by Elizabeth F. Meyer

This pamphlet was first a lecture given in November 2003 at Rancocas Meeting, Burlington Quarter, and was co-sponsored by the Bible Association of Friends in America (who were the first to publish it), Burlington Quarterly Meeting and the Adult Religious Education Concerns Group of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.  The Bible Association of Friends in America (PO Box 3, Riverton, NJ 080077 609.267.1736)  © 2004 by Elizabeth F. Meyer

The talk has been lightly edited for publication by WQF, and is used by permissions of the Bible Association of Friends in America and of the author.

My heart is steadfast, O God,

These words appear in two Psalms:  57 and 108, and they have become my wake-up words.  When my alarm clock tells me it is time to get out of bed, but the bed entices me to snuggle under the covers, this prayer helps me rise with a steadfast heart that is willing to face “the day that the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24a).  But I do not want wakefulness in body only; I want my soul to be fully awake to God’s presence.  “Awake, my soul!”  It is the Psalms that have awakened my soul.

by Bridget Moix

This essay was first given as a plenary presentation to the Annual Sessions of North Pacific Yearly Meeting in 2010.  It was published first in Western Friend and is reprinted with permission.

Good evening, Friends, and thank you so much for inviting me to be with you during NPYM’s Annual Sessions as your Friend-in-Residence.   It’s already been a wonderful experience for me and my family.  I want to particularly thank Janet and the organizing committee for her support and our work together selecting the theme, Practicing Hope: Living and Witnessing Our Testimonies.  Thanks also to Dorsey and Ann who have been fantastic hosts.  And thanks to all of you for so warmly welcoming me, my husband Alberto, and our son Pablo.  It’s a real gift to us that we could come together to be with you.

I’m very glad to have a chance to talk with you tonight about what I believe is a critical part of Friends work of “practicing hope” in the world.  As you’ll see from the program, I’ve titled my talk tonight “An Ocean of Darkness, an Ocean of Light, y un Barquito Grande.”  I might add the subtitle:  “Friends Ministry of Hope in a Troubled World.”  I hope the title has you wondering just what in the world it is I’m going to be talking about.  That I think should be the purpose of a good title.