Brighton Friends News A Monthly Publication of Brighton Quaker Meeting February 2020 www.brightonquakers.net Issue 303

Holocaust Memorial Day 2020

Holocaust Memorial Day in Brighton Meeting House.

Last year six of us formed a group to plan what we might do in 2020 to honour the Holocaust and the many other similar atrocities that have happened since. This is a tradition in Brighton Meeting. We often just have a silent Vigil with candles available to light, held on the nearest Sunday to the 27th.

January 2020 marked the 75th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz as well as 25 years since the genocides in Bosnia. This has increased the public focus on the issue and made it more important that host an event. Our plans evolved as we made contact with partner groups. We arranged two main speakers - Anthea Ballam, Co-Chair of Brighton & Hove Interfaith Contact Group, and David Selo, a member of the Liberal Synagogue in Hove, as well as the Interfaith Group. We also invited Maggie Hall from the Humanist Society to read a poem. We felt that some music would enhance the event and we were fortunate that Caroline Kendall was able to come with her guitar. We invited the Mayor and the Lord Lieutenant but neither was able to attend. However, the Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs Maureen Chowen and her husband Michael Chowen were able to be with us.

Friends prepared the room, put out tables with candles and adjusted the lighting appropriately in time for the Vigil to begin at 3pm. I arrived at 3.45 and walked into a profound and gathered silence which remained, in spite of people coming and going. Several more people came in when the Vigil ended and the speakers took their places. I began by welcoming everyone and introducing the speakers, then read from Quaker Faith & Practice Chapter 24.24. The Deputy Lieutenant spoke next, reiterating a recent speech by Charles Windsor at the Yad Vashem Memorial in Israel.

Caroline played and sang, in Spanish and English, a song called El Derecho de Vivir en Paz (The Right to live in Peace) by Victor Jara, a Chilean song writer. She later sang a prayer, “ help us”, from the Quaker Songbook, the words by Michael Leunig. Maggie read the moving poem by Martin Niemüller, Lutheran Pastor, “First they came for the Communists...”. Then we heard from David about his direct family links to the Holocaust, and heard readings of experiences of Auschwitz by 1 some survivors, as well as the account of Bosnian Muslims. Anthea’s talk stressed the importance of not being complacent. She reminded us that right now there are 40 known wars taking place and that people are being detained right now in UK Removal Centres. She ended by saying that we need to cherish and respect each other, to celebrate each other’s differences in terms of ideas, skin colour, beliefs and enthusiasms...we learn nothing from exterminating each other but we do learn from revering and celebrating life itself. See the whole of her talk by going to www.antbeat.co.uk.

We finished with a few moments of silence out of which Caroline sang the Celtic Blessing ‘Deep peace of the running wave to you’.

This was a sombre event, very appropriately held in the Meeting House; a significant meeting point for those of all faiths and none in the city. Vivienne Ross and other Friends present on the day 02/02/2020

University of Sussex

As part of my role as University Chaplain I run two weekly guided meditations to which all are invited.

Experiment with Light on Tuesdays is a guided meditation based on the Quaker practice devised by Rex Ambler in response to his research on spiritual practices of early Quakers, gained from their writings. These sessions are drop-in and can be attended by anyone, and are facilitated by a real human being, not simply a recording. The extensive period of reflection and sharing, common in Quaker Light groups, is omitted at the University for practical reasons of time and confidentiality, but the facilitator is available afterwards to answer any questions or address any issues that came up.

Focusing meditation on most Thursdays is a similar guided meditation based this time on the work of Eugene Gendlin at the University of Chicago in the 60s, who asked why conventional psychotherapy was not more effective. He identified a common attitude on the part of successfully treated patients that involved them attending to an ill-defined physical feeling, or "felt sense", that embodied the whole situation in which they found themselves. By carefully listening and inner dialogue with this felt sense, the Focuser can gain insights not available to rational analysis. The meditation presented here provides a taste of this process in a safe framework and is informed by the facilitator’s study towards a Basic Certificate in Focusing with a British Focusing Association accredited trainer. Again, it is a drop-in and the facilitator is available afterwards.

