Quaker Street

2008-11-17T12:50:00.001Z

Quaker Street: end of the road?

2008-10-08T21:05:00.002Z

Quaker Street was my first blog, started at the back end of August 2005. I wrote on it, off and on, for three years. It details the highs and lows of parts of my life over that period, in particular focusing on my Quaker life and experience.

For now, I'm working predominantly on other projects, including the day job, in which I work to help others publish writing and other work related to their Quaker experience.

Thanks for stopping by.

Peace and light,

Jez
8/10/8.

glimpse of Ramallah

2008-07-09T10:10:00.000Z

East Africa Yearly Meeting North 2007 epistle

2008-06-27T14:24:00.002Z

Our Friends in East Africa Yearly Meeting – North (Quakers) have different views about homosexuality to many Quakers in Britain Yearly Meeting

For many months, while the Anglican Church tackles these issues, the Quakers have been giving them quiet consideration.

One of the main points of contention for British Friends, was whether or not to publish the EAYM-N(Q) epistle. In the end they chose not to do so. It was a difficult decision and questions about the suitability for publication by Quakers in a Quaker book remains difficult not least because very few people have seen the epistle.

In this situation we need to take a long-term approach in mind with how we respond to our differences, even where they are hurtful and seem fundamental. If we are open with love when we approach someone saying, 'we think you are wrong', we need to be open with love to hear what they have to say back. We need to create avenues of support for Friends within their Yearly Meeting who suffer from epistles such as this, just as their epistle can be a support for Friends in our Meeting who are homophobic.

Anyway, the epistle:

To friends everywhere,

We greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This message comes from East Africa Yearly Meeting of friends North (Quakers) Conference held from 22nd to 26th August 2007 at Friends secondary school Sipala 5 km north of Webuye town, Western Kenya whose inhabitants are mixed farmers in a hot and wet climate.

Our 20th Annual conference attended by 585 registered delegates drawn from all parts of the Yearly Meeting sparked off at 3:55 pm nourished by the Clerk John Walukhu through dedicated Christian expectations in his opening remarks.

Being a meeting for worship for Business, our these, derived from Exodus 14:15, “Tell the Israelites to go ahead . . .” explored by Area Superintendent Pastor Japheth Pepela stimulated spiritual harvest among delegates. Along with the stated motivation were other teachings through topics like, Discipleship, teamwork, Church growth, Civic education on public funds, alternatives to Violence and Rural Service Programme – all led by integrated local facilitators.

Business as one of the components was covere through approval of Financial report and administrative formalities. Various dignitaries from many parts of Kenya joined us at this conference. Other friends from all over the World came to us through epistles meant to be of high morals to emulate. Thanks a lot to Meetings that adhere to morals of great value before God.

This yearly Meeting got absolutely disgusted with some FUM member yearly Meetings; (Canada, Baltimore, New England, North Pacific and New York) if not some monthly Meetings within the yearly Meetings, that write to us pages and pages of Epistles containing no spiritual information to pass on to our members BUT ONLY their immoral sexual mannerisms of Gay and Lesbianism.

One example is, an epistle from Canada Yearly Meeting that quotes a Friend from Uganda yearly Meeting to have read Romans 1:8-32 during FUM General Board Meeting held in Feb. 2007 as having offended them. Why should they be offended?

That is what the Bible says. That behaviour is unnatural; unheard of even in wild life and blasfamous [sic].

“I will build my church . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew 16:18

In the 19th century we respected and honoured whites (Europeans / Americans) for opening up the word of God and hence light to Africa. The same whites in the 21st century are now deviating us from the very word of God into darkness toward hell.

The second last paragraph in the same epistle from Canada Yearly Meeting announces a decision to only send funds to FUM for 2008 on designated and special projects rather than the general fund. Are they bargaining for Evil?

Even with this affluential influence they want to impose on God fearing people, as indicated in the proceeding paragraph, let them be guided that further dialogue about Biblical interpretation is NOT warranted on EVIL matters as such.

I earnestly ask God fearing yearly meetings to repeatedly preach the Gospel to our lost friends.

God bless and lead us the divine way.

Yours at struggle,
James I. Mugalaval
General Secretary
E.A.Y.M.F. North Y.M

This Yearly Meeting got absolutely disgusted...

2008-06-24T16:36:00.002Z

Eventually they made it onto the internet, with Chuck Fager posting the East Africa Yearly Meeting (North) epistles on his blog:

These are the epistles that made a committee within Britain Yearly Meeting decide that not all epistles received should be printed in BYM's own documents. There was a danger, many felt, that publishing them could open Friends up to prosecution under discrimination law.

the edge of brockley

2008-06-19T22:58:00.001Z

the edge of brockley
Originally uploaded by jez s

This is the border of Brockley and rest of the world. I have no idea what happens on the other side of the bridge, except to say that it probably isn't as cool as what happens in Brockley.

Centre of the world, it is.

Hope

2008-06-19T08:17:00.000Z

Ideas are wonderful things

2008-06-13T15:53:00.003Z

'Ideas are wonderful things'. So says Clarion Events on their 'launching a new idea' web page. On that page, Kent R Allen, the managing director of Clarion Events encourages people to get in touch with their ideas.

Here's my idea: don't host arms fairs.

Clarion Events have bought DSEi (Defence Systems and Equipment International), an arms fair, that Reed Elsevier sold after coming under moral pressure to disassociate themselves from the bloodthirsty event.

The next DSEi event is on 8-11 September 2009. It is one of the world's biggest arms fairs and is a "tri-service defence exhibition", which means that it is an opportunity for companies to sell land, sea and air military equipment.

Clarion Events have also bought ITEC and LAAD (Latin America Aero and Defence, next taking place on 14-17 April 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) from Reed Elsevier, two other arms fairs that are at the forefront of the marketing of weapons and other products that exacerbate poverty and destruction around the world.

Commenting on the purchases by Clarion Events, Simon Kimble, the chief executive of Clarion Events, said: 'The events we have acquired in the defence and security sector are a valuable and profitable addition to our portfolio and fit perfectly with our strategy for international expansion'.

Among the reasons given for the purchase on the Clarion Events website are that defence and security is one of the largest industry sectors in the world and that 'the sector is also diversifying and adapting to meet the changing needs of the world. Security can be threatened by humanitarian disasters resulting in mass displacement of people or food and water shortages, terrorism or pandemic which can cause devastation in a similar manner to military engagement.'

In a nutshell then, we need to organise fairs to sell weapons because people have already bought and sold weapons and we need some more. Because of the risk of humanitarian disasters, we need to buy and sell more weapons.

That's alright then.

Except that it isn't. We're not going to move towards a more peaceful world if we continue to encourage other states to buy lots of weapons and we continue to encourage companies in our countries to make them. Sure, there is a market and a need for the infrastructure and logistics to deal with humanitarian disasters, but using that as a secondary argument for weaponry is not the way forward.

Clarion Events have an environment policy, which states: ' Clarion is committed to integrating environmental best practice into all its business activities. We accept our environmental responsibilities and recognise our obligation to reduce the impact of business activities on the environment. We will achieve this through a policy of continual improvement in environmental performance.'

The link between war and the devestation of the environment has long been recognised. Take this 1918 description from a German military officer, quoted on the Peace Pledge Union web page, 'War and the Environment':

‘dumb, black stumps of shattered trees which still stick up where there used to be villages. Flayed by splinters of bursting shells, they stand like corpses upright. Not a blade of grass anywhere. Just miles of flat, empty, broken and tumbled stone.’

If Clarion Events really believed in its environment policy, it would not have bought the arms fairs.

Campaign Against Arms Trade are encouraging people to contact Simon Kimble, the chief executive of Clarion Events, to express their displeasure with the company's new purchase.

If you want Clarion Events' help to launch your idea, you can contact Kent R Allen, the managing director. On the launch page, they say: 'We like new ideas!' It may be about time that they take on board a new idea about how disgusting their new arms fairs are.

late fruits

2008-06-11T08:35:00.001Z

late fruits
Originally uploaded by jez s

Our vegbox company, UK5, hasn't delivered this week. Which is odd, because usually they deliver on a Monday or a Tuesday. According to their website, they deliver in our area on a Monday or a Wednesday so I waited for the delivery today. Alas, it didn't come.

This is the second time UK5 have failed to deliver. The week after the first time, delivery resumed with a note from the company stating that the delivery person had 'smacked straight into some scaffolding poles' in a dark alley way while trying to complete a delivery.

I'm not hopeful with this company any more. They claim to have over 15,000 customers, according to their website. But on their website you can't specify your delivery yet for this week and they're not taking calls - at least their mail box is full and they're not answering the phone.

Hopefully the vegbox will arrive soon and they might start answering emails and all will be alright with the world again.

laying waste

2008-06-11T08:00:00.002Z

brockley
Originally uploaded by jez s

For the past couple of days I've been observing scaffolders putting up scaffolding in my street.

Their skills, as well as putting up scaffolding, include dropping litter in the street and scaring people.

One of the scaffolders has a little trick: as someone walks beneath him, he yells 'oh fuck' and bangs a couple of times on a piece of scaffolding. The person underneath obviously fears for their safety and when they look up and see this scaffolder, they might give him a piece of their mind. The scaffolder's reaction is along the lines of telling the passerby to 'fuck off'.

On the litter front, there is a public bin about ten yards from where they are working, so I'm presuming that when they throw rubbish into the street, they're actually aiming at the bin.

They look like they're great scaffolders, but not so strong on on the friendly community work.

2008-06-09T11:38:00.000Z

Let your life speak

2008-06-09T10:59:00.002Z

Green businesswoman Betsy Blake has a simple message for us: Let your life speak.

See her being interviewed on this US news piece (get beyond the MaccyD ad that comes first...)

Abdul Samad Rohani

2008-06-08T21:49:00.001Z

was my union.
Originally uploaded by jez s

Abdul Samad Rohani, a BBC journalist in Afghanistan has been found dead, a couple of days after he was abducted.

I do not face hardships in working for my journal, but I pray for the safety of those who do work in difficult situations. And I feel sad on hearing of the death of Abdul Samad Rohani.

market leader

2008-06-05T21:09:00.003Z

Northern Uganda, peace process and the International Criminal Court appears in the Friend, 28 March 2008.

Northern Uganda, the peace process and the International Criminal Court appears in Friends Journal, May 2008.

The difference? A single 'the' in the title... same author, same content... One journal leads, the other follows. :o)

and the good evening news is...

2008-06-04T21:27:00.003Z

Evening News
Originally uploaded by jez s

Got an email tonight:

'Can everyone please note the following changes to the programme - Tonight's "Brockley Max Film Night" has been cancelled, also unfortunately so has the "Short Play" event at the Jam Circus due to performer issues.

It's not all bad however - There is still the "Channelling Self Expression through Yoga" workshop'

Phew!

Will you come and follow me?

2008-05-28T22:31:00.001Z

Will you come and follow me?
Originally uploaded by jez s

So we had Meeting for Worship, our first since Britain Yearly Meeting. I read out the epistle, which is here:

Epistle from Britain Yearly Meeting
held at Friends House, London, 23-26 May 2008

To all Friends everywhere:

Greetings, dear Friends, from Britain Yearly Meeting, where up to 800 Quakers, diverse in many ways, gathered at Friends House London. Of these over a hundred children and young people enriched our community. Friends House came alive as a place of meeting and greeting, renewing existing friendships and making new ones. As we opened our hearts one to another in the truth of God, we experienced the personal warmth of friendship and passed around infectious smiles that the children gave us. It was good to laugh, to sing, and to join in stretching exercises, yet there have also been times of struggle.

A major theme running through the weekend was that of deepening our spiritual life and discernment as the basis of our action in the world. We have our individual understandings of the source of our Inward Light, but acceptance of our diversity is at the heart of our unity as Quakers. Our spiritual practice enables us to share an experience of the numinous whatever language we may use. Our calling is to foster the divine in all we meet, to say ‘yes’ in a world that frequently says ‘no’.

Our community has considered what it can mean to be ‘the seeds of change’. We recognise a transforming spiritual power in our worship, whether it acts like dynamite or like the force that enables the seed to push slowly, patiently, sometimes overcoming enormous resistance, towards light and growth. When we plant seeds, we know they need nourishment and protection. But seeds also need to break open before they can grow.

