Message from the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (PaCET) for Sunday Meeting 29th March 2025

Dear Friends,

I was first drawn to Quakers by two of the testimonies: the egalitarian one and the simplicity one, and I think I found the peace testimony more of a challenge. Since then I have done some more thinking and note with gratitude QF&P 19.32 which contains the following:

The experience of Friends was that the Light led them into an understanding of the Christian life and the way it was to be lived. We express the principles they discovered in terms such as Truth, Equality, Simplicity, and Peace. However, these are not abstract qualities, but vital principles of life.

It seems to me that peace really starts within each one of us, our attitude to everyday relationships, our family, friends, and colleagues, those who inspire us and those who annoy us. It needs us to be at peace with ourselves and our past, and if we are not that probably has to be addressed. To all our relationships hopefully we bring a peaceful presence, usually unconscious but sometimes quite deliberate. For everyone it will require some discipline on how we spend our time. The disorganized person who is always rushing to catch up may not inspire confidence in others.

We have in our heritage a letter in the New Testament from Paul to Christians spread over the area of Galatia (now part of modern Turkey) where he praises the spiritual richness of peace, together with love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5 verse 22). This to me sounds like a strong and positive way of life.

Caroline Pybus

Quakers value diversity. We share this Friend’s message in the hope that it will speak to others.
PaCET: Patricia Cockrell, David Hitchin, Sharon Krummel, Tim Pitt-Payne, Caroline Pybus, Theresa Samms