All posts by Trevor

A wandering soul, often in different places.
General Quaker interest, NFN Events

MfW+Creative Conversation – 2 March – David Boulton – Blessed are the peacemakers

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Dear Friends,
Thank you for registering for our Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation, organized by the NFN, UK.

2 March’s QM+CC will introduce the concern Blessed are the peacemakers
How should we interpret our Peace Testimony in the light of current world conflicts, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Are we pacifists, passivists or peacemakers? Our commitment to peace was rooted in a theistic understanding of what was required of us. When we have taken leave of God, what is the basis of that commitment? 
David Boulton is a former president of Friends Historical Society, a former editor of the CND journal Sanity and his books include Objection Overruled, described by The Observer as “the classic account of conscientious objection in World War 1”.
Please arrive early, as the Meeting will start promptly at 7PM GMT/2PM EST.  The Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM.
We ask that you please do not share the Zoom link with interested Friends, but encourage them to email the Clerk (clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk) to register. You may unregister/unsubscribe at any time by replying to this email address.
Format:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions in break-out rooms and in the plenary with all participants.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m

You will automatically receive Zoom links to subsequent Meetings, approximately one week beforehand and a reminder the day of.  There is no need to re-register. We ask that you please do not share the Zoom link with interested Friends, but encourage them to email the Clerk (clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk) to register. You may unregister/unsubscribe at any time by replying to this email address.

See you soon.

In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network

Conferences, General Quaker interest, NFN Events

Meetings of interest to NFN members.

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Our next Meeting + Creative Conversation is due on Thursday 2nd March at 7pm UK time. https://nontheist-quakers.org.uk/events/

Nontheist Friends in America are having their next meeting online: “The next NTF online gathering will be at 4-5:30pm ET on February 26, the last Sunday in February. We will be responding to The Atheist’s Guide to Quaker Process: Spirit-Led Decisions for the Secular by Selden Smith (Pendle Hill Pamphlet #472). Happily, the author will be with us. He is eager to hear what you have to say.”

I think this will be 9-10.30 pm in UK, Ireland and Portugal and 10-11.30 pm in most of Europe but please check with a time converter from Eastern Time (East coast of USA).
You can find details on their google group: https://groups.google.com/g/nontheist-friends  (if you can’t access this you can email Robin Alpern <robin.alpern@gmail.com> with an explanation of your Quaker/nontheist interest to ask to join.) (Their website appears to be down again at present).

The Quaker Universalist Group (QUG) are having their next meeting for worship and sharing  on Wednesday February 15th at 7 p.m. It will be introduced by Hazel Barker under the title The Power of Intention. https://qug.org.uk/february-meeting-for-worship-and-sharing/

We are still looking forward to volunteers coming forward to organise an NFN Conference. In the meantime, QUG’s upcoming conference is at Woodbrooke: Friday May 12th to Sunday May 14th (At Woodbrooke and online) on the topic How creativity expresses and enhances spirituality across the world.
 https://qug.org.uk/conferences/conference-2023/

 

AGM, General Quaker interest, NFN Events

NFN Website Report 2022 (for Jan 2023 AGM)

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Our next Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation will be on
2 February QM+CC at 7PM GMT/2PM EST by Zoom, and will introduce the concern, How have I reached a non-theist position – or have I?
Before the meeting, registered participants will receive the Zoom link along with a selection of questions and definitions to ponder.
Details have already been sent out by email and will follow here later. (Not the Zoom link, you should email for that if not already registered)

In the meantime, our AGM is  at 7pm UK time this Thursday the 19th of January 2023 and an agenda and the Zoom link to members will follow soon.

Here is my NFN Website Report 2022 (for Jan 2023 AGM) (.doc) (.pdf)

Trevor

AGM, General Quaker interest, NFN Events, Non-theism

Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation 5th January 7pm

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Our next and last event ahead of the AGM on 19th January
Dear Friends,

Thank you for registering for our Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation, organized by the NFN, UK.

