Members of Milimani Friends Church (Kenya) sing outside their meetinghouse Did you ever want to hear the 23rd Psalm in Swahili? • Did you ever wonder why pre-World War II Quakerism spread like stampeding gazelles in Kenya? • Did you ever want to embrace Friends coming from afar like the Israelites walking into the promised land? • Did you ever wonder what it would mean for you to BE salt and light in the world?
If you have, then you will want to know that about 20 New England Friends will be at the Sixth World Conference of Friends in Kenya this April, sponsored by the Friends World Committee for Consultation. The theme is Being Salt and Light: Friends living the Kingdom of God in a Broken World.
NEYM has nominated representatives, others are going in 'open places.' You and your Meeting can prepare by utilizing the online study guide.
The World Conference is a once-in-a-generation experience for Friends around the world — the last was held in 1991. Why is this gathering important? What will "Being Salt and Light" mean to you and your Meeting?
Salt preserves, flavors, burns yet heals. It is necessary for life. Light exposes and illuminates everything; it reflects back to us and on us. It, too, is necessary for life. It is with a sense of risk and the unknown that we venture into the World Conference. We know the brokenness of our world in terms of the environment, economics, inequality and injustice. We do not know what the Living God will ask us to do as salt and light, but have faith that it will be revealed.
At our Yearly Meeting Sessions in August Young Adult Friends asked us all to listen to different voices and "where the words come from." In Kenya, voices from East Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America will be raised in song and prayer. Let us practice opening our ears, hearts and minds as we seek truth. How will we be transformed?
And the Religious Society of Friends? The world? Stay tuned.
For more information, visit saltandlight2012.org .
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updated November 28, 2011