Epistle arising from American Friends Service Committee Corporation Meeting March 6-8, 2014

To Friends Everywhere:

The annual meeting of the American Friends Service Committee’s Corporation was convened on March 6, 2014, in Philadelphia by Arlene W. Kelly, Presiding Clerk of the Corporation, with optimism and celebration of 97 years of AFSC service.

Note: This post is the prepared message by Wess Daniels offered to the AFSC Corporation meeting this past weekend during semi-programmed worship. Wess is the pastor of Camas Friends Church in Washington state and he offered this in the context of the meeting theme which was, "Steadfastly working for just and lasting peace in Israel-Palestine." I found his words moving and challenging and hope you will, too. - Lucy

The Eagle, Chickens and Single-Stories

The Galkacyo celebration was featured on the Kalsan TV evening news.

In worship this morning, I found myself thinking ahead to next week’s AFSC Corporation Meeting. I wasn’t surprised to find myself wondering, “Can we sing together?”

Often when Quakers speak of the Divine, they are referring to a deeply internal experience, an experience of being filled with Truth and Love. Often they witness the Divine when sitting together in silent worship.  But many times they do not.  The inward experience is one of being guided, of being transformed from a place of shadow to a place of light; of bondage to freedom; of despair to hope.

Note: This is the second of a series of posts of African American Quakers talking about Quaker faith and AFSC's significance in their faith journey. Phil Lord is the rising clerk of AFSC's Board. He offers here a stirring message about the spiritual grounding and foundation of the organization. - Lucy

Surrendered and trusting hearts

St. Louis students voice their support for education in their video entry in AFSC's If I Had a Trillion Dollars Youth Film Festival.