This year we are beginning to reap the benefits of recent changes in our structures. Our trustee body has expressed increasing confidence in its role, while members of Meeting for Sufferings are conscious of a growing sense of community. We have faced up to some ambivalence towards the concept of power, so often associated with domination, but have been led to a Quaker vision of power as the energy the spirit gives us to bring about transformation. We affirm our trustees in their exercise of the responsibility which we have freely given them, knowing they are using this power with integrity, clarity and accountability. There is no ‘them’ and ‘us.’

All our Meetings have been able to take part in creating a Long Term Framework to prioritise the Yearly Meeting’s work. New ways of working from the grassroots are exciting and we welcome the shift to networks of local groups supported by the centre. In order to be an effective prophetic community we all need one another. Perfection is not required of us; but that we walk cheerfully in the right direction, seeking to live sustainably on our earth.

We leave, seeking to practise the discernment that allows the Inward Light to transform us. May we live in God’s will as if it were our own. We send you this epistle with our love and hold you in our prayers as we trust you are holding us in yours.

Signed in and on behalf of Britain Yearly Meeting
Martin Ward, Clerk

there was another ministry which finished with the song, read as a poem, which is photographed at the top of this post.

We also upheld two people in the interim ministry.

Later we held a sharing session in which some of us shared our impressions of Yearly Meeting and fed ideas into how we make a better community.

We do not need bold statements about what Quakers are doing or should do, but we need to continue with action.

One Friend asked, how do we uphold people acting under concern, especially if it is not direct Quaker work? How do we know who is doing that?

A smaller group of us continued our discussion in a cafe afterwards. We discussed the trouble with the word God, not the concept or our understanding, but hostility with language. Is all that Quakers really have unity on silence? We thought not and were encouraged to go between the lines.

It was a truly uplifting series of worship and fellowship, which left me not tired, but encouraged.

Highlights from Britain Yearly Meeting

2008-05-26T22:02:00.001Z

What Quakers eat
Originally uploaded by jez s

Britain Yearly Meeting is the name of the affiliated Local and Area Quaker Meetings from around Britain.

It is also the name of the annual gathering of Quakers in Britain.

My highlights for this year have been:

1. Meeting so many amazing and wonderful people who are doing such varied and important work. Whether they be doing big things or small things, family things, policy work, practical action, journalism, singing, making music or anything else, they are my inspiration. That is each and every one of you who came to Yearly Meeting. We make it our Yearly Meeting together, even though its hard sometimes and I'm knackered now and have to go back into the office tomorrow and get the Friend ready for publication.

2. Worshipping with a small group in a large room. On Monday lunchtime I worshipped in a circle of about 8 people for half an hour. We were centred together, concentrating on the Light in a room that could hold about 1,000 people. In the background noise was the chatter of hundreds of Friends. Later, the singing group's song shone through.

3. The Long-term Framework in a single sentence. The Long-term Framework is an entity that has been subject to thousands of hours of effort by Quakers all around Britain and has come up with some priorities for how the centrally managed work of Friends in Britain can support Friends in their Local Meetings. In a pub on Sunday night one Friend came up with a single sentence for the L-tF: "Those responsible for the centrally-managed work could turn to Friends and say 'we will support you in your Local Meetings'". Bob's your uncle and we would have avoided all the pain.

4. Making the acquaintance of someone called Wildwood. I'm a Smith, so meeting someone (or more than one) who has the name Wildwood made my day.

5. Light Meal. The Light Meal was eaten by an attender before the Meeting for Worship at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park. So not at BYM, but still very much during.

6. Twitter. www.twitter.com/quakers I tailed off a little by Monday, but I enjoyed twittering, meeting fox_c and finding another new way to make the BYM experience special.

7. The eastern gallery. Upstairs in the east block is still where it is at. The benches are hard, not all of them have much leg room, but all the people are friendly and the worship in session is good.

8. The clerk slowing the ministry. I know that time is short and God moves many people to minister, but the value in the message is stronger for me when there is space between ministries. I appreciated and upheld the clerk as he put space between ministry. It is a tough job clerking six hundred people.

9. Glamour at Yearly Meeting. No, really. I'm not sure that I was glamorous when I wore my suit today, but some Friends had a crack at it on Sunday and it was fun.

10. The Swarthmore Lecture. I didn't listen to the lecture itself, but the book is a legacy that we can use as an inspiration to make better use of our individual and collective spiritual and religious resources.

the legacy

2008-05-26T21:24:00.001Z

you're a star
Originally uploaded by jez s

The Transitional Group of 18-25 year olds had asked to give a minute in the last session of Yearly Meeting and their request was granted.

As I recall, they said that they wanted to know what Quaker are going to be remembered for in the early twenty-first century, with the inference being that without a call to arms (or whatever the Quaker equivalent is) we wouldn't be remembered for anything.

I addressed this in my previous post about the Swarthmore lecture by Christine Davis, Minding the Future, so I won't go into much detail here. Except that, if the 19-25 year olds can't be bothered to go and find out what all the amazing things are that Quakers around Britain are doing today, then that probably reflects worse on them than it does on everyone else who is younger or older than them.

I wonder, what will the Transitional Group Quakers be remembered for?

And, for that matter, why are we creating a lasting legacy to be remembered? Is our community where we are today or where we were at some undefined time in the past?

the end

2008-05-25T22:45:00.001Z

still life: corner
Originally uploaded by jez s

I keep logging onto the BBC sport website, looking to see if there is any news about Colchester United. They're still registered on the site in the Championship section, but now that the play-offs are over its only a matter of time until I have to log onto the League One section and then the adventure really will be over.

Minding the future

2008-05-24T23:31:00.010Z

The latest in a long line of a standing fixture in the British Quaker tradition, Minding the Future, the 2008 Swarthmore Lecture, by Christine A M Davis, is about how we manage our resources, or, stewardship.

Minding the Future is an opportunity for Friends to review individually and collectively their history, tradition and spiritual inheritance. It is also an opportunity and a spur for us to continue our work, renew our faith and share our spiritual gifts.

Christine A M Davis is a Scottish Quaker, based in Dunblane and by all accounts she is a career committee member. This is not a caricature, for she freely admits that her dedication to committees has meant that she has not had the experiences that you come across in adventure books. But her life-long work in committees is not as a jobsworth and a bureaucrat, but someone who sees value in joining together with small groups of people to get things done and create worth from our resources.

With this in mind and some sharing of her background through her formative years and early Quaker life (she became a member of the Quakers aged 20, some forty or so years ago) she gets to her task.

One of the beautiful elements of Christine's book is her interspersing of Scottish poetry at useful points in the book. In the lecture they were read by another person, with one Friend telling me that this method of delivery broke up the lecture and helped her to concentrate. (Incidentally two young Friends told me that they fell asleep during the lecture, while an older Friend told me that this was the first lecture in ten years that she hadn't fallen asleep in. All three found great value in the lecture.)

The first poem, Direadh, by Hugh MacDiarmid, lists the names of many wildflowers/heathers. One Friend told me that with his knowledge of plant life the reading of these names immediately had him hooked on the lecture.

Christine uses six excerpts from work by William Soutar, beginning in her introduction with Aince upon a day:

Aince upon a day my mither said to me:
Dinna cleip and dinna rype
And dinna tell a lee.

Christine shares with us many reflections from her committee work. Most notably is her ecumenical work in Dunblane, particularly in the immediate aftermath and longer-term after the Dunblane massacre when youth worker Thomas Hamilton killed 16 school children and a teacher in a school in the town in 1996 (Thomas then committed suicide). Christine relates that she realised the import of the event to the outside world when Kate Adie of the BBC turned up. Christine associated Kate with reporting from world crises, now she realised how people from outside this town of 8,000 people were viewing them.

Christine had worked with Thomas and was part of a group that at the time were working to have further checks made about him. She shares that she found it hard to reconcile the fact that they had not prevented the massacre, tempered with realising that they could not have known or predicted what he would do. The questions have clearly lingered with Christine and informed her thinking.

Incidentally, as I write about Christine it is easy for me to use her first name. With the murderer, Thomas, it seems strange using his first name and not just his last name, Hamilton. Does that humanise him rightly or wrongly? I don't know, it just feels odd.

A few Friends have told me that they had fully expected this lecture to be at least in part about buildings. They had presumed that Christine would encourage us to look after our Meeting houses. She didn't and those Friends said that they were relieved.

Instead, Christine concentrates very much on the spiritual and religious elements of our heritage. For example, she draws our attention to the testimonies of peace, simplicity and equality. She relates examples of people working in isolation for one, then suggests that as we pursue human justice we must surely be working with others. Peace is one testimony that Quakers are famous for working on and with, she cautions Friends in favour of an integrated approach.

More so, however, she encourages us to approach our work and challenges with tenderness. She draws parallels with John Woolman in this example and others.

At the same time as encouraging us to be like Woolman, she counsels against us resting on our laurels. As she researched, prepared and wrote this lecture Christine must have been influenced by the 200th anniversary celebrations of Britain abolishing its slave trade. During 2007 Quakers were able to gain a reasonable amount of publicity for themselves and their work on the back of this celebration and Christine is urging us to go beyond this. Now, she says, we must ask ourselves what we will be remembered for in the future.

As an aside, it is worth noting that Quakers continue to be at the forefront of the fight against slavery in Britain. Two Quakers are senior in Anti-Slavery International and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in our country, two organisations working in different ways to combat slavery and labour issues.

I think that Quakers are doing much now that they might be remembered for in the future, so there should not be too much cause for concern. Of course, the call to each individual to think about their own lives is important, but we should not use this as an occasion to forget some great work.

Circles UK has just been launched as an independent charity after several years hard work by Quakers. As they state on their homepage, Circles UK is an 'innovative and successful community response to reducing sex offending, working in close partnership with criminal justice agencies'.

I have previously worked at the Quakers United Nations Office in Geneva and have witnessed firsthand some intricate and effective high-level work on human rights and refugee issues.

Elsewhere, Living Witness is working with individuals and local groups to develop new ways of living in response to climate change concerns.

These are just three examples of Quakers in action today. Perhaps you will have your own examples of Light shining brightly.

During her lecture, Christine urges us not to get bogged down in tussles over words. She raises the concern that some Friends are so worried about offending people that they end up not communicating well at all. She hopes that we can get beyond this situation and listen to each other with open hearts and open minds.

There is a whole chapter in the book on money and wealth and how we deal with it. Christine urges Meetings (and by Meetings, she means the individuals in the Meeting) to think carefully about this resource, how they use it within the Meeting and how they are open to help each other when personal problems arise.

Related to wealth in a way, but not directly concerned, Christine points out that there are many more one Quaker in the family situations today than there were in previous centuries. The explicit implication is that those of us who are in this situation can give less time to the Quaker Meeting and have other concerns and major interests to balance. For example, my partner is not Quaker, so, if there is a choice between a Quaker activity and a non-Quaker activity I may well choose the latter because I might otherwise be excluding my partner and the time we get to spend together is limited.

My partner, too, is a steward of limited resources. As I write L is away at a Woodcraft Folk camp. She is co-leader of a local group, providing activities and opportunities for learning and development for local kids. Her camp is an opportunity for city kids to get out into the countryside for an action-packed weekend where they can develop their own small communities. This is a choice that L has made, to put some of her time, energy and effort into this organisation.
So with me in the Quakers and her in the Woodies, these are some of the life choices that we make together as a couple. Our own little community of two, but also we are parts of other communities and together we weave together the rich threads of our lives.

At the end of her lecture Christine draws on a basic psychotherapy exercise, asking Friends:

'what is the little thing that you can do? Are you doing it? Is your stewardship faithful?

Are you living adventurously? Are you minding the future?'

She signs off with Benediction by William Soutar, which begins:

'When words are done we speak with silences'.

And in the final verse finishes:

'Nothing is ours; Yet silences begin to open doors by which life enters in.'

Although it isn't listed in their list of available Swarthmore lectures yet, Minding the Future is available, by the way, from the Britain Yearly Meeting bookshop, priced £6.

