BathQuakerNewsJuly2017 Page1

BathQuakerNewsJuly2017Websitehttps://bathquakers.orgSeealsohttps://bathquakers.org/bath-friends-admin/(needspassword)

TheQuakerphysicalpresenceinBath:developingourvisionSallyHarriswritesIcametotheReaffirmingOurQuakerCentremeetingon11Junefullofenthusiasm,readytohearideasfromtheLongTermVisionGroupandthinkaboutwhomightusethemeetinghouseoncetheCouncilstophiringitforschoolparties.Welookedatawiderangeofdifferentpotentialusesgroupedintovariousthemes,andatatimelinewhichtoldthetaleofthejourneyFriendshavetakenandourhopesforthefuture.Althoughwewereconcentratingonpotentialhirersofthemeetinghouse,therewasalsoanawarenessthatourbuildingisthepublicfaceofQuakersinBathbutisnotyetinafitstatetoliveuptoourvision,whateverthatmightbe.AndthisispointofwhatI’mwriting–Friends,it’snowtimetofinishtherefurbishmentwhichwestartedin2013whenwelaunchedtheappeal.

Fourdown;threetogo:thelistofsevenjobsinouroriginalappealleaflet.

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Doyouremembertheappealleafletwithitsyellow“sunshine”ofthechangesweneededtomake?ThereweresevenjobslistedinthesunshineandwegotfourofthemdonebeforeYearlyMeetingGatheringinAugust2014–newkitchen,newaccessibletoilet,betteracoustics,andaccessforall.Thatleftthree–refurbishedwindows(toreduceheatlossandnoisefromoutside),lowenergylighting(againforenergy-efficiencyandcomfortinthemeetingroom),exteriorrenovation(goodstewardshipandbetterappearance).AtJulyPM,Ishallaskifwearereadytorelaunchtheappealandfinishtheselastjobssothatthemeetinghousecanbereadyforwhateveritsfutureholds.Ihaveastockofappealleafletsinmyloft.Ihopesomeofyouwillvolunteertohelphuntoutgrant-makingtrusts,draftletterstogooutwiththeleaflets,findortakephotoswecaninclude,proof-read,stuffenvelopes.I’mwillingtogetstuckin,knowingfromlasttimethatalthoughit’saconcentratedeffortitdoesn’tlastforverylongandimmenselysatisfyingonceit’sallover!

TheformerMasonicHall-aquirkyarchitecturalgem-quitedeliberatelyhasno"face".BathQuakerslovetheMeetingHouseandwanttopresentaFriendlyface.

Don’tforgetTheBundle!Don’tforgetTheBundle,theplayputonbytheJourneymenTheatreonSaturday8thJulyat7.30pminFriendsMeetingHouse.Youarewelcomejusttocomeonthenightbutyoucanreserveaseatbyemailinfo@BathStopWar.org.ukorphone07807923178.DonationstoBathStopWarandrefugeewelcomecampaigns.

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OurvibrantChildrens’Meeting:whatdoesitgetupto?Amysterysolved.ChildrenaremostwelcomeatBathQuakerMeeting.ForaperiodsomeyearsagotherewasnoChildrens'Meeting.Thenitwasoftenameetingofonechild,typicallyonceamonth.Nowthankstothehardworkofchildrens’meetingco-ordinatorAgnesJavorandthechildrens’meetingcommitteeourgrowingMeetinghasaproperChildrens'Meetingeveryweek.

YoungFriendsreportbackafterabusyChildrens'MeetingwithAliyaandKaty.

IttakesplaceatthesametimeastheSundayMeetingforWorship1100-1200.Typicalattendanceisinreasonablesinglefigures.TheChildrens'Meetingisbasedonthesamecorevalues:peace,simplicity,equalityandtruth.RootedinChristianity,Quakersarehappytodrawonthewisdomofotherfaiths.Butwhatdotheyactuallygetupto?Thiscanbeabitofamystery.Theadultsupstairssometimeshearcheerfulscamperingnoises.Childrenrejoinusafterwardswithmischievousgrins.Sometimestheysharecrypticaccountsofwhatthey'vebeenupto.Oftentheyproducepiecesofartorcraftassupportingevidence.WeaskedJudithEversleytogivesomeexamplesofChildrens'Meetingsearlierin2017.Heretheyare(inreverseorder):MayWaterpart3,bringinginAirandFire(Judith,Hilaryand3children).WereadthepoemFromaRailwayCarriagebyRobertLouisStevensonandlookedataTurnerpainting,Rain,SteamandSpeed.WethoughtabouttrainjourneyswemightliketogoonandheardaboutThomasEdmondson,a19thcenturyQuakerwhorealisedthattheoldsystemofhand-writtenrailwayticketswasinefficientandinventedaticket-printingmachine.Wemaderailwayticketstotheplaceswe

