epistle
literature
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epistle, a composition in prose or poetry
written in the form of a letter to a particular person or group.
In literature there are two basic traditions of verse epistles, one derived from Horace’s Epistles and the other from Ovid’s Epistulae heroidum (better known as Heroides). The tradition based on Horace addresses moral and philosophical themes and has been the most popular form since the Renaissance.
In literature there are two basic traditions of verse epistles, one derived from Horace’s Epistles and the other from Ovid’s Epistulae heroidum (better known as Heroides). The tradition based on Horace addresses moral and philosophical themes and has been the most popular form since the Renaissance.
The form that developed from Ovid deals with romantic and sentimental subjects; it was more popular than the Horatian form during the European Middle Ages. Well-known examples of the Horatian form are the letters of Paul the Apostle (the Pauline epistles incorporated into the Bible), which greatly aided the growth of Christianity into a world religion, and such works as Alexander Pope’s “An Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot.” Other writers who have used the form include Ben Jonson, John Dryden, and William Congreve, as well as W.H. Auden and Louis MacNeice more recently.
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It is Quaker practice that, after any gathering, conference or Yearly Meeting, an epistle is written, which hopes to capture the essence of what happened, and how the spirit was felt to be present in the gathering. Thus the epistles are a summary of lots of good stuff.
They are collected globally by FWCC, and made available on their website at https://fwcc.world/resources_cpt/epistles/ .
Each year an Australian Friend reads the collection of epistles, and offers a summary to our YM. Thus world trends, challenges, hopes are highlighted in this address.
This is the second Formal Session for consideration of the business of YM.
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Epistles
An Epistle articulates a collective sense of experience and how God has moved among Friends during a gathering, be it a yearly meeting session or an FWCC Section meeting, or a Young Friends gathering.
It is approved by that group during a meeting for business. It is typically shared with yearly meetings so that they might read some of them out in meeting or publish some for people to read.
It was historically, and continues to be, an important way for Friends and others to learn about each other in that which is eternal. They help us appreciate that we are part of a world family of Friends.
Epistles have potential to facilitate understanding among Friends, and in this light, we ask that you read Epistles with an open mind and heart.
Please note that each meeting writes its own Epistle, and we do not alter or edit them; Friends with concerns are encouraged to address those directly to the sending meeting.
If you have an epistle you would like to share with the world family of Friends that is not on this page or in the archive, please email it to Tas Cooper.
World Plenary Meeting Epistle 2016 English (19-27 January 2016)
Epístola de la Reunión Plenaria Mundial 2016 Español (19-27 de enero de 2016)
Most Recent Epistles Received (for previous epistles, please check the archive)
2022
Aotearoa-New Zealand YM (28 April – 1 May) (.pdf, 204kb)
Britain YM (27-30 May) (.pdf, 211kb)
FWCC Europe & Middle East Section Annual Meeting (20-23 May) (.pdf, 147kb)
Ohio Valley YM (USA) (8-12 June) (.pdf, 237kb)
Sierra-Cascades YM (USA) (17-19 June) (.pdf, 40kb)
Southeastern YM (USA) (13-17 April) (.pdf, 93kb)
2021
Australia YM (3-9 July) (.pdf, 134kb)Junior Young Friends (.pdf, 139kb)
Children’s Epistle (.pdf, 154kb)
Canadian YM (8-14 August) (.pdf, 516kb)
France YM (29 October – 1 November) English (.pdf, 142kb), français (.pdf, 146kb)
Friends Church of North Carolina (USA) (13-14 August) (.pdf, 89kb)
Friends Church of Uganda (3-7 November) (.pdf, 3mb)
German YM (14-17 October) (.pdf, 36kb)
Hong Kong MM – State of the Meeting Report (3 April) (.pdf, 121kb)