Charlie Ide

2008-05-23T19:12:00.001Z

bees against racism
Originally uploaded by jez s

19 January 2007 I went to see Brentford v Leyton Orient. The game finished 2-2. One of the few players who shone through a not-great game was Charlie Ide.

I've just seen that he has transferred from Brentford to Grays. Without wishing to knock Grays, the last time I saw them they were thumped 5-1 at home to York City and, well, it looks like this player's career must be on the slide.

Britain Yearly Meeting 2008

2008-05-22T16:06:00.003Z

thank you
Originally uploaded by jez s

You can follow the Friend journal at Britain Yearly Meeting, 23-26 May 2008 on twitter.

www.twitter.com/quakers

or follow on the Friend website www.thefriend.org

Also my photographs are on my flickr site.

I'm tagging photographs and blog posts with last year's tag: quaker.britainym

If you do the same, we should at some point be able to collate our efforts.

reach out!

2008-05-19T21:23:00.001Z

Conscientious objector day
Originally uploaded by jez s

On Saturday I went to Nunhead cemetery open day. The main body was good but I felt like I was out on a limb some of the time.

There were lots of stalls, with many fascinating groups and organisations. I rejoined the Friends of the Cemetery and joined the Friends of the Livesey Museum of Childhood. The woman from the Livesey Friends was really enthusiastic and knew her stuff. And what she didn't know offhand, she knew where the information was.

The guy from the humanists was really nice too. I didn't say that I was a Quaker, I just let him tell me some things about the humanists. He told me about some funerals that they had conducted in this cemetery too.

The women from the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society, the Southwark Heritage Association, the badger group (East Surrey?) and Practical Action didn't win me over.

When I asked the Archaeology woman why we should preserve these old buildings, she retorted 'why not?' She didn't persuade me with that argument.

The Heritage woman seemed more keen on putting me down for not knowing much about Southwark, than in helping me learn. She told me I should go to the Clink museum, but only because I would be scared, she said.

The woman from Practical Action asked if I knew what PA was. Yes, I said, I saw the stall last year. She fell silent then, so I can only presume that PA have done nothing in the past year. I can't actually remember what they do, but I saw the stall last year.

I asked the people on the badger stall what was bad about snares (they had a petition against them). The woman there asked me to tell her what was good about them. I didn't know, but at that stage I also didn't know what was bad about them either. She remarked to her colleague that I was probably a teacher.

No, I'm a journalist. Which is why I ran into trouble with the Southwark Community wardens. I took photographs of most of the stalls, predominantly for the Friends of the cemetery. Before I took each pic, I asked the stallholder if it was okay. All said yes. Except the wardens. When I asked to take a photograph, one warden asked if I am a journalist. I said yes, but a relgious one. He told me that I was not allowed to take a photograph in case I used it for political purposes. Orders from above, he said. Not God, but above the wardens.

There were three of them, standing behind a table. The table had nothing on it, except for a plastic bag, which apparently contained their wares, but they didn't put them out because it was raining.

One of the wardens said that I could take their photograph only if they were doing something which showed interaction with the public, like talking to them, but no pics were allowed of them standing behind the table doing nothing. By this time all three had moved from behind the table.

Liz Taylor, the cemetery warden came by at this point, at which I suggested that I could now take a photograph. Two wardens stepped back and I got a wonderful photograph of a Southwark Community warden talking to Liz.

All of this made me reallise that when we Quakers do our own outreach, we really have to be prepared, not just to do 'something', but to engage with anyone, answer any questions and be in tiptop condition.

I certainly won't be joining the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society any time soon, nor will I be singing the praises of the Southwark Community wardens (though I'm sure that they must be doing a great job, right?).

But the man from the Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries was very friendly and had some great photographs of insects which he was happy to explain, so I'll be looking out for him again. And I bought a book about Herne Hill because the man from that stall was really enthusiastic and showed me several of the books about Herne Hill without prompting and had a cheery wave for me when I passed his stall later.

chocolate muffins

2008-05-16T18:07:00.001Z

chocolate pudding
Originally uploaded by jez s

Note to self: eating chocolate muffins at one's desk is never a good idea, no matter how simple you think it will be before you attempt to eat it.

Conscientious objector day

2008-05-15T22:15:00.001Z

Conscientious objector day
Originally uploaded by jez s

To mark the international day for conscientious objectors to military service, a number of flowers were laid a stone in Tavistock Square, London. Each flower had a tag attached with the name of a conscientious objector and the country in which they objected.

Seventy people were present, including representatives from Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Amnesty International, conscience the peace tax campaign, Peace Pledge Union and CND.

Police test

2008-05-15T09:39:00.001Z

Police outside Friends House
Originally uploaded by jez s

The Metropolitan Police have long been rumoured to be at the front of testing visionary new methods of policing.

In this instance, the driver of the Ford Transit van was testing the drive while positioned with your head out of the window.

As at the end of 2007 the test results were inconclusive.

Byzantium

2008-05-14T17:14:00.001Z

Tay bridges
Originally uploaded by jez s

more flesh on your pole

2008-05-08T21:46:00.001Z

poles
Originally uploaded by jez s

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is sixty years old in December. Boris Johnson, London's new mayor, has yet to confirm that he will grant the declaration an honorary freedom pass.

Not many sales at the book shop

2008-05-08T21:42:00.001Z

Not many sales at the book shop
Originally uploaded by jez s

Another tale from work. A PR company gets in touch, to publicise a book that I will not give the air of publicity.

That book, published in August last year, currently languishes at 3million+ in the Amazon book charts.

But the publisher's marketing ploy is supposedly cunning, with the author writing a personal note to us not to buy his book! (We should get the first chapters free on CD first, it seems, so as not to waste our time!) No wonder the sales aren't.

confidential information

2008-05-07T10:25:00.001Z

in the name of the law
Originally uploaded by jez s

We received a press release at work today from the Law Society. Headlined 'Do a Macca not a Mucca, advises Law Society'.

But, I can't tell you any more about it because at the end of the press officer's email was the following warning:

'This email is confidential.'

so right

2008-05-01T21:04:00.001Z

we buried dead people

2008-04-23T15:29:00.001Z

Jordans
Originally uploaded by jez s

Quakers

Quakers in Britain have been getting a bad press this week after some 1700s Quakers buried their dead in their own burial ground.

No, really.

The situation reached national attention when the Daily Mail highlighted the story of Catherine McGuigan, a woman in Potters Bar who is spending £150,000 extending her house to include a home cinema and home gym.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=560919&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true#StartComments

Not much in there, but the builders were doing some digging in the garden and they found a bone. According to the article, at first they thought that they had found an old pipe. Pipe, bone, bone pipe, they all look the same don't they?

Anyway, the police were called, the bodies were examined and found to be over 100 years old.

Not much of a story there, but there are claims that there could be up to 40 bodies in the burial ground.

And Catherine is quoted in the Daily Mail saying: 'And the Quakers have also advised I must cremate them.'

Here lies the rub of the story, for the Daily Mail multiplied 40 by the £800 quote the woman apparently got for getting a body cremated and come up with a sum of £32,000 that must be paid to dispose of the bodies.

In the Daily Mail article, Catherine adds: "I am staggered that the local council wrote to me saying whilst I did not need a licence to exhume the bodies - because it is not a registered burial site - they still expected me to "show respect" for the dead'. Quite.

In short, this is the story of a woman who bought a house on an old burial ground and then was surprised that there were bodies, in coffins, buried in there.

The Daily Mail readers are pretty livid about the whole thing and several are suggesting that the Quakers should foot the bill!

In response, a letter to the Daily Mail has been published on the Quaker website, from Michael Hutchinson, assistant recording clerk to Britain Yearly Meeting, which states:

'The story needs correcting: Catherine McGuigan is said to have been advised by Quakers that the skeletons must be cremated. Both burial and cremation are acceptable to Quakers and there is no specific advice on the disposal of bodies. Quakers hold no specific value on bodies, apart from respectful disposal, so any appropriate method is possible.

Quaker archives record that a meeting house was built in South Mimms in 1697 and in 1820 both meeting house and burial ground were sold for £120.

We understand responsibility for the care of the skeletons rests with the landowner. And our advice would be to consult the Coroners’ Unit at the Ministry of Justice. The county archaeologist would be likely to be interested for research. We would advise that careful time be spent in contacting all who could help resolve the situation.

It is not unusual for Quaker burial sites to be discovered. There is no national record of burial sites. In the 1600s Quakers were persecuted for their beliefs and were not allowed to be buried in consecrated church grounds. Instead burials often took place in the countryside.'
http://www.quaker.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=91104&int1stParentNodeID=89723&int2ndParentNodeID=89777&int3rdParentNodeID=89731&int4thParentNodeID=91104

The letter appears necessary as none of the media concerned have actually bothered to contact Quakers to find out about their position.

Quakers have a long history of using their own burial grounds. The one in the photograph accompanying this post was take at Jordans. It is a beautiful and pleasant spot.

Meanwhile, the town crier in Dorchester has been trying to find out who now owns a Quaker burial ground, as some worthy local folks want to do it up and create a restful place for people to sit.
http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.2157883.0.new_call_to_spruce_up_quaker_burial_ground.php

when you're late for a press conference...

2008-04-18T11:50:00.001Z

when you're late for a press conference...
Originally uploaded by jez s

you stand at the back.

Look for Loss

2008-04-08T18:47:00.001Z

Look for Jesus
Originally uploaded by jez s

This evening, walking down Oxford Street (where else but the consumer centre) I had an enormous sense of loss. I had just been trying on a t-shirt in a shop and had bought it and had come out. Now, here I was in the cold evening realising that my scarf (my beloved scarf) had disappeared.

I could remember how, just a few minutes ago, I had been nestling my chin on it as I walked along and how I was getting hot and regretting wearing my scarf out. I should have left it in the office.

Now, it was gone. I even realised the moment that it had gone, when I did not put it back on when I put my own clothes back on in the shop.

I went back to the store, but no, the cubicle was being used. The retail assistant checked in the cubicle for me, interrupting some poor chap, who was trying on a delightful mix of items. But no scarf.

I traced my way back through the shops that I had meandered in and out of, but still no luck. I felt like all the bad karma that I had given out this afternoon had all been thrown back it me. Perhaps when I gave it out, it was boomerang karma and here it was, all there.

Dejected, I returned to my office. On the way, a fella tried to sell me last week's Big Issue. I declined so he begged for change. I declined again, wondering if I was encouraging worse things to follow. But I know that if I buy the BI off this guy who has no badge (ie not a real vendor) then I'm encouraging him and making the job harder for the regular sellers, or something.

Finally, back into the building, into the office, onto my chair and there under my desk is my scarf. What mysterious forces removed it from my neck and returned it to my desk? Or did I not take it out with me as I went? Surely this is impossible.

I wonder about a lesson in how much I value my material possessions. What is really most important to me? I have been considering my books of late – going through old diaries and seeing what my goals and aspirations have been. Never in my aims have I been trying to collect a large pile of books that I have read. But that is what I have and I am struggling to get rid of.

It is so easy to store up material possessions.

The other night at Quaker Quest, a woman told me that she had found in her first Quaker Meeting for Worship that she did not think that she had experienced the divine. Her experience was just like being on the bus she said.

At the time I did not have the right words, or at least that is how it felt then. Later, I realised that she may already be experiencing the divine and so why should it be that this Quaker worshipping experience is any different to anything else that she does. I am not sure that that is the right answer for her though. Waiting on God does not always have instant results.

And that is whether we are waiting on God, the Light, the divine or on finding out whether we have lost our scarf.

London not working

2008-04-04T06:11:00.001Z

southwark
Originally uploaded by jez s

Well, we were meant to be in Geneva this weekend, but we missed our flights.

We were due to fly from London City Airport, so L took the London Underground from London Bridge. Unfortunately, her train stopped almost exactly half way between Canada Water and Canary Wharf stations and she was stuck there for so long that we missed our flight.

It was, L said, quite strange. The lights went off when the train stopped and the only light they had was from the emergency lights in the tunnel.

Every couple of minutes, at first, the driver gave updates, to say that he knew nothing more. He then left the cab to use a phone in the tunnel. He came back, reporting that there was a communication problem and he couldn't give any more information.