5 January’s QM+CC will introduce the concern from  Quaker faith & practice: 23.09:
“We are all the poorer for the crushing of one man, since the dimming of the Light anywhere darkens us all.” Michael Sorensen, 1986
Queries to consider: How do we as non-theist Quakers work at repairing the world? What is the source of this inspiration?
Please arrive early, as the Meeting will start promptly at 7PM GMT/2PM EST.  The Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM.
If you have not already registered then email the Clerk (clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk) to register and receive the zoom link.
Format:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern introduced; followed by interactive discussions in break-out rooms and in the plenary with all participants.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m

You will automatically receive Zoom links to subsequent Meetings, approximately one week beforehand and a reminder the day of.  There is no need to re-register. We ask that you please do not share the Zoom link with interested Friends, but encourage them to email the Clerk (clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk) to register. You may unregister/unsubscribe at any time by replying to this email address.
See you soon.
In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network
AGM, General Quaker interest, Non-theism

A nontheist Christmas?

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Quakers don’t famously do Christmas. (Consider the word order and absence of commas).

What more could you expect for Xmas except a Bumper Post? (This is it).
Tim has posted the details of the AGM and I will post the details for the intervening Meeting and Creative Conversation, which have already been sent out by email, soon.
For the AGM I’ll just remind everyone about the Constitution and:
8. Any proposed amendments to this constitution must be sent in writing to the Clerk at least 20 days* before the AGM. The Clerk will circulate them at least 10 days before the AGM. Only the AGM may authorise amendments. (* ie. by 30 December email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk).

It might be an idea to look at the Constitution now.

I have been reading Rhiannon Grant’s Quaker Quick Hearing the Light, (the metaphors are deliberately mixed).  A 60 page masterpiece (if that’s not incorrectly gendered) which I thoroughly recommend.  It’s I suppose a sort of follow up to Telling the Truth about God of which I’ve lent two copies as soon as bought so haven’t read yet.  Rhiannon’s belief in God is carefully explained and her position does not seem very far from that of ‘nonbelieving’ NFN members.  For more on this topic on this website see here.

This article on the Death of God by a Catholic writer might give more food for thought: https://christogenesis.org/the-death-of-god-and-the-rebirth-of-god/

As does this take on the ‘Divine‘ by Quaker nontheist Sam Barnett-Cormack.

Remembering Os Cresson’s Quaker and Naturalist too, Friends may find this website of interest: https://religious-naturalist-association.org/welcome/

If you want to treat yourself (or a Friend) for Christmas (and into February), this new course from Woodbrooke on the Gospel of Mary may be just the thing.  Meanwhile, the Bishops may have something to say about same-sex relationships.

Bearing in mind the recent poll (or was it a census result?) about declining religious belief in the UK, this latest post from Chuck Fager on the situation in the USA, is worth a read.

Now, please don’t let’s forget the poor billionnaires this Christmas as The Equality Trust (with Quaker connections – think The Spirit Level) write; their report is also written up in the Grauniad. (I’d favour 90-95 pence in the pound myself as used to be the case in the USA and I think the UK in the 60s or 70s). (A testimony to Equality?)

Not quite finally, here is Frank Cranmer’s post ‘What has Religion got to do with “Corporate Purpose”?’ on the Law and Religion blog.

If you fancy something scandalous for Christmas, here’s a book or two in another offering from the Church Times.

And finally, for Christmas, a nice picture of Suella Braverman.

Hope that will do for now.

General Quaker interest, NFN Events, Non-theism

Something or other?

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Delightful post (today) from Chuck Fager about ‘Something’ (or whatever you call it):
https://afriendlyletter.com/renegade-quaker-theology-my-breaking-point-summer-2011/

‘We’ nontheists don’t agree with Chuck do we? You have to admire his Catholic leaning grim sense of humour (humor?) and fate though.

See you Thursday?

NFN Events, NFN website

Changes to the website November 2022

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I have updated the Events page and the nfn-monthly-meeting-for-worship-and-creative-conversation page to reflect current events. The latter page is substantially redundant, except for holding the recordings of the first 11 talks from March 2021 to April 2022, but does still give the basic information about the meetings and how we got here and does re-direct you to the Events page. You can have some fun following links in circles here.

I have also (after some years) updated the ‘How to?’ (use this website) page so it bears some resemblance to the current situation. Now you can have some more fun following links in circles, especially on a mobile device. Let me know how you get on!

Trevor

General Quaker interest, NFN Events, Non-theism

Next meeting: Thursday 1 December 2022

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(early notice this time!)

