The text of this year’s Public Lecture by James Nelson, ‘Quakers, learning and education – Using the future to rethink the present’, is now available on the Public Lectures page.

A link to the recording of this public lecture will be provided once it is available.

Jonathan P. Wigham and another Friend will reflect on their experience of IYM 2025 at a Churchtown Coffee Morning on Wednesday 7th May during 10.30-12.00.

You can find more information, including the Zoom link for joining online in this flyer.

Cork Meeting will be holding a Silent Vigil for Peace in Cork Meeting House, Summerhill South, T12 XW8R, from 1-2pm on May 11.

We request that no political symbols or political statements be displayed. We hope this will be the first in a series of such events.

Please feel free to spread the word among family and friends in the Cork area who may be interested in stopping by for any length of time during the vigil. Here is a leaflet about the vigil that can be distributed to those who may be interested.

The Quaker United Nations office in Geneva is currently seeking two new programme assistants in their programmes on Human Rights & Refugees and the Human Impacts of Climate Change, from September 2025 to August 2026.

These are exciting opportunities for young professionals interested in international affairs to learn about and participate in Quaker work at the international level.

The deadline for applications is May 11, 2025. Here is a link to the complete job descriptions and eligibility requirements.

In 1937, the well known American Quaker Rufus M Jones wrote  “…I have become a good deal disillusioned over ‘big’ conferences and large gatherings. I pin my hopes to quiet processes and small circles, in which vital and transformative events take place.”

It is in the spirit of these words that you are invited to set time aside on the third Saturday of each month, when the Limerick Meeting House will be open for an hour from 2.00-3.00pm for those who wish  to join others silently “sitting for peace”.

The next of these monthly silent vigils for peace will take place on Saturday 19^th April from 2.00 – 3.00pm.

Please feel free to spread the word among  your friends, family and other networks.

This is not a protest, rather it is an opportunity to hold a hope for peace with others.

Friends Peace Teams Europe and Middle East have asked us to share this appeal letter with you. The letter provides information about the work of FPT, a link to the 2025 FPT Epistle and a link providing further information about their activities and how to donate.

News update from BHS Principal, David Gray.

The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is fragile, with regular bombing still happening. In Brummana this seems quite distant, and Lebanon’s new President and Prime Minister mean there is some hope for the future. The resilience of Lebanese people is admirable – they were calm during the war despite terrible dangers and now life seems normal. War put BHS in survival mode: staying open, keeping spirits up and providing a peaceful and safe haven. Now the focus is on school improvement and how to get the children to work better and be more involved in all aspects of school life. There is currently a big school football tournament on, and soon there’ll be the Model United Nations and a schools conference with workshops and guest speakers.

Two small but significant things happened recently. One involved a ceremony that had been planned as part of the 150th anniversary, but circumstances got in the way until determined students and staff eventually made it happen. A brass plaque with an ode engraved on it was unveiled under The Mother Tree. This tree is 250 years old and the oldest tree in the school; it’s a kind of metaphor for BHS’s continuing existence, despite wars, famine, etc. Students had a poetry competition to write an ode to the Mother Tree, to celebrate its longevity. The winner was a boy in his final year of school. He’s not a great poet or an exceptional student, but he took this opportunity to express what he felt about the tree. It was a tremendous poem in honour of this tree and its impact on the school. Encouraging students to take part like this is important because it means they discover their strengths and weaknesses and how they can become a greater person with the talents they have. 

Ode to the Mother Tree

In the heart of Brummana’s grace,

The Mother Tree stands in its place:

Roots deep in Earth’s embrace,

Branches reaching Nature’s trace.

Over the years it has watched us grow,

Inspired dreams and hope to sow.

Generations have seen it rise:

Sturdy yet loving, tall and wise.

A legacy of ancient bark

Connect us like a shining spark.

Oh, Mother Tree, your humbling might

Shades our tears, our laughs and fright.

For generations you’ve been our guide

And in your safety, we find our pride.

You are the holder of the school’s past,

Come what may, your roots will last

A living testament of the strong and free,

God bless our Mother Tree.

