Noah Merrill of Putney Friends Meeting in Vermont delivered a fascinating and thought-provoking public lecture at Ireland Yearly Meeting in The High School, Dublin, on 26 April.

He spoke about the transformative love of God and challenged Friends and other audience members to bear witness to the infinite love of God. “Can we open a space for people who have been wounded to take refuge and offer them a deeper hope?” he asked.

“We are never alone, we are called by the Spirit into a community of deep hope. The story of our journey doesn’t end in a grave, but an empty tomb … Our journey ends in joy.”

A full transcript of Noah’s talk will be posted here soon. 

Noah seeks to be faithful in the Quaker tradition of gospel ministry—the practical spiritual work of encouraging faithfulness and awakening hearts. His service is under the care of Putney Friends Meeting in Vermont, which has recognised his call to ministry for the renewal of the Quaker movement. Noah has served with the cross-branch Quaker ministry organisation Good News Associates, with the American Friends Service Committee, and as a founding board member of Quaker Voluntary Service. In 2009, for work supporting refugees from violent conflict in the Middle East, Utne Reader Magazine recognized him as one of “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.” In April 2012, Noah offered the plenary worship address on behalf of North American Friends at the Sixth World Conference of Friends in Kenya.

In 2013, he gave the Michener Lecture at Southeastern Yearly Meeting of Friends in the United States, with the title, “Prophets, Midwives, and Thieves: Reclaiming the Ministry of the Whole.” Noah’s writing on Quaker ministry, prophetic service and institutional renewal has been published in Friends Journal, Western Friend magazine, Quaker Life, and other Friends publications. He serves as Secretary of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends.