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Christmas is a special celebration in various parts of Kenya and the entire world. It is the moment we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and is more of a thanksgiving affair in Kenya, and Africa at large. People travel from the cities to the villages to reunite with family. These are the times when children get new clothes, decorate mud houses by drawing flowers on the walls, and families get to share special meals together. It is not any different on Mt. Elgon, in Western Kenya. The orphan and vulnerable children Christmas party has become a norm since its inception six years ago, and once again, on 23 December 2024, all roads led to the Chebyuk Peace Centre for the Children’s Celebration. During the celebration there were over 900 children who had not just come to share a meal with other children but also to catch up with their agemates. FUM Programme Coordinator Getry Agiza joined with the children in this celebration.
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On the 15th of December Belize Friends Church held a Christmas party, with 47 participants. The toddlers were running around laughing and playing. The children and teenagers occupied the largest table with their heated discussions and loud laughter. Mothers were helping and engaging in conversations, disciplining their toddlers and enjoying. The young adults came in with big smiles on their faces. Carrols were playing in the background. There was Christmas at Belize Friends Church. When everyone had finally gathered (hours after we started to pick the first group) there was sharing of the meaning of Advent, and Jesus Christ, born as hope into our darkness. And for a few seconds everything turned completely silent, with the message in our hearts, that Jesus Christ came as a light of hope to the darkness of the south side of Belize City. With a full church hall, and hearts overflowing with thankfulness to God, we could glimpse the impact that Belize Friends Church has on this community.
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As Way opened, Lawrence Meeting became further connected with Friends in Turkana. With additional assistance from Muchuma Niva, of The Evangelical Friends Church of Nashua NH (NEYM), we began to learn about the water needs of Kalongolomoe Friends Church, the "Church-under-the-tree" formed in 2021 in Turkana. We visited here in Massachusetts with Getry Agizah, FUM Africa Program Coordinator, and learned more about what Friends in the Turkana Mission were doing to help others there. We met with Peter Loten'gan, the current Director of the Turkana Friends Mission, and with members of the Kalongolomoe Friends Church over zoom. Last month, Muchuma visited the area on our behalf, learning more about water needs and borehole drilling there. We eventually discerned that the best way to proceed with this project was to partner with FUM - their extensive and long term knowledge of the region, relationship with the Turkana Friends Mission, careful consideration of infrastructure in Turkana, and long term goals of equipping Friends in the region to be able to follow their own discernment of needs aligned very well with our leading. (photo: one of the many ZOOM calls with Kalongolomoe and Lawrence Friends and others!)Lawrence Monthly Meeting is a tiny meeting in cold, snowy Massachusetts on the New Hampshire border.
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The triennial theme is so relevant and captivating, “Come, Abide, Go”. These are words of Jesus Christ in the spirit of Gathering a special Community from ordinary people, Building and establishing them in the faith, and Releasing them in the world for Ministry work. Looking at Quakermen theme text, it paints a picture on how God is so committed and ready to partner with men in his ministry. The scriptures are so explicit that immediately Jesus begun his ministry he invited men to follow him “Come, follow me,” and “I will make you fishers of men.” (Matt. 4:19).
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The Psalmist says that, “it’s good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity. This attracts God’s blessing (Psalm 133). Our gathering together as FUM, QMI, and USFWI will touch God’s heart and cause as to have an open heaven with showers of blessing and at the end of the gathering each one of us will have a story of praise to the Lord.
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Mark 4:10 – “When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables”. Sometimes allows situations in our lives that would call for a time of solitude with Him. God may allow this by affliction, temptation, heartbreak, disappointment, sickness or by simply thwarting affection by a broken relationship by a loved one. When He gets us absolutely alone, and we are dumbfounded by the situation and we cannot even ask a question – then He begins to expound and make things clearer to our minds so that we can know Him better. When you look at the life of Jesus Christ with the disciples, it was the disciples who were perplexed by His deeds and not the crowds outside.
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Throughout our history, the people known as Friends (or Quakers) keep rediscovering an essential and enduring truth: There is one who speaks to our most basic needs and most significant hopes—Christ Jesus the Lord. Both individually and communally, we are learning to know and follow the Voice that guides us in the way we should go. Together, we seek to understand and obey that truth which sets us free. As a people, we share in the experience of that powerful life which makes all things new. Maybe you are searching for an authentic and transforming faith and community to call home—if so, come in and join us as we seek to know and follow Christ.
Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved, and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.
