Friends General Conference

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Medford Quakers to Host ‘Memorial to the Lost’ Sept 17-Oct. 1

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Medford Quakers to Host ‘Memorial to the Lost’ Sept 17-Oct. 1

 

The wide green lawn at Medford Friends (Quaker) Meeting, 14 Union St., will be crowded with symbols of a haunting national problem—gun violence. 

Beginning Sept. 17, the Meeting will present a Memorial to the Lost by assembling a forest of mounted shirts, each hand-inscribed with the name, age and death date of a victim based on local statistics. The Memorial is an ongoing project of Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence (HGC), a Philadelphia-based movement that also conducts murder site vigils, gun shop demonstrations and peace programs.

The shirts represent gun violence deaths from South Jersey counties for 2015-16.  Currently the number is close to 90… and rising daily.

"We are thrilled that Medford Friends Meeting will host the first South Jersey installation of our Memorial to the Lost,” said Bryan Miller, executive director of faith-based HGC.  “The Memorial graphically illustrates the real toll of gun violence, while honoring those killed.  And, it inspires people and bodies of faith to become active in working to diminish the carnage."  Miller is also well known as the former executive director of Cease Fire, New Jersey.

Volunteers will assemble the entire Memorial early on Saturday morning, Sept. 17. A dedication service will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 18 with volunteers standing with each shirt and reading the name. The Memorial will stay in place until Oct. 1 when it will travel to other sites in South Jersey.

“We are reaching out to other Quaker meetings, as well as to other faith groups who wish to carry forth this important message to South Jersey,” said Linda Matlack, Medford Meeting site coordinator.

The Medford Religious Society of Friends has been an active Quaker Meeting since it’s founding in 1759.  Meeting for Worship is held every First Day (Sunday) at 10 a.m. All are welcome.  First Day (Sunday) School is conducted from September through May. Families are welcome to attend worship together at any time. 

More information about Medford Meeting is available on the website, medfordfriendsmeeting.org or by calling 609-953-8914. More information about HGC is available on the website www.heedinggodscall.org. 

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