Dear Friends,

Many thanks to Rosemary for inspiring a compassionate and keening listening Meeting in November.

1 December’s Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation will introduce the concern,  “Ideas for Creative Conversation Topics” at 7PM UK time by Zoom.

Summary: What topics would participants like to see covered in future Creative Conversations?  If you have a suggestion or interest that you would enjoy hearing discussed, this is a perfect time to share those thoughts.
General layout: 
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM UK time, please arrive early. 
• 7PM UK time: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting. 
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Different participants will introduce a thought provoking, occasionally debatable question, brief statement, and/or reading.  This will be followed by an inspired discussion amongst all participants for creative exchanges and opportunities to disagree.
• Conclusion: Thoughts and a few moments to share silence. 
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community. 
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m Additional information about our QM+CC can be found on our website. 

If you are interested in attending and have not registered, please reply to this email or email the clerk as below.

If you previously registered, there is no need to re-register, you are on the list.  You will automatically receive Zoom links to this and subsequent Meetings, approximately one week before each Meeting and a reminder the day of.  We ask that you please do not share the Zoom link with interested Friends, but encourage them to email the Clerk (clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk) to register. You may unregister/unsubscribe at any time by replying to this email address.

In Friendship,
The QM+CC Working group (Gisela Creed, John Senior, William Purser, and Kiera Faber)
Nontheist Friends Network 

ALL are welcome to attend Nontheist Friends Network events regardless of Membership, beliefs, and/or religious affiliation. If you would like to support NFN and our endeavours, please consider becoming a Member by filling out our Membership submission form and contributing £10.  Thank you in advance for your generous support!

 

General Quaker interest, NFN website, Non-theism

Tonight’s meeting Thursday 3 November 2022 7pm

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A friendly reminder!

See you soon.
-NFN UK

3 November’s Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation will introduce the topical conversation, “Spiritual practice among nontheist Friends” at 7PM UK time by Zoom.  (Please note:  On 30 October the clocks go back in the UK and they will be on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  If you are in the US or Canada, the Meeting will be at 3pm EDT/12pm PDT, because the clocks don’t go back until 6 November.)
Summary: There will be opportunity for Friends to share experience of their own spiritual practice and how it contributes to being Quaker.
This will be followed by a short presentation of findings from a Woodbrooke Eva Koch project in 2021 which included a study of the variety of personal spiritual practice of 25 Friends.

November’s Format:
• Zoom Room opens at 6:45PM (UK time), please arrive early.
• 7PM: Welcome and Quaker Meeting (~20 minutes): Sharing silence with one another for quietly gathering ourselves and connecting.
• Creative Conversation and Discussion (~1 hour): Concern briefly introduced for preliminary sharing in facilitated break-out rooms followed by further reflection and inspirational sharing in the plenary.
• Conclusion Presentation: Sharing of Eva Koch project findings and a few moments to share silence.
• After Announcements the Zoom Room will remain open for friendly chats and community.
• Duration:1hr:30m-2hr:00m
You will automatically receive Zoom links to subsequent Meetings, approximately one week beforehand and a reminder the day of.  There is no need to re-register. We ask that you please do not share the Zoom link with interested Friends, but encourage them to email the Clerk (clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk) to register. You may unregister/unsubscribe at any time by replying to this email address.

General Quaker interest, Non-theism

Nontheist Friends in the US begin a monthly meeting

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This is very short notice for the first meeting tomorrow but Nontheist Friends in America write:

Dear Friends,
>
> We hope you’ll join in our new monthly online discussion tomorrow evening, 7-8:30pm Eastern.
> We plan to break into small groups to discuss:
>       • What questions do people ask about nontheist Friends?
>       • How would you like to use this discussion group?

With our clocks going back tonight, that means 11pm to 12.30am (Monday) here in Britain (or Portugal where I am just now) if anyone is interested in joining from there.

(and: 11pm to 12:30am UK seems correct for our 7pm EDT start:<https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/>
U.S. doesn’t fall back until November 6th.
in peace,
aaron)

To join with the zoom link you need to be on their google group:
nontheist-friends@googlegroups.com

http://groups.google.com/group/nontheist-friends?hl=en

Maybe see you there?