A little while later he said that he was going to walk to the station and see if he could find out what was going on for them. He didn't come back.

Considering that it is now 2 years and 9 months since the terrorist attacks on the London transport network, I was quite surprised to learn that there appeared to be no procedure for the staff to deal with the problem of there being a train stuck in a tunnel. Or, if there is a procedure, nothing that actually tells anyone what is going on.

When, finally, they did get out, it was when a man with hi-viz jacket walked the length of the train on the outside and word spread up the train that everyone was to follow him, so they got out and walked the 1050 metres up the tunnel to Canada Water.

L says that it is hot on the train when it stops in a tunnel and she wished that she had some water with her.

In this instance there was apparently a power failure at the Jubilee line control centre.

When L and her fellow passengers got out at Canada Water, she saw some other commuters ask a man having a fag with a hi-viz 'Transport for London' bib on about what they could do to continue their journeys. Dunno mate, came the reply, I work on the Picadilly Line and my shift finished three hours ago. I only came here to help out.

Quite. This is customer service, London style.

It is quite remarkable that London transport can be quite so rubbish. Red Ken Livingstone is up for re-election as mayor this year, against Blue Boris Johnson, Yellow Brian Paddick and Green Sian Berry.

On this outing, Ken's transport for London scored no points and I can't imagine why I would vote to let this state of affairs continue.

c e o so wot?

2008-04-03T14:53:00.001Z

titled
Originally uploaded by jez s

Put your hands up all of you who know what a Recording Clerk is?

We, the Quakers of Britain, have one, but sometimes her role is described as Chief Executive Officer.

Because we're Quakers, we manage our spiritual lives ourselves and through our network of Quaker Meetings throughout the country, but we have a national organisation, in Quaker terms a Yearly Meeting ie Britain Yearly Meeting.

We also call our annual meeting of Quakers around Britain, Britain Yearly Meeting, but its the same thing.

You still with me?

Quakers sometimes suffer from a lack of ability to get their message across, which is a shame, because the essential message of seeking God within is as relevant now as it was yesterday and the day before that.

And when you go to a Quaker Meeting for Worship, you have the opportunity to seek corporately, with others.

Orange moblie phones

2008-04-02T11:30:00.001Z

saloon
Originally uploaded by jez s

Paul called, from Orange, wanting to know what kind of mobile phone I use.

I told him that I don't have one.

He asked me what would put me off owning one.

I said that they're bad for one's health, particularly Orange ones.

He hung up, not waiting to capture more of my useful insights into modern communication technology. Do Orange only want to hear from people who think that their stuff is good?

if i press this does the tide go out?

2008-04-02T10:37:00.001Z

if i press this does the tide go out?
Originally uploaded by jez s

There's a guy who sells the Big Issue in Adelaide Street and on Monday and Tuesday he tried to persuade me to buy his magazine from him.

On Monday, I turned him down and he tried to convince me that as he sells next to Maggie Hambling's memorial to Oscar Wilde, then with all this history I should buy from him.

Only, the guy I regularly buy from, Mike, sells from outside the British Museum, which has a bit more history.

Then on Tuesday, the guy tries to persuade me that as an April Fools Day joke, I should buy the Big Issue from him, then the joke is on the other guy. Which was a good crack and the way he told it made me laugh out loud.

Today, Wednesday, I decided to give the guy 80p. I've already got the Big Issue now, and 80p is the difference in price between what the vendors buy the mag for and what they sell it for.

So I give the guy the money and he wants to know if its some kind of joke or I'm doing it for my conscience.

Actually, I'm doing it just because there's that of God in everyone and so, why not?

And we both got on with our days.

The Jericho Road

2008-03-27T01:34:00.002Z

walkers on the old salt road
Originally uploaded by jez s

The road I have been travelling over the past few months has been paved with good intentions, particularly mine.

So busy I have been looking down that I didn't notice where this road goes.

Of course, there are many roads to take in the world of analogy and I have just discovered tonight the Damascus Road, Jerusalem Road, Jericho Road and Emmaus Road.

The Jericho Road is the way of service and I have spent a long time trying to serve.

But, as the Quaker 'Advice & Query' (itself a guide or map for Quakers) puts it: 'Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness'.

(It is Advice & Query 28: Every stage of our lives offers fresh opportunities. Responding to divine guidance, try to discern the right time to undertake or relinquish responsibilities without undue pride or guilt. Attend to what love requires of you, which may not be great busyness.)

As Easter has just passed (did we pass it or did it pass us, like ships in the night we stumble through time), the Emmaus Road of fellowship with the risen and eternal Christ is particularly in my mind. Rufus Jones, who brought these roads to my attention in 'The Luminous Trail', suggests that too few Christians travel this road in the company of Christ. I can believe that I may have been on this journey without him.

Anyway, I have certainly been on the Jericho Road and spent the Easter weekend in Austria, directly serving as a Britain Yearly Meeting (think national body of Quakers in Britian) representative to the annual meeting of Quakers in Europe and the Middle East.

While in Austria, I had the pleasure of listening to a short address by Ute Caspers, a German woman who explained to her audience that a particularly strong leading in life had come at the age of fifty.

I found it hard to imagine that at first, that a person could get to fifty and then have such a strong life-changing leading, particularly because for me, fifty seems such a long way away! I've had some strong leadings myself in the past and they have been well-tested in Quaker procedures and in my own ways, but, as I came to think about it I realised that this was another wake up call.

If I weren't to get another leading for another twenty years, what would I do in the interim? Or, rather, we should not worry when we find it hard to hear God, if we carry on doing the right things.

In ministry in closing worship at the meeting in Austria, one Friend reminded us that not everyone is required to do great and wonderful things, but most of us will just be required to plod on, or words to that effect.

So the important element becomes that we do our best to hear God/the Light/the risen Christ in our lives. Brent Bill expresses some of these sentiments in his new book, Sacred Compass, which gives the reader several exercises to do when testing out discernment. The book is written in chapters like any regular tome and then is sub-divided into smaller sections. Having read the book through once, I'm now revisiting some of the parts that meant more first time around and some of the parts that seem to have passed me by.

In the sense that we just have to carry on, Brent's sub-heading 'Waiting with whatever works' seems apt just now.

Stepping away from the Jericho Road, I see that I am still on it, but I don't have to prove so much to myself. I am already who I am and don't need to strive to be me, which is a sentiment that seems to flow contrary to how I usually go.

A Friend recently told me that when we are young, we feel like we have to demonstrate that we are capable, whereas we may already been as such by others.

Perhaps it is like the saints who seem to have it all to us, but if we were to visit them in their lives we would find them human like us, with self-doubts and uncertainty. Only with hindsight and history and not being with the person do we find it easy to put our saints on pedestals.

I can't imagine where I will be in twenty years time, but I hope that I won't have exhausted my stint on the Emmaus Road, or any of the others for that matter (Damascus = Awakening; Jerusalem = Complete Commitment). I hope that I will still be finding myself, surprising myself and celebrating the infinite resource of God in all others.

[slightly edited 27/3/8]

Nicki Fianders

2008-03-26T23:21:00.001Z

water on flower
Originally uploaded by jez s

And so... another victim of I'm not quite sure what, but Brockley's florist, Nicki Fianders, has closed down.

When we were looking to buy a Christmas tree last year, we stopped off at Nicki's and enquired about prices. She told us that she would not sell us a living tree unless we promised to look after it and not get rid of it after Christmas.

We promised and she sold us a tree, giving us detailed instructions about the conditions under which we could bring it into our home, how to look after it inside and how to make sure that it got used to being outside again afterwards.

We tend to grow our own plants rather than buy ones on the go, so we didn't visit again for a while.

And then, in March, we went past and saw the closing down signs. We bought a few plants and then came by a few days later and got some baskets.

On the last occasion that we went in, we mentioned that we were growing our own plants and that we had trouble getting soil, as we don't have a car and its a bit of an effort to bring it all home on the bus. Why didn't you say so, we were asked. It turned out that they had had a delivery service for soil but didn't advertise the fact. Quite.

The reason for closure is apparently that the council sold the property in the last couple of years and the rent had gone up so much that the business couldn't continue there.

So what is next, another little shop on the corner or more flats?

on yellow

2008-03-25T00:36:00.001Z

on yellow
Originally uploaded by jez s

The rest of the European and Middle East Section gathering of Quakers was a riot of energy, synergy, interconnectedness and celebration.

I had arrived in Vienna feeling exhausted, but by the time that I left I was sleepy-tired but happy.

It is easy with these sorts of events to take away an 'oh my wasn't that great' feeling and then not convert it into anything useful.

The happy feeling that I have centres around my aims to develop my discernment and listening to God practice. As well as the opportunities presented at EMES, I have been supported by J. Brent Bill who has written a book, Sacred Compass, which is published in April. When I say supported by Brent, I mean through reading this new book of his.

In Brent's book, he writes about how when we pray for God to do something for us, such as giving us a skill or talent, God goes about giving us plenty of opportunities to practice, or be the person we really want to be and we should be ready for those opportunities.

Ths EMES gathering has been a real opportunity for me to get practice at my active listening. I learned something about this from Lizz Roe, when she was QPSW/active theology tutor at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham in Britain and she led some training that I took part in.

And some of the practice and reinforcement of techniques then came when I did some Alternatives to Violence Project training in 2006.

But apart from that, I haven't really thought too much about this apart from here and there.

My friend M--- read me an extract from a book about active listening at some point over the weekend. I listened then, but without realising it, slipped out of mode almost immediately, only realising my mistake a few hours later.

Fortunately, I did get some practice in later on, in a one-to-one situation, in a group, while walking with J---, a Quaker who lives in Scotland who I was really inspired by and in watching and participating in entertainments on Sunday night at the gathering.

In Brent's book (due to be available from all good bookshops), he relates how God can speak to us through different people and in circumstances that we might not normally expect. For much of Monday, during the journey home, I tried to listen out for God.

And I didn't hear much.

After over seven hours of travelling, it was while on the final leg of the journey, a ten minute train ride from London Bridge to Brockley that God finally spoke to me, using a woman sitting a couple of seats along from me. Right now I don't want to share what she said, but I realised internally the truth of the message, at least in its origins.

I will claim this as a success, because I had so many situations in the last four days where I haven't succeeded and, because, during the journey home while I was reading this book, I really felt like I wasn't being a good person.

Another matter that I am contending with (and right now I am using the language of Brent's book) is that I have been struggling with ego v God. I accepted to go to Quakers United in Publishing in April I think on ego, even though I went through the motions of talking to and trying to listen to God, by considering discernment and prayer, by engaging with those with whom I felt might have something useful to say, too.

But after I had said yes, rather than just preparing, I continued to wrestle with the decision of whether to go and so the prayer, the talking to and they trying to listen to the answers. It was against a backdrop of my feeling tired out, which is a part of it, but I also came to realise how much my ego had been talking when I said yes and how much I had ended up not listening to God. The upshot of my decision is that I let some people down, I don't get to see some friends who I love and cherish and some other new friendships will not have the opportunity to flower and bloom in ways that they might have done.

On the other hand, I hope that I will be on a more even keel and will have the time to keep my ears and my heart open and will bear more fruit in the longer term.

european & middle east section

2008-03-21T23:49:00.002Z

thank you
Originally uploaded by jez s

This weekend, the European & Middle East Section of Quakers meet in Vienna/Wien in Austria.

It is an opportunity to share, appreciate and deepen our knowledge of Quaker faith.

The meeting started on Thursday night, with introductions and exercises to communicate beyond the English language. The Quakers gathered were asked to find their 'small groups' without language. After a few moments of surprise, the groups began to form.

And then, Friday.

In the morning I went for a walk. I saw a nuthatch. And several goldfinches.

Seven speakers gave an introduction to the concerns, experience, challenges and faith.

R--- spoke about Lancaster, about the history of the Meeting. She told us about the origins and rich vein of past that envelopes the Meeting.

M--- spoke about Georgia Meeting, about the origins and the history and then about the challenges of living in a country where there is one dominant faith. He shared something of the warm and deep fellowship and the challenges of worshipping in a country where Friends are meeting in appartments, rather than Meeting houses.

L---, shared the experience of coming from a programmed Meeting in the US, then living in Electrostal, having just 18 months to learn the language and the culture and work with young people there.

