quakers and closer to God. To have a
better understanding of each other we must interact
on a regular basis with international Friends from
every corner of the world. We must visit and attend
the monthly meetings, yearly meetings and evangelical
Friends churches to acheive this goal, to attain a
oneness and unification among us and through us. When we
all depart, we are urged to stay connected to each
other through these intervisitations and exchanges.
Twinning (having two yearly meetings connecting to
each other, similar to NEYM and Cuba) with a bridge
of love is nescessary to help us with this. This is God's
calling of us, to stay together, to communicate amongst
ourselves on a frequent basis, to go do work projects
with Quakers in other countries. To live with Quakers
in countries other than our home country. To never give up
on the hope that someday Quakers will have an understanding
of each other, regardless of geographic location, culture,
language, and economic status. God gives us this message,
and all we must do now is put it into action.
All four of the speakers (Deborah Saunders,
Ute Caspers, Oliver Kisaka Simayu, and Colin
Saxton) have urged us to go out into the world
and live the lives of activist Quakers and
travelling ministers. Benny (from Cuba YM)
and several others have challenged us to visit
and stay with Quakers from other yearly meetings
around the world to learn more about their practices
and beliefs and to help us become both closer to
each other as Quakers and closer to God. To have a
better understanding of each other we must interact
on a regular basis with international Friends from
every corner of the world. We must visit and attend
the monthly meetings, yearly meetings and evangelical
Friends churches to acheive this goal, to attain a
oneness and unification among us and through us. When we
all depart, we are urged to stay connected to each
other through these intervisitations and exchanges.
Twinning (having two yearly meetings connecting to
each other, similar to NEYM and Cuba) with a bridge
of love is nescessary to help us with this. This is God's
calling of us, to stay together, to communicate amongst
ourselves on a frequent basis, to go do work projects
with Quakers in other countries. To live with Quakers
in countries other than our home country. To never give up
on the hope that someday Quakers will have an understanding
of each other, regardless of geographic location, culture,
language, and economic status. God gives us this message,
and all we must do now is put it into action.
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