From May 23-26, 2008 Young Adult Friends (YAF) (18-35) conference Living as Friends Listening Within met in Richmond, Indiana to talk about what it means to be in the Religious Society of Friends across branches. YAF epistle
I was excited to go to the conference because I am trying to become more connected with my own age group. When I first left the meeting people would ask me how it went and I had no response. I was not sure what had happened for me while away. My favorite part was driving nine and a half hours in a packed rental van with six other people some of whom I did not know until I got in the car.
Now looking back there was lots that was remarkable. The first night (Friday) during programmed worship we were asked “How can so many college students abroad in other countries for four months or a year when we can’t look at our own brother and sisters here in the United States of America who are part of the Religious Society of Friends?” This was an eye opening experience. I am looking at spending my time abroad in England studying Quaker history, does this count as looking at my brothers and sisters since I come from a Liberal Unprogrammed Meeting but am now worshipping with Conservative Unprogrammed Friends in North Caroline. While yes I think it does because some of the same conflicts that have separated us in the US are hot issues in Britain.
The next evening (Saturday) we were talking about spiritual gifts with in the YAF community. I have struggled since I was 14 with what YAF’s do and how are they part of the greater Religious Society of Friends. A few friends were asked to talk first to start the conversation about what leadings and gifts they have/had. These were very moving for me but then when we settled into worship it felt like we might have moved into the common worship for Youth empowerment that we can do everything to change the Religious Society. I tried to stand up at one point and someone else had stood up so we had a moment in silence of passing off to each other. After this friend, I was clear not to stand quickly and give a message so I was okay when worship was closed. Since I was still trying to discerning if I had a message I did not join in with the singing. I stayed seated and held the meeting in pray because we were not done. Once the song was done though there was some silence and I was given a chance to give my message:
Friends we need to go home to what we call our meetings and get the help we need. We cannot do all this good work with out the help of our meetings. When we come to these gatherings we need to have more rooting than ourselves. Youth won’t be able to get anywhere without our elders and older peers.
What comes to me now is a sense that George Fox was not able to do his work alone. It took a community of other friends make his movement sucessful. Yes youth do have a role in the Religious Society of Friends but it is first going to take us being rooted and having help more than once or twice a year when we see large amounts of our age peers.
I also said something about being one of the youngest friends because I am 19 and at the end of the spectrum but do not always feel lead to come to YAF events because I need the more spiritual groundedness. The meeting had turned into popcorn worship, which is not easy for me when I am trying to hear what God is saying.
The next night (Sunday) we had two speakers and one of them had asked me to accompany him. I was pleased to work with him. He came in Saturday night and I was with him for the rest of the weekend. Their message was very powerful and the worship was deep once we got passed the surface issues that were bugging us. The most moving of the stories was a young friend who rose to tell us that she had finally heard God and he said that he loved her. It was a very tender place for all of us but the affects were big.
There is a lot of energy from Young Adults to continue working on bridge building and to get to know our sister and brothers who are also part of the Religious Society of Friends even if they worship differently and use different language.
I felt at home the whole weekend and would be willing to go to anther conference as a grounding force.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Belief Net Results
I have never taken this test before but tonight I was reminded of it and took the test. I had a hard time answering some of the questions but I am truly a Quaker.
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
4,000th troop death: What does it take to open our eyes?
Yesterday I get on email from Providence (PA) Meeting that they would be holding a vigil for the 4,000th American troop death. I was struck that it had not been much more than a year since I had been to a vigil at with them commemorating the 3000th death.
As the day went on I started wondering how can I commemorate this marker while here at school. I starting emailing the head of campus ministries and GPEACE, Guilford’s Peace club, about getting something organized for the next day so the news could get out. By the end of the day we had planned an event for this evening to be held on campus.
A candle light vigil with 20 people standing in a circle happened this evening at 8pm. I had just come from Bible study where we had talked about the Resurrection. I brought my Bible because it is my new best friend. I had been asked to talk a little bit about why we were gathered but was instead lead to read from Luke 24: 28-31
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
How can we open our arms and invite others to come eat with us? What will it take for us to have our eyes opened to recognize what we are missing?
Max Carter went on to include that Jesus at this point had been traveling for two hours with these men before he was recognized. What does it mean for him to be recognized when he is breaking the bread but not when he is explaining the Scriptures?
I found this time very moving to take another hour out of my very full evening to stand in prayer recognizing that Guilford Students do care about the war even though it was the beginning of the week.
As the day went on I started wondering how can I commemorate this marker while here at school. I starting emailing the head of campus ministries and GPEACE, Guilford’s Peace club, about getting something organized for the next day so the news could get out. By the end of the day we had planned an event for this evening to be held on campus.
A candle light vigil with 20 people standing in a circle happened this evening at 8pm. I had just come from Bible study where we had talked about the Resurrection. I brought my Bible because it is my new best friend. I had been asked to talk a little bit about why we were gathered but was instead lead to read from Luke 24: 28-31
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
How can we open our arms and invite others to come eat with us? What will it take for us to have our eyes opened to recognize what we are missing?
Max Carter went on to include that Jesus at this point had been traveling for two hours with these men before he was recognized. What does it mean for him to be recognized when he is breaking the bread but not when he is explaining the Scriptures?