Both sessions take place in the University Meeting House chapel from 1.00 to 1.30. All are welcome.

Please contact me if you need directions or accessibility information. Jason Evans. University of Sussex Quaker Chaplain

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March – Free will-writing month

Information from Pat Norman

To have your will written for free, email your full name and address to [email protected] or phone 020 7033 1657 to request a referral. Amnesty International will refer you to the National Free Wills Network who will send you contact details for the six solicitors nearest you. (I suggest doing this asap as there are only a limited number of opportunities and they go quickly. Editor) https://www.amnesty.org.uk/makeawill

If you wish to make a bequest to Britain or your Area or Local Meeting please go to https://go.aws/2GT9CZj for more information and the required wording

……Friends should make wills in time of health and should obtain professional advice. Wills should be reviewed from

time to time, as due to change of circumstances it may be

wise for new wills to be made. ….

Quaker Faith & Practice 20.65

Fairtrade Fortnight

Each year at the Meeting House we mark Fairtade Fortnight, 24th February to March 8th this year. The purpose of the nationwide event is to highlight the lives of the people who grow much of our food and drink, and grow cotton for our clothes. These are people who are often overlooked, exploited and underpaid. This year the focus is on cocoa, and the special role women farmers play in the journey to achieve living incomes for communities in great poverty.

As usual we will have a display of materials from the Fairtrade Foundation informing us of the lives of the many people who need our support. The Foundation also has an excellent website full of information about how we can help more. We also hope to have a quilt, made by a women's collective in India, on display and for sale.

Please look at the displays during the fortnight and choose Fairtrade produce whenever you can. It does make a difference. www.fairtrade.org.uk

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The Feast of Silence

I wrote this poem after attending a retreat where meals were held in silence.

The Feast of Silence Fancy a morsel? If you’re a bit peckish, try a bite of stillness ….. There, how was that? A previous moment: a silent bite. Or maybe you’ve not eaten for a while, so enjoy a sharing platter! Enough silence for all But remember please To give a little peace to your neighbour. Still hungry? Here comes the main course: A whole bowl of stillness with side dishes Carefully crafted by each one of us with our thoughts, Warm, dry, sour sweet, bitter, cold, hot, some too spicy for your liking? Mix together these wordless bowls and eat your fill! Leave in your minds no words, just fill your hearts with care! There! The Feast of Silence. And yes, here is a doggy bag of fellowship and friendship to take home for others when we go.

Hugh Parrott

Global Tots

Our last "Global Tots" on 28th December was one of our best attended, with 10 children and 10 adults. Four of these were some of our stalwart helpers from Brighton and Ditchling Meetings. Numbers coming to the ‘Stay and Play’ fluctuate, but there are quite a few regulars now. Our provision for older siblings in the school holidays seems to be greatly appreciated as many groups close completely at this time.

We have revised our flyer to include older and younger women, and "Mums needing help with English who are new to Brighton", thus removing any stigma which could be felt with reference to "refugees and migrants" They do seem to enjoy the friendly atmosphere, and while we provide healthy snacks for the children, mothers now often bring home-baked contributions to share.

The budget from our last Appeal has so far been sufficient for buying snacks and helping with bus fares, and should not require topping up until next year. We would always welcome more volunteers, even on an occasional basis, because this gives us a better ratio for our English language support. We are most grateful for all those who help set up the room after Meeting on Sundays. Angela Bargawi. 5 January 2020

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Nontheist Friends Network That’s the spirit! Dimensions of spirituality Weekend Conference, 28 and 29 March 2020, Friends House, London • What do we mean by spirit and spirituality? • Has our understanding of these words evolved? • Are these words useful today? Keynote speakers: • Gill Pennington, former Spirituality Tutor, Woodbrooke Study Centre • Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, Humanists UK • Dinah Livingstone, editor of Sofia (Sea of Faith magazine) £50 including dinner on the Saturday night and lunch on Sunday. For details and booking see www.nontheist-quakers.org.uk or contact [email protected] (tel 01792 367461). Organised by the Nontheist Friends Network.