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wantedtovisit.Mentioned(asforDarbyinMarch)thefactthatQuakerswereactiveintradeandmanufacturing.AprilCompassion,sacrifice:Agnes,Sallyand3children).Hadsomedramaexercises,childrenheardastoryaboutcompassionandsacrifice.Attemptedtowriteacommunalpoemusingsomecardsasprompts.Thefinalversionhadnothingtodowiththestory.Willbeinterestedtofindoutifnexttime(providedthesamechildrenturnup)therewillbetracesofthemessagesofthestory.April:SpringwithAlex,Hilaryand5girls.Ongrowthandrenewal,childhoodasthe‘Springtimeoflife’.Madepaperflowersandpipecleanerlambs26MarchWaterpart2Judith,Sallyand7children:bringinginEARTH-TheBridgebuiltbyQuakerIronmasterAbrahamDarby.Werecappedpart1becausenoteveryonehadbeenthereon26Feb.WebuiltbridgesoutofwoodblocksthensomeofuswentouttolookatPulteneyBridge(stone,butbuiltonbrushwoodsupports).OnreturnwedrewPulteneyBridgeandlearnedabouttheQuakerDarbyfamilywhoworkedouthowtosmeltironorecheaplyandmadeitpossibletobuildstrongbridgesoutofiron.19MarchKitesnotdrones:Agnes,Laurieand3children.Hadafewdramaexercisestostartourcreativejuicesflowing.Talkedaboutdronesandkitesandthecountrieswherethesefigure.LookedatbooksofphotosaboutAfghanistanandSyria.Used“SometimesIfeellikeamotherlesschild”asaninspirationtocreateapieceofwritingand/ordrawingofwhatitmightfeelliketoexperiencedeadlydronesappearingintheclearbluesky--aconditionwhichisotherwiseidealforflyingkites.Triedtoflyaminikiteinthesmallhall.

ChuckingrottenfruitatFriendsinstocks:Bathchildrenactoutastoryfromthe

timeofreligiousoppression.12thMarch:SpringAlex,AlisonwithSophiatalkedaboutthemythofPersephone,abouttruthsandmythsandaltfacts,mythsashaving‘deeper’andvariedmeaning.JoinedbyWilliamandtalkedthewholehour

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26February:Waterpart1withJudith,Katy.Wehadastoryaboutabridgeacrossastream-asimplestructurethatbroughttwobrotherstogetheraftertheydisagreed.WewentovertotheVictoriaArtGallerytofindthepaintingofabridgeovertheKennet&AvonCanal(connectionwithJohnRennie,Quakersupervisorofthecanal).12February:FirewithAgnesandHilaryand4children.Webuiltasmallfireinafirebowlunderthearchesandtoastedmarshmallows(greatsuccess),toldthechildrenastoryaboutadestructivefireovercomebytheindividualeffort,bravery,determinationandfaithofasmallcreature(childrenlistenedbutnotsureifthestorymadealastingimpression),finallytriedtothinkofimagesofdifferentkindsoffire(mildlysuccessful)anddrewimagesoffire.22ndJanuary2017:WaterAlex,Hilaryand8children.Ashortenedmeetingasboilernotworking.Iboughta2litrebottleofwaterandsomegrapes.Withthewaterdemonstratedhowmanybottlesofwatereachofuscontainedandtalkedaboutitsusesinthebody,then2stories,whilethechildrenatethegrapes,stoppingbeforetheendandaskingthechildrenforideastocompleteit,oneafairytaleaboutawitchwhosetearssuckedupallthewaterinavillage,the2ndatrueaccountofwatershortageintheworld,withamapandpictures,andaboutcauses,esp.Irrigationdepletingwatertable.ThegrapeshadgrowninacountryinAfricathatisdoingthis.[Idon’tthinkthekidsunderstoodthepoint!].Notimeforcraft.15January:FireandwarmthwithJudith,Hilary,Ella.ThehospitalityofMargaretFellatSwarthmoorHallintheearlydaysofQuakers;lookingaftereachother.8January2017MonthsandseasonsAgnesandAlisonand8children.Itoldthechildrenastoryinvolvingthemonths,seasonsandsomeelements(earth,waterassnowandfire).Otherthemeswere:overcominghardships,generosityvsenvy,kindnessvscruelty,joyandcommunity.Thechildrencreatedsomebeautiful,intricatekitepaperstars.

Upcomingtheatredoublebill:Wings;HisPeersOurFriendJuneBianchihasbeenstudyingactingandproductionthisyearontheTheatreRoyalEngagetheatrecourse.Junewrites:Thecourseculminatesinadoublebillofplays:'Wings'whichdealswiththeimpactofgriefonthefamilyand'HisPeers'whichtakesafemaleperspectiveonthefamous'12AngryMen'drama,questioningwhatisjusticeandwhatisitspurpose.

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JuneplaystattooartistLoulou,forepersoninthejuryin'HisPeers'.Bothplaysdealwithmoralandsocialissuesofourtime.Doattend!YoucanorderticketsfromtheTheatreRoyalboxoffice:BathUstinov:13-15July.

“Greatget-together”picnicinmemoryofJoCoxSeveralBathQuakerstookanactivepartintheGreatGetTogetherinBath'sWalcotOpenSpaceSunday18June.Onablisteringlyhotday,itwasoneofover120,000sucheventsacrosstheUK.TheywereorganisedinmemoryofJoCoxMP,murderedoneyearagoatthetimeoftheBrexitreferendum.TheeventsweresupportedbytheJoCoxFoundation,whichhasmergedeffortswithTheBigLunchstartedinrecentyearsbytheEdenProject.

"Moreincommonthandividesus":Friendsenjoyameaningfulsharedpicnic.OrganisedbyBathLabourParty,guestsincludedournewLibDemMP.

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EnjoyaDayofQuietonKelstonRoundhill:2Sept2017KatieEvans&ChristineGoodgame-Nobeswrite:Followingthesuccessoflastyear’squietdaywewillbeholdinganotherquietdayattheOldBarn,KelstonRoundhillonSat2September.

Comeandenjoythequiet(June2017photobyballoonistDarwinPeltan)

Aquietdayisanopportunityforrestandspiritualrefreshment,asafespacewherewecanmoveinandoutofourownstillness.Wewilloffersomesuggestionsfor‘paths’youmightliketotryasawayintosilence,oryou’refreetofollowyourownway.Thedaywon’tbecompletelysilent.Therewillbeopportunitiestoworshipandreflecttogetherandsharefellowshipoverlunchandcoffee.Practicalities:

• TheOldBarnisjustbelowKelstonRoundhill,betweenBathandKelston.Seethewebsiteat:https://kelstonroundhill.comWewillarrangesharedliftsnearerthetime.

• Thedaywillbe10:00-16:00.Soup,bread&cheeselunchandtea/coffeewillbeprovided.

• We’reaskingparticipantstomakeacontributiontowardsthecostoftheday;suggesteddonation£20perperson.Butpleasedon’tbeputoffbythis–donatewhatyoucanafford.

Placesarelimited.PleaseletKatieknowifyou’dliketoattend.

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Can’tgettoMeeting?Meetingcancometoyou!KatieEvanswritesIfyouareunabletoattendmeetingforworshipforawhile(egduetoillhealth)butwouldstillliketoworshipwithFriends,wemaybeabletoarrangeasmallmeetingforworshipinyourhome.

Ifyoucan'tcometotheMeetingHouseforworshipaskeldersoroverseersifmeetingcancometoyou.Andsendusapicture!

Pleasecontactanyoftheeldersoroverseers:ChristineGoodgame-Nobes,ClaireMarrack,KatieEvans,JudithEversely,DavidKentandDianaPage.

We'reallinvitedontheCircuitofBathWalk24SeptJulianHousehaswrittentoBathQuakerswithanopeninvitationtotheCircuitofBathwalkon24Sept.It'saspectacularandpopularevent,inaidofBath’shomelesscharity.Walkersandrunnerscanchooseanythingfromatwoto20milestretchofthecircularroutearoundBath’sbeautifulcountryside.

CircuitofBathwalkphotofromJulianHousewebsite.

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ThisyeartheJulianHouse'sCircuitofBathWalkispartoftheinauguralBathscapeWalkingFestival16-24September.JulianHouseisoneofBathQuakers'supportedcharities.ForfurtherdetailsoranentryformcontactCathyAdcockon01225354656cathya@julianhouse.org.uk

SomethankyounotesfromcharitieswesupportedBathQuakershavehadsomethankyoulettersbackaftermakingsomesmallcharitableallocations.OurtreasurerSallyHariswrites:QuakerAsylum&RefugeeNetworkisoneofourQuakercharitiesfor2017.Ihavesentthem£60(oursetamountfor2017)andtheyhavewrittenbacktothankussaying"MoneycominginisusedtokeepQARNmovingforward,itdoesnotgotowardstherunningofprojectsthatprovidedirectpracticalsupport(suchasCityofSanctuary).Thankyouforyourenthusiasticinterest."Ihavealsosent£60toBritainYearlyMeetingtosupporttheworkofQuakerPeace&SocialWitnessandhadalovelyreply,thankingallofyouandgoingontosay“BritainYearlyMeetingreliesonfinancialsupportfromQuakermeetings,butmoneyalonedoesnotmakeourworkpossible.Quakersareado-it-togetherchurch,andFriendsacrossthecountrygivetheirtimefreelyinsomanydifferentways–governing,facilitating,participating,andkeepingourcentralworkopentoinspirationandguidancefromtheSpirit.Ihopeyou’llpassonmythankstoFriendsinyourmeeting,notonlyforthisgiftbutforallthattheyaredoingtokeepourreligioussocietystrongandtoliveoutourfaithintheworld.”AndYoungFriendsGeneralMeetingsimplysay“Manythanksforyour£60donation!”

DiarydatesLocation is Friends Meeting House unless shown otherwise Diary dates 2017: Sun 25 June 1245-1345 How Quaker Meetings take decisions Th 29 June 1900 Quaker History Group meeting Th 29 June- Sun July 2 5x5x5’s International festival of childhood, University of Bath Sun 2 July 1000 Healing meeting Sun 2 July Business Meeting Ali Packer Clerk, Diana Jeater Co-Clerk Sat July 8 The Bundle theatre performance at FMH Sun 16 July 1100 All age worship Sat 29 July – Sat 5 August BYM 2017 University of Warwick

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Mon 28 Aug (Bank holiday) 1400-1700 Celebration in music and food of the legacy to Bath of the refugee H.I.M Heile Selassie at Kelston village fete, Kelston (entry £3) Sat 2nd Sept 1000-1600 Quiet day at the Old Barn, Kelston Roundhill Sun 10 September Business Meeting Diana Jeater Clerk, Lin Patterson Co-Clerk Sun 1 October 1300 Area Meeting Bath Sun 5 November Business Meeting Lin Patterson Clerk, Ali Packer Co-Clerk Sun 3 December 1300 Area Meeting Frome

AreaMeetings4thJune:Devizes;1stOct:Bath;3rdDec:Frome-1300FriendsareencouragedtoattendMeetingforWorshipatthehostvenue,ifpossible.ItisgoodforeveryoneinAMtoexperienceworshippingtogether,gettingto"knoweachotherinthethingsthatareeternal".Italsobuildsanunderstandingofdifference,whichBathmeetingisexploringasaconcern.

Furtherahead:BYM2017:29July–5August2017,UniversityofWarwick.BYM2018:4-7May2018,London.BYM2019:24–27May2019,London.

WorshipSunday 11:00-12:00 FMHYorkStTuesday 19:00-19:30 FMHYorkStWednesday 10:30-11:00 FMHYorkSt

RegularEventsEverySunday 11:00-12:00 Children’sMeeting FMHYorkSt1stSundayofFeb,Apr,May,July,Sept,&Nov

13:00 MeetingforWorshipforBusiness(PreparativeMeeting)

FMHYorkSt

1stSunday 10:00-10:30 FriendsFellowshipofHealing FMH2ndSunevenmonths 13:00 FavouritePassagesfromtheBible

andQuakerFaith&PracticeFMHYorkSt

2ndSunoddmonths 13:00 PoetryGroup FMHYorkSt4thSunday 13:00 Sharedlunch FMHYorkSt

EditorsWilliamHeath&SophiaHeath;emailwmheath+BathQN@gmail.comRemember:everydayisawebsitedeadline.Pleasesubmitphotosalso.

AugnewsletteritemstousbyTue18Julyplease.Follow@BathQuakersonTwitterandInstagram.