“Conflict brings with it the potential for deepening relationships, for learning, for transformation and spiritual development.”

That was the view expressed by Marisa Johnson, Secretary of the Friends World Committee for Consultation – Europe and Middle East Section, when she addressed Ireland Yearly Meeting’s Ministry and Oversight session on 31st March 2016.

Marisa said that if we welcomed creativity, energy, connection and relationship as gifts, we needed to welcome conflict also, “as being intimately connected with all of these”.

“Just as we welcome the gift of fire to keep us warm and cook our food. Yet we are always aware that, out of control, fire can and does destroy,” she said.

“In order for a conflict to become apparent, it is necessary for someone to care very deeply about something – most people do not seek conflict lightly, so need or passion are necessary to provide the required motivation and energy for conflict to become active. Caring and passion are gifts too.”

Marisa said we should encourage the emergence of many possible solutions, and try them on for size: “Do they meet the needs of all involved? Are they aligned to God’s gracious generosity and loving compassion?”

You can read the full text of Marisa’s talk here – Gift of Conflict – Marisa Johnson.  

Youth Leaders – Sunday School Teachers….. This is just for you!!!!!

IYM Education Committee and Youth Coordinator are hosting  worthwhile trainings which will help us support our Young Friends better.

We would really like to see you there if you are volunteering with our young people in any way!

Where? Rathfarnham  Meeting House  Date?14/04/16

South Belfast Meeting House  Date? 21/04/16

Time? 6:45-9:45pm  Cost? Free

What is the training about?

This accredited training is based on the principles of good practice in safeguarding children and young people as outlined in ‘Our Duty to Care’. This half-day certificated training programme covers:

• awareness of safeguarding children and young people;
• procedures for reporting concerns; and
• code of behaviour for staff and volunteers.

Who delivers the training?

Keeping Children and Young People Safe training is delivered by qualified and accredited trainers who work for Volunteer Now . They have experiences of safeguarding issues

If all Sunday school teachers can’t make it, please encourage one or two to come. They can then share their learning with others in their Meeting.

Youth Leaders: this is really important for you!!! Please let me know if you (and others) are coming. There are 25 place available.

Carolyn  McMullan  iym.youth@outlook.com  Mobile Number 07834571117

Rathfarnham Quaker Meeting invited members of the local community to join them in a candle-lit vigil to mark Earth Hour on 19^th March.

Almost 20 people took part in the hour-long vigil, which included several contributions on the theme of the environment and the need for climate justice.

It is the third year in a row Rathfarnham Meeting has marked Earth Hour in this way and they were pleased to be joined once again by a number of visitors from nearby churches.

Earth Hour is the world’s largest global day of environmental action, which sees millions of people throughout the globe switch off their lights for an hour at 8.30pm local time. Lights are switched off at landmark buildings throughout the globe, including this year at Áras an Uachtaráin.

The Meeting was pleased to host a special Shine a Light on Climate Justice candle for their event. The three-foot tall candle, which was commissioned late last year by Eco-Congregation Ireland (an ecumenical environmental project of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting), is travelling throughout Ireland visiting a different church or faith community each week.

Leinster Quarterly Meeting Enniscorthy Wexford.

Saturday June 27^th 2015.

Leinster Quarterly Meeting took place in Enniscorthy on the 27^th June 2015. The meeting has become renowned for the strawberries and cream following the meeting. This year was exceptional as the tea, sandwiches cakes and strawberries and cream were wonderful and friends from all over would like to express their gratitude to the ladies who prepared the wonderful feast.

Meeting commenced at 11am with thirty friends in attendance. Business meeting followed. Minutes of LQM March 2015 and LQM November 2014 were accepted.  Nominations for elders were accepted for the period June 2015 to June 2018. Nominations for Leinster Quarterly Meetings Committee and the Educational Committee were sought. These are to be brought before LQM in November 2015.

