HOME PAGE
Friends have been coming together at the same Friends Meeting House
in Park Road for many years. We are an informal, cohesive and open spiritual
community. Friends attending our meeting have diverse ways of looking
at Truth, having been inspired by Christian, Humanist, Buddhist and
various other perspectives. We believe that the whole of life is precious
and endeavour to live out this faith in strong concerns for truth, peace,
social justice, simplicity and the future of our planet.
Some brief comments from Woking friends:
- "When I found Quakers (both at Woking and nationally) I discovered
not only a spirituality that I can understand but also a group of
people I feel very much at home with; not because we all think alike
but because we know that, whatever our beliefs, we are respected and
valued." Irene
- "Here are the words that came to mind one Sunday a few months ago
as I was preparing myself for our time of silent worship. I remember
being very aware of all those who had come before me into this quiet
space: 'To listen for the unheard … To sense untold Presence
… To quiet internal clamour … To let the body be still …
Is to gather all in worship … And offer mankind a blessing …
Unconditional … Everlasting and Loving' " Rosalee
- "I like the Quakers because I’ve found a religious ‘home’ that fits
with me rather than me having to fit in with the group." Elizabeth
- "Our quiet, gathered Sunday morning Meeting for Worship has sustained
me all my adult life: more powerful than private prayer, our search
for God’s presence - that inner light in ourselves and in others -
and the sharing of our concerns, tap into guidance about how we should
try to live our lives. After meeting, there is something warm, friendly
and positive to take out into everyday life - some meaning to our
busy lives perhaps …" Polly
- "I enjoy the simplicity of Quaker meditation. There is only one
Power Of the Universe (one Source) but many religions/beliefs. Two
quotes I like: 'Just realise where you came from'; 'The morning
breeze has secrets to tell you - do not go back to sleep.'" Richard
- "When I come to meeting, I feel I am amongst kindred spirits. Each
of us present has our own set of spiritual 'maps' that we feel comfortable
with using during the course of our lives; yet I get a strong sense
that we are all using the same compass. This, for me, provides a sense
of unity and comradeship within the meeting." Frank
Below are some relatively recent news bulletins, mainly about events
relating to or of interest to our meeting at Woking. See also archive
for past news items.
SOME FORTHCOMING EVENTS:
Nonviolence for Change | Fri 8 Oct 2010 7.30-9.30
pm
As part of national Quaker Week, Godalming Quakers
are hosting an evening workshop exploring nonviolent tools for radical
change. If you are someone who would like to be able to bring about
change in your life peacefully and effectively, this is for you!
Questions tackled will include:
- What is nonviolence?
- Nonviolence - a spiritual vocation to justice and compassion
- How can nonviolence transform relationships and challenge injustice?
Location: Godalming Quaker Meeting House
Fee: Voluntary donation
Booking: Anna Seifert 01483 414 767 or Chris Meeks 01483 422
774
SOME RECENT EVENTS:
Rex Ambler books
I have just purchased two books by Rex Ambler: Light
to Live By and End of Words - Creed and the Search for Unity.
They are intended as a donation for the Woking LM library.
Hiroshima & Nagasaki Remembrance | 9 August
Keith attended an event last week to commemorate the only time that
nuclear bombs have been used in war - 1945 when a quarter of a million
people were killed and the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki wiped
out.
The event was organised by Woking Action for Peace,
one of hundreds of groups worldwide campaigning to make the world
a safer place by persuading the nuclear powers to eliminate their
arsenals.
As the sun was setting, candle-lit grapefruit skins
were floated on the river Wey at Send.
Retreat: The Root Delusion | 6-8 August
At
the beginning of August I attended New Buddha Way’s Summer retreat
at St Columba’s House, Woking, attended by nine participants. There
was sitting meditation, walking meditation among the trees, a Dharma
discussion on ‘the root delusion’ in relation to compassion, and a
period of classical text study.
The topic is one which is very difficult to grasp,
concerning such questions as "To what extent are the objects we experience
'out there' really there?" and "To what extent is it true to
say that 'I' exist?".
The retreat was led by NBW's founder Geoff Hunt,
who came to give a popular talk at Woking FMH in February 2010. Bearing
in mind Geoff's experience as a Buddhist Chaplain & Professor of Philosophy,
he was able to present the topic in a unique way. It was a wonderful
weekend: peaceful, profound, amiable and amusing all at the same time.
I came away feeling tranquil and inspired. The next retreat will be
the Winter Retreat in December 2010.
Explore Chanting | Monday 21 June 2010 7.30pm
Hello Everyone. On Sunday I said I would add a little
more information about our forthcoming chanting session on Monday
evening - which I am very much looking forward to.
My intention is to share simple chants from different faiths which,
when all sung together, can create a sense of powerful connection
and a wonderful sound. As a result we create a beautiful sacred space
in which to be still. All voices are welcome - especially if you think
you cannot sing.
Chanting has been used in many spiritual traditions and practices
throughout time to help us connect to the true nature of 'Being';
to find stillness and peace within; and to celebrate the gift of life
with others in a sacred space by singing sacred text and sounds! [
Patricia's website
]
Location: Friends Meeting House, Woking
The Shawamreh family speak out | Monday 21
June 2010 7.30pm
Since
1967, Israel has demolished more than 24,000 Palestinian homes in
the Occupied Territories and Gaza. The Israeli government asserts
that these houses are illegal because they have been constructed without
building permits. But at the same time, the Israeli authorities refuse
to grant building permits to Palestinians.
Salim and Arabiya Shawamreh have land in Anata
and a home they cannot live in. To date, their home has been demolished
four times and ICAHD Jerusalem
has helped to rebuild it each time. In 2003 they dedicated their home
as a peace centre which is used for community projects, international
meetings and events. A fifth demolition order was placed on Beit Arabiya
in June 2009. This talk in Guildford is part of a June tour being
made by Salim and Arabiya so that they can tell their story.
Another couple, Youssef Hamdan and his wife Ouda,
have four children. Their home is just in front of the Wall in Anata.
It has been demolished twice, the last time being in 2008. This tour
will also help raise funds towards rebuilding the Hamdan family’s
home this summer.
ICAHD (the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions)
is a peace and human rights organisation dedicated to ending the Occupation
and achieving a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. This
tour is supported by Friends of Al Aqsa.
Every year ICAHD hosts an international camp for
people from around the world to join together and help rebuild Palestinian
homes that have been demolished in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Location of talk: St Nicholas Church hall,
High St, Guildford, 7.30-9.30pm. for more information contact hilary878©btinternet·com
Demonstration for electoral reform | 15 May
2010
Here
is a selection of photos taken on the electoral reform demo I attended
with Nigel and Verity on Saturday. It was very strange to find myself
on my first demonstration at the age of 54!
It was all very well organised and very well behaved;
the most the police had to do was help us cross some busy main roads
as we made our way from Parliament Square to Downing Street to deliver
a petition. It felt very good to be amongst several hundred people
who felt as strongly as I do that something urgently needs to be done
to make our elections more democratic. I'm hoping I can persuade more
than two people to come with me next time!
Experiment with Light | 29 March 2010
Anna
Seifert from Godalming Meeting came and talked about the Experiment
with Light. This is a movement within the Religious Society of
Friends (Quakers) that aims at putting our lives under the guidance
of the Light.
The Experiment started off in 1996 as a guided meditation
based on early Friends' writings that takes us step by step through
a process of self-discovery which goes beyond our own preconceptions
of self.
Since then a number of different meditations have
been developed by various people, and there are now approximately
100 Light Groups that use one or more of these meditations with participants
sharing their experience with each other afterwards. The Experiment
with Light remains a grass-roots movement with very little organisation,
and the Experiment
with Light web site is an attempt to facilitate communication
between groups and individuals as well as to present the Experiment
to those unfamiliar with it.
The talk was well received and helpful. One of the
suggested texts to meditate on:
"The seed grows when it is exposed to Light.
As the Light opens and exercises your conscience it will let
you see invisible things, which are seen by that which is invisible
in you. Therefore all now awake from sleep and see where you
are. The first step to peace is to stand still in the Light;
it will teach you all that you need to know." George
Fox
Audio recording: You can download a
recording of a talk given by Rex Ambler, entitled Early Friends
and the Light, at a workshop at Charney Manor. Other resources
are also downloadable.
Books: Living in the Light and Hearts and Minds Prepared,
both by Rex Ambler;
Wait in the Light: Spirituality of George Fox edited by John Lampen
In you, as in each human being, there is a dimension of consciousness
far deeper than thought. It is the very essence of who you are. We
may call it God, Presence, the Christ Within, the Inward Light, Higher
Power, the Divine, Awareness, or by various other names. 
Irene