Brighton Christian Climate Action

Warmly welcomes you to an INTERFAITH AFTERNOON EXPLORING THE CLIMATE CRISIS - reflecting on our response to it as different faith communities, and considering ways we can use our resources to create positive change and work together for good. SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 1.30-4.30PM ONE CHURCH, FLORENCE ROAD, BRIGHTON BN1 6DL

• There will be a bring-and-share vegetarian lunch and time to connect with each other • A climate talk from a local Extinction Rebellion speaker • Time of reflection and discussion in our faith groups, and for prayer/meditation • Time to share our feedback and ideas on ways forward, and how faith communities can work together.

We also hope to offer some live music, and a family friendly activity, details to be confirmed! (PLEASE RSVP, or send any questions to Ali at [email protected] and check us out, Brighton Christian Climate Action on Facebook)

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Quakers and Shakers

This article is copied from Chichester Local Meeting newsletter, published July 2019.

Those friends who took part in our annual Spring Clean may be interested to hear how such events were organised among the Shakers.

The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, more commonly known as the Shakers, were a Century American religious community founded by Ann Lee, an English factory worker. After a series of visions she came to see herself as the female manifestation of Christ and emigrated to America in 1774. By the 1840s the Shakers had nearly 6,000 members in eighteen communities and they only died out completely in the 1970s – not helped by the fact that they were celibate.

The Shakers are renowned for the quality and simplicity of the goods they produced, particularly their furniture. Activities followed a seasonal pattern, and when a task needed many hands, work ‘bees’ or ‘frolics’ were held. In the 1840s there was the phenomenon of “Mother Ann’s Sweeping Gift”; a day was set aside to thoroughly rid the entire premises of “evil spirits”. In addition to actual cleaning and sweeping a few chosen individuals marched through the village chanting and moving “spiritual brooms”.

Mother Ann also told her followers to “put your hands to work and your hearts to God” and to “work as if you had a thousand years to live and as if you were to die tomorrow”.*

Perhaps there are things we could learn from Mother Ann! Jenny Webb Chichester Local Meeting May, 2019 *Taken from B. Gordon (1980) Shaker Textile Arts

Come regularly to meeting for worship even when you are angry, depressed, tired or spiritually cold. In the silence ask for and accept the prayerful support of others joined with you in worship. Try to find a spiritual wholeness which encompasses suffering as well as thankfulness and joy. Prayer, springing from a deep place in the heart, may bring healing and unity as nothing else can. Let meeting for worship nourish your whole life. Quaker Faith & Practice Advices and Queries No. 10

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Inter Faith Contact Group

Interfaith Prayers – March 3

Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue, 6 Lansdowne Road, will host the prayer sessions until July 2020. The sessions will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8 pm.

All welcome of any faith or none. www.interfaithcontactgroup.com

Annual General Meeting There will be a short business meeting followed by the wonderful IFCG film on the theme “The Tree of Life” plus a few speakers talking about their faith and the environment. Gerard Rosenberg will speak about the Adur tree project. We encourage Friends to come to what we hope will be an inspiring afternoon.

Brighton , Ship Street, Brighton 2.30pm on Sunday 15th March

Teas and cakes will be served.

80th Birthday Celebrations Dear Friends, During 2020 we will both have our 80th birthdays. We’d all be very happy if you’d join us along with Barbara Barber, Mary McCullough, Claire and Martin Edmunds, who have also turned 80, for a shared lunch after Meeting for Worship on Sunday March 22, and celebrate with us. We’ll bring a dish, a cake and some music. Please let us know if you are able to join us. Chris and Stella East

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Yearly Meeting Gathering

Yearly Meeting Gathering 2020 is to be held at the University of Bath, Saturday August 1 to Friday August 7.

The theme this year is: Listening, prophecy & reconciliation: allyship in a climate emergency

For more information go to https://www.quaker.org.uk/ym

All Friends are reminded that bursary help is available to attend YMG if needed. Speak to Overseers. No-one should feel unable to attend due to financial constraints.