Illinois YM (USA) (27 June – 3 July) (.pdf, 280kb)
Intermountain YM (USA) (16-20 June) (.pdf, 50kb)
Iowa YM (Conservative) (USA) (22-25 July) (.pdf, 81kb)
Ireland YM (8-11 April) (.pdf, 90kb)Junior Yearly Meeting (1-3 January, postponed from April 2020) (.pdf, 94kb)
Japan YM (20-21 November) (.pdf, 80kb)
Lake Erie YM (USA) (28 July – 1 August) (.pdf, 35kb)
Mexico General Meeting (21-23 May) (.pdf, 616kb, in Spanish and English)
Netherlands YM (28-30 May) (.pdf, 517kb)
Northern YM (USA) (27-30 May) (.pdf, 252kb)
North Pacific YM (USA) (14-18 July) (.pdf, 56kb)
Norway YM (26-27 June) English (.pdf, 16kb) Norwegian (.pdf, 78kb)
Ohio YM (USA) (11-13 June) (.pdf, 32kb)
Pacific YM (USA) (23-28 July) (.pdf, 101kb)
Piedmont Friends YM (USA) (9-11 April) (.pdf. 141kb)
Quaker Council for European Affairs (12-13 November) (.pdf, 26kb)
South Central YM (USA) (28 March – 4 April) (.pdf, 46kb)
Southern Africa YM (24-25 July, 31 July – 1 August) (.pdf, 80kb)
Sweden YM (14-16 May) (.pdf, 62kb)
Switzerland YM (21-24 May) (.pdf, 140kb)
Uganda USFW (1-5 December) (.pdf, 1,007kb)
Wilmington YM (USA) (29 July – 1 August) (.pdf, 91kb)
Epistle from the Heads of Quaker Agencies (8 December) (.pdf, 19kb)
2020
Alaska Friends Conference (USA) (30 July – 2 August) (.pdf, 109kb)
Baltimore YM (USA) (27 July – 3 August) (.pdf, 206kb)
Belgium & Luxembourg YM (10-11 October) (.pdf, 89kb)
Cuba YM (23 February) (bilingual/bilingüe English/español) (.pdf, 51kb)
Europe & Middle East Young Friends Summer Gathering (19-26 July) (html)
FWCC Central Executive Committee (11-15 June) (.pdf, 93kb)
Indiana YM (USA) (23-25 July) (.pdf, 124kb)
Monteverde Monthly Meeting (Costa Rica) (May) (.pdf, 224kb)
New England YM (USA) (1-9 August) English (.pdf, 269kb) / español (.pdf, 99kb)
New York YM (USA) (19-31 July) (.pdf, 100kb)
North Carolina YM (Conservative) (USA) (8-12 July) (.pdf, 589kb)
Philadelphia YM (USA) (29 July – 2 August) (.pdf, 110kb)
Poland – All-Poland Gathering (14 November) English (.pdf, 18kb) / Polski (.pdf, 18kb)
2019
Central European Gathering (12-16 April) (.pdf, 58kb)
Evangelical Friends of Kitale, Kenya (12-16 December) (.pdf, 23kb)
Great Plains YM (USA) (30 May – 2 June) (.pdf, 163kb)
Italian Friends’ Gathering 2019 (30 August – 1 September) (.pdf, 72kb)
Jamaica YM (9-11 August) (.pdf, 276kb)
New Association of Friends (USA) (27 October) (.pdf, 85kb)
North Carolina Fellowship of Friends (USA) (10 August) (.pdf, 143kb)
Quaker Religious Education Collaborative, East Africa (16-19 January) (.pdf, 188kb)
Quakers Uniting in Publications (QUIP) (international) (28-31 March) (.pdf, 99kb)
Southern Appalachian YM and Association (USA) (13-16 June) (.pdf, 122kb)
Western YM (25-28 July) (USA) (.pdf, 658kb)
2018
FLGBTQC (Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns) (summer) (.pdf, 4MB)
FWCC Asia-West Pacific Section Meeting (12-16 September) (.pdf, 203kb)
Friends Association for Higher Education (14-17 June) (.pdf, 208kb)
Pacific Northwest Quaker Women’s Theology Conference (USA) (6-10 June) (.pdf, 258kb)
Soy YM (Kenya) (22-26 August) (.pdf, 190kb)
2017
Chavakali YM (Kenya) (16-20 August) (.pdf, 102kb)
Nairobi YM (Kenya) (30 August-3 September) (.pdf, 558kb)
Nordic Gathering (29 June-2 July) (.pdf, 167kb)
North Carolina YM (FUM) (USA) (4-6 August) (.pdf, 404kb)
Ramallah MM (Palestine) (February) (.pdf, 493kb)
Sierra-Cascades YM (USA) (.pdf, 129kb)
Epistle of the “What Canst Thou Say?” Ministers & Elders Colloquium (6-9 October) (.pdf, 184kb)
2016
Baltimore YM (USA) (1-7 August) (.pdf, 176kb)
Denmark YM (2-3 April) (.pdf, 102kb)
Europe & Middle East Young Friends All-Age Gathering (30 July-6 August) (.pdf, 275kb)
Fellowship of Friends of African Descent Annual Gathering (12-14 August) (.pdf, 137kb)
Tanzania YM (24-28 August) (.pdf, 64kb)
2015
Tanzania USFW (December) (.pdf, 64kb)
2014
Bhopal YM (India) (9 February) (.pdf, 53kb)
Quaker Youth Pilgrimage (22 July – 21 August) (.pdf, 255kb)
2013
Alaska YM (.pdf, 77kb)
Northwest YM (USA) (21-25 July) (.pdf, 81kb)
2012
East Africa YM (4 September) (.png, 494kb)
GET BACK
Epistles have potential to facilitate understanding among Friends, and in this light, we ask that you read Epistles with an open mind and heart.
