Message from the Pastoral Care and Eldership Team (PaCET) for Sunday Meeting 26th April 2026

Dear Friends,

Recently I’ve been reminded of the words below, which seem to me to have renewed relevance in the current world climate. They were spoken in 1937 by Bertram Pickard, a British Quaker who served as Head of Geneva’s Friends International Centre (precursor to the Quaker United Nations Office, QUNO) from 1926 – 1940.

Reflecting on the sharp difference between the first and later periods of his appointment, he noted the sense of hope and promise of the first years, with many peace initiatives and organisations being born; after 1930, however, there was growing pessimism and gloom among Quakers and others committed to working for peace. Bertram Pickard continued:

‘In looking to the future what should our attitude be? The right note was struck, I suggest, in meeting recently. “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength”, we were reminded. Neither optimism nor pessimism are appropriate at times when world-shaking events and movements sweep past and over us, out of our control, as they do today.

At Geneva, as much or perhaps even more than elsewhere, there is a call, surely, to go steadily on with fundamentally constructive effort, in the realms of idea and spirit, despite the seeming ascendancy of destructive and divisive forces. Indeed, we are challenged as never before, to step down into the arena to witness to the fact that international cooperation and understanding are realizable here and now in the very midst of their opposites.’

In our own very different time and place, I hope we too can feel inspired, led, and strengthened in Meeting for Worship so that in our own ways we too can continue to witness, individually and collectively, to the possibility and desperate need for peace.

Sharon Krummel

Quakers value diversity. We share this Friend’s message in the hope it will speak to others.

Pastoral Care and Eldership Team: Patricia Cockrell, David Hitchin, Sharon Krummel, Tim Pitt-Payne, Theresa Samms, Emily Slater.