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Friends United Meeting |
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January/February 2004
News from Friends United Meeting
Pray to be "Bound Together in Love"
Friends Meetings are being "bound together in love" by praying for each other in the 2004 version of the Chain of Prayer. The chain began on January 1, 2004, with Highfalls Friends Meeting in North Carolina who prayed for the concerns of the next meeting in the chain Manhattan Friends Meeting in New York City. In turn, that meeting prayed for the next meeting, in a chain of prayer that runs through the end of May.
Prayer gatherings, being held by each meeting on its day, are praying for the next meeting in the chain as well as for FUM's world ministries. To complete the chain, the last meeting in May will pray for the first meeting in January.
In previous years, participants in the Chain of Prayer signed up as individuals to pray in half-hour time slots. Instead, this year the focus is on corporate prayer services. There will be variety — some meetings will hold unprogrammed worship during which the concerns will be read aloud and held in the Light in silence, others will have small group prayer circles with participants offering vocal prayer, while others will have prayer services with praise songs or hymns and pastoral guidance.
There are still unfilled days in the Chain schedule. To participate, meetings can register online or phone Karole Cox at (765) 962-7573.
The Chain of Prayer theme is Colossians 3:12-15, "As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (NIV)
Mission Notes
Patrick Nugent & Mary Kay Rehard
Mary Kay and Patrick have been working on building deeper relationships
with two FUM mission projects in Kenya: Samburu and Turkana, where four
Friends Theological College (FTC) students served ministry internships
during the September term. Recently, Mary Kay visited Samburu for a week
and Patrick visited Turkana for a week. In Turkana, Patrick presented
a seminar for meeting leaders and another for pastors and their spouses.
Strong relations between the college and the two missions allow more students
to experience the missionary vocation, and provide fellowship and support
between college and mission staff.
In December, FTC hosted two basic workshops from the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), building upon training that occurred in Kakamega and Nairobi earlier in 2003. Now, in addition to training in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, students must gain skills in peacemaking and non-violent conflict transformation as a requirement for graduation.
The family enjoyed being together during the children's month-long holiday from boarding school in December.
Ramallah
The children are receiving an education without any significant disruption
to the school day this year. Jacob Kuntz is working as an intern on the
Christian Leadership Development program, teaching High School English
and History through grade 11. It is never easy starting in a new school
and with a new career, and we are pleased to have Jacob with us as someone
who adds vitality and depth as a Christian witness in the School.
John and Marjorie Scott, Friends in Residence, are here to encourage the growth of the Meeting and to support the deepening of spirituality in Friends School. They are with us for three months. Colin and Kathy South are continuing their placement at the School, Colin as Director and Kathy as College Counselor and Scholarship Coordinator.
Having identified Friends School Values in an exercise last year, this year we have begun a professional development program for teachers, in association with Birzeit University, to help promote better teaching and to help with translating the new values into everyday practice in the School.
The USAID multi-purpose building, which includes a new library, computer facility, sports hall and volunteer accommodation, is now almost completeŅapart from the Sports Hall that is awaiting steel for the roof from Jordan. The Library is now complete and open.
The Amari Play Centre program, directed by Violet Zarou, continues in temporary accommodations while the building of the development at the UNRWA school is being completed. Space is cramped but will expand into the new site by the end of February. Violet and Colin have been planning the introduction of new play equipment in the small play space available to us outside the classroom. Surprisingly there are a number of manufacturers of play equipment in Ramallah. The Meeting has reviewed the management of the Play Centre and a new committee has been proposed. Its first meeting was in December.
Greetings from Ramallah Friends Play Center
Good morning to you. It is now 6:00 a.m., the time to count our blessings and to say "Thank you, God! Lord, thank you for friends you have brought into my life who have made the journey more interesting and pleasant."
The new school year has started. Yesterday when I looked at the children who come to the Quaker Oasis of Peace, the Friends Play Center at the Amari Refugee Camp, I saw 46 little angels with shining eyes spreading sunshine all over the place, in spite of all the tragedies that take place.
"God, help us to remember that all the darkness in the world cannot snuff out the light of one little candle. Help us, God, to keep lighting our little candles of Quaker Spirit at the Friends Play Center until a mighty Torah of Justice and Love sweeps the world."
Violet Zarou
Ramallah Friends, West Bank
Copyright (c) 2004 Friends United Meeting
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