THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN

YEARLY MEETING 2016 To be held at Kings Hospital School Palmerstown Dublin 20 31st March to 3rd April 2016

Who is My Neighbour?

“How can we, such a small insignificant group of people as the Society of Friends help to stem the tide of evil and hate, and greed and fear that is so wide-spread in the world today?” - C Winifred Lamb, c. 1954 – QL&P 4.13

Yearly Meeting Office, Quaker House, Stocking Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

1 Thursday 31st March

15.00 – 16.00 Arrival and Reception, tea/coffee

16.00 – 17.30 Session 1 Thought for the Day Richard S Harrison

Epistle from Summary of Epistles from other Yearly Meetings – Joan Huddleston Appoint Friends to check the minutes during Yearly Meeting. Appoint a Friend to send a report to The Friendly Word. Appoint a Nominations committee for the duration of Yearly Meeting.

Reading Catriona R Phelan

17.45 – 19.00 Evening meal

19.00 – 20.45 Ministry & Oversight (open to all Friends & Attenders) Presented by:- Marisa Johnson FWCC-EMES Secretary “The Gift of Conflict”

20.45 Tea/coffee

21.15 – 21.45 Epilogue – David L Gamble

Friday 1st April

09.00 – 10.00 Bible Study - led by Rosemary I Sinton Worship Sharing – facilitated by Declan Barry

10.10 – 11.15 Session 2 Thought for the day Elizabeth Dickson

Peace Committee Sean McCrum Quaker Service (Ulster) Janette McKnight

11.15 Tea/coffee

2 11.45 – 13.00 Session 3

Reading Marie Abbott

Report from Ministry & Oversight Session Finance and Statistics Patricia NiChoigligh YM Treasurer Education Committee Pleasaunce M Perry – Child Protection Update

13.15 – 14.15 Lunch

13.30 – 14.15 Healing Group – facilitated by Pauline Goggin

14.15 – 15.45 Interest Groups - see page 6 for details

15.45 – 16.15 Tea/Coffee

16.45 – 18.00 Session 4

Purposes & Priorities Working Group – Update, Hopes & Plans for the Future Historical Committee J Glynn Douglas Elizabeth Dickson The Role of in Education Today

Reading Eckhard Vogelsang

18.00 Evening meal

19.30 – 21.00 PUBLIC LECTURE "Who is my Neighbour? What is our Testimony on Inclusion?”

Given by William D A Haire

Tea/Coffee

21.15 - 21.45 Epilogue – Ciara L Harrison

3 Saturday 2nd April

09.00 – 10.00 Bible Study - led by Sheilagh Reaper-Reynolds Worship Sharing – facilitated by Denise Gabuzda

10.00 – 11.15 Session 5

Thought for the day Siobhan M M Walshe Yearly Meeting’s Committee Report Quaker Council for European Affairs Andrew Lane “Who is my neighbour in Europe” 11.15 – 11.45 Tea/Coffee

11.45 – 13.00 Session 6

Draft epistle Irish Quaker Faith in Action Session: Nigel Bell and Peter Ramsey Working With Homeless People Peter McVerry SJ, of the Peter McVerry Trust, which works with homeless people Reading - Claire E Sinton

13.15 _ 14.15 Lunch

14.15 – 15.45 Interest Groups – see page 6 for details

15.45 – 16.15 Tea/Coffee

16.15 – 18.00 Session 7

Draft Epistle Young Friends Reports Reports from Representatives to FWCC Plenary in Peru

Reading Amy J Kellett

18.00 – 19.30 Evening meal

4 19.30 - 21.30 Table Quiz organised by Simon Lamb & Jonny Poole Followed by tea and coffee

21.15 – 21.45 Epilogue – Loretta O’Brien

Sunday 3rd April

10.00 - 11.00 Session 8 Epistle Appointment of Clerks Closing Minute

11.00 – 12.00 Concluding Meeting for Worship

12.30 – 14.15 Lunch

NOTES  Sessions of Yearly Meeting are open to all Members. Others should obtain the permission to attend by writing to the Clerk, email [email protected] or by post to the office. (address on front page.)

 This programme is subject to alteration as the Yearly Meeting may direct

 Documents in Advance are available for many of the items of business, and may be taken as read.

 Hand-held microphones are to be used by those speaking from the body of the Meeting during business sessions. Please signal your wish to speak by standing up; when you have been handed a microphone and acknowledged by the Clerk you are free to speak.