Please note that each meeting writes its own Epistle, and we do not alter or edit them; Friends with concerns are encouraged to address those directly to the sending meeting.
If you have an epistle you would like to share with the world family of Friends that is not on this page or in the archive, please email it to Tas Cooper.
World Plenary Meeting Epistle 2016 English (19-27 January 2016)
Epístola de la Reunión Plenaria Mundial 2016 Español (19-27 de enero de 2016)
Most Recent Epistles Received (for previous epistles, please check the archive)
2022
Aotearoa-New Zealand YM (28 April – 1 May) (.pdf, 204kb)
Britain YM (27-30 May) (.pdf, 211kb)
FWCC Europe & Middle East Section Annual Meeting (20-23 May) (.pdf, 147kb)
Ohio Valley YM (USA) (8-12 June) (.pdf, 237kb)
Sierra-Cascades YM (USA) (17-19 June) (.pdf, 40kb)
Southeastern YM (USA) (13-17 April) (.pdf, 93kb)
2021
Australia YM (3-9 July) (.pdf, 134kb)Junior Young Friends (.pdf, 139kb)
Children’s Epistle (.pdf, 154kb)
Canadian YM (8-14 August) (.pdf, 516kb)
France YM (29 October – 1 November) English (.pdf, 142kb), français (.pdf, 146kb)
Friends Church of North Carolina (USA) (13-14 August) (.pdf, 89kb)
Friends Church of Uganda (3-7 November) (.pdf, 3mb)
German YM (14-17 October) (.pdf, 36kb)
Hong Kong MM – State of the Meeting Report (3 April) (.pdf, 121kb)
Illinois YM (USA) (27 June – 3 July) (.pdf, 280kb)
Intermountain YM (USA) (16-20 June) (.pdf, 50kb)
Iowa YM (Conservative) (USA) (22-25 July) (.pdf, 81kb)
Ireland YM (8-11 April) (.pdf, 90kb)Junior Yearly Meeting (1-3 January, postponed from April 2020) (.pdf, 94kb)
Japan YM (20-21 November) (.pdf, 80kb)
Lake Erie YM (USA) (28 July – 1 August) (.pdf, 35kb)
Mexico General Meeting (21-23 May) (.pdf, 616kb, in Spanish and English)
Netherlands YM (28-30 May) (.pdf, 517kb)
Northern YM (USA) (27-30 May) (.pdf, 252kb)
North Pacific YM (USA) (14-18 July) (.pdf, 56kb)
Norway YM (26-27 June) English (.pdf, 16kb) Norwegian (.pdf, 78kb)
Ohio YM (USA) (11-13 June) (.pdf, 32kb)
Pacific YM (USA) (23-28 July) (.pdf, 101kb)
Piedmont Friends YM (USA) (9-11 April) (.pdf. 141kb)
Quaker Council for European Affairs (12-13 November) (.pdf, 26kb)
South Central YM (USA) (28 March – 4 April) (.pdf, 46kb)
Southern Africa YM (24-25 July, 31 July – 1 August) (.pdf, 80kb)
Sweden YM (14-16 May) (.pdf, 62kb)
Switzerland YM (21-24 May) (.pdf, 140kb)
Uganda USFW (1-5 December) (.pdf, 1,007kb)
Wilmington YM (USA) (29 July – 1 August) (.pdf, 91kb)
Epistle from the Heads of Quaker Agencies (8 December) (.pdf, 19kb)
2020
Alaska Friends Conference (USA) (30 July – 2 August) (.pdf, 109kb)
Baltimore YM (USA) (27 July – 3 August) (.pdf, 206kb)
Belgium & Luxembourg YM (10-11 October) (.pdf, 89kb)
Cuba YM (23 February) (bilingual/bilingüe English/español) (.pdf, 51kb)
Europe & Middle East Young Friends Summer Gathering (19-26 July) (html)
FWCC Central Executive Committee (11-15 June) (.pdf, 93kb)
Indiana YM (USA) (23-25 July) (.pdf, 124kb)
Monteverde Monthly Meeting (Costa Rica) (May) (.pdf, 224kb)
New England YM (USA) (1-9 August) English (.pdf, 269kb) / español (.pdf, 99kb)
New York YM (USA) (19-31 July) (.pdf, 100kb)
North Carolina YM (Conservative) (USA) (8-12 July) (.pdf, 589kb)
Philadelphia YM (USA) (29 July – 2 August) (.pdf, 110kb)
Poland – All-Poland Gathering (14 November) English (.pdf, 18kb) / Polski (.pdf, 18kb)
2019
Central European Gathering (12-16 April) (.pdf, 58kb)
