YFNA Reunion/Quaker Camp Reflections
Posted August 14th, 2007 by EmilyStewart in
YFNA reunion/Quaker CampAt the end of June, Friends met at Olney Friends School for a reunion of the Young Friends of North America, but also for the envisioning of what a YFNAesque group might look like in the modern world. Part of what made this so amazing for me, was that though I was there for the latter, my mother came with me for the reunion part. It was truly wonderful to be able to share this family of Friends with my mother.
For me the past year and a half have been building up to something amazing, and this weekend was another step in the process. It started for me with my involvement in the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program at Guilford College. It was there that I began to feel a concern for the reconnection of Friends across the traditional branches of Quakerism. That concern grew into a summer project, and then a retreat in Feb., and most recently the reunion of YFNA. YFNA's sole purpose was that of bringing people together across the barriers that they inherited in Quakerism.
I must say that I truly believe that now is an exciting time to be a Friend. There is a great momentum to bring people together, and with that we can do the work we are called to do. At the Olney Reunion, a committee was formed, which will begin to do the work of planning a conference to come. I am convinced that we as Young Friends have taken the first steps down a long and awesome road. I believe that we have begun to define what Quakerism means to us, and that we are doing it by listening to each other. What a time to be a Quaker!!!
Respectfully submitted,
Nathan Sebens
New York Yearly Meeting
Posted July 31st, 2007 by fgc admin
Hey Friends,
I just returned from New York Yearly Meeting, which is one of the coolest yearly meetings I've ever visited. The location is on the amazingly beautiful Lake George at a YMCA that seems like it is out the movie "Dirty Dancing". Anyway, it was a wonderful week, but there was also a sadness in the air. I would ask that Friends hold Franklin (a YAF from NYYM) in their prayers. There was an accident mid-week and he was rushed to the hospital. He is feeling better now, but I'm sure he would appreciate love from Quakers across the country.
I'm off to Canadian Yearly Meeting! Please send me photos and entries about your experiences at yearly meetings this summer. And don't forget to create a profile.
In peace, Emily
Guest Blogger: Liz Wine
Posted July 23rd, 2007 by EmilyStewart
Liz WineQuaker Gatherings always have a profound impact on me and encourage me in immeasurable ways. I have been so fortunate to have been able to attend a number of Quaker Gatherings within the last few years that have left a deep impact on me. However, the struggle always comes in the form of the transition back to the 'real world.' Leaving behind a supportive community, Quaker process and a deeply spiritual week (or weekend) tends to leave me emotional and uncertain of how to step confidently when I return home.Upon returning home from FGC Gathering I was faced with not only the continued demands of a new job, but with an anxiety that had recently been stifled, of driving on highways, due to past issues with transmission and tire blow outs. I can not explain this irrational tightness of the chest and the racing thoughts that come with these 60 mph roads. Pre-FGC I may have just white knuckled it on the highway. Yet, the slower and more intentional week of FGC reminded me I could take the slower way, the 'through town' way that allowed me to go at a more relaxed pace, away from the erratic drivers. It still got me there, even if it added ten minutes on to my trip. I found that this has given me a daily quiet space and time alone I may not otherwise get. Even if the FGC Gathering did not have a drastic life changing impact on me (such as giving up all material possessions or doing volunteer work overseas) it had a daily impact on me that I am grateful for—it is OK to do things the slower, calmer way, with a focus on the process, not the end result.
Reflections on Bolivia
Posted July 19th, 2007 by EmilyStewart
Andrew Esser-HainesThe below is a part of a letter sent during my work in La Paz Bolivia, it references my experiences in an evangelical Quaker Church in the city of La Paz in which I was asked to share a personal testimonial in preparation to preach to the congregation.Fourth month twenty fifth day two thousand and second year.
...As for this past Sunday and giving my testimonial in church there is much that I could say. What feels most present is to say that I felt like I was giving a performance (which is basically what I was asked to do). It was not giving a message, and I hope that when I do get the opportunity to serve as pastor it will be more spirit led. That said, it felt really good to share openly about my spiritual journey. I have found that one of the great things here is that I do not feel any need of being accepted and for that reason I feel much more comfortable going ahead and laying out ALL of my belief system, talking about Jesus and about social work, about following God and about interpreting scripture. I feel like most times in the US I hold back some pieces because I am worried of what people might think.
YAF Photos from FGC and Olney Gatherings
Posted July 12th, 2007 by Peter DeitzWe've setup a photo gallery from recent Gatherings (Olney and FGC).
If you are logged-in to the web site, you can leave comments below the photos.FGC Gathering 2007
Posted July 11th, 2007 by EmilyStewartHey Friends,
Hilary & Reykia I just got back from the FGC Gathering in River Falls, WI. It was a wonderful week of worshipping, playing, and meeting new F/friends. I’m in the process of uploading the photos I took, so keep an eye out. Also, I would love to post other Friends’ experiences of the Gathering, so feel free to write a paragraph or two and send it my way.
Most of the upcoming yearly meetings are posted on the calendar. If you are attending one of those and want to share your thoughts about it, please send that to me as well. For anyone interested in being a member of Central Committee (the governing body of FGC), let your nominating committee know before annual sessions, so that they can nominate you to be one of your yearly meeting representatives to FGC. It’s a really fun meeting, and a great way to be more involved with the national Quaker community.
On another note: If Friends could please hold Sarah B. from Intermountain Yearly Meeting in the light. She had a serious fall down a mountain a few weeks ago and would appreciate your prayers.
Have a great Wednesday!
Peace, Emily
How to Create a Profile on QuakerYouth
Posted July 3rd, 2007 by Peter Deitz in
Hello Friends. Below are instructions on how to create a profile page on the new QuakerYouth website. We are working to simplify this process further. In the meantime, please use this blog post as a reference.
To create a profile page on QuakerYouth:
Guest Blogger: Maya Wright
Posted June 27th, 2007 by QuakerYouthYou might have read my ideas on How to Form a YAF Group. It covers the important logistic aspects of getting a group started, at least how they worked for me in my meeting in Denver, but maybe an even more important step is getting the meeting behind you. I don't mean being recognized in a minute or mentioned in the State of the Meeting Report (though our YAF group was and I really appreciated it).
Welcome to the New QuakerYouth Site!!
Posted June 26th, 2007 by EmilyStewartHello Friends Near and Far,
Welcome to the new Quaker Youth web site! I hope this will become a place for us younger Friends to build community online. As the Youth Ministries Coordinator for FGC, I maintain the site, and I hope that Friends from all the branches of Quakerism feel welcome here. This site is for us and made up of articles, photos, and artwork by us, so please feel free to contribute to it.
I am getting ready to travel to Barnesville, Ohio for the YFNA reunion and Quaker camp. After that I’ll see many of you at the Gathering. I would like to report back on both of those events, and hopefully post some of other Friends’ experiences as well. Please let me know if you want to write something about either one of those events or about your experience at your own yearly meeting.
