Inspiration at Friends Meeting

Went to York, Friargate Quaker Meeting with Janice.
Due to having to wait for the departure of the Park & Ride Bus we arrived late at the Meeting House in the centre of York. As the Meeting had already settled into silence we waited in the foyer and filled the time looking through leaflets and notices of events and activities taking place. We both noted with interest a leaflet outlining the forthcoming development of the Meeting House which is due to commence this coming summer - an indication of a community moving forward for growth. This meeting is big, that is for a Quaker meeting, attracting around 90 people, accommodated in their large meeting room.
We enter, somewhat nervously, into the quiet assembly already peacefully gathered in around a small central table containing simple flowers, Quaker Faith and Practice, a visitors book and a couple of translations of the Bible. A quick glance around the room suggests about 60 people in attendance appearing somewhat dwarfed under an enormous window filled with the brightness of sky and white fluffy clouds.
A Friend opposite spoke out of the silence on being touched after hearing the Sunday Radio 4 Service from Liverpool Cathedral and in particular hearing the Bishop of Liverpool speak in an inclusive and open way about the new birth that resurrection and spring bring. She spoke of the cherry blossom, which is normally associated with springtime - even if this year we would have to wait for it's appearance due to the on-going cold winter blasts! She recited from memory A E Houseman's Loveliest of the Trees - the cherry now - and the need to see beauty and freshness that each new year brings and the miracle - before the years have disappeared!

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now 
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my three score years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.

A Friend with an American accent rose to share what Easter means to her and her reflection on resurrection. She spoke of having problems with the traditional aftermath of the gospel account following Jesus death - but summed it up by saying that Easter time was still a time of wonder.

A Friend rose to recount his experience earlier in the morning. His job was to reset the castle museum clock. So up three flights of stairs and up a ladder to put the clock to British Summertime. Quickly he turns the dial and climbs down into the courtyard only to notice that he has put the clock back one hour instead of forward one hour. Up the three flights of stairs and up the ladder again but when he arrives at the dial he couldn't remember how much to adjust the clock now - but takes a guess! Back down in the courtyard he notices that the clock is telling the same time as when he started - that is one hour behind. So up three flights of stairs and up the ladder to put the clock one hour forward and this time to return to the courtyard with the clock recording the right time. He said this had taught him that he still had a lot to learn from Quakerism - not do things hastily!

A woman rises to say that she has been thinking that resurrection isn't a one off but that we all undergo multiple and repeated resurrections in our lives particularly following hardships and trials that life brings we need to start all over again - being resurrected to the new. The issue that prevents resurrection to newness is like the big round stone that blocks our way. 'God' provides on-going opportunities to get it right - time and time again.

After a further short silence the children enter and give small posies of flowers and Easter cards out to people in the group and then they sat in silence with us for the last 10 minutes or so - before we shook hands and the Meeting came to a close.

In the coffee room we chat with an elderly Friend who shares her life's journey with us and we are touched by her gentleness and wisdom.

Then off to Goji Vegetarian Café and a superb nut roast followed by a walk through York in the bracing spring sunshine.

Much to ponder over here this morning and good to share again in a Quaker Meeting after some months absence. This one, because of it being Easter Sunday, full of oblique Christian imagery - but open and inclusive to everyone.