Evangelical Friends of Kitale, Kenya (12-16 December) (.pdf, 23kb)
Great Plains YM (USA) (30 May – 2 June) (.pdf, 163kb)
Italian Friends’ Gathering 2019 (30 August – 1 September) (.pdf, 72kb)
Jamaica YM (9-11 August) (.pdf, 276kb)
New Association of Friends (USA) (27 October) (.pdf, 85kb)
North Carolina Fellowship of Friends (USA) (10 August) (.pdf, 143kb)
Quaker Religious Education Collaborative, East Africa (16-19 January) (.pdf, 188kb)
Quakers Uniting in Publications (QUIP) (international) (28-31 March) (.pdf, 99kb)
Southern Appalachian YM and Association (USA) (13-16 June) (.pdf, 122kb)
Western YM (25-28 July) (USA) (.pdf, 658kb)
2018
FLGBTQC (Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns) (summer) (.pdf, 4MB)
FWCC Asia-West Pacific Section Meeting (12-16 September) (.pdf, 203kb)
Friends Association for Higher Education (14-17 June) (.pdf, 208kb)
Pacific Northwest Quaker Women’s Theology Conference (USA) (6-10 June) (.pdf, 258kb)
Soy YM (Kenya) (22-26 August) (.pdf, 190kb)
2017
Chavakali YM (Kenya) (16-20 August) (.pdf, 102kb)
Nairobi YM (Kenya) (30 August-3 September) (.pdf, 558kb)
Nordic Gathering (29 June-2 July) (.pdf, 167kb)
North Carolina YM (FUM) (USA) (4-6 August) (.pdf, 404kb)
Ramallah MM (Palestine) (February) (.pdf, 493kb)
Sierra-Cascades YM (USA) (.pdf, 129kb)
Epistle of the “What Canst Thou Say?” Ministers & Elders Colloquium (6-9 October) (.pdf, 184kb)
2016
Baltimore YM (USA) (1-7 August) (.pdf, 176kb)
Denmark YM (2-3 April) (.pdf, 102kb)
Europe & Middle East Young Friends All-Age Gathering (30 July-6 August) (.pdf, 275kb)
Fellowship of Friends of African Descent Annual Gathering (12-14 August) (.pdf, 137kb)
Tanzania YM (24-28 August) (.pdf, 64kb)
2015
Tanzania USFW (December) (.pdf, 64kb)
2014
Bhopal YM (India) (9 February) (.pdf, 53kb)
Quaker Youth Pilgrimage (22 July – 21 August) (.pdf, 255kb)
2013
Alaska YM (.pdf, 77kb)
Northwest YM (USA) (21-25 July) (.pdf, 81kb)
2012
East Africa YM (4 September) (.png, 494kb)
GET BACK
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Yearly Meeting 2021
of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia
Greetings to Friends Everywhere
Australian Friends send warm greetings as we meet in the southern winter for our second virtual Yearly Meeting from 3 to 9 July 2021. The pandemic has continued to affect the ways in which we create and experience community with the Spirit and one another, although with fewer impacts in Australia than in much of the world.
N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs, a Boon Wurrung senior elder, welcomed us to country and invited us to ‘come with a purpose to our beautiful home’. We meet during NAIDOC week, in which Australians celebrate the cultures of First Nations Peoples. Aunty Carolyn reminded us that this year’s theme for NAIDOC week is ‘Heal Country!’. And Australian Friends feel called to healing of many types—to heal country, heal community and heal the Earth—as we continue to live with the legacy of colonisation and racism, the ongoing disruption and separation caused by the pandemic, and the climate emergency.
Yet as we are called to do more with a sense of purpose, our Society has continued to age and the numbers of members and attenders to decrease. In the State of the Society report we were challenged
- to better illuminate the path to the meeting house door for seekers, and
- to work at the accessibility and inclusivity of our message.