Community in Action

Sunday Community Afternoon We are organizing activities for the community to get together every other month at 12 noon, after Sunday Meeting. We hope to have a mix of serious events and fun times, events for both older and younger friends, with some activities in the Meeting House and some out and about. Proposed but to be confirmed events: March 8- We are hoping to show the film "War School" followed by a shared lunch (the 3rd Sunday is booked for an Interfaith meeting) May 17 - Bluebell walk followed by going to a cafe July 19 - Visit to Knepp Castle rewilding estate followed by going to their cafe. September 19 - Foraging at Stanmer Park followed by going to the café

Third Sunday Workshop – February 16 “Talking about Quakerism – Testimonies”. This is first in a series Brighton Meeting Elders Tapestry Our tapestry will be available to work on at 12 noon on the second and fourth Sundays. All are welcome to come and put in a few stitches. This makes it OUR tapestry, a community tapestry. When finished, it will hang in the café. All are welcome to join in.

Brighton Young Quakers Brighton Young Quakers meet every first and third Tuesday of the month at 19:00 for 19:15 in the Quiet Room of Brighton Meeting House. If there is a fifth Tuesday we do something adventurous! We meet together for tea and biscuits, worship, and an activity.

We welcome all those who identify as young adults, although for safeguarding reasons the lower age is 18. Those who are Quakers, Quaker-ish and Quaker- interested are all welcome. For more information please contact me at [email protected] Matt Alton 8

When you are preoccupied and distracted in meeting let wayward and disturbing thoughts give way quietly to your awareness of God’s presence among us and in the world. Receive the vocal ministry of others in a tender and creative spirit. Reach for the meaning deep within it, recognising that even if it is not God’s word for you, it may be so for others. Remember that we all share responsibility for the meeting for worship whether our ministry is in silence or through the spoken word. Quaker Faith & Practice Advices and Queries No. 12

Appeals

Our February Appeal is for funds to support Friend of Hlekweni Zimbabwe – a UK-based charity whose purpose is to support education and peace-building work in Zimbabwe, principally in the areas around Bulawayo and, more widely, in Matabeleland. It also aims to help (in small ways) those suffering from hardship, especially young people. It was originally set up to support the work of the Quaker- run Friends Rural Training Centre at Hlekweni, near Bulawayo.

Brighton Meeting diary

Meetings for Worship

Regular Meetings for Worship Sundays 9.30–10.15am Quiet Room 10.30–11.30am main Meeting Room 5.00–5.45pm main Meeting Room Wednesdays 12.30–1.00pm Quiet Room

All Age Worship March 8 June 14

Children’s Meeting Meet twice a month on the dates below. Each month there will be planned activities and a crèche will also be available on those days for the very young children. February 9 & 23 March 8 & 22 April 5 & 19

Welcoming The rota for welcoming people arriving at the 10.30am Meeting for Worship is organised by Sian Jasper. Welcoming is an opportunity to serve Meeting and a good way of getting to know people. If you would like to help, please contact Sian at [email protected]

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Workshops and community events

Open Meeting is held every Sunday except the first and third Sundays of the month, at 12 noon, and is open to everyone – visitors, attenders and members. It is a chance to share how Meeting was for us and to discuss our Quaker faith in an open and informal way.

Sunday Community Afternoon Proposed but to be confirmed events: March 8 - "War School" film followed by a shared lunch (the 3rd Sunday is booked for an Interfaith meeting) May 17 - Bluebell walk followed by going to a café July 19 - Visit to Knepp Castle and go to their café September 19 - Foraging at Stanmer Park followed by going to the café

Third Sunday Workshop – February 16 “Talking about Quakerism – Testimonies”. This is the first in a series Brighton Meeting Elders

Brighton Young Quakers Young adults, 18+, meet every first and third Tuesday of the month at 19:00 for 19:15 in the Quiet Room of Brighton Meeting House. If there is a fifth Tuesday we do something adventurous! For more information please contact Matt Alton at [email protected]

Being Friends Together Groups Being Friends Together Groups are a sociable way to find out more about Quakerism and to participate in discussions within the confines of a small group. They generally meet within each other’s homes one evening per month. There are two groups covering the Brighton area.

