Friends World News: October 2025
Dear Friends,
World Quaker Day is almost here (this coming 5 October!), and I'm filled with joy hearing about all the wonderful Love Your Neighbour events you've been planning around the globe.
If you haven't made plans yet, there are still plenty of ways to join in:
Join a World Quaker Day event – everything we know about so far is listed on our website here, and some highlights are below.
Share the text of the recent BBC Daily Service themed Love Your Neighbour, presented by FWCC General Secretary Tim Gee.
Use the colouring posters available on our website here as part of your children’s meeting or Sunday school session.
Make your own Love Your Neighbour poster or banner and share a photo online (don't forget to share it with us too).
Reach out to local organisations working in solidarity with refugees and migrants.
Speaking of events, the next Global Online Worship, led by the Section of the Americas on 11 October will also focus on the World Quaker Day theme. You can find more details here.
You might also find inspiration in our short video series featuring Friends Skuppy, Hazel, Isaac and Mercy reflecting on what Love Your Neighbour means to them. Check them out on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Whether you participate in a big way or small, we'd love to hear how it goes! Tag us @globalquakers on Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky, or email your photos and reflections to me at [email protected].
In other news, QUNO Geneva has appointed Laurel Townhead as their new Director. Having joined QUNO in 2014 as Human Rights and Refugees Representative and served as Interim Director this past year, Laurel brings lots of experience to the role. You can read the most recent QUNO annual review here.
We’re also glad to share news from FWCC Justice and Peace Secretary Hezron Masitsa who travelled in the ministry with Professor David Harrington Watt of Haverford College in Kenya last month. You can read our report here.
It’s a busy month ahead. Some of the World Quaker Day activities we know about are below. Please also hold in the Light the upcoming Central Executive Committee meeting and the AWPS Section Gathering, both of which will take place in October in Korea.
Thank you for demonstrating faith in action through all the ways you Love Your Neighbour.
In Friendship,
Ruby Cumming
On behalf of the World Office
____
World Quaker Day Events:
Africa Section
Accra: Hill House 100 Anniversary Activities | 1-4 October at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration | 5 October at Hill House Quaker Meeting.
Malava: 'Greening' event | 4 October | Malava Yearly Meeting Mission Center. Contact Jairus Koki on Facebook to find out more.
Section of the Americas
Annapolis (MD): Love Your Neighbor. Love Our Planet | 5 October, 11 AM | 351 Dubois Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401.
Baltimore (MD): José Moreno of Homewood Friends Meeting and FCNL shares direct actions to Love Your Neighbour | 5 October, 7 PM | Virtual event on Zoom.
Berkeley (CA): World Quaker Day | 5 October, 11 AM | Online and at Berkeley Friends Church, 1600 Sacramento St, Berkeley, CA 94702.
Blauvelt (NY): Open House and Charity Donation | 5 October, 1 PM | Rockland Friends Meeting, 60 Leber Road, Blauvelt, NY 10913.
Bremerton (WA): Semi-programmed Love Your Neighbour themed Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 4 PM | Southwest Room, Bremerton United Methodist Church, 1150 Marine Dr, Bremerton, WA 98312.
Camas (WA): Love Your Neighbour themed Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10.45 AM | Camas Friends Church, 1004 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607.
Durham (ME): World Quaker Day | 5 October, 10.25 AM | 532 Quaker Meetinghouse Rd., Durham, ME 04222.
Guatemala: Eventos de Exploración y Familia | 20 de septiembre en San Jerónimo y 5 de octubre en Chiquimula.
Houston (TX): World Quaker Day and the James Turrell Skyspace | 5 October, 6-8 PM | Live Oak Friends Meeting, 1318 West 26th St., Houston, TX 77008.
Huron (Canada): Public Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening | 5 October, 2 PM | Huron County Museum, North Street, Goderich, Ontario, Canada.
Iowa: Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening | 5 October.
Jenkintown (PA): Friends & Neighbors Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10 AM | Online and at Abington Monthly Meeting, 520 Meetinghouse Rd, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046.
Morgantown (WV): Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening | 5 October, 10.30 AM | Monongalia Friends Meeting, 648 East Brockway, Morgantown, WV 26501.
