April 2016

To Friends Everywhere

We send warm greetings from Ireland Yearly Meeting, held from 31^st March – 3^rd April 2016 at King’s Hospital School on the western outskirts of Dublin.   The theme of our Yearly Meeting was “Who is my Neighbour?,  underpinned by a quotation from C. Winifred Lamb written circa 1954: “How can we, such a small insignificant group of people as the Society of Friends help to stem the tide of evil and hate, and greed and fear that is so widespread in the world today?” (Quaker Life & Practice: A Book of the Christian Experience of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, paragraph 4.13).

To read the full Epistle – click on the link below

Epistle IYM 2016

More than 180 people attended the Public Lecture at this year’s Ireland Yearly Meeting.

Addressing the topic, ‘Who is my Neighbour? What is our Testimony on Inclusion?’, Will Haire of South Belfast Quaker Meeting, called on us to consider how we can include those most in need in our society through a broader social contract, responsible participation in the economy, social service and by leading inclusive personal lives.

“We are challenged to create a counter-culture, challenging the mainstream and consumerism of our society and to argue in what we say, and in what we do, for a different way of life,” said Will.

“We have to argue for a fair tax system, fair pay for all, and for a fair welfare system,” he said, adding that taxes should be progressive, with the weight falling on those who can afford them.

“We have to argue for good, transparent governance of businesses, the economy, the state and indeed all institutions – ourselves included. That fits with our testimony to integrity, to our use of plan language.”

“We have to build better links with those who are experiencing poverty. We have to understand their views, their concerns. We have to include them in the process of our thinking, our action, to create a real dialogue.”

Will concluded: “We have to be the good neighbour, the neighbour to everyone who needs our help.”

You can read the full script of Will’s lecture here – IYM Public Lecture 2016.

“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.  

Militarisation and International Agreements
The Citizen’s Role in Building Peace

Friends Meeting House,
4/5  Eustace Street, Temple Bar (beside Irish Film Institute)
on
Wednesday, 30th March at 7.30 pm

All are welcome to a seminar on how we, as citizens of this country and the European Union, can influence policy makers and governments to promote alternatives to violence in this difficult time. It will also consider how small groups can give their advocacy real impact at UN, EU and local level.

The contributors to the seminar are:

• Andrew Lane of Quaker Council for European Affairs, Brussels
• Tony D’Costa of Pax Christi
• Siobhan O’Donoghue of Uplift (Coordinated Action for Progressive Change)

They will explore their peace building and campaigning initiatives at UN, EU and grass roots level respectively.

• Prof John Doyle, Director, Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstrcution, DCU who will consider recent developments in Irish Neutrality.

This free event is hosted by the Dublin Quaker Peace Committee.

Places are limited, so please let us know if you plan to be present.

Email Martin Leavy at martin.leavy@dcu.ie or text 087 648 8586 or Sean McCrum at smccrum.1949@gmail.com or text 087 947 4459

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

Please click on the link below to print an application form

Early Quaker Vision-application_form

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.