Whether Friends see the ‘glass’ as half-full or half-empty, we have much left in the bottle.
We should continue to embrace the future with ‘steadfast fidelity to our guiding lights and not fearing opprobrium or reproach’.
Our ‘Friendly School’ included timely consideration of the place of Quakers in the world and how discernment leads to action, being to doing.
This has been reflected in the amazing amount of activity by Quakers across Australia over the past year.
Brisbane Friends helped to plan and implement action against an arms trade fair.
We have continued to work to improve the ways that we protect children and adults in our meetings.
The Asia West-Pacific Section of the Friends World Committee for Consultation has increased its efforts to contact isolated Friends throughout the area.
Individual Friends continue to work with others for the cause of peace,
for the repair of our environment and to reduce and buffer the serious impacts of the climate emergency, and
for the relief of refugees.
At the same time, we hear it is becoming more difficult to fill committee positions.
We continue to feel the prompting to ask: is our committee work supporting us to be grounded in the worshipful waiting that leads to meaningful action in the world and brings us inwardly into the Light?
Uncertain times have also led to innovation.
Our annual Backhouse Lecture took the form of a panel discussion for the first time, as five Friends reflected on the topic ‘Searching for Truth: Friends in a “post truth” world’.
The panellists spoke to Friends’ understanding of ‘Truth’ and our habitual discomfort with acknowledging differences as we seek to avoid conflict.
Can we find a way to cultivate the capacity to live with difference?
Is our love big enough to celebrate both our similarities and differences?
This was our second Yearly Meeting by Zoom and, by and large, our technical skills have improved.
Finding the ‘sense of the meeting’ online has sometimes proven more challenging, although we have experienced some deep listening and discernment.
We have reorganised our system of managing business so that we make as many decisions as possible closer to the local level.
This has been a good discipline for us.
While we continue to lament that this is not the same as meeting face-to-face, we have made as much space as possible in our timetable for social contact.
We grieve to hear of the suffering and pain of many Friends around the world during the pandemic, including in your epistles and in the silent epistles of those who have been unable to meet. We send our love and sympathy and hold you all in the light.
We are being reminded of the things that matter, and there may be possibilities for spiritual ‘deepening’ arising from the challenges of the past two years whereby ‘all the members of the spiritual body, the Church, might watch over and be helpful to each other in love’.
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Dear Friends Worldwide,
The annual gathering of Japan Yearly Meeting, hosted by Tokyo Monthly Meeting, was held from November 20 to 21, 2021. Blessed by a clear blue autumn sky, we took as our theme Ephesians 5:16-17: “Redeem the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” While the COVID-19 infection rate is lower, caution is yet necessary. Still, thanks to Divine Providence, 58 of our 87 members were able to participate: 19 gathering in person, 17 by Zoom, and 22 deferring to the sense of the meeting. We were glad to see the faces of many who are unable to join in person due to distance, and hear their voices.
Official business focused on approving the activity report and financial report for 2020, and the activity plan and budget for 2021. We also approved the new slate of officers and committee members who are now poised to make a fresh start.
In our first panel discussion, representatives of each monthly meeting shared their experiences with outreach in an era of declining membership.
Osaka Monthly Meeting has been responding to requests from attenders for activities such as a study group reading George Fox’s Journal, and long-time members familiar with the work have been stimulated by refreshing new perspectives.
Tsuchiura Monthly Meeting endeavors to make their meetinghouse a welcoming space for all who enter, treating each individual with care.
In Tokyo, hosting of annual Young Friends activities has been curtailed due to the pandemic, but young adult members have arranged online gatherings on their own initiative.
Mito Monthly Meeting has adapted to the given situation by renewing their sense of being chosen by Jesus and renewing their awareness of the value of getting along with mutual respect. We were cautioned not to be overly concerned with numbers but rather to trust that we all have our own direct connection with God, and to look forward in hope, with gratitude for the blessings we are given.
After sweet fellowship at mealtime, we proceeded to discuss the current condition and future of Friends Center and Tokyo Meetinghouse. We confirmed the importance of viewing the future of these two properties in commonality, and will continue to explore responsible plans.
The gathering was followed by a period of open conversation, paying special attention to the voices of young members and attenders.
Conscious of our connection with Friends around the world, we were careful to turn our thoughts beyond local concerns to the troubles and trials of Friends in neighboring countries, and to ponder what is ours to do from where we are. We pray that we may devote our time effectively to doing God’s will, “being not unwise.”
Machiko Takeda, Clerk
Japan Yearly Meeting
November 21, 2021
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