Message from the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (PaCET) for Sunday Meeting 22nd October 2023

Dear Friends,

The very major work that is being done on our Meeting House puts considerable pressure on many Friends. Sometimes it is hard to ensure that we all know what is happening. Quaker Faith and Practice reminds us of the need to share our experiences and to listen to one another constructively.
 
Parts of QFP Chapter 12.01, Caring for one another, suggest how we can help.
 
Careful listening is fundamental to helping each other; it goes beyond finding out about needs and becomes part of meeting them. Some would say that it is the single most useful thing that we can do. Those churches that have formal confession understand its value, but confession does not have to be formal to bring benefits. Speaking the unspeakable, admitting the shameful, to someone who can be trusted and who will accept you in love as you are, is enormously helpful.
 
Plain speaking is a longstanding Quaker testimony. It is not only that we hold a witness to the value of truth but also that straightforwardness saves us from many mistakes and much time wasted. On first acquaintance some Quakers can seem rather brusque; without the conventions of flattery and half-truths, we particularly need to make clear the steadfast love we have for one another.
 
Caring can take many forms. Some help will be beyond the resources of the local meeting, but it should not be beyond our resources to see when it is needed and to see that it is provided. Often it is what we are rather than anything we do which is of help to others. We should be wary of giving advice: a sympathetic ear, whilst a person finds their own way forward, will usually do more lasting good. Some people may not want to be helped, seeing our concern as an intrusion. Great sensitivity is called for.
 
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Sometimes events move in an unexpected direction. Much remains to be done as we observe all the forthcoming work. There will be new aspects to the finished Meeting House. May we all see and learn about the developments which will strengthen the fabric within and outside the building.
 

Nancy
on behalf of the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (David Hitchin, Chris Lawson, Tim Pitt-Payne, Caroline Pybus, Theresa Samms and Nancy Wall)