'Act justly, Love tenderly, walk humbly with your God'
Micah 6.8
All posts by Stephen Cooke
A message from our Quaker friends and partners
Dear Friends,
I’m reaching out to you following a police raid on a Quaker place of worship last week. As you may have seen (it made national news) – 20 uniformed police, some equipped with tasers, forced their way into Westminster Meeting House and arrested 6 young women who were taking part in a Youth Demand meeting (the youth wing of Just Stop Oil) that was taking place in the building. The meeting was an opportunity for those assembled to share concerns about the climate crisis and the situation in the Middle East. You can read the (short) news story on our website here: https://www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-events/news/quakers-condemn-police-raid-on-westminster-meeting-house
The raid was not during worship, nor aimed at Quakers, but it was still at a place used for worship, traditionally a place of sanctuary.
Quakers have been campaigning to protect the right to protest, as well as campaigning for climate justice and an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine for a number of years. This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest. Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.
We are now in the process of organising and helping to co-ordinate various actions that are being planned by British Quakers in response to this raid. We believe this goes beyond the Quaker community—it’s a challenge to the safety of all places of worship. It’s important and encouraging that we come together in response. We also hold in the Light communities who regularly experience the sharp end of the criminal justice system.
In the short-term, we’d like to extend a warm invite for you, and anyone in your networks, to join us at a Quaker Meeting for Worship (based on silence) outside New Scotland Yard on Thursday 3 April from 12-1pm. This meeting is being organised by a Quaker grassroots group – Quaker Support for Climate Action – and will have a member of the House of Lords, Jenny Jones, attending. We hope to have a real breadth of people of all faiths and none at the meeting and your support joining and sharing the meeting would be very welcome. You can find out more details and register here: Quaker Meeting for Worship at New Scotland Yard
For the longer-term, we have developed template email that people can use and adapt to contact their local MP:
quaker.org.uk/documents/westminster-meeting-house-raid-email-your-mp-template. Please share it with anyone who you think would be interested in taking action to defend our right to protest, and to protect places where people worship. In addition, if you know of any police raids on places where groups worship, please could you tell me? We are trying to build a picture.
Thank you for spreading the word, much appreciated. We have had expressions of solidarity from Muslims & from Jews as well as from Christians.
All good wishes and with thanks for all that you do,
Judith
Judith Baker
Ecumenical & Interfaith Officer and Conciliation & Peacebuilding Coordinator
A bumper bulletin for April leads with an analysis of ‘The common good in a time of global crisis’ by Professor Ian Linden who writes: “Prayers for a seriously ill Pope seem to have been answered. But will we hear his voice again, speaking from the heart, truth to power, at this critical time? It is so badly needed. For his words have often broken through the political gaslighting to illuminate truths that give hope, and could do so again. It says something when a Guardian editorial (17 March) describes Francis’ pontificate as making the Catholic Church “one of the west’s most combative defenders of the liberal democratic values”.
We have transcripts of two talks commemorating St Oscar Romero who was assassinated on 24 March 1980, one from Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ celebrating him as ‘a true pilgrim of hope’ and another from Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald who makes the link between Ramadan and our Lenten fast, the dates of which coincide this year, as he focuses on the theme of hope.
Regular contributor Jon Kuhrt asks: ‘Who are the positive male role models for teenage boys and young men?’ drawing on Sir Gareth Southgate’s recent BBC Dimbleby lecture (available on BBC iplayer) and the highly acclaimed Netflix drama Adolescence which can still be viewed on catch-up.
There is a comprehensive account by Chester World Development Forum member Ann McCarthy on a talk given by Dr Rebecca Collins, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Chester, – on ‘Current Trends and Challenges in the Global Fashion Industry’. I’ve linked this to a report I compiled on ‘Ethical shopping and the fast-growing rise of China’s online brands’ which featured in the August 2024 issue of the NW NJPN E Bulletin. I sent this my new MP in October last year and received his response earlier this month – included in the bulletin.
UK faith leaders have sent an open letter to the co-chairs of the Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State for Education, and Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with an urgent call for the government to go further and be ‘bold and ambitious’ in its forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy.
Formed 8 years ago, the Balfour Project which focuses on advocacy for the Palestinian people has changed its name to the ‘Britain Palestine Project’ – details on p.13.
We have exciting schools’ news: after a long campaign the government has announced the launch of a new GCSE in Natural History and North West-based Loreto Grammar has enjoyed success in the Columban Schools’ Competition for the second year running (see p.14).
Wishing you all the blessings of the Easter season.
We have a number of resources for Lent this year produced by Anne O’Connor who regularly produces a wonderful series of resources each Lent and Advent,
The resources are as follows:
A Journey from Lent to Easter 2025: “On Ash Wednesday the prophet Joel invites us to turn to God, ‘for he is all tenderness and compassion.’ For a few minutes each day we can set aside time to sit quietly and listen to God, as we ‘journey into love.’” Daily readings from the office of the day with short reflections as an aid to prayer.
Prayers around the Cross on Good Friday evening: for the past three years in my parish a group of us have gathered around the Cross to watch and wait together for an hour. This intimate service contains readings, reflections and recommended music to download. GOOD FRIDAY EVENING 2025 (2)
Opening the Doors to Refugees and Asylum Seekers – Monday April 7th at 7.30pm
Dear Friends,
On Monday April 7th next you are invited to attend the next National Justice and Peace Network Event entitled.
Opening the Doors to Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Monday April 7th at 7.30pm
To learn a little more about the sudden and forced movement of people to the UK in 2025 and how you, as a ‘Pilgrim of Hope’, can play your part in shining a light their hostile welcome as we “Welcome The Stranger” we invite you to complete the form below to ensure your attendance.
The Zoom Link to attend this Webinar will be sent to you closer to the event itself.
The NJPN Executive.
(National Justice and Peace Network)
We hope that you can be with us. You can register HERE
Brian O’ Toole for the National Justice and Peace Network.
The March issue of the NW NJPN E Bulletin contains a wide range of resources for Lent. In his Message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “journey together in hope,” and to use the opportunity of the upcoming Lenten Season to ask ourselves whether we are truly willing to heed God’s call to change our lives.
The Pope’s reflection ties into the broader theme of the Jubilee Year: ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Picking up on from this we look at a three-year project to promote walking pilgrimage in England & Wales by developing Pilgrim Ways between the cathedral of each Catholic diocese and one or more shrines within the same diocese and examine the many benefits of pilgrimage.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has issued a new resource which helps Catholics use Scripture and their faith to inspire effective social justice action – we take a detailed look.
Pressing issues are discussed: concern about the UK government’s decision to cut international aid in favour of defence spending in the light of President Trump’s intervention in world affairs, an excellent opinion piece from Ian Linden, and a focus on the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Regular contributor Heather Kiernan provides first-hand accounts of the impact of these conflicts.
There’s a packed diary of events for March and April and information about upcoming conferences.
I am pleased to send the Spring Mouthpeace. With Easter being so late I have been able to include several suggestions for Lent – some to do in groups, some on your own.
Also there is quite a lot about the Jubilee – reports of the NJPN first two Opening Doors meetings and an article using Pope Francis’s own words plus information about A Day of Reflection at Workington (Lancaster Diocese) on April 5th.
Also information about CAAT celebrating 50 years, the Amos Trust’s webinars with Raja Shehadeh’s latest books and a report on Peace Sunday in Liverpool .
“If we just do the ordinary things well” Sr. Imelda
To all who attended last evening, thank you so much but a special thanks to Sr. Imelda Poole who is working in Albania and to Kevin Hyland whose generosity of time and experience made last night’s event one to remember.
