On November 3, 2024, Durham Friends Meeting held a Meeting for Grieving mourning those who had passed over the past year. This was the second year we held such a service.
We especially remembered Lyn Clarke, an attender, and Diana White, a member, both of whom had passed away in the last year. We also remembered those who lost their lives in the Lewiston shooting tragedy of a year ago, and remembered too, those who lost their lives in conflicts in Ukraine and in Israel/Palestine. Members and attenders spoke lovingly of family members and friends who had passed recently.
The opening hymn we sang was “Oh Hear, My People,” #153 in our hymnal Worship in Song. The lyrics are by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a seminal Hasidic teacher (1772-1810), and are drawn from Hosea 6:6 in the Bible: “For I desired mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” The tune is by the Polish violinist and composer Leon Lewandowki.
1 O hear, my people, hear me well:
“I have no need for sacrifice;
but mercy, loving kindness shall
alone for life and good suffice.”
2 Then source of peace, lead us to peace,
a place profound, and wholly true.
And lead us to a mastery
o’er drives in us that war pursue.
3 May deeds we do inscribe our names
as blessings in the Book of Life.
O source of peace, lead us to heal.
O source of peace, lead us from strife.
