Message from the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (PaCET) for Sunday Meeting 11th August 2024

Dear Friends,

In 1962, aged 18, I went with about 20 other young British Quakers to Geneva. This was a wonderful chance to learn about the work of the United Nations. It has continued ever since – although nowadays the participants are usually in their early 20’s.

I knew from the start that I was very, very fortunate. We watched the international discussions and saw how the UNO worked for peace. It was not easy. The noisiest participants were those from the USSR; I thought they were trying to damage everything. China, of course, was not there at all and remained isolated for a long time, until the late 1970s. We saw all that the Quakers were doing in Geneva, and this they still do. Also we saw how the Genevese stressed the need for peace.

All this came back to me when that lovely youthful group of young Quakers came to our meeting about a month ago. Their obvious involvement in Quaker life was inspiring. I felt a massive sense of hope. I spoke with two of the young Quakers, feeling how wonderful it was to be joining with them.

I think that over the years, more people in Britain have come to know about Quakers. Of course very few come to our meetings, but I think that many understand the value and importance of peace. I feel confident that Quakers will inspire us as they do at this time and have done in the past.

Sometimes I find that Quakers say little or nothing about what they are actually doing. If we are able to ask questions, we find remarkable things happening. I was so glad to get a Sunday message from our Friend Julie who wrote about her position as Quaker Prison Chaplain in Lewes Prison, last month. Prison work is so very important.

If we are able to ask questions we find remarkable things happening. I know some Friends feel bound to be discrete and of course this is sometimes very necessary. But asking questions can be very inspiring and helps us in our own ways.

I feel deeply grateful for all that I learnt with Quakers in Geneva in 1962. Equally, I am also deeply grateful for the Friends who are working to bring about peace. Last week at meeting a message came from our Friends in Kenya. There are more than 200,000 of them; they too are working for peace in many ways.

In Friendship

Nancy Wall

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