Living Witness is a community that welcomes Friends who are actively discerning how we might respond to the unfolding climate and ecological crises, drawing on our Quaker values and practices. Central to this is nurturing a deepening spiritual exploration among Quakers and others, and supporting each other in the action and witness that may grow from this.
We hold online Quaker meetings focused on the Earth every Monday and Friday morning, and every Wednesday evening. See more information here
There are more events farther ahead on the events page.
To receive notices about Living Witness events and next issues of the EarthQuaker e-newsletter, please sign up to our email list.
News updates (More Pages tab) and Opportunities for Action available through top menu tabs.
Eva Koch Scholarship
Woodbrooke are re-running the Eva Koch scholarship programme for research related to the climate crisis. If you are interested, please see all the details via this link to Woodbrooke. The closing date for applications is Friday 20 January 2025.
https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/research/the-eva-koch-scholarship/
Faith Leaders urge UK Government to show leadership on the climate
See the full article on Quakers in Britain website: https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/show-leadership-on-the-climate-faith-leaders-urge-foreign-secretary-david-lammy
Saturday, 7 December - Creatively Visioning the Future - A Winter Retreat
Live Zoom: 10:15 - 16:00
Tutor/Speaker: Linda Murgatroyd
This creative participatory retreat offers a space to explore what a future based on love and truth might bring. Acknowledging that governments and corporations aren’t acting swift enough, how can we inspire positive actions and re-envision society?
https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/creatively-visioning-the-future-a-winter-retreat/
Quaker Arts Network have now published a Loving Earth arts calendar for 2025. This is 30×30 cm with 28 pages featuring a beautiful Loving Earth panel for each month.
Great as gifts for friends and family, encouraging engagement with the climate and environment crises, in a loving way.
It retails at £12 and is available from the Quaker Bookshop. For direct ordering, discounts for Local Meeting bulk orders and details on purchase and payment methods please use the link below:
https://lovingearth-project.uk/shop/
A Quaker Take podcast | Quakers in Britain
A podcast from Quakers in Britain and Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre featuring people talking about ideas, faith and activism. A Quaker Take explores a range of issues in Britain and internationally, including climate change and climate activism.
Relaunched as A Quaker Take, find new episodes or listen to previous episodes of Q:Witness.
NEW COURSES relating to the Climate Crisis available late summer/autumn through Woodbrooke Study Centre, online and residential
https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/our-courses/?_sft_course_category=climate-crisis
Quaker Gardens - Eva Koch Scholarship presentation
by Caroline Chandler - watch on Youtube -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFyZsqtI468
Revising the Book of Discipline - Unity of Creation
At Yearly Meeting in 2018 Paul Parker, recording clerk, welcomed the decision to revise Quaker Faith & Practice:
"Once in a generation, Quakers decide to take a long hard look at our faith, what it means to us, and what we can say about it. Today's bold decision to revise Quaker faith & practice means it's time for us to do that again. It's exciting. We want to hear the insights of younger and more diverse people, and set out how we are a faith fit for the 21st century. I'm looking forward to it."
Suggestions for new content are welcome and invited. If you have a suggestion to make for inclusion in the Unity of Creation chapter, please send by email to qfp@quaker.org.uk, or by writing to the Revision Committee, Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ.
QUAKER EARTHCARE WITNESS
Quaker Earthcare Witness is a network of Quakers inspiring Spirit-led action for ecological integrity and environmental justice in the USA. You can visit their website https://quakerearthcare.org/
With the opportunity to sign up for their newsletter 'Befriending Creation' and keep up-to-date on the work of Quaker Friends across the Atlantic.
CLIMATE JUSTICE GATHERING - November 2023
The Gathering was held over the weekend of 17-19 November bringing together Quakers from across the UK in a blended meeting of in-person Friends and Friends online.
The main themes rising to the top by the close of this shared time together were:
- community and the importance of connectedness, supporting one another
- indigenous values - learning about them and how they might be applied to our own lives
- capitalism - what should replace it and the importance of using our imaginations to navigate our way to a new social system
Upcoming Events
Fri 6 December
Friday Worship
07:00-07:45
Venue: Zoom
Our weekly open worship session, including some prepared ministry and followed by a brief period of 'afterwords.'
Please contact us for the Zoom meeting URL.
Mon 9 December
Quaker Eco Church Network : Steps to Accreditation
Venue: Zoom
Tutors: Kim Harrison, Gordon Benson
For sessions details use link https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/quaker-eco-church-network-steps-to-accreditation/
Wed 11 December
Wednesday Epilogue
20:30-21:00
Venue: Zoom
Our weekly evening epilogue
Please contact us for the Zoom link.