Z--- gave us an insight into a Meeting that is small, but determined. She told us how important it is to express frustrations among the group, rather than let things build and become more difficult. This was a lesson, although not couched in those terms, of how important nonviolent conflict resolution is and how we can use it in our every day experience.

S--- reminded us that it is possible, even when there is noise and conversation, to be surrounded in silence. When we meet as Quakers, we are gathered in expectant waiting upon God. But silence is not always positive and we must learn not to use it as an excuse, when communication is needed.

B--- put two words in front of Quakers. 'Loyalty' and 'compliance'. He challenged us about these words and asked 'are the advices and queries alive for us?'

P--- shared the experience of trying to find a 'home' for Quakers. In London there are 40 Quaker Meetings, and, potentially, I can visit any one of these on a Sunday morning. I talked to another Friend today who related how he might travel several hundred miles to visit another Quaker Meeting. In some parts of Europe the community is small and the obligations fall upon a small number of people.

Later, we had a long business Meeting. It was not always easy, and I was one of the lucky ones to be working in my home language. Many Quakers have to work in their second or third language in order to participate in the international community of Friends.

We were treated in the afternoon session to a a summary of a pilot project to share the language and understanding of Quakers in eleven European languages. The project manager told us how, when the participants are gathered together, this is a very powerful experience and there is a great hunger for community and learning.

I urge all Quakers to support this project, the importance of which cannot be underestimated.

One Quaker explained how, in their country, it appears that the churches are emptying, but there is still a great hunger for spirituality.

Can the Quakers fill that gap? From the evidence on offer at EMES, I would say yes, but those who are worshipping in the outposts of our faith need our support. This is not an evangelical exercise, but an opportunity to uphold our brothers and sisters as they live lives of faith.

We must support them, with resources and opportunities. This is not an opportunity to say that we are right and we know best, but to stand shoulder to shoulder as equals and trust their leadings in the Light, as they trust ours. Together we have a beautiful history, an interesting present and bright future.

light

2008-03-20T08:01:00.002Z

the hunt for red february
Originally uploaded by jez s

Quaker Street is still open, but needs some changes. There are holes in the road, graffiti on the walls and the markings could do with a fresh coat of paint.

Kyrgyzstan: jewel of central Asia

2008-03-14T22:35:00.001Z

Tooting, where the sun goes down.
Originally uploaded by jez s

Just saw this on the international Quaker website:

Kyrgyzstan (top)

Affiliation/Worship Style
Unprogrammed

Bishkek Worship Group
contact via
International Membership Secretary
Graham Ellis
Kyrgyzstan
Email: world@fwcc.quaker.org

Isolated Friend(s)
Kyrgyzstan
contact via International Membership Secretary Graham Ellis
Email: world@fwcc.quaker.org

I don't think Graham works there any more, but the new guy will have the same address and will be able to deal with any Quaker queries from anyone who is Kyrgyz.

best wishes and love to all my Kyrgyz friends and readers!

speaking of random messages

2008-03-14T21:46:00.001Z

mysterious shoes
Originally uploaded by jez s

A fella emailed my myspace persona a few months back with a stalker's message.

'Subject:

FJG, Colchester.

Body:
Hello mate

I see you work at FJG, did you ever know a bird that works there thats very short and has blond hair. Would only be about 20 probably.'

I don't check my myspace very often so I it seems a bit out of place to reply to the chap now, but I have to say, he didn't give me much to go on and I don't see quite where he was going with this one...

several weeks

2008-03-14T21:32:00.001Z

eat shit
Originally uploaded by jez s

Several weeks after I fired off my email to my MP about Guy Nijke and some failures in the asylum system (see previous blog post), Joan has been in touch to say that she has passed my letter onto the relevant minister.

Meanwhile, Guy, a regular guy, no, an exceptional guy who has integrated himself into communities and society is on tenterhooks as he waits to see whether the application for judicial review of the decision to deport him could be successful.

In the past few weeks I've had my own worries, about whether I could lose some weight, about going to QUIP, about trying to mend my bike tire, but nothing compares to what Guy must be going through, fearing deportation to a country that he fled.

I have a friend who sees it a different way. She says that when an asylum seeker has failed in their application to be recognised as a refugee and has lost all the way through the appeal process, then that person must be willing to return to their country voluntarily, recognising that they're not a refugee.

My friend's position starts from the point that the system is fair, that the government hasn't spent the last fifteen to twenty years trying to tighten the law and reduce the ways in which a person can be recognised as a refugee. As the system is inherently unfair and unreasonable in this way, then it is no wonder that a man, this exceptional Guy is living in fear.

For more information about how you can help this exceptional guy see
http://stopdeportationofguy.wordpress.com/

more bureaucracy

2008-03-14T21:01:00.001Z

Emergency telephone
Originally uploaded by jez s

BT/British Telecom – what a way to spend a Friday night.

L is out, so I think this Friday night I will do some household chores.

Washing up done, yup.
Lounge tidied, yup.
BT Broadband telephone reconnected, no.

We didn't use our BT broadband telephone for a while and so BT closed our account. I try to re-register, but in order to do so, I need to log into my bt.com account, allegedly to make things easier.

Unfortunately, I can't remember my password and I don't have it in any emails. BT will re-email it to me, as long as I can answer my security question.

I can't.

I have five goes (pretty secure huh?) and then I'm frozen out for my own security.

In the FAQ there is a telephone number to call, 0800 328 9642. I call it. I get a message that says the call may be recorded, in order to improve the service. Fine.

I get through to an adviser, who explain the situation to. She tells me that I need to speak to the broadband talk team. She asks me to write down the number and then she'll transfer me. She gives me the number, it is 0800 328 9642.

She puts me through. To sales. I explain what I'm trying to do. The woman in sales says I need Broadband Talk. The number is 0800 328 9462. I get back to where I was, then the line goes dead.

I call up again on 0800 328 9462. This time, when my call is answered I get cut off. This is only BT we're talking about.

I have to take a break and get some air.

BT – no reach.

sorrow

2008-03-14T16:19:00.001Z

eye
Originally uploaded by jez s

Sorrow is when you read a facebook message in your email, then later get to your facebook messages and see new ones, but before you click on them you realise that you know their contents.

Or maybe that's shallow.

losing direction

2008-03-14T16:03:00.001Z

abandoned post buggy
Originally uploaded by jez s

Yesterday we received in the post a card that my partner had sent to my parents. She had put our address on the back and we received the card with a sticker on it – 'we were unable to deliver this item because' and a line through several of the options.

My partner had written my parents' address exactly right, except for one letter in the postcode, so instead of being eg XX11 1XX she had written XX11 1AX.

The card was delivered to a different village the other side of the town from where it should have gone to, and some one has helpfully written on the envelope that it was delivered to the equivalent of XX11 1BC.

The person who received the mail, in an different village to the one written on the address, has written 'return to sender'. Why wouldn't they write 'send to correct address'?

It beggars belief that the Royal Mail are incapable are sending an item of post to the right address with one letter wrong in the postcode. Do you not have to be able to read to work there or have machines completely taken over now?

The card was received unstuck in a way that suggests that it had been opened. The address was on the front you bozos!

Quaker peace witness in the 21st century

2008-03-12T12:25:00.003Z

Well worn, well used
Originally uploaded by jez s

From

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/12/humanrights.military

is this:

'A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed last night that two men had been detained "after entering the waters illegally". He added that an investigation was continuing. Bouquet, a former member of the merchant navy, made his first protest against whaling off Iceland more than 30 years ago. Castle has been involved mainly in environmental campaigns. Both men said that they were motivated by Quaker ideals "that you should bear witness to a crime, even if you cannot stop it happening".'

I was having a discussion with a friend just this morning about Quakers and the peace testimony. My friend, who is not a Quaker but has spent many years working with us, told me that he felt that it was important that people understood and continued to understand that the Quaker peace testimony is about finding nonviolent ways to work through conflict.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 19 March, Tansy Newman Turner, who has connections to Bradford Quaker Meeting, is facing the first Scottish trial under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act .

This Act became law in 2005, and was amended by the Terrorism Act 2006. Using the auspice of defence against terrorism, the law makes a criminal offence of 'trespass' on certain areas of land, including military facilities, such as the Trident nuclear weapons base at Faslane.

Tansy was part of a mass action that trespassed at Faslane in September 2007. All of the others involved in the action have had their charges reduced or dropped, possibly because the prosecutor will find it easier to make an example of one person rather than fifteen.

While many people inside and outside of the military are proud of the work that the British armed forces do in our name, I am grateful for people like Tansy, Peter Bouquet and Jon Castle who continue to bear witness to peace, humanity and the light of God in all.

fox transported

2008-03-04T17:05:00.001Z

fox transport
Originally uploaded by jez s

'George Fox was not able to use a computer when he wrote and dictated his journal towards the end of the 1600s', starts an article in the South East Scotland Area Meeting newsletter (Feb 2008), written by Alastair Reid.

copper wave

2008-03-04T16:09:00.001Z

red police
Originally uploaded by jez s

This morning, cycling up the Old Kent Road I realised a vehicle had pulled alongside. I looked up, saw a police van. As soon as the driver and his mate saw that I was looking they gave me a big cheery wave and then pulled away.

Weird.

London Quakers

2008-02-27T19:22:00.003Z

It was bound to happen, wasn't it? Quakers in London have embraced the new age and launched their what may turn out to be a rather wonderful website.

www.londonquakers.org

looking up

2008-02-24T20:41:00.001Z

looking up
Originally uploaded by jez s

A friend told me today that he encourages another friend each day, with the advice to look up, rather than down.

Later we went for lunch at a vegetarian restaurant in Drummond Street, then walked to Regents Park, then Primrose Hill, then Hampstead Heath and finally Tuffnell Park.

taking time

2008-02-24T20:39:00.001Z

water on flower
Originally uploaded by jez s

So, on average, people in Germany spend most time on average on reading my blog, while the Brits who are there most, are in eighth place. That top ten in full.

1. Germany (average 12 mins 21 seconds)
2. South Korea (average 3 mins 44)
3. Israel (3:29)
4. Colombia
5. UAE
6. Kyrgyzstan
7. Switzerland
8. UK
9. US
10. Poland.

good shoes

2008-02-22T19:56:00.001Z

good shoes
Originally uploaded by jez s

Today, M--- and I left London on the 10:18 from Liverpool Street and arrived in Harwich Town just before midday.

Just over five hours, one chip shop stop, one sweet shop stop (who knew you could still buy candy 'cigarettes'?), one bird hide stop (was it a curlew?), one pub stop (where they didn't believe where we had walked from) and twelve miles of walking later, we arrived in Manningtree, knocked back a couple of pints in the pub in the station and got a train home....

what a day!

jenga chips/building blocks

2008-02-21T18:51:00.001Z

jenga chips
Originally uploaded by jez s

So, you're at the table and the staff disappear and when the waiter comes back, well, he's God, so what do you order?

And do you order or do you pray? Does God already know what you want? So why order/pray?

I'm sure every one has been through the questions before, but I haven't for a while and a conversation just got me started on thinking about this.

I like jenga chips, but not with meat. But should I eat so much when I could ask God to give to others?

I'm tired, so maybe I should ask God to look after me. My friend H---, he looks out for me and tells me to slow down.

'Slow down Jez', he says.

He also reminds me to say no.

'Say no Jez', he says.

kosh kelgile

2008-02-21T17:45:00.001Z

surprised
Originally uploaded by jez s

I was as surprised as the person in the photograph looks to learn that the whole of my Kyrgyz readership might be only one person, who doesn't even turn out to be from Kyrgyzstan!

But, as with life, we take these things in our stride and continue on.

follow the link and weep: lion or dog?

2008-02-20T22:12:00.002Z

lion
Originally uploaded by jez s

http://whatnottoknit.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/lion-dog-sweater/#comments

kyrgyzstan

2008-02-20T21:49:00.001Z

cow
Originally uploaded by jez s

In the past month, Kyrgyzstan makes up the joint-third ranked country for number of visitors to my blog, coming behind the UK and the US and joint with Australia. Perhaps I should learn some Kyrgyz to welcome you all!

in focus

2008-02-20T21:43:00.001Z

colours of the night
Originally uploaded by jez s

Tonight was my second Meeting for Worship in a row with no vocal ministry. I was more fidgety this time, but I sat next to one of the Brians and felt quite peaceful for a while. I studied Brian's face for a bit and, for a while, squinted my eyes and looked at him and others in and out of focus.