CLERKS of Ireland Yearly Meeting Clerk Daniel H Sinton Assistant Clerks Nigel Hampton Bairbre Nic Aongusa Recording Clerk C Rosemary H Castagner

Yearly Meeting on Ministry and Oversight Clerk Margrit Grey

5 SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THESE

FRIDAY 2.15 to 3.45 1. Basic Income – An idea whose time has arrived? Facilitated by Tony Weekes and JJ Power. “Do not be content to accept things as they are, but keep an alert and questioning mind. Seek to discover the causes of social unrest, injustice and fear; try to discern the new growing-points in social and economic life [Quaker Faith and Practice, 23.01] We are living in strange times, marked by increasing economic inequality and insecurity. The ‘conventional wisdom’ no longer works. It is time to consider the benefits of a Basic Income, an idea which is being taken seriously worldwide. This session will present the benefits and constructively discuss the objections and the obstacles.

2. Getting the most out of our Committee system Facilitated by: Members of the Purposes & Priorities Working Group How can we simplify our organisational structures to help our Committees genuinely support the spiritual lives of our Meetings?

3. Breathing the Psalms Facilitated by Ian Woods This is an experiential group combining awareness breathing and psalm recitation (mainly of Psalm 23) hoping to deepen our experience of the Psalms. Wordings will be provided. Overall number of participants limited to 20.

SATURDAY 2.15 to 3.45

4. A Quaker View of the UN Climate Summit Facilitated by: Members of the EcoQuakers Ireland Committee Agreement was reached at the UN Climate Summit to take measures to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees. What does this mean for us and our Quaker Meetings?

5. For those who are interested to gather in the Name of Jesus to Worship - Share our experiences and Hope in Christ. Introduced by Charles B. Lamb, Western Regional MM and Carolyn McMullan, Lurgan MM This interest group will explore what we know Experimentally of Christ Jesus speaking to our Condition; Living and worshipping adventurously while seeking to put into practice Christ's example. What part does the Holy Spirit play in our lives?

6. Meet the Public Lecturer William DA Haire Develop further the thoughts, ideas and concerns in Friday evening's public lecture, "Who is my Neighbour? What is our Testimony on Inclusion?”

6 INFORMATION

Kings Hospital School is situated off Junction 7 of the M50, follow the signs for the N4. A detailed map and instructions will be available.

Public Transport – The following bus routes, from the city centre to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre will get you there, 25,25a,26b, 66, 66a, 66b, 67.

Accommodation - Dormitory style accommodation is available in the school. Please note that there may be up to 4 people per room. Bed linen will be provided but please bring your own towels.

Lunches and evening meals will be served in the school and breakfast for those staying in the School

Parking is available at Kings Hospital School

Meals and accommodation should be pre-booked, using the forms available from your Meeting, from the Office, or from the members’ part of the website. Please book meals and/or accommodation no later than 18th March 2016. This date is also the closing date for Children’s, Young People’s and Young Friends applications. Bursary Help is available to towards the expenses of any Friend who would otherwise be prevented from attending Yearly Meeting. Please put a note on your meal form if you wish to apply.

Programmes are arranged for children, teenagers, and Young Friends. Forms must be returned by the 18th March otherwise places may not be available. At all other times, parents are responsible for the supervision and safety of children under 18 years.

The Market Place will be open between sessions, in the central main corridor and will feature the Yearly Meeting bookstall, several displays, and Irish Quaker Faith in Action fund-raising Sale. Please bring and buy garden produce, baking, books, bric-a-brac, but nothing electrical, no junk!

Pets are not allowed on the premises but guide dogs are acceptable.

7 REPRESENTATIVES Ann Floyd Britain Yearly Meeting Marilyn Higgins Britain Yearly Meeting Lutz Caspers German Yearly Meeting Stephen Collett Norway Yearly Meeting Eva Katona Hungary Yearly Meeting Wils ‘tHart Netherlands Yearly Meeting

VISITORS Phyllis Reynolds Evanston MM, Illinois Marisa Johnson FWCC/EMES Secretary Andrew Lane QCEA Saskia Kuhlmann Netherlands YM Young Friend

OTHER CHURCHES Rev Ása Björk Ólafsdóttir Ms Ruth Handy Irish Council of Churches Methodist Church Rev Brian Anderson Roman Catholic Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

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