Quakers and the Holocaust on Oct 1

In the 1930s and 1940s, Friends engaged in a number of remarkable—and controversial—activities that were intended to provide assistance to people who were being persecuted by the Nazis. From today’s perspective, it seems clear that Quakers made a great many mistakes as they were trying to provide that assistance. Nevertheless, Friends’ actions did end up saving hundreds—and possibly thousands—of human lives.

This forum will provide a space in which we can reflect on the things that our spiritual ancestors did—and failed to do—as they responded to the catastrophic times in which they lived. It will be led by David Harrington Watt. David is a member of Radnor Meeting and also the Dorothy and Douglas Steere Professor of Quaker Studies at Haverford College.

This will be held on Oct 1st after Meeting for Worship (approximately 11:30AM) either on-site or using the Zoom link on the home page of the website.

FORUM: Drawing, A Contemplative Act, Sunday September 17th at 11:30AM

This forum invites all people to connect with nature, using drawing to kinetically engage with our surroundings, fostering meditation and creativity in surprising ways. No prior art experience is necessary.  We will be guided through an interactive experience to engage with natural forms outdoors, weather permitting, through sampling of flowers and plants, utilizing specific drawing prompts. Multi-sensory methods of mark-making will provide a vehicle for experiencing nature in new ways,  deepening our awareness of our surroundings while using all of the senses. We will come back together to reflect on what we have discovered,in the hybrid in-person and Zoom setting. If joining by Zoom, use the main link on the home webpage.

Materials will be provided. Zoom users will be prompted in advance with a list of simple materials easily found at home.

Pamela Lawton is a member of Radnor Meeting. She received a US Fulbright Scholar grant in Italy in 2019-2020 for developing tactile strategies in her own artmaking and in her teaching, working both with people with low and no vision and fully-sighted people in museums in Italy and Greece. She teaches at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC, Manhattanville College, and at the Siena Art Institute, where her class “Drawing As Seeing” in Siena, Italy, for people with. Any level of sight, will run April 29-May 13, 2024. For more information about this please check https://www.sienaart.org/Special-Programs/Drawing-as-Seeing/

April 2 – Forum – Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) on reproductive rights.

FCNL has asked Meetings for their input about whether, in light of last year’s Supreme Court decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (overturning Roe v. Wade), reproductive rights should be added to its list of legislative priorities. FCNL has asked that Meetings consider this issue with compassion and respect for all views and offer advice to FCNL. Accordingly, on April 2, we will hold a Forum to determine Radnor’s view on the importance of FCNL’s taking on the issue of reproductive rights. Jerilynn Radcliffe will facilitate this discussion, with the support of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee.