This article by Simon C. Lamb is now available under the Friendly Reflections area of the quakers.ie website. The article presents the text of Simon’s Keynote Address given to the 20th FWCC Triennial on July 23, 2000 at Geneva Point, New Hampshire, USA.

An Evening of Light-hearted Entertainment will be held at Monkstown Meeting House on Wednesday 26^th March, 2025 at 7.30 pm presented by Suzanne Hayes (Poet), John and Clodagh McCormick (Puppets) and Wendy Goodbody & the Druidy Druids (Music and Song).

No admission fee, but donations to Tiglin will be welcomed.

These documents are now available at the Junior Yearly Meeting section of the website.

Please share with all in your Meeting who may be interested. Meetings are encouraged to send a representative if possible. If you would like to attend JYM 2025 but feel it would be a financial strain, please contact the Clerk of your Meeting or one of the JYM organisers to see about getting financial support.

The latest FWCC EMES newsletter (2 March 2025) is now available.

Note that registration for the EMES Annual Meeting in Warsaw is now open, and the registration deadline for the EMEYF Spring Gathering in Sweden has been extended to March 7, 2025.

The first of four Global Online Worship Meetings, each to be hosted by a different Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), will take place this Sunday 2 March starting at 13:30 Irish time.

You can get more information and register to get the Zoom link by clicking on the link at the start of this post.

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 15^th March 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.

Pat Oakes will reflect on “Soul and Spirit” at a Churchtown Coffee Morning on Wednesday 5th March during 10.30-21.00.

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

Do you identify with the vision of Peace, Justice and Equality? Do you believe you are a leader who can bring this vision into practice and work with European institutions? Are you passionate about building and leading a small team of experts in these fields?

The Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) is seeking to recruit a director who will help us strengthen our advocacy in a changing European context. They will work as a leader with a team of three experienced staff and will be responsible for using available resources effectively. They are the most senior staff member in the team of currently four staff. The director is the primary Quaker Representative to the EU, Council of Europe, NATO, OSCE, and a range of interfaith forums, responsible for the leadership of QCEA, the management of the team and Quaker House Brussels, and where necessary for undertaking part of the programme work of QCEA.

The director will demonstrate understanding of and sympathy for the values of Quakers. Although not necessarily a Quaker, they will be committed to working within Quaker structures and practices. They will demonstrate the experience and skills necessary to lead a multicultural and multilingual team. Conditions are as follows:

• Candidates should have experience with Quaker procedures and practises
• Candidates should have some link with the European countries and regions
• The director is based at Quaker House in Brussels and is open to travel
• Gross salary of around EUR 61,500 per annum, full time
• The director might rent a flat in Quaker House
• We apply a net 3-months trial period (extended in case a work permit has to be obtained)
• The appointment starts on 1st of July 2025, availability in June for handover is favourable.

QCEA is particularly interested in receiving applications from diverse backgrounds. If you are interested to apply, please read more details about QCEA, a job description and the application procedures on https://www.qcea.org/homepage/get-involved-2/jobs/.

Closing date for application: 10:00 hours CET, 26 February 2025.

A letter to Quaker Meetings around the world from the General Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation, Tim Gee, can be found at https://fwcc.world/2025-letter-to-meetings/ .

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 15^th Febuary 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.