An Invitation I

F you have heard of the Quakers the image that might come into your head is of the chap on the porridge oats packet or of a bar of Cadbury’s chocolate.

You may not realise that these days Quakers have a very different image.

Last year we held two Open Days with cream teas at our lovely, black and white, 17th century Meeting House in Almeley Wootton and we were so successful in terms of visitors that we have decided to hold another!

Quakers, these days, come from all walks of life and uphold a progressive religious approach based on inward spiritual experience. We see our religion as a way of life rather than a dogma or a creed. It rests on a conviction that by looking into our inmost hearts people can have a direct communication within the very being of themselves. We may find it difficult to describe this in words, but we try to base our lives on it.

Early Quakers experienced the holy and realised that guidance could be found in all places and concluded that it is not necessary to have an ordained minister. This we maintain today believing that we share responsibility for what we do and everyone has a valuable contribution to make.

While we have no creeds or doctrines we acknowledge “guidelines” or testimonies as we call them, to enable us to lead our lives e.g. Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community and Equality.

We affirm the equality and dignity of all human beings regardless of race, creed, sex or sexuality and are concerned to promote social justice and relieve suffering wherever it occurs. We strive for honest dealings in all walks of life.

Quakers are interested and involved in the world around them, as individuals and as a group aiming to make a better world for all whether economically or environmentally and through our Peace testimony, (Quakers’ opposition to war), by trying to shine light on those factors which are the seeds of wars. However not every Quaker feels able to say “I would never fight”.

Meeting for Worship as we call our gatherings, are very simple. They begin in silence. We use it to sit together and open ourselves to the wisdom that comes out of stillness. It enriches us and shapes us, individually and collectively. This is what we mean by worship.

At some meetings the silence can last for the whole hour and become very deep and powerful; at others the stillness may lead one or more people to speak briefly in what we call ministry. Meetings are open to all comers.

Overall Quakers see our faith as a search for truth, not an arrival; a work in progress!

We would like to invite you in to visit our Meeting House which has over 350 years of history and to stroll round our burial ground which looks out over countryside towards the Black Mountains. Entrance is free and a cream tea and simple refreshments will be provided. The people who visited last year came for a variety of reasons; to visit a historic local building, explore their personal history, have an outing and some, even, to ask about Quakerism.

So whatever your reason for deciding to come along please be assured that we want you to go away with a fresh image of what a Quaker is when you leave. That Quakers are a vibrant, welcoming group, non-judgemental and open minded and, of course, can make a very good cream tea!

Open Day 22nd July from 2 pm – 5pm Friends’ Meeting House, Almeley Wootton, Herefordshire, HR3 6PY.

Stella R Sterry

Green Events

Every day until 31 October HEREFORD GUILD OF GUIDES Guided tours around Hereford. Also prebooked themed walks for groups all year round. Mon-Sat 11.30am, Sun 2.30pm). Tickets from the Cathedral Shop and meet at Cathedral main entrance, Adults £6, children 6-12 years £1, 07947 924494. www.herefordguidedwalks. org.uk

Sat 22 July OPEN GARDENS Explore the Chapter House Garden, Cloister Garden, Canons’ Garden, Dean’s Garden and the Bishop’s Garden. Hereford Cathedral, 10am-3.30pm, £6, www.herefordcathedral.org

Sat 29 & Sun 30 July BISHOP’S CASTLE TENNIS CLUB CENTENARY Free tennis from 10am-12pm, with 3 x 1 hour free tennis session. Sunday exhibition showcase match, 2-5pm, tea and cake, all welcome, www.bishopscastletennis.org

July & Aug SHROPSHIRE HILLS DISCOVERY CENTRE

15 July - Hay Meadow Festival. Talks, demonstrations, guided walks, family activities, rural arts and crafts, information stands, music, barbeque and bar, 11am-7pm, £7, children £3, family £17, under 5s free, (in advance).

24 July - Discovering Dragonflies, an introductory talk then exploration of the ponds and riverside, 10am-2pm, £16.

31 July - 4 Aug & 21 - 25 Aug - Summer Holiday ActivitySuperworm. For ages 4-11 years, 1-2.30pm, £4.50.

7 - 11 Aug & 28 Aug - 1 Sept - Summer Holiday ActivityDisasters and Dinosaurs for ages 4-11 years, 1-2.30pm, £4.50. 14 - 18 Aug - Anglo-Saxon Settlers, 1-2.30pm, for ages 5-11 years, £4.50. Booking essential for all. Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms, 01588 676060.

July NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME 1 & 2 July - Lower Wernfigin Barns, Trallong, Brecon, 11am-5.30pm, £6.

2 July - Treberfydd House, Llangasty, Bwlch, 1-5.30pm, £6. 2 July - Berriew Village Gardens, Welshpool, 12-5pm, £6. 4 July - Plas Dinam, Llandinam, 2-6pm, £5.

9 July - Hurdley Hall, Churchstoke, 11am-5pm, £6.

12 July - Tranquility Haven, 7 Lords Land, Whitton, Knighton, 6-8pm, £4.50. 15 & 16 July - 1 Glanrafon, Llanwddyn, Oswestry, 2-5pm, £4.50. 15 & 16 July - The Meadows, Carno Rd, Caersws, 2-5pm, £4. 16 JulyCwm-Weeg, Dolfor, Newtown, 2-5pm, £6. (For NGS)

Every Fri - 21 July - 11 Aug - Welsh Lavender, Cefnperfedd Uchaf, Maesmynis, Builth Wells, 10am-5pm, £6, pre-booking essential. 23 July - Crai Gardens, 2-5pm, £6. 23 July - Vaynor Park, Berriew, 1-5pm, £6. 29 & 30 July - Bryn Teg, Newtown, 1-5pm, £4. 29 & 30 JulyPonthafren, Long Bridge St, Newtown, 1-5pm, donation. 5 & 6 Aug - Clawdd-y-Dre, Lions Bank, Montgomery, 2-5pm, £5. www.ngs.org.uk

KNIGHTON COMMUNITY WOODLANDS GROUP Volunteer with us on our weekly task days to learn new skills. http://tveg.org.uk/wordpress/woodland-project Email woodland@tveg.org.uk 01547 520374.

Every Third Saturday in the Month PRESTEIGNE REPAIR Presteigne Youth Centre, Hereford Street. 10am-12pm. Household items repaired for free. Info: 01544 267997.

2nd Wednesday of the month KINGTON LOCAL ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY NETWORK (KLEEN)

Oxford Arms, Kington, from 7pm, www.kingtonkleen.org.uk

First Saturday of the month LEOMINSTER REPAIR CAFE, 10-12.30pm. Community Centre. We repair small electrical items, furniture & other household items, jewellery and clothing. Free service , donations welcomed. Also café with bacon sandwiches a speciality. Facebook