The previous worship had been with Quakers in Forest Hill, in south London. I had walked there on Sunday, in the cold sunny morn.

After Meeting tonight, we had soup. It was leek and stilton, made by P---. When I had arrived at Meeting, I had considered offering to be doorkeeper, but A--- was up on the list. As someone said that they had seen A--- disappearing into Meeting already, I decided to cover. Alas, A--- was not in Meeting, he had been to the loo or something. I don't know where he had been, but he said he hadn't been in Meeting and he was happy to be doorkeeper.

So I went to the kitchen and asked P--- if he wanted help with the soup. He didn't, but I knew that I would be staying for soup afterwards because he had just tipped a whole tub of Swiss bouillon into a pan. I like that bouillon.

As P--- didn't need any help, I realised that there was nothing for it but to go and worship. I've been feeling somewhat reticent about worship at Westminster this year and have physically avoided the place on occasion. Twice when I've arrived at Meeting I've walked straight out and then gone home and I only really went tonight because O--- was going and I could walk there with him.

Afterwards, I knew why I had stayed. I chatted with people, learned the names of 4 people whose names I had either forgotten or never known and found that 2 people who I met live near me.

Some of those people live in south London and we shared tales of people who live further from the centre of London than we do being horrified how far away we live, simply because we are in south London. We are only ten minutes on the train from London Bridge and geographically are north or Clapham, but because there isn't a tube station in Brockley people don't know us.

One woman told me that her mother had recently been to visit and her mother's impression of Brockley being backward and far away had been reinforced by two trains she tried to catch from London Bridge being cancelled; when she arrived there were police making arrests at the station and when they got near the woman's house there was a burst water main and a flood in the street.

After Meeting and soup and meeting new people and learning about the stone business (marble is good but apparently marble arch tube station isn't being filled with marble) I went to the cafe and had a Ginger Tom drink and lemon and sultana cheesecake.

I had a conversation with L--- who knew that I am going to the US and recalled the saga of the boiler. It took me a moment or two to twig that she was able to talk about such things presumably from having read my blog. Sixty per cent of visitors to my blog are first time visitors and eighty per cent spend less than ten seconds on it before moving on, so to come across someone who refers to matters on it in passing is very rare.

The last time it happened, a friend said to me: 'what have you been up to?' and i started to tell him and he said that he knew all that because he had read my blog, what else had I been up to he wanted to know.

Of course, I tell my blog everything, so I had nothing to add. Errr...

We talked about football (how many Quakers out there are really into sport?) and L--- follows AFC Wimbledon, but also Tooting & Mitcham. I had discovered last week that they are also known as the Terrors. And the last game I went to see was York City at Grays Athletic. The might York City, perhaps I should add.

L--- thought that more Quakers were into sport than before, I wasn't so sure, as I haven't found so many.

If you are Quaker and into sport, why not tell me?

Things I haven't done which I should have done:
1. I need to learn about whether I need to get a new passport before I visit the US.
2. I meant to have a phone call with B--- and I haven't.
3. I need to book my flights to from and inside the US and arrange with people what I might be doing.

the failure of the system for Guy Nijke

2008-02-15T14:19:00.003Z

colours of the night
Originally uploaded by jez s

Guy Njike isan asylum seeker from Cameroon. Guy claimed asylum on his arrival in the UK in 1999. It took five years for his case to go through the motions.

His appeal was dismissed in late 2004 and he made a fresh application with fresh evidence in 2005. This was rejected this week, with the Home Office claiming that it was not a fresh application, but after all, but a continuation of his old one, which meant that they could say that he does not have an appeal.

The delays in the system and the bureaucracy involved are a terrible waste of public resources on the one hand and an awful burden on the lives of those who suffer under the system.

Guy did not sit around feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he learned English, gained qualifications including a masters degree.

He got a job and worked legally, paying his way and, being a sociable guy, made a lot of friends along the way.

Guy has done more for society by his commitment to voluntary work and has even done jury service!

Now, as a great big slap in the face, he has been informed by the Home Office that obtaining educational qualifications and being supported by fellow students was evidence that he had entered the UK for economic and educational betterment and is one of the reasons for rejecting his case.

So, a man who embodies all of the ideals that we want from the people of our nation has had all of it thrown back in his face by the authorities. Now Guy is in detention, waiting to see what happens next.

You can read more about Guy here.

map

2008-02-13T18:53:00.001Z

cow
Originally uploaded by jez s

So, this is really happening. I just looked at a map and discovered where Greensboro is.

A few week ago, O--- and I played a game on the internet to try and guess where all the countries in Africa are on the map. When we had mastered it, we did Europe. O--- then did the states of the US, but I didn't even bother trying. Where is Arkansas anyway? Who cares?

Anyway, M--- told me that it would be 8 hours drive from Greensboro to Philadelphia and google maps came up with 7 hours and 42 minutes. I guess that google maps never stops for a wee.

spider

2008-02-13T17:10:00.001Z

web of deceit
Originally uploaded by jez s

this afternoon I heard a spider barking.

eze: the big blue

2008-02-13T13:39:00.001Z

eze: the big blue
Originally uploaded by jez s

This morning on the radio news I heard that the Immigration Advisory Service is concerned about the British curry house industry. There is a shortage of workers, apparently and the Bangladesh Caterers Association is quite worried.

Keith Best, the chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service is particularly concerned. His organisation has offices in Bangladesh and would benefit from more work if more Bangadeshis were able to apply to come and work in Britain.

In June 2006 Keith Best was the winner of a Bangladeshi Caterers Association Honour Award 'in recognition of his valuable contributions to the Bangladeshi Curry Industry in the UK'.

Well done Keith!

heart of the matter

2008-02-12T19:06:00.000Z

I used to know the British Heart Foundation only for their furniture thrift stores. Then they did some remarkably good adverts warning Joe Public about the dangers to his heart of certain foods.

Now, they have a website for the yoof called junk monkeys which has 'games' to play, a virtual city to explore with health facts in and some videos about unhealthy eating. For a flirp time, it was actually quite interesting, if a little slow. I learned that hot dogs are full of crap and that Heidi from some girl band or other drinks water during the day to keep herself hydrated, but not much else.

let's go!

2008-02-12T18:44:00.000Z

Kenya: the Quakers speak out

2008-02-09T16:38:00.001Z

rock at anchor
Originally uploaded by jez s

The letter from the Quakers in Kenya to their fellow citizens and to their leaders:

OPEN LETTER To the Leaders and Citizens of Kenya

The Quaker leadership of Kenya gathered together in Sheywe Guest House in Kakamega between 24th and 27th January 2008.

The Friends Church in Kenya and Friends around the world are concerned with what has befallen Kenya in the last one month. As a peace church, we are horrified by the continued wanton destruction of human life and property.

Kenyans need to learn that any violent action they take against their neighbours is an act against God’s way. Our actions and thoughts therefore must be rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In our last communiqué to the leaders, we implored upon them to uphold the principles of truth, justice peace, simplicity and humility (Psalms 85:10) and to forgive each other.

We cannot be blind to what is happening to this country and its citizens. During the deliberations and reflections, representatives of the Friends Church realized that the underlying causes of the current conflict have been present since long before the general elections of December 2007. We note in particular: economic injustices, youth disempowerment and frustration, and cleavages of religion, ethnicity, class, gender and age.

To our leaders:

We thank our leaders for starting a process of negotiation, and we believe and trust that they will follow up in earnest with a negotiated settlement. In this context therefore we say to our leaders:

* We do understand your anguish at this time, and we ask you to approach the situation prayerfully. We urge you to relax your “hard line” political demands and dialog more deeply for the benefit of the country, that no segment of Kenyan society emerges as “losers” but we all may “win” in a peaceful society.
* We urge you to reopen schools that have not opened, in order to allow students to continue with their education.
* We urge the leaders and elders of various communities not to incite or manipulate their youths to perpetuate terror among the citizenry, but to encourage and guide them to act responsibly.
* We denounce the instances of excessive force used by the police against the citizens.

To our fellow Kenyans:

* We appreciate the courage and passion that you, our fellow Kenyans, have shown since the beginning of the post-election violence by contributing and supporting the victims of violence, and we urge you all to continue with the same spirit.
* We appeal to you engage in reconciliation among and rehabilitation of displaced people, integrating them back into the places from which they were displaced, not sending them to other parts of the country.
* We remind you that this country and its land belongs to all of us. Let us not destroy it for by doing so, we put our own future generations in jeopardy. We need a negotiated social contract to live together as Kenyans.
* We urge you to resolve problems in a peaceful way, because we know that there is hope for peace in this country.
* We warn you to desist from rumour-mongering which increases hostility and uncertainty, and urge you to use modern means of communication for positive ends.
* We know that those most affected by this conflict and violence are women, children, disabled and the aged. We must address their suffering, and protect and care for them.
* We encourage every Kenyan to look for “that of God” in every person and to treat life as sacred.
* As Kenyans, we urge you to uphold our core national values, practice forgiveness and embrace reconciliation.

To our fellow Christians and other Religious groups:

* As people of faith, we must not engage in violence and revenge because if we do so we betray our faith in God.
* We invite you to join us in praying for deliverance from evil spirits which are at work in our country, and continue to intercede for Kenya.

As a peace church, we are involved in humanitarian, spiritual and social/economic empowerment of our people. We urge everyone to take time to assist his/her neighbour in order to bring normalcy to the affected people, affirming truth, justice, peace and reconciliation in our nation.

Signed,

Jacob Neyole, Presiding Clerk

listening to

2008-02-08T19:11:00.001Z

contradiction of terms?
Originally uploaded by jez s

http://www.mediafire.com/?9gdpemwxisb

explosive stuff

2008-02-07T16:22:00.001Z

carnage
Originally uploaded by jez s

Respect the laws of the state but let your first loyalty be to God's purposes.

If this was the mantra of a fundamental Muslim, the tabloids would have a field day, but its not, its the language of the Quakers.

choice.

2008-02-06T12:29:00.001Z

little wheel
Originally uploaded by jez s

I am not sure that I have chosen the right bicycle for cycling across America.

telephone call of the day

2008-02-04T11:07:00.001Z

orange lines
Originally uploaded by jez s

At work, I get a call from a woman. She doesn't want my organisation, she wants another. But she thought, she says, rather than go upstairs and find the number, she would call up the Friend and ask for it.

I colleague tells me the number and I tell the woman I'm putting her through. Unfortunately, in my impatience, I get a digit wrong and the last thing I see as I put the receiver down is that I'm putting her through to someone in a completely different place...

The king will reply, I tell you the truth...

2008-02-01T18:22:00.001Z

Endurance Poster
Originally uploaded by jez s

If you are a failed asylum seeker in the UK, you are likely to become destitute and left to survive on the goodwill of others.

Churches Action on Poverty is a part of a coalition of organisations that work on the Living Ghosts campaign, to highlight the situation of these people.

CAP and the Boaz Trust, another organisation working on the issue are challenging Christians to take up their Endurance Challenge for a week during lent, to experience some of the difficulties that destitute failed asylum seekers face.

I plan to do it. I will get a list of food items to buy (some charities prepare food parcels of the same products for people in this situation - but I will buy my own) and will endeavour not to spend more than £3.50 in a week.

Of course, I have costs such as rent, electricity, council tax etc, which I won't stop paying and which I share with L.

But I will have a go at the challenge.

I currently cycle to work 2 days per week and catch public transport the rest of the time, so having just £3.50 will mean that I need to cycle or walk practically every day. It takes me 40 minutes to cycle and 2 hours to walk, so I expect to get plenty of exercise. My lower leg muscles still ache from my walk to work the other day when I found out how long it takes!

In keeping with my attempt to survive on £3.50, I won't be using my mobile phone as it is a pay as you go phone.

I plan to use my oyster card, but only for travel within my £3.50 budget.

I will be very surprised if I last the week.

Here, from the Boaz Trust devotional, is my shopping list:

• Vegetable Oil (one bottle – issued fortnightly)
• Carton of Orange or Apple Juice
• Carton of Milk
• Bar of Chocolate
• Salted Peanuts (250 g)
• Packet of Biscuits
• Tea Bags (12)
• Loaf (Sliced - white or brown)

Dried Goods

• Package of Spaghetti or Pasta Shapes
• Rice (250 g)
• Sugar (250 g)
• Salt (250 g)
• Semolina (250 g)
• Stock cube (1)

Tinned Goods

• Tin of spaghetti in tomato sauce
• Tin of soup
• Tin of baked beans
• Tin of Plum Tomatoes
• Tin of Garden Peas
• Tin of Chick Peas
• Tin of Hotdogs
• Small tin of Sweet Corn
• Small tin of Tuna
• Tin of Sardines

Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

• Orange (1)
• Banana (1)
• Pear (1)
• Apple (1)
• Carrots (2)
• Onions (2)
• Potatoes (medium sized - 2)
• Green/Red Pepper (1)

The products are usually purchased from a supermarket basics range of goods. They often don't have pictures on so people who don't understand much English may have the added problem of not being able to easily work out what they are.

This is especially so with hot dogs apparently.

I will let you know how I get on.

I aim to start at the back end of next week, so pray for me then please!

boiler update

2008-01-28T18:15:00.001Z

we have heat
Originally uploaded by jez s

On Saturday night, less than a week after Blue Flame Gas Services have fixed our boiler, it stopped working.

This time, as well as having no heating, we have no hot water. It sucks. Thankfully, the landlady's agent responded to our contact within hours, rather than days, which might lead to the situation being resolved sooner rather than later.

And our Friend G--- has kindly offered us the opportunity to bath at his place, which lightens my mood a little further.

watch this space

2008-01-25T18:41:00.001Z

gathered in stillness
Originally uploaded by jez s

Following on from the success of National Quaker Week in 2007, a new Meeting for Worship starts this Sunday 27 January at 2pm, Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, London, UK.

If you can make it, great. If you can't, we'll be having Meeting for Worship on the last Sunday of every month at the same place.

It will be outside, in among all the speakers.

See you there and if not, hold us in the light!

water on tree

2008-01-16T18:17:00.001Z

water on tree
Originally uploaded by jez s

Don't ever cease to be amazed.

I had conversations today with a Friend which led me to Fritchley Meeting. They split from Britain Yearly Meeting (then London Yearly Meeting) which is a Quaker body, about 110 years ago. They came back into the fold 70 years later. There is only one national body for Quakers in Britain, so the Fritchley move was quite a novel move.

I've been reading a lot of articles recently from people who are upset about a lot of stuff - why there isn't enough worship in their lives and other people's lives. And they're wondering what to do about it.

One possible solution: go to Quaker Meeting for worship more often. We're starting a daily one in our office next week, which is a good start for us.

Having said that, I write just as Meeting in Westminster is about to start. I'm not there, because I'm off to watch a football match with a Friend.

Oops!

plane speaking

2008-01-15T18:51:00.001Z

plane speaking
Originally uploaded by jez s

I went without flying at all in 2007. It was a good plan, after 18 months of flying back and forth between London and Geneva every month or so.

I feel that I need to take steps to help stop climate change and not flying is a deliberate statement.

I have never owned a car or a TV, I don't put lights on my house at Christmas, I buy energy saver lightbulbs and I eat as a vegetarian.

So, I do some things.

Anyway, now that it is 2008 I am one of the Britain Yearly Meeting (ie Religious Society of Friends in Britain/Quakers) representatives to the Friends World Committee for Consultation (an international body of the Religious Society of Friends).

So I have to go to Vienna in March for a meeting. It is in Europe and there are easy options with the train, so I hope to use that transport and I have a friend to go with, so we will probably find some wifi and do some computer stuff. Or play backgammon and pray.

But then there is Quakers United in Publishing, in North Carolina in the US in April. It looks like being a really interesting meeting and I've never been to the US before...

so...

I thought about it a lot and eventually I decided that if they'll have me, I will go. I can't register yet, but there is no harm in being prepared.

My journal is so pro-environmental solutions that it has a green editor, so I feel hypocritical in my decision, but I knew that I would feel that way anyhow.

I think that where I am going with this is that there are things that I find myself being called to do. This work for God means that at the moment the only realistic physical way to cross continents to go by plane. And if the plane is there for the taking, I'll take it.

I was going to write some secondary reasons in here but I think that for now, I'll leave it at that, otherwise it will feel like excuses, but it isn't.

So, if it all goes ahead, I'll be in the US in late April.

we have heat, for now

2008-01-15T18:27:00.001Z

we have heat
Originally uploaded by jez s

I coincided my new cycling regime with some bloody awful weather recently. Yesterday was murky, today was sodden. I started to enjoy it after about ten minutes cycling.

My ride into work is about 40 minutes now on the new bike.

Yes, I bought a new bike. I went into Decathlon, expecting to buy a racer and came out with a 'tourer' which cost £68. It was the cheapest bike by far and I just thought, well, I can run it into the ground and if I'm still cycling after 3 or 4 months i can get myself a proper bike, maybe get the Friend to join the bike to work scheme so I can get something good.

Or maybe I should just spend £70 on a new bike every year - it is certainly cheaper than going by train.

But wetter.

And windier.

Anyway, a man came from the boiler repair company and semi-fixed the boiler. It (the boiler) passed the safety check, so that is good. As you can see though, the timer function is taped into place while the company gets the parts.

The company called saying that they could come on a particular day, but I decided to try and get the landlady's agent to cover it. Of course now his phone is switched off again and I can't leave a message. I have texted him, but am short of hope. He was going to give me his home phone number, but 4 days on from promising it as a way of contacting him when we can't get through on his mobile, he hasn't delivered...

boiler update

2008-01-11T16:03:00.001Z

P1030066
Originally uploaded by jez s

So the boiler stopped giving us central heating on Monday.

We constantly called our landlady's agent, but his phone gave the message 'the phone you have called is switched off, please try again later'. I also texted him.

I wrote him a letter on Wednesday, asking him to arrange for it to be fixed urgently. I also asked for an emergency procedure to be put in place, so that we can deal with problems like this more immediately in future.

On Thursday morning, the agent's phone finally accepted a message.

We called the company who we thought might be the boiler's servicer. (We had seen a letter come in several months ago with their name on, which we had forwarded to this agent.) According to the company, they haven't been into the property since 2005.

The agent phoned on Thursday and agreed to get someone in to see the boiler. He then called back and said that the company could definitely do Tuesday, maybe Monday, but Tuesday would be better. Eventually he agreed to make the appointment for Monday, but said that I need to be in to receive the company. The agent tells me that the company last serviced the boiler 14 months ago.

Things that I have learned in the last day:
* when you move into a rented property, on moving in or within 28 days the tenant must be provided with a valid gas certificate.
* the landlady or her agent must have the boiler serviced every 12 months.

Points to note during my tenancy:
* neither the landlady or her agent have ever visited the property and considering how much cleaning we did when we moved in, I don't think anyone visited after the previous tenants had left.
* neither of them have given us an emergency contact number (whereas the agent has our home phone, both work and mobile phones).
* we have never been provided with a gas safety certificate.
* the agent has now admitted that the boiler is at least 2 months past having a valid safety certificate.
* we will be at least a week without heating by the time that someone comes to see the boiler.

Of course, just over a week ago, none of this had occurred to me... I wonder what else I'm missing. Any thoughts as to what else I should check?

cold

2008-01-08T20:41:00.001Z

down from Pilatus
Originally uploaded by jez s

Its cold because our boiler isn't working and our landlord's agent's phone is switched off all the time so we can't tell him to get it sorted out for us.

Damn!

ceiling

2008-01-08T18:24:00.001Z

ceiling
Originally uploaded by jez s

On 1 January 2008 I officially became a Britain Yearly Meeting representative to Friends World Committee for Consultation, the international body that links Friends together.

On the same day I learned that over thirty Kenyans were murdered when a church where they had sought refuge was burned to the ground.

I have a wallchart that tells me that there are 133,825 Friends in Kenya, but I realise now how little I know about my sisters and brothers there. Are they safe? How are they responding to the violence?

All else I know is that some Kenyan Friends have used their Yearly Meeting epistles to expound their homophobic rhetoric. How can I be a help in the response to these Friends when I know so little about them and I have such a different interpretation of the Gospel?
Considering again the Kenyans who died in the church, I am sad because these people, many of whom were children, sought refuge in a holy space, a place of sanctuary.

Sadly, just as terrible crimes are committed in the name of religion, our holy places can also lose their ‘protective’ status.

Many people were slaughtered in churches during the Rwandan genocide, Muslims have died in bomb explosions in Iraqi mosques in recent years and there are many examples of churches and synagogues being burned down in religious hate attacks in recent years.

The concept of refuge goes wider than religious buildings though. For the asylum seeker who comes fleeing for their life, facing persecution at home, it must be something of a shock to arrive in Britain. We have made our nation an inhospitable place, so it is a great relief to learn that City of Sanctuary, the Quaker-led refugee and asylum project that began in Sheffield, now has funding to expand across Britain.
Though the first day in 2008 has exposed limitations and is tinged with sadness, the City of Sanctuary news gives me hope that we can make change happen when we find ways to work together. Sometimes it will be on important issues between Friends of truth, across nations, seeking to discern the will of Jesus, at other times it will be putting our faith into action, so that we are each one of many lights that are shining.

This was in the Friend, 4th day, 1st month, 2008th year edition.

it needed a special seat

2008-01-08T17:55:00.001Z

it needed a special seat
Originally uploaded by jez s

As seen on the guardian comment is free website:

This week: Quaker objects to Armed Forces.

Next week: Pope defecates in bear.

hopeful signs

2008-01-01T21:48:00.001Z

gas fire
Originally uploaded by jez s

What an end to 2007, being blessed with the safe births of two nieces and a daughter for two friends in LA.

Then 2008, introduced with amazing fireworks along the river Thames in London, as L and I shared the view from the top of Telegraph Hill with over 200 other residents from Brockley and Nunhead.

Later, a fire in Kenya that killed many young people in a church and left me feeling sad.

Then, in that trivial world of football, just a few miles away from me as I cleaned our flat's windows, Kevin Lisbie scored two goals to give Colchester United a winning start to 2008. Colchester may be in the relegation zone of their division, but there is still great hope for the rest of the season.

I have particularly enjoyed having 5 friends over in the past few days, two couples came over, one staying overnight and the other for dinner, then another friend came and we had fellowship together. I hope that there will be much more time for that this year.

not a shoe-in

2007-12-17T14:49:00.001Z

bringing colour to the streets of Hackney
Originally uploaded by jez s

So there I was in the shop for transvestites in Eversholt Street and I found that they only do shoes up to 12 and I'm a 13!

Thwarted, again. Actually, just thwarted.

j-uncle

2007-12-16T00:12:00.001Z

j-uncle
Originally uploaded by jez s

I stood there, with first E---, then A---'s life in my hands and felt responsible.

Okay, this isn't fatherhood and I already have a niece and a nephew unofficially through L, but this was something else.

Less than 48 hours old and there in my arms, my very own special bundle of niece.

They've spent most of their time asleep so far, probably because they're rather early, but even so, having them there in front of me for so long (the longest that i've ever held a baby, if that counts for anything), was really special.

At thirty years old, perhaps there were pangs of the desire of fatherhood, but mostly, if not all, it was celebration that my wonderful sister and bro-in-law have produced these rather gorgeous two little ones.

I had finished this week pretty damned tired out, feeling really like i just wanted to sleep my way through the weekend. I did some chores in the morning, with L, sending off some xmas cards, reminding distant family that we still exist, the annual refresher to great uncles and old friends about what we do now. We bundled the cards off at the post office, yes Brockley does have such a place still, then shopped a little in our favourite London suburb.

The new healthstore wasn't quite open (it was apparently opening at 12 noon and we were there at ten to), so we bought bread from Dandelion Blue, gifts for xmas from Magi, soup from the Broca and even saw our friend G--- also out doing some xmas business. We also bought wine from Degustation, though the really knowledgeable French bloke wasn't there, so we bought on label, rather than anything else.