Notice was given that Edenderry will meet on the second and last Sunday of the month at 11.30 am. This arrangement is on a trial basis. A new Meeting takes place on the second Sunday of the month in Highbrook Orchard which is on the Kilkenny / Callan road. While also on a trial basis, Friends noted that interest lay in this new Meeting. A notice was also given that on Sunday the 26^th July a Meeting will take place in Mountmellick in the Old Meeting House at 11.30 am. This is part of the William Edmondson homecoming (http:/www.edmundsonhomecoming.com/allevents/4589289976) that is being organised by the family and the historical library. Following Meeting there will be a Commemoration Ceremony in Friends Burial Ground, Rosenallis, followed at 2.30 pm by a bar-b-que and picnic. This will be the first Meeting in Mountmellick in over forty years.

Friends in 1798 and its relevance to Friends experience today.

Glynn Douglas, John McKenna and Dermot Quirk gave the afternoon talks on the above topic. Glynn laid out the social background prior to the uprising. The population had increased causing competition for land, agrarian violence, the formation of secret societies and the formation of voluntary regiments by the most wealthy to protect their holdings. Friends at Yearly Meeting were concerned at the possibility of social unrest and advised Friends to dispose of any guns that they might have and to proceed in a non-violent fashion. Joseph Haughton did just that, breaking his gun in the street of Ferns but also refused to supply ropes to the militia for the purpose of hanging persons. Glynn spoke of the disturbance to Meetings but that in general Friends were left aside in the conflict. They were involved in mediation and refused compensation for any damage caused to their property. Quakers by their non-violent beliefs preserved their lives and their families.

John McKenna spoke of Ballitore and its witness to violence in 1798. Interestingly he dismissed a belief that Ballitore was a Quaker village. He noted that a community lived there prior to the Quakers arrival. They settled and developed the village and surrounding area. Mary Ledbetter was interested in the French Revolution and had acquaintances in the United Irishmen however her opinions appeared to change when she witnessed the brutality of the conflict. She became a liberal encourager and sheltered the homeless. John Bewley attempted to act as a mediator as had happened in Wexford. Quakers eventually disappeared from Ballitore and along with them went the industry. They were an emerging bourgeoisie.

Dermot Quirk spoke of the commemorations of the 1798 uprising and noted that it was John Redmond who in 1898, one hundred years after the uprising, employed commemoration as a nation building exercise. Commemorations are problematic for Quakers as they can be selective in remembering only the ‘glorious’ military dead and not the civilian casualties of war. Frequently the Religious Society of Friends in Wexford is asked to become part 1798 celebrations. Friends in Wexford accept invitations to celebrations provided there is no military aspect. Several 1798 events were in held in Friends Meeting House Enniscorthy during the bi-centenary of the Rebellion in 1998.

All three struggled to provide a relevance to the Friends experience of today. Quakers were an emerging bourgeoisie who believed in non-violence. Hence minutes from Yearly and Monthly meetings warned Friends not to join the militia regiments and to destroy their guns – a request that was only partly observed. Friends were excluded from the conflict but did suffer losses and their efforts at mediation and assistance did not go unnoticed. Perhaps Quakers are still living off the collective memory of their role in 1798 and the Great Famine. Are Quakers today still true dissenters or do we just have a soft attitude to social ills? This was the question poised by Dermot Quirk.

Report by Patrick Troy.

Friday 27th February 2015 –  Sunday 1st March  2015 at An Grianan, Co Louth.

Woodbrooke in Ireland, Quaker Studies Course. Organised by Yearly Meeting Training Group

This weekend is suitable for anyone interested in the role of Elder of Overseer, together with those currently serving. We will look at the range of tasks, share good practice and explore ways of handling difficult issues as well as looking at practical ideas and useful resources.

Cost of course:  €100/£80 (Residential)

Places are limited. Please register your interest with the Office by Monday 22nd December 2014.

Email:  office@quakers.ie       Phone:  014998003

The Christmas Bazaar will be held on 6th December 2014 at Rathfarnham Meeting House, Crannagh Road.

From 12.00 – 3pm

Homemade Cakes and Savouries, Antiques and Collectables, Books, Fruit and Vegetables, Children’s Toys.

There will be a Fun Zone for children of all ages with games, decorating gingerbread people, magic show and puppet show at 1.30pm.

Everyone welcome!