Area Meeting update and notices
We held our Area Meeting on Saturday 16th May and we were pleased to welcome Friends from all six of our Local Meetings, as well as being joined by our Local Development Worker.
We began by recording the sad death of a Friend and by updating our records regarding the death of another Friend. We also recorded the scattering of ashes in Bewdley burial ground. On a happier note, we also welcomed a Friend transferring their membership to us from another Area Meeting.
We recorded the appointment of our Yearly Meeting representative. This replaces the role of representative on Meeting for Sufferings. We also agreed to releasing our current Children and Young People’s advocate and are now looking to find someone to serve in that role.
We heard an update from our Trustees regarding the transfer of Evesham Local Meeting into our Area Meeting. We agreed a minute to send to Yearly Meeting for them to approve the change. Trustees also updated us on the proposed merger of Worcester Friends Charity with the Area Meeting. Finally, we agreed that residential Friends and property managers from each local meeting should be invited to join our Area Meeting Property committee.
We heard a report from the first of the sessions of Yearly Meeting for this year. Friends were asked to consider the ways in which their meetings are a Spirit-led community both at the edges and at their centres. We ended by listening to the Yearly Meeting Epistle. You can watch this here
Friends are encouraged to consider how they might offer service to the Yearly Meeting. There is a Quaker Service Form in the ‘Making an Impact’ booklets each Local Meeting was supplied with.
Finally, we heard an update on the restructuring of roles and responsibilities in Malvern Meeting and were pleased to hear of how these changes have led to increased participation from members and attenders.
In the afternoon, we heard a thought-provoking presentation from Friends involved with Quakers in Criminal Justice on the theme of ‘Welcoming All’. We were asked to consider the ways our meetings accept and welcome former prisoners. You can read their booklet on this issue here: Welcoming All.pdf
Next Area Meeting will be held in Bewdley on Saturday 11 July 2026, 11am to 3pm. There will be an afternoon session on ‘Ways of Being an Area Meeting: Can change for our Area Meeting be positive?’
Notices
There is a creative retreat at Charney Manor on June 5-7. The retreat called 'Unfolding and Enfolding' will be run by Philip and Zélie Gross. Contact Charney Manor directly to book your place.
Sibford School’s General Meeting will be held on Saturday 20 June 2026 at 2.00pm, whilst Sidcot School’s General Meeting will be held at 1pm to 4:30pm, Friday 5 June 2026. Ackworth School’s Celebration Day is on Saturday 27th June. In all cases, we do not usually appoint representatives for these events but are happy to support any Friends wishing to attend.