After seeing our new nieces in hospital, we headed into town and to the Frost fair, which was so called because they used to hold it when the Thames froze over.

We bought this and that, and ran into Samara, who runs Maradoll, which is by all accounts and fantastically brightly coloured little company that makes bags and other things that I can't remember the name of. They're particularly useful, I hear, some of them, for those evenings when you're at a gig and you want to keep your stuff close to hand, so they have these rather handy wrist-straps and you won't lose your phone, purse and whatever else women keep in their bags these days. I say women, rather than men, because I'd say that i'm open-minded but there really wasn't anything there that i would buy for a bloke.

It seems like each bag is unique - at least none of them looked identical that I saw, which in these fashion conscious days must be a boon at one end and a hardship at the other - how can i follow the herd if they're slightly different to me? Not that the herd is buying from Maradoll just yet, but maybe they should...

Even later, we met up with friends who live next to Southwark cathedral, then went home and made our very own Swiss fondue (thanks to O--- for purchasing the right cheeses when he was in Geneva a couple of weeks ago) with kirsch, cornflour and the like.

It was delicious.

So, I'm an uncle. I'm no less responsible for my fellow humanity than before, but there are two more people in this world whose light i am particularly conscious of just now.

blue

2007-12-14T18:41:00.001Z

red
Originally uploaded by jez s

A productive day today and I have now been an uncle for over 24 hours. I had the chance to visit the twins this evening, but didn't get out of the office in time and will go tomorrow instead.

My father reports that they are gorgeous.

It has been an exciting week, what with the new nieces, but also with some Quaker stuff too. Not just Quaker Quest (see blog posts passim), but also Quaker Meeting for worship on Wednesday night.

I got there with only 15 minutes to go (funny how I can know in advance when a Quaker Meeting is going to finish) but was able to ready myself and wait expectantly right away. A Friend ministered on the words 'God bless you' from a poem and spoken from a man that she had given a lift to some 40 or so years ago.

Incidentally, while at Quaker Quest on Monday night, I heard one of the facilitators say that we are called Quakers and calling ourselves Friends is something informal. Funny that, because I understand us to be Friends of Truth originally and the Religious Society of Friends, not Quakers of Truth or the Religious Society of Quakers.

The speakers notes make the point too, 'speak of 'Quakers' rather than 'Friends'.

Amen.

slice of orange

2007-12-13T21:32:00.001Z

slice of orange
Originally uploaded by jez s

Hurray! I am now officially an uncle.

And I have two wonderful nieces.

5 years

2007-12-10T23:14:00.001Z

delivery to the RFH
Originally uploaded by jez s

Today, is international human rights day (10 December). Apart from with one person, I got by the whole day without mentioning it to anyone or discussing anything to do with human rights. This wasn't deliberate, or a challenge, just something that happened.

I went to Quaker Quest at Euston and they asked me to talk about Advices & Queries.

It was really tough, but when I analysed it afterwards with my friend G--- I learned that the problem with my talk was not in the information gathering, but the management of information. I simply hadn't given enough time to processing the information and preparing it for use.

It was good to have that time with a friend and to hear someone else's perspective.

I also met T--- again. We met at Westminster a few weeks ago. I went up and asked him his name at the beginning, because I wasn't sure if it was T--- or T---. But, yes, it is T---.

I learned tonight that there isn't a single document in Britain Yearly Meeting that has all the inspirational text through the ages together in one volume. Our current volume was finalised in 1994. Apparently, just as it was all being done and dusted, one Friend got up and said that they thought that there was another paragraph to go in. After sufficient time had passed, another Friend ministered - now is the time to live what we have put together and learned.

Brilliant.

We will love them in the trenches, loves them on the beaches etc.

So, it is five years now that we have been together. I was out at Quaker Quest, so we didn't do anything special together, but I did mention the anniversary in my talk about Advices & Queries... a long-term relationship brings tensions as well as fulfilment...

I look across at her and she smiles.

after facebook

2007-12-08T19:14:00.001Z

night sky
Originally uploaded by jez s

After facebook came kaioo (http://www.kaioo.com). When we got fed up of being the profit generators for the owners/founders of facebook, we moved on.

It doesn't have the applications, the numbers or anything yet, but neither did facebook when it started.

The major difference is that kaizoo is started and maintained as a not-for-profit with the members having a say each year in which charities will benefit from the profit. Good in principle and got to be better than facebook for that alone.

Watch this space, but not here, do it on kaioo. If you do join, also join up with the Rewrite group that i have set up on there (cheers!).

tried and tested

2007-12-06T22:35:00.001Z

Well worn, well used
Originally uploaded by jez s

So it seems that 'advices & queries' started out as an effort by the 'weighty' Quakers to set out a moral code for the rest. It was about setting boundaries for the community.

So where is our community today. When we think of and consider our advices and queries in Britain Yearly Meeting we are thinking about how we manage our community.

What would you change?

What speaks to you today?

I have a friend who has a friend, both Friends (ie Quakers, but i wanted to write that), who reads A&Q on the tube. If someone asks her about it, she gives them a copy. She keeps copies with her for this very purpose.

It takes me back to the point about telling people about Quakers, what we call outreach and what we mean when we try to avoid evangelism. In one sense, we are trying to help people know who and what we are, what we believe and where they might or might not fit in - too often I/we hear people say 'i wish that i had known about you before' or 'coming to Quakers was like coming home'.

In another sense, like those who came before us we are seekers of truth and we have a sense that there are some eternal truths, some answers here among our Quaker faith and it is important to share it.

We aren't just here in the Meeting for Worship, in Quaker Quest, on committees, in service in our employment, attending social events just because we 'came home' (well, not just that), we're here because we believe, we have faith and we want to grow.

It is not always silent, it is sometimes challenging, it is our lives.

amazing americans

2007-12-03T18:27:00.001Z

tacky plate
Originally uploaded by jez s

greencar.com named its green car of the year as the Chevrolet Tahoe. It is a 'hybrid', but with miles per gallon figures of about 20, Chevrolet's own website is happy to state that it is: 'offering fuel efficiency you never imagined'. Which might be amazing to your average American but is pretty dirty and disgusting if you're European, or concerned about the environment.

crossbars

2007-12-02T16:48:00.001Z

carouge football
Originally uploaded by jez s

Colchester United

Colchester United on the Soccer AM crossbar challenge, as one player takes off an item of clothing in each scene...

special

2007-11-29T17:57:00.001Z

delivery to the RFH
Originally uploaded by jez s

special special what did you get another day older and deeper in debt.

Had my haircut by George Thomas at John's in Old Street. George rode the wave of international celebrity in April when he was quoted in the Evening Standard, Independent and various international media after a Banksy graffitti above his barbering salon was painted over.

Some months later his prices haven't changed, he's as amenable as ever and he cut my hair for me. He thought a six was bit excessive but I was Adam Ant so he gave in.

I did have one double-take when I caught sight of myself in a mirror at work, but that was all.

My head doesn't feel cold but my chin did briefly this morning.

One of these days I will finish my review of Nicholas Mosse's international Quaker mug. I will, I promise myself, I will.

Why are there no words in my dictionary that begin ue?

The fondue joke will have to wait.

www.rewrite.org.uk

2007-11-27T20:58:00.001Z

Rewrite
Originally uploaded by jez s

the new website is live!

westminster: the good times

2007-11-27T20:31:00.001Z

westminster: the details
Originally uploaded by jez s

Not unreasonably, J--- pointed out on Saturday that my blog does cover some of the times when I wasn't enjoying worship at Westminster.

He's right it does and for reasons explored recently I haven't covered the good times so much just now.

So, while hoping to avoid tempting fate, I wish to announce that the good times are here and they're very much taking place at Westminster Quaker Meeting.

Sunday 11am to 12 noon; Tuesday 1pm to 1:30pm and Wednesday 6:15pm to 7pm are the worship days and times.

two seconds of my life wasted

2007-11-27T20:27:00.001Z

glass two
Originally uploaded by jez s

I took my phone out of my pocket. On the screen are the words "missed call from unknown caller. press green key".

I pressed the green key and saw a list of my recent calls. At the top is a new one from 'caller unknown'.

That's two seconds of my life wasted...

facebook

2007-11-27T18:51:00.001Z

us
Originally uploaded by jez s

'Jez is no longer listed as in a relationship' says my facebook profile, next to a picture of a broken heart.

But who on facebook needs to know about my relationships, if they don't already?

So I removed it and now I shall wait and see if anyone responds...

Goodbye sweet Colchester & Coggeshall...

2007-11-27T18:17:00.001Z

Friendly Street
Originally uploaded by jez s

When I first started going to Quaker Meetings, diving into deep silence to see what treasures I could reap from my own and others' souls, I treasured my first tentative steps along this new route.

I like so much, what I saw, heard and felt that I signed up and within a year was a member of the Quakers, official.

Because of the community-based origins of our religion, we have membership in our local Meetings and we the Quakers and our Meetings connect together. It is a never-ending jigsaw puzzle and we are the pieces.

So, I became a member of Colchester & Coggeshall Monthly Meeting, the name of the Meeting for the whole of the area. Colchester still has a vibrant Quaker Meeting and two Meetings for Worship each week.

Coggeshall's Meeting house is now a library, but the village has a rich vein of Quaker history.

There are other Meeting houses and communities within the Monthly Meeting umbrella, such as Earls Colne, Sudbury and Clacton-on-Sea.

In May, at the annual gathering of British Quakers, Britain Yearly Meeting (it meets yearly), it was collectively decided to change the names of our Meetings.

Monthly Meetings (which rarely meet monthly any more) would become Area Meetings. Preparative Meetings (the name of each worshipping community) would become Local Meetings.

In a way, this adaptation of names is actually a great step forward. Nothing about our worship and our way of living and celebrating God (experience before creed) would change, but we might become easier for outsider and newcomers to understand as well as being more truthful (can a Monthly Meeting still be called such if it does not meet together monthly?).

Broadly speaking, I am in favour of this change.

Well, I was, until my own Meeting, Coggeshall & Colchester Monthly Meeting changed its name.

Now I am a member of Southern East Anglia Quaker Meeting. Although some of may see it as a clearer and more comprehensive name I am feeling somewhat bereft at present. I feel rather like my crumbly old house with original exposed beams has been knocked down and replaced with a bland concrete skyscraper.

Where is the romance in Southern East Anglia Quaker Meeting?

On the other hand, the Meeting I am most closely involved with and a part of is Westminster. We have a particularly vibrant community there now, with a great mixture of experience, views, ages, backgrounds and great opportunities coming our way. Westminster Meeting used to be the name of both the Preparative and Monthly Meetings, but now we have Westminster Local Meeting and London West Quaker Meeting. That one feels to me more dynamic, like a whitetable architectural design, something that has pizzazz.

It might be a London thing, but I hope not.

It could have been worse, I suppose. I could have ended up in South-east East Anglia Quaker Meeting. And it is not so much the name of the community that is important as who and what it is and how we work and live and worship together.

So Southern East Anglia Quaker Meeting it is. I repeat it a few times and it starts to roll off the tongue a little more easily, feeling a little svelte even, Slowly but surely, I identify with SEAQM...

I beg your pardon?

2007-11-26T23:24:00.001Z

I beg your pardon?
Originally uploaded by jez s

maniac

2007-11-26T21:19:00.001Z

closedreach
Originally uploaded by jez s

I'm not using my blog as much, partly because of my job and the associations that come with being seen to be representative of my organisation and partly because I don't seem to have any time. And when I do have time, it is usually when I am walking somewhere or I am sleeping.

Anyway, the first call I took this morning was from a man who had something very very important to say. He had a message that was perhaps the most important message that I could ever hear.

Of course, I turned out not to be open to the message and the man was soon asking me if I thought that he was a maniac. I didn't and I said so, but he immediately challenged me on that point again.

It was at this moment in time that I realised being repeatedly asked by a man if I thought he was a maniac actually planted the seeds in my mind that I might be talking to a maniac.

I'm sure that he isn't and that he does have an important message, but it is true, I'm not open to it.

I try to be open to the light of Christ and open to whatever ways God reveals himself to me in my experience, but I'm not open to everything.