By Nadim Haddad       Ib1 2023-2024 

The second thing is that seven BHS students and a teacher went to Japan recently to learn about the culture, the horrors of atomic warfare and peace education. The trip was funded by a Japanese charity. It was supposed to happen a year and a half ago, but things kept getting in the way, and again, it only happened because the teacher and students were determined not to give up. Students had been chosen to go by the charity, based on letters they’d written. Interestingly, the boy who wrote the ode (above), was also chosen to go to Japan. He’d shown a great sense of commitment in an extremely good letter of application. In many ways, he epitomises what a good school is all about – not being a star or the cleverest in the class, but about taking part, contributing and making the most of what you’ve got. 

BHS Bursar, Raymond El Feghali on the importance and impact of school bursaries.

BHS has children from 3 to 18 years, which means families often have children in school for many years. In that time circumstances can change, especially in Lebanon where war and other crises have caused chaos for many families and businesses. Financial aid can be applied for annually and is vital for parents who find themselves unable to pay the fees necessary to continue their child’s education. 

The last 2-3 years have seen the value of Lebanese lira to the US$ lurch from 1500 to 140,000 then back down to 90,000 lira to the $. This had a big impact – school income and staff salaries fell dramatically and the need for a financial aid continued. Currently, 30 – 35% (out of a total of 1300 students) would not be able to continue their education without some level of financial help. Education offered in public sector schools is very poor and for parents who want their children to have a good education, they are not a viable alternative. BHS bursaries are a safety net to keep students at their school and preserve the dignity of familiesgoing through tough times. 

Bursaries also maintain the ethos and original purpose of the school, which was to help the community educate its children and create goodcitizens. BHS has had a very positive impact on Brummana and on the community. Without financial aid BHS would just become a school for the rich, who can afford to travel to any place and don’t have the same attachment or need. Students who receive bursaries often feel particularly connected to BHS and many come back later in life, to help the next generation.

In the past BHS had 50% boarders, mainly from rich families abroad who could afford to pay relatively high fees. This income subsidised school fees for local children. If the situation in Lebanon improves perhaps some boarding will return. 

Financial aid, tuition fees and salaries are all connected: if donations don’t cover the demand for bursaries, tuition fees must rise to cover staff salaries. It’s important staff pay is enough to attract and retain good teachers, which in turn means better quality education. The financial crisis reduced staff salaries a lot, but tuition fees have risen so that staff salaries can improve, but of course that means there is more need for bursaries. 

Donations for bursaries come mainly from old scholars, but also from Quakers, ex- trustees, ex-governors and parents. The Old Scholars Association and BHS have both now set up endowment funds, with the aim that large capital sums will gradually accumulate and provide income for the school in perpetuity, particularly for bursaries, but this will take time.

If anyone would like to donate to BHS, the main conduit for giving in the UK is now through the QuIET website – here’s the link: https://quietcharity.org.uk

Featured image by Padres Hana – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31509772

The Northwest Europe Border Meeting has been held annually since 1957. In the beginning it was a one-day gathering of Dutch and German Friends, eventually turning into a weekend event for European Quakers alternating between venues in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.

This year the Border Meeting will take place in Lille, France at the Centre Spirituel du Hautmont. There will be plenty of time and space for people to meet, discuss and socialise.

The EMES Young Friends (ages 14-18) meet at the same time at this venue and share some activities with the Border Meeting.

The registration form will be online by 15 April. The German and Dutch versions of the site will be available then as well. If you wish to be notified when registration is open, send an email to border.meeting@gmail.com and we will put you on the mailing list.

Many of you will have heard of the recent incident at Westminster Friends Meeting House last week, in which police, some armed with tasers, entered the building to arrest individuals holding a meeting in a hired room. The meeting was apparently about planning protests related to climate change and the situation in Gaza.

In response, a Meeting for Worship “to uphold our worshipping community and support all who speak up for truth & integrity in the face of state oppression” has been organised to take place on Thursday April 3 outside of Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. This Meeting for Worship will take place from 12 noon to 1.00pm.

It is possible to join via Zoom. To register to attend online, visit: Scotland Yard Quaker Meeting for Worship Tickets, Thu, Apr 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite