Peace Poppies

With the commemoration of WWI, Taunton Meeting are organising an event as I expect many Quaker Meetings are doing so too. The pack from FH was particularly moving and also the records kept at FH library with WWI archive material.

We, as a meeting, have been beavering away with fundraising ideas for our planned refurbishment, we hope that it will be exemplary in its adherent to green issue concerns.

One of our ideas is a white knitted poppy and I devised a pattern.  Here it is. 

Pattern for knitted poppy    

Materials – DK wool in red or white and size 9 needles

Knit first and last stitch to give a good edge.

Petal knit 4

1 Cast on 4 stitches

2. knit one row

3. next 2 rows ( k1 increase innext stitch knit to last two stitches increase 1 stitch knit 1)

4. knit one row,

5. ( k1 increase in next stitch knit to last two stitches increase 1 stitch knit 1)

6 repeat 4 and 5 until there are 14 stitches

7. knit 7 rows

8.knit 1, knit two together knit to last three stitches knot two together knit 1

9. repeat 8 until there are 8 stitches left

10. knit 1 knit 2 tog three times knit 1

11.knit on e row

1.2 k2tog, knit1, k2tog.

13. last three stitches , with a needle thread through the last three stitches and secure.

14. stitch the  bases of the petals in pairs, and then stitch one pair on top of the other

put on button and brooch bar.

© Zoe Ainsworth Grigg

Of course red ones can be made too.

Outsider view of the TV Programme " Rev"

Do you watch "Rev"?

Here is the Guardian's critique yesterday

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/28/rev-tv-comedy-undermines-church-of-england

This is my take on the final episode.

Adam, what a name in itself, is a man of courage, morality, faith and human frailty.  It is funny to watch him juggle all these conflicting sides to  his personality and act as a man trying to work within the framework of an institution,.  Something actually that is quite universal, be it the framework of a place of work or other institutions we may operate in.

The last episode he becomes very near and mental breakdown, feeling the injustice from all sides.  He has to deliver the Easter Cross for the Good Friday walk to a fellow church. In so doing, he passes the modern day rabble in the form of late night drinking crowds who ignore him just as  Jesus took a similar walk.

He ends up on a small grassy hillock, reminding us of Calvary and meets God; a rather unkempt dressed man who sits on a nearby bench with him,.

I am sure to an unbeliever that these things are funny.  But as a Quaker I find the compassion of the programme deeply moving. Where do we find God but in our neighbour and our F/friends? Didn't Jesus show friendship to all kinds of social misfits.

Adam in his desire to adhere to he church's rules ends up practicing modern Christianity in action.  In the resolution of each episode of the programme there is always Love and Compassion. Far from being hilarious this programme gives us a lasting and genuine message. If it is undermining to the Church, that doesn't undermine the intent of the programme., a glimpse of a Christianity in action today.

Not a Quaker?

How many times do I say perhaps I am not a Quaker?

Probably every day.

I know that

• I don't feel guilty when I buy a  lottery ticket.
• I sometimes buy a raffle ticket and do not think that either of these things contribute to excess gambling by me or others.
• I dont regard myself as a Christian although I try to live with Loving Kindness.
• I sometimes wonder whether war is inevitable although I work for peace and harmony.
• I sometimes criticise my fellow Quaker Meeting Members and feel angry with them.
• I dont always feel accepted by the Meeting
• I feel sometimes that intellectualising is all that Quakers do and that they ignore the intuitive side of the personality. I prefer to be a Quaker Healer, whatever that is. Mostly healing myself.
• I cannot solve all of the problems that Members of the Meeting put forward, I am not on everybody's page in the Quaker song sheet.
• I think the phrase herding cats is very apt.

I have been a Member for about 25 years. Why do I still go on Sunday to Meeting, come rain or shine?

 I feel a real presence in Meeting when I centre down .  Meeting for Worship revives and refreshes me and helps me carry on, carrying on. Sometimes when I am in need, words come into my mind that help to nourish and confirm me and find a way out of a problem. Sometimes there is ministry that speaks to my condition, and those about me. And, that ,I think is where the strength of Quakers lies.