Visit of Cécile Nyiramana and Exhibition

We were delighted to welcome Cécile Nyiramana, Clerk of Rwanda Yearly Meeting, who visited us before travelling to Quaker Yearly Meeting Gathering at Warwick University in July 2017. There was a well attended open meeting to meet Cécile and learn about the work of reconciliation and conflict transformation she has led in Rwanda following the devastating violent conflict in her country. Cécile Nyiramana is one of several African Quakers who, working with other churches and voluntary groups, have responded to experience of conflicts and violence in East and Central Africa by active peacebuilding. Some their remarkable work of reconciliation is documented by way of an exhibition entitled 'The light that pushes me'. The exhibition was on view at Clevedon Friends Meeting House in October 2017.  

Looking again at Quaker Basics

The theme was introduced by Chris Lawson (from Minehead Quaker Meeting, formerly senior tutor at Woodbrooke College).  His visual aid was a four-legged stool carved from a single tree trunk, a gift from Friends in Africa. Chris used it to conjure up a picture of Quakerism standing firmly on four foundations: our meeting for worship, our testimonies, our community and decision making, our history. His inspiring talk was followed by discussion in groups, where we explored the the themes we found most important and challenging. Most of us stayed for an enjoyable 'bring and share' lunch.  

Clevedon Foodbank

Clevedon Quakers are supporting the Clevedon Foodbank, together with other local churches under the auspices of the Trussell Trust. Appropriate food donations can be brought to the Meeting House on Sunday mornings before or after meeting for worship.

North Somerset Area Meeting

North Somerset Area Meeting handles both practical matters (finance and premises) and Quaker concerns (social, spiritual) at a level beyond the local meeting. It is one of 71 Area Meetings in Britain Yearly Meeting, which is the national Quaker body. North Somerset Area Meeting consists of the membership of the local Quaker meetings at Clevedon, Sidcot and Weston-super-Mare and it owns those three meeting houses. There are also Quaker meetings held monthly at Claverham Meeting House (owned by the Claverham Meeting House Trust).  North Somerset Area Meeting meets four times a year in one of our Meeting Houses or online. Attenders and enquirers not in membership can attend with permission from the Clerk of Area Meeting. The next meeting of Area Meeting is on Sunday, 11th February 2024 at Weston-super-Mare Quaker Meeting House. Agenda and documentation will be available on the Area Meeting Intranet site.

Study and discussion groups

Informal study and discussion groups were held periodically on a weekday evening starting with tea/coffee at 7.30 pm and finishing at 9.00 pm. Past themes included 'Deepening the life of the Spirit -- resources for spiritual practice', key passages from the Journal of George Fox, some questions in preparation for Yearly Meeting and the Sustainability Toolkit for our meeting. One series revisited our Quaker testimonies with sessions on 'Simplicity', 'Truth', 'Equality' and 'Peace'.

We also held a series of meetings entitled 'Becoming Friends'.  Some study groups looked at the question of 'Assisted dying and Living wills', 'Responding to homelessness' and 'Responding to the refugee crisis'. We also learnt about aspects of the work of our Quaker Prison Chaplain.  

We resumed study groups during the summer of 2022. We had a thought provoking session on the work of Alcoholics Anonynous and the 'Twelve Steps to Recovery' programme.

Since we have welcomed new attenders to our Meeting, we are holding a series of study groups on Quaker faith, practice and organisation.