| Back in August around a dozen Friends stayed behind after Sunday Meeting for Worship for a one-hour discussion which was open to anyone who wished to stay. We did not know in advance what subject, or subjects would arise, but fairly early on one theme emerged: after several years of focusing on developing our Meeting House in order to cater for modern challenges, we could have time now to concentrate more on looking outwards. Various good causes were mentioned, but I came away thinking, ‘Maybe we need to be more involved in small ways in our local community, offering our peaceful but active presence for the greater good’. This individual involvement is how we become more outward-looking as we share concern with the wider community, and incidentally as a group we become better-known and perhaps better-respected in our local community. I am much influenced in this thinking by Mother Theresa’s well known phrase, ‘we can do no great things for God, only small things with great love’.
I am not against being involved in big issues in this country or around the world and still add my pennyworth to one or two, but it seems to me that to be truly outward-looking we need to start nearer home with things that are perhaps a bit more hands-on. Maybe we need to share more with each other how and why as individuals we are already involved. This way we can bring the issues into the Light and support one another. Time spent like this does wonders for the enrichment of our own perceptions, and some Friends do share with us news about what they are doing to uphold our testimonies in the community at large. Within the town of Lewes there is quite a range of ways in which we can be involved while at the same time giving us an opportunity to show a Quaker face. For example, in no particular order, there is LOSRAS, Lewes News, Churches Together, Lewes Climate Hub, various food banks, Ride and Stride, Art Wave, HM Prison, and countless more.
During my early years in Lewes the church I then attended sent me to represent them on what was then called the Council of Churches and which is now Churches Together. For a wide range of events which the committee organised then two Quakers always turned up and took part. A little later one Friend was elected to the committee and eventually chaired it for the normal one year. In more recent years a flute-playing Friend has accompanied some of the singing at the World Day of Prayer every March. I am sure there are many Friends who are involved in some way with service to the community, and I wonder how we might extend our outward-looking as a group. I realize too that not all the Friends at Lewes Meeting live in the town and it would be good to hear about and support them in their local concerns.
Caroline Pybus
on behalf of the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (David Hitchin, Chris Lawson, Tim Pitt-Payne, Caroline Pybus, Theresa Samms and Nancy Wall) |