Orlando (FL): World Quaker Day Open House | 5 October, 12 noon - 3 PM | 316 East Marks Street, Orlando, FL 32803.
Philadelphia (PA): Pendle Hill World Quaker Day Hybrid Worship | 5 October, 8.30 AM | Online and at 338 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA 19086.
Vancouver (Canada): Hybrid Presentation ft. Guest Speaker David Bucura, 5 October, 12.30 PM | Online and at 1090 West 70th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6P 2X9.
West Chester (PA): All-age World Quaker Day gathering | 5 October, 10 AM | Pavilion 1 at Hibernia Park, 1 Park Rd, Coatesville, PA 19320 USA.
Wilmington (OH): Donation to a women & children's shelter | 5 October, 10 AM | Springfield Friends Meeting, 121 Todds Fork Rd, Wilmington, OH 45177.
Worcester (MA): Special Program and Meeting for Worship open to neighbors | 5 October 9.30 - 1 PM | Worcester Friends Meeting House, 901 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602.
Asia West Pacific
Bohol: Community Service Activities | 5 October, 10.30 AM | Tagbilaran City.
Hobart: Quaker Photo Exhibition | 5 October | Friends Meeting House, 5 Boa Vista Rd, North Hobart TAS 7000.
Seoni Malwa: Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening plus Sunday School activities.
Silver Wattle: Podcast Launch, Introducing Early Quakers | 5 October | The first episode in this nine-part podcast series telling the stories of early Friends will premier on World Quaker Day, and a new episode will follow on the 5th of each month. Find out more here.
Taranaki: Family-friendly Gathering at the World Peace Pole | 5 October | New Plymouth.
Whanganui: Welcoming Ecumenical Neighbours | 4 October, 2 PM | Friends Meeting House, 256 Wicksteed Street, Whanganui 4500.
Europe & Middle East
Abingdon: All-Age Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10.15 AM | Abingdon Community Support Service, Crabtree Place off Audlett Drive, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 3GD.
Birmingham (Cotteridge): Semi-programmed Meeting and Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening | 5 October, 9.30 AM | Cotteridge Quaker Meeting House, 23a Watford Road, Birmingham, B30 1JB.
Birmingham (Selly Oak): Fundraiser for Palestine | Saturday 4 October, 6.30 PM | 930 Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, B29 6NB.
Belfast (Frederick Street): Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening following Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 11 AM - 12 PM | 45 Frederick St, Belfast BT1 2LW.
Belfast (South): Open Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10.45 AM | South Belfast Friends Meeting House, 22 Marlborough Park N, Belfast BT9 6HJ.
Chichester: Finale to Quaker Week | 5 October, 10.30 AM | Friends Meeting House, Priory Road.
Copenhagen & Malmö: Intervisitation | 5 October, 10 AM - 2 PM | Friends House, Drejervej 15, 4. floor, 2400 København NV.
Edinburgh (Portobello and Musselburgh): Bring a friend to meeting day | 5 October, 7 PM | 16B Bellfield Street, Portobello, Edinburgh, EH15 2BP.
Florence: World Quaker Day Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10.30 AM | English Cemetery, Piazzale Donatello, 38, 50132 Cimitero, Florence.
Glasgow: Living Ubuntu Documentary Screening | Wednesday 1 October, 7.30-9.00 PM | Glasgow Quaker Meeting House, 38 Elmbank Cres, Glasgow G2 4PS.
Gothenburg: All-day Love Thy Neighbour event | 5 October, 11 AM | FUB-huset, Lillatorpsgatan 10, Gothenburg.
London (Wandsworth): Quaker Art Open House | 5 October, 6 PM | 59 Wandsworth High Street, London SW18 2PT.
Manchester: Performance of 'Dreams of Peace & Freedom' | 5 October, 2-4 PM | Friends' Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS.
Malta: World Quaker Day | 5 October, 11 AM | Church of the Holy Trinity, Rudolph Street, Sliema, Malta.
Oxford: All-age Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10.30 AM | 43 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LW.
Southampton: Open Meeting for Worship | 5 October, 10.45 AM | 1A Ordnance Road, SO15 2AZ, Southampton.