Last August, whilst travelling among Friends in the US, I listened online to Ben Pink Dandelion’s Swarthmore Lecture, delivered to a crowd of Quakers at (British) Yearly Meeting Gathering. As with the previous year’s lecture by Gerald Hewitson, I felt strongly affirmed in my individual Quaker identity, and challenged in my commitment to Quakerism as… Continue reading Reflections on the 2014 Swarthmore Lecture. Part 1 – Seeking clarity on being Quaker
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Arriving at Othona, Bradwell
In the north-eastern corner of the Dengie peninsula, bordered by the Blackwater and Crouch estuaries in the county of Essex, is the village of Bradwell-on-Sea. Go a little further east from the village and you will reach Othona. This is where I’m living and working for the next seven months, the final stop of our… Continue reading Arriving at Othona, Bradwell
Guest blogger: Adrian answers a practical question
Happy New Year blog-readers! After the busy mania of the festive season, and a wonderful holiday on the Norfolk coast (with no internet), our purposeful adventure continues. We've arrived safe and sound in Essex, and we're into our first week on the core team at Othona, Bradwell-on-sea. There's a lot to do. Once we've found… Continue reading Guest blogger: Adrian answers a practical question
A Meeting for Worship for Renewal
This Saturday (or 7th day) past, six of us met at the Priory Rooms in central Birmingham to have a ‘Meeting for Worship for Renewal’. This occasion sprang from the Quaker Renewal UK Facebook group set up to discuss issues raised by Ben Pink Dandelion’s recent Swarthmore lecture. Prompted by my assertion that renewal must… Continue reading A Meeting for Worship for Renewal
The importance of support
What has become clear to us through our visits to intentional communities, is that pastoral support, both individual and cooperate, is vital. Visits to personal spiritual directors and counsellors are common, and sometimes a requirement of community membership. Regular scheduled ‘check-in’ sessions, where people can share their struggles and triumphs, is a healthy rhythm to… Continue reading The importance of support
An update on our Purposeful Adventure
We’ve been in Birmingham for a month now and it’s definitely winter. After three weeks at Carrs Lane Lived Community, we decided to leave. This was entirely our decision. We are grateful to Steph, Matt, Melissa and Sister Mary Joseph who were incredibly generous in their hospitality, welcoming us into their home, sharing of meals… Continue reading An update on our Purposeful Adventure
Arriving at Carrs Lane Lived Community
Amidst the hustle of Birmingham city centre, there is an unusual experiment in community occurring. Carrs Lane Lived Community (CLLC) began in the summer of 2013, when married couple Stephanie and Matthew where invited to start an intentional community in an apartment at the Church at Carrs Lane. This year, they gained a new member… Continue reading Arriving at Carrs Lane Lived Community
Goodbye QIV-C
Our adventures in the USA are coming to a close. I spent this morning re-reading my blog posts of the last few months. We’ve packed a lot in! Now I’m taking time to reflect on this first stage of our ‘purposeful adventure’ as we prepare for our journey home and the next stage in Birmingham… Continue reading Goodbye QIV-C
Friends of Jesus Fellowship and Quaker Renewal UK
The Spirit moved in mysterious ways and sent us on a 1,300 mile journey. After much indecision about whether we should go to the Friends of Jesus Fellowship (FoJF) Fall gathering in Ohio, we decided it was too far, too expensive, and just plain unworkable. Resigned to a quiet weekend on the land, we got… Continue reading Friends of Jesus Fellowship and Quaker Renewal UK
Thoughts on Quaker Membership
Postcard Quaker schoolteacher Thomas K. Brown established Back Log Camp on the banks of Indian Lake in the Adirondack Mountains in 1911. Thomas was married to Caroline Cadbury, of the Quaker Cadbury dynasty. For a time the camp was run as a business. Now it functions entirely as a private camp for Thomas and Caroline’s descendants,… Continue reading Thoughts on Quaker Membership
Jolly Quaker 