Mid Thames Area Quaker News
Christmas at Newbury Quakers
There will be ‘Mince pies and Music’ on Sunday December 23, after our Meeting for Worship at the normal time of 10.30 – 11.30. The instruments used will be Piano, Flute and Cello, and singing together. Please come and join us. On Christmas Day we will have a shorter Meeting from 9.30-10.15. All Welcome.
Read MoreMince pie Sunday 16 December at Henley
Our mince pie celebration, following years of tradition, will be held after meeting for worship on Sunday 16 December. Greetings and mince pies will be shared at about 12 noon: do join us either then, or for our worship just beforehand which starts at 10.45.
Read MoreQuakers at Christmas
17th century Quakers would have shunned any special celebrations for Christmas: they believed that each day, and all of life, was sacred and Christmas Day was no different. We’ve moved on a bit since then! Reading Quakers will have a Christmas celebration and shared lunch after Meeting for worship on Sunday 23rd December, and will…
Read MoreQuakers and the First World War
Mark and Ruth Tod of Henley Quaker Meeting spoke on 27 November at Dunsden Village Hall about the Society of Friends and pacifism in the First World War. The Wilfred Owen in Dunsden association, which organised the event as part of a commemorative series, has reported about their talk: ‘During the First World War, Quakers made up…
Read MoreQuakers meet again in Didcot
There’s a meeting for Quaker worship in Didcot, every Wednesday at 4pm. These meetings are held in people’s homes because we don’t currently have a permanent venue. All are very welcome – just call Esther on (01235) 202038 to find where the next meeting will be.
Read MoreIn remembrance 2018
“Let us remember, and remember for a purpose” – are the final words in this short video by Penny Locke of East Garston Quakers, which combines her text with film and audio of local remembrance weekend events. You can find out more about Quaker attitudes to war in a talk Society of Friends and pacifism in the First…
Read More‘Beyond forgiving’ film, 13 November
Some thirty people came to Henley Quaker Meeting House on the evening of 13 November to watch ‘Beyond forgiving’, a documentary film of tragedy and hope, in which two South Africans bring healing to their country. A black atheist man and a white Christian woman make an unlikely pair – one has suffered from…
Read MoreNew book for our library
Maidenhead Quakers thank the author David May-Bowles for the gift of a copy of his book A Child of Cologne. The child in the title is a girl who David grew up with in Suffolk: she had escaped Germany on the Kindertransport and was adopted by his parents in 1939. As a result, we decided…
Read MoreTalk about the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme
Christine Hayes gave us a talk in our Wokingham meeting about how the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme has been working in Wokingham. Christine explained that under this Government Scheme, Wokingham Borough Council has agreed to take five families who are refugees from Syria. A Steering Committee was set up and Christine is the Quaker…
Read MoreQuakers in the modern world
‘Quakers in the modern world’ at Maidenhead was well received by those who attended. Several people were known to us and some were new seekers. Alasdair, Simon and Lina gave brief presentations, followed by reflection then questions, and concluding with Angela’s delicious lemon drizzle cake. A number of the free introductory packs containing Geoffrey Durham’s…
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