East Group - Please contact Alan Stratford for more information. Hove Group - meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Next two meetings are on February 11 and March 10 at 7.30 pm at Helen Ledger’s home. Meetings for Quaker business

The next Meeting for Worship for Business (MWB) is on Sunday March 1 at 12 noon. Items for MWB must be sent to the at least one week before the meeting, i.e. February 23. The only exceptions are emergencies that arise during the week before MWB. Please email [email protected] or write to clerks c/o The Meeting House. If you are a newcomer or attender and would like to join us, please speak to the Clerk, who will be able to explain the procedures.

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Area Meetings for Worship for Business in 2020 Saturday March 21 at Chichester Saturday May 16 at Worthing Saturday July 18 at Ditchling Saturday September 19 at Bognor Regis

Saturday November 21 at Brighton

All Area Meetings start at 10.30 am and include a ‘bring and share lunch’.

Sussex and Surrey Regional Meetings in 2020 Saturday March 28 at Eastbourne, ‘Simpler Meetings’ with Jonathan Carmichael and Carrie Comfort. Saturday June 27 at Littlehampton, ‘Reaching out to Russia’ with Moscow British Committee with Friends House Saturday September 26 at Guildford, ‘Holding Difficult Conversations in Meetings’ with Ivan Hutnik and Restoring Relations Team Saturday November 28 at Dorking, ‘Money and Tax Justice for the Common Good’ with Justin Thacker and a speaker from GIMMS

All meetings start at 10.30 for 11.00. There will be a ‘bring and share’ lunch.

Information Copies of MWB and Area Meeting minutes, as well as other reports on Quaker affairs and concerns, are available on the information table in the corridor.

Notices Notices to be read out after Meeting for Worship should be sent to [email protected]. The deadline for notices is Friday evening.

Newsletter Contributions

The editor wants the newsletter to reflect the diversity of thinking and experience of members and attenders. If this is to be your newsletter, we need your input: thoughts on the meeting, a passage that has inspired you, a book review, a drawing, something to share with others that might help us grow in community and spirit. Please send your contributions to the editor, Jackie Robinson at [email protected]

The deadline for the March newsletter is February 28. The editor has the right to edit contributions or hold them over until the next issue, particularly where this is necessary in order to avoid blank pages.

It is the responsibility of contributors to decide how much of their personal details should be given. To receive the newsletter by email or post, please contact the editor.

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Brexit

On the evening of 31st January seven of us met in the Quiet Room for a Meeting for Worship to acknowledge the event. It had the quality of a funeral, for an important relationship that was ending after 47 years. Ministry was a sharing of what the EU had meant to us: memories; shared values of co-operation and widening horizons; new food, like calabrese broccoli and yoghurt; enjoying festivals with friends from different nationalities; living on an island, and how the sea both divides us from and unites us with those who live on the other side of it; and how we can still embrace values of co-operation and friendship no matter what the politicians do.

After the Meeting was over, we spontaneously hugged and sang the Ode to Joy - though none of us knew the words! Afterwards I looked them up. It is a poem written by Schiller: “Joy ... your magic binds together what custom strictly parted. All men become brothers where your gentle wing rests … But he who has failed in this (to have a loving wife and be a true friend) must steal away alone and tearfully …” It is a powerful and beautiful song, no wonder the EU chose it as their anthem. Shame about the patriarchal language! But it was written in the 18th Century.

Faith, Hope and Charity still abide. Penny Cloutte WE'LL BE BACK!

We'll be back, with humility, having shed our 'emperor's clothes' of colonial majesty and entitlement.

We'll be back having given up our neoliberal power trip.

We'll be back seeking to work alongside others for a resilient and compassionate future.

We'll be back when our amazing young people with their new vision for our world take their positions of influence.

Wait for us. We'll be back. Susan White Published by Brighton Quaker Meeting www.brightonquakers.net Registered as a charity in England: 1147831

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