Reflections on Bible study at Taunton Meeting

For our study group it was suggested that we consider St John's Gospel

It has been said that John was written about the same time of Luke, sometime after 93CE. The early Christian church promoted this as the actual writing of the apostle John, the brother of James who was the son of Zebedee. John was killed, however, by Herod Agrippa in 44CE, and therefore, the author was writing under an assumed name (some call it flattery, others call it forgery), leaving the original author anonymous, although we do know that he was from Ephesus (in Asia Minor). The oldest surviving fragment of John is from 125CE, and the earliest versions of John did not contain the final chapter, which describes Jesus Christ appearing to his disciples after rising from the dead. John did not quote as much of Mark as the others did.
The Gospel of John is an interpretation of events in Jesus life that the author had heard about, but, with no parables and instead, some plays on words and figurative, symbolic and abstract speech. Jesus talks for long periods in this gospel rather than briefly, and, historians are deeply suspect about any history where descriptions get more detailed as time moves on from the events described. And some miracles and events were, apparently, only ever seen by the author of John as no-one else wrote about them. This Gospel seems to have little direct knowledge of It is best to be considered imaginative fiction or spiritual encouragement depending on your point of view, but, should not be considered authoritive or factual.

Taunton Meeting

It was decided by the group in our last session, that given the evidence,  we only know for certain that Jesus lived and then died. Any other evidence is perhaps fiction and not historical fact.

The study has elicited a lot of fellowship, controversy and conversation.

One view put forward was that ~St John was writing to promote Christianity in order to convert the Roman Empire and contributed to the persecution of the Jews.

Another view put forward was that to meditate on the text would reveal a spiritual reality.

 Another view is that we all have our own visions of the truth.

Certainly St John whoever he was , was a publicist. My own view is that he was a clever  spin doctor of two centuries ago. And whatever reality of Jesus exists is corrupted with time. Nevertheless I have a faith in God, and I respect the message that the greatest of human capacity is that of LOVE.

Query - Are you a writer?

WRITING COMPETITION

The Quaker Meeting in Taunton, is making great plans to enhance and improve the Quaker Meeting House at 13 Bath Place, Taunton.TA1 4EP.  We are raising funds for this large scale improvement.  Currently we are doing very well, having nearly raised two thirds of the money.  We need your help. So with the help of Brendon Books we are launching a Writing Competition; see the application form below for details or alternatively you can access an application form on our website,   www.westsomersetquakers.org.uk where you can also see the architect’s plans.

Brendon Books are going to recommend a published author to judge the competition and there will be a Christmas Hamper, a Christmas Cake, and a Book Token as prizes.

We will announce the winner at an event at the Meeting House. (Date to be announced.)  We hope then to read out the short stories or poems that have won.

WRITING COMPETITION

IN AID OF THE QUAKER MEETING HOUSE REBUILDING PROGRAMME

ADULTS:  SHORT STORY OR POEM /   FEE - £4

CHILDREN 13 AND UNDER: SHORT STORY OR POEM/ FEE £1

The winning entry will be published on our website www.westsomersetquakers.org.uk

SEND APPLICATION FORM ( ON REAR OF THIS LEAFLET)  AND FEE TO:

GILLIAN COE, 34 GEORGE STREET,TAUNTON,TA2 7DE

TOGETHER WITH YOUR ENTRY-YOUR ENTRY MUST HAVE A TITLE BUT  NOT YOUR NAME

CLOSING DATE November 30^th 2014

PRIZES SHORT STORY ADULTS – CHRISTMAS HAMPER

POEM ADULTS- CHRISTMAS CAKE

CHILDREN POEM OR SHORT STORY - £15 BOOK TOKEN.

TITLE OF ENTRY

.......................................................................................................

NAME AND ADDRESS

EMAIL ADDRESS

.............................................................................................................

TEL.......................................................................................................

⃝

PLEASE TICK IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE INFORMED OF FURTHER EVENTS AT THE QUAKER MEETING HOUSE

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.

M for Meeting Houses in Somerset

Quakers have a tradition if building interesting yet functional buildings called Meeting Houses.  Unlike a church they are built to also be hired by the community in which they are located reflecting the Quaker belief that worship resides in daily life.

An early example is Spiceland Meeting House.  This Seventeenth Century building was built when dissenters were required to worship five miles outside the boundaries of townships.  This beautiful litte building set in rolling countryside and a reflective garden is open to the public on the National Heritage Weekend. Its arched windows flood the room with light bouncing off the plain white walls. A rush mat gives an aura of simplicity and peace. This building as you can imagine is popular for weddings and retreats.

A later example is Wellington Meeting House.  Built in the Victorian era it is perhaps more austere yet nevertheless very interesting. It holds a gallery, beautiful wood paneling and in the old Quaker tradition a Woman’s room. Quakers believed that women could discuss items of business more freely if men were not present. Their findings would then be brought to the main meeting.

The women’s room today hosts the coffee room on the first Saturday of each month for the LETS Meeting. Wellington Meeting House also hosts the yearly event called The Celebration of Light when the Meeting House and the adjoining Peace Garden are filled with hundreds of candles and lanterns during the early dark evening. The general public are invited to experience the contrast of darkness and light.

Taunton Meeting House is situated at the end of Bath Place off Taunton High Street..  Bath Place itself is an historical architectural gem and once an old coaching road. It is flanked by the shops which are themselves listed buildings.

Taunton Meeting House is not listed but none the less used by about forty independent groups. Architecturally it is not of interest at the moment. But that is about to change! There are plans to renovate and in the tradition of Quakers it will reflect a modern day testament to green values. Such is the art of the architect that a three dimensional film has been produced showing how the new building will look when finished. If you are interested we have loaded this onto our website www.westsomerssetquaker.org.uk on our Taunton Meeting Renewal page.  For all those interested in our architectural heritage, I am sure you will be delighted.

above - Bath Place Taunton Somerset

L for Luck

We all know that there are things that happen out of the blue. For instance I broke my ankle unluckily, but I was given excellent nursing care, lucky.  Is our glass half full or half empty? Sometimes its hard to distinguish, but looking for the positive even when things are negative is a skill which can be learnt.

I thought I would share a particularly lucky surprise I had last year.

Around my birthday weekend I visited my daughter and grandchildren, it is on May 28th, always half term week with a lot of things happening.

Because of an experience in my teens I always love rhododendrons, they are nearly always in bloom at the end of May.

My husband John always tries to find some for me and last year he had discovered on google that Furzey Gardens in Hampshire advertised. Along sleepy, sun drenched lanes, avoiding mounted horses, past thatched cottages we found Furzey.  It is a garden that was rescued from the bulldozers in 1952 and now is host to young disability gardeners.

It was glorious, the rhododendrons were in full bloom and the blowsey flowers radiated their colours for the bees in the sunshine.  We sat down half way around the circulating path by the pond and the resident cat jumped up beside us and stretched languorously.

There was a very pretty and modern teashop and as we refreshed ourselves a robin, quite tame , came onto our table asking for crumbs. Although we were not eating we found some discarded ones and he flew away happily to a nest, perhaps, in the nearby wood.

The whole afternoon was a complete surprise when we accidentally found such a beautiful garden filled with blooms.

In the centre was a thatched cottage and outside, a wooden cross with Christ. As we walked through such glory, we silently found prayers coming to mind and thankfulness for our blessings.  The natural world is a beautiful gift from God.

This year, on my birthday, I shall be on a cruise, crossing the Bay of Biscay.  I wonder if my glass (or my stomach) will be half empty or half full?