Lancaster PA Friends Meeting (Quaker)

Jodi Good shared these photos of visiting Friends Wilderness Center for a forest therapy walk.

"Once my eyes were opened to the pervasiveness of White supremacy culture within Quakerism, from the first Friends up through the present day, it’s become impossible to stop seeing it," Friends Journal executive director Gabriel Ehri writes. "And when people I care about tell me that my Quakerism is hurting them because it is riddled with White supremacy culture, I can no longer own that identity without owning the responsibility to help disinfect it." That process of acknowledgement and repentancethrough works as well as faithis one of several themes winding through this month's issue.

Happy spring equinox - captured by Jodi Good. It feels truly remarkable to feel the sun again.

This week was a painful one, from the shootings in Atlanta, GA that took the lives of six Asian American women to the Vatican's announcement that it would not b...less same-sex marriages. As a Quaker organization that seeks to affirm that of the Divine in every person, our hearts are heavy over these events and the pain they have caused to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and the LGBTQ+ community. To everyone who is hurting from the events of this week, especially the families who lost loved ones in Atlanta and LGBTQ+ Catholics in the world, know that we mourn with you. We call on Friends everywhere to examine their role in confronting anti-Asian racism and LGBTQ+ discrimination, and we continue to pray for a world where peace and love prevail. To read reactions from more Quaker organizations in response to this week, view the links in the comments. . . . [Image description: The words "We mourn with you" on a blue background, the FGC logo underneath.]

Spring is coming to the meetinghouse. Mia helps us find it. Come out to the meetinghouse on April 10 to help with our spring clean-up. See you then!

Curious about Quakers? Join us for an informal chat about Quakers, the Lancaster Friends Meeting, or any other questions you may have. We will meet on Thursday, February 25, at 7:00. Use this link to join us! https://www.lancasterpaquakers.org/featured-events

Want to learn more about our Quaker meeting, or Quakers in general? Join our virtual coffee chats the last Tuesday of every month!

Friend Tom Johnson-Medland has a handful of books and wondering if anyone from Meeting would like them. Thank you for sharing, Tom!

Even though it is difficult to spend time together these days, sharing what we are doing in our lives helps us feel connected. Mary and Jodi have been taking to the outdoors, for instance, exploring Climber’s Run a few weeks ago. And today, enjoying the morning moon in a clear sky. If you have something to share, please send to: [email protected]

A poem, written by Joe Shirk (Meeting attender), and inspired by the Meetinghouse pews where we all hope to meet again before too long. Of Inspiration, pews and Iron What caused the weakness in... The mighty ancient oak? Or maple ( I am not a carpenter...) Two hundred years or more ago An insect bite, a larva growing, placed beneath the outer bark When this stout plank was just a swaying slender sapling tree? Perhaps a callous footstep of a passing forest thing. A wounding healed with passing years close beneath the surface hidden from the saw-man's blade Missed by the well trained eye In some historic carpentry The plank served it's purpose well For uncounted many years Solitude and quite waiting for the weekly Sunday meeting Then in reverence of it's duty Holding up the varied weights of the Friends who rested quietly on it's ancient stalwart strength Then sometime something happened that the plank could not withstand Maybe it was humidity or unusual high attendance? Possibly the sudden force of a barely stifled sneeze? A Friend who was susceptible to pollen drifting in a summer window's breeze? When ensuing chaos had surrendered To careful thought and economics A blacksmith, (from beneath a chestnut tree)? Provided from his fiery forge A piece of strapping iron complete with holes for pegging, That restored the ancient strength to this scarred, heroic, stalwart plank Many years had passed Stories often fade So did the memories and chuckles Of this sudden lapse of character from such a stoic piece of wood Then a wandering pilgrim seeking Slipped in silent through the door Of that historic meeting house Then found a seat near the back Just inside the open summer window Seeking inner light, that of God within Was the pilgrims humble quest Returning many times Always sitting to the side Always near the ancient window Where the pollen drifted through Resting in the sacred quite With the other seekers there Just a pew or two away From the storied, stoic plank His gaze is often drawn To it's iron patch and it's scar. They share a commonality of a sometimes broken past A patched and strengthened faithfulness to continue pressing on... To live beyond the failing Of one moment lost in time. JS

Learn about Quakerism and Lancaster Friends Meeting on Tuesday, January 26 at 7:00, via zoom. We have an easy, comfortable place (on Zoom) to ask questions and get some information about Quakerism and Lancaster Friends Meeting. It’s called Coffee Chat. And it’s open to anyone anywhere. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. Please join us for some casual conversation. Please invite your friends and relatives who might be interested. To access the zoom link, please email [email protected].