Upcoming Events
Wednesday 19th May at 7.00pmZoom
Tuesday 18th May at 7.00pmZoom
Tuesday 11th May at 7.30pmZoom
Sundays at 11.00Online Zoom Meeting
THIS MONTH'S CHARITY
We are Amnesty International UK. We work to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
As a global movement of over seven million people, Amnesty International is the world's largest grassroots human rights organisation.
We investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilise the public, and help transform societies to create a safer, more just world. We received the Nobel Peace Prize for our life-saving work.
Our story - defending human rights for over 50 years
In October 1960 a young barrister got on the London Underground, opened his paper and read a short article about a couple of students in Portugal who had been imprisoned for seven years after raising their glasses in a toast to freedom.
Sounds uneventful, but this was to become one of the most significant moments in the global movement for human rights. That barrister was called Peter Benenson, and his outrage at the imprisonment of the two men led to the birth of Amnesty International.
Now, over 50 years and a Nobel Peace Prize later, we continue to campaign for justice where ever it has been denied. We protect people, defending their right to freedom, to truth, and to dignity. We do this by investigating and exposing abuses where they happen. By galvanising our global movement of seven million people to intervene where individuals are at risk and by educating future generations so that one day the dream of human rights for all becomes a reality.
NEWS & VIEWS
Milford Haven Quakers - What's happening.
MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS
7th May 2021
BUILDING WORK
9th April 2021
The work on the drainage at the front of the building has now been completed and we once more can have access. There are signs that the work has had the intended effect of addressing the rising damp.
Work to install a French Drain to the rear of the building has been delayed. It is hoped that it will start soon.
The treatment for the woodworm in the lowered ceiling has now been completed. We can expect to receive a certificate to show that the work has been done and guaranteed for fifteen years.
SUTTON BURIAL GROUND
3 March 2021
The Lambston Parish Residents’ Association have spent a day in December 2020 cutting back some of the encroaching overgrow at the burial ground and have carried out further cutting back since.
We are informed that one of the earliest gravestones is deteriorating and may need re-fixing to the wall.
The Friends Burial Ground at Sutton to the West of Haverfordwest is well worth visiting. Friends might want to help maintain it by cutting back some of the overgrowth each time, which will help preserve the access. Every little will help!
It is a wonderful place to sit and meditate awhile because of its tranquil ambiance. The approach through the avenue of beech trees is very atmospheric.
It must be the oldest Quaker related site in Pembrokeshire still in the hands of the Society, having been in use since 1661.
SOUTH WALES AREA MEETING
13th March 2021
At Area Meeting, among the business dealt with, a number of policies were adopted (Equality and Inclusion) and reports were heard about the progress of Symud Ymlaen, Eldership & Pastoral Care, and SWAM's commitment to become join of Climate Cymru.
Friends are invited to further engage with the Spiritual Review process via the SR Blog.
The focus for our next Being Quaker | Living Quaker will be decided at May's Area Meeting.
Contact our Clerk to receive a copy of the minutes.
MILFORD HAVEN LOCAL MEETING BECOMES PART OF QWWAC
7th March 2021
Milford Haven Local Meeting supports the setting up of “Quakers in West Wales Asylum Concern” (QWWAC), to be a group to co-ordinate and take forward our concern for Asylum seekers and refugees. This group works on behalf of Narberth LM, St Davids LM with Fishguard and Goodwick Worship Group and Milford Haven LM, and alongside Lampeter LM (who are already a Sanctuary Meeting). We agree that QWWAC becomes a Sanctuary Group as part of the Britain Yearly “Sanctuary Everywhere” Programme, co-ordinating the responses of these Quaker Local Meetings to Meeting for Sufferings “Sanctuary Everywhere Manifesto”. We ask QWWAC to keep us informed of its activities and ways of working, and to encourage us in taking these Sanctuary Meeting commitments forward:
Building alliances with groups opposing racism
Working with others to change the laws on destitution, detention, deportations and removals.
We are reminded that we agreed to consider the issue of our Meeting joining County of Sanctuary Pembrokeshire and feel that this might be best served by our uniting with QWWAC.
RECOMMENCING MEETING IN PERSON
7th May 2021
We are hoping to hold meeting in the front garden of the Meeting House. Our Clerk has submitted the required risk assessments on the 19th of April and a revised risk assessment on the 26th.
Our Clerk apologises for the delay in getting the necessary risk assessments accepted.
We shall restart Meeting in the Meeting House when it is clear that we can do so safely. This will depend in part on the numbers having been fully vaccinated.
ABOUT QUAKERISM: PEMBROKESHIRE.ONLINE
27th April
Kitty Parsons of St David's Meeting has written an article about Quakerism for Pembrokeshire.Online.
The silence of the meeting can be a deeply profound experience. I have heard one Friend describe it as a gathering up and a bringing together. It was what first attracted me to meeting, and has been a source of comfort and challenge at various times in the 20 or more years that I have been attending.
MIDWEEK MEDITATION AT GREEN APPLE
7th May, 2019
The Mid -week meditation event for Green Apple is as follows ~
Wednesday mornings from 10:30 until 11:15am
Starting May 26th then June 2nd , 9th and 16th
Contributions if you wish .
BEING INVOLVED
Quakers do not stand apart from the world but have a history of being involved, joining with other to bring about change.
True godliness don’t turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it, and excites their endeavours to mend it: not hide their candle under a bushel, but set it upon a table in a candlestick.
William Penn, 1682
ADVICES & QUERIES
Each week an Advice & Query will be posted here
Since 1682 it has been our practice to ask "How the Truth has prospered amongst them (Quakers) since the last yearly meeting, and how Friends are in peace and unity?"
That question has evolved into our 42 Advices and Queries. Each month one is chosen to be read to the Meeting for those present to reflect on. Periodically they are revised in the light of contemporary experience. They are challenges to encourage examination of your spiritual life.
Each week one of the Advices and Queries will be posted here. Please take time to read and consider how it bears on your life.
Advices & Queries: George Fox 1656
Be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one.
A History of Quakers in Pembrokeshire
by Stephen Griffiths
£4.95 plus postage.
Stephen Griffiths was a member of our Meeting form 1949 until his death in 2010 at the age of 101. He taught for many years at Pembroke Grammar School. He was born and raised in Blaenau Ffestiniog and wrote several books and articles in his native Welsh.