I found this time very moving to take another hour out of my very full evening to stand in prayer recognizing that Guilford Students do care about the war even though it was the beginning of the week.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Spirit Moving Through Me When Not at School
Lots has been bubbling while I have been at school. I am off for five weeks now.
I was invited to the Traveling Ministries Consultation on Emerging Gifts of Gospel Ministry. I was excited to be invited to something for being myself. At one point I remarked to someone that it was weird not to have my parents with me. I am so used to being places with them but this is part of growing up, traveling by myself. It was so nice to have seasoned ministers and elders meeting with those of us coming into the work.
The hardest thing I worked with was trying to figure out how to get the support I need while I am not living near my meeting of membership, Santa Cruz. When given the chance to ask questions in the large group I put a question in about how to get support when away from our homes meeting. When we introduced ourselves the first night a lot of us said we were from one meeting but worshiping somewhere else. As a group we had a hard time figuring out how to get support that was face to face. People recommended email and phone conversations on a regular basis, but this does not generate the personal connection that I am longing for with the people I am living with. I was glad to hear that people said approved of phone conversations because I feel like I am always on my phone talking to someone who is not at school. I am going to start having regular phone conversations with some of my closest friends.
I realized early in the weekend that I need to get a support committee at Guilford who will hold me accountable and help me figure out what I want to be doing in my life, in particularly while I am at school. I am not getting a lot of the spiritual support I am looking for so hopefully this committee will help me be grounded while I am at school. We have not met yet but I hope that we will start meeting on a regular basis once we get back from winter break. The committee is made up of two Quaker Leadership staff members and one of my peers on the committee.
On Saturday night a Friend gave ministry on remembering to love our meetings, not only the ones we are members of but also the ones we are worshipping in. I am so glad for this reminder because it is not easy to remember to love people while we are traveling. I have been struggling with the idea that I am not in Santa Cruz anymore but want to be connected. I have asked for a minute of sojourn for Friendship Meeting in Greensboro, which has been approved and I can see sometime in the next year or two joining that meeting. How do we be part of a meeting when we now we will be there for a few years, but will not be going home to our home meetings?
Another thing that I learned from this weekend is that I need to debrief with someone when coming back to school from a spiritual retreat. It happened that the first leg of my trip was with some friends so we got to hang out after the workshop and that made it easier to come back to school, even if it was only for a week.
I am excited to say I have been traveling and see spirit working in me while I am traveling. Hope spirit is working through you as well.
I was invited to the Traveling Ministries Consultation on Emerging Gifts of Gospel Ministry. I was excited to be invited to something for being myself. At one point I remarked to someone that it was weird not to have my parents with me. I am so used to being places with them but this is part of growing up, traveling by myself. It was so nice to have seasoned ministers and elders meeting with those of us coming into the work.
The hardest thing I worked with was trying to figure out how to get the support I need while I am not living near my meeting of membership, Santa Cruz. When given the chance to ask questions in the large group I put a question in about how to get support when away from our homes meeting. When we introduced ourselves the first night a lot of us said we were from one meeting but worshiping somewhere else. As a group we had a hard time figuring out how to get support that was face to face. People recommended email and phone conversations on a regular basis, but this does not generate the personal connection that I am longing for with the people I am living with. I was glad to hear that people said approved of phone conversations because I feel like I am always on my phone talking to someone who is not at school. I am going to start having regular phone conversations with some of my closest friends.
I realized early in the weekend that I need to get a support committee at Guilford who will hold me accountable and help me figure out what I want to be doing in my life, in particularly while I am at school. I am not getting a lot of the spiritual support I am looking for so hopefully this committee will help me be grounded while I am at school. We have not met yet but I hope that we will start meeting on a regular basis once we get back from winter break. The committee is made up of two Quaker Leadership staff members and one of my peers on the committee.
On Saturday night a Friend gave ministry on remembering to love our meetings, not only the ones we are members of but also the ones we are worshipping in. I am so glad for this reminder because it is not easy to remember to love people while we are traveling. I have been struggling with the idea that I am not in Santa Cruz anymore but want to be connected. I have asked for a minute of sojourn for Friendship Meeting in Greensboro, which has been approved and I can see sometime in the next year or two joining that meeting. How do we be part of a meeting when we now we will be there for a few years, but will not be going home to our home meetings?
Another thing that I learned from this weekend is that I need to debrief with someone when coming back to school from a spiritual retreat. It happened that the first leg of my trip was with some friends so we got to hang out after the workshop and that made it easier to come back to school, even if it was only for a week.
I am excited to say I have been traveling and see spirit working in me while I am traveling. Hope spirit is working through you as well.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Whirlpool of Love
This weekend I went to a wedding and gave ministry where I talked about being caught in the whirlpool of love and joy. There has only been one time while at school that I have felt caught in a whirlpool of loving support.
How can I create this love at school? How can I create the community for this to come from? How can I have time to connect with people so I can feel the love?
Part of this weekend was a check-in with my spiritual community that started on the West Coast. This check in was powerful because it gave me a chance to center down farther than while at school because I know people will be able to support me. I am a little scared here at school to get this centered because I feel like people will not be able to support me while I am in this place.
How can that Whirlpool of Love support me from a far?
How can I create this love at school? How can I create the community for this to come from? How can I have time to connect with people so I can feel the love?
Part of this weekend was a check-in with my spiritual community that started on the West Coast. This check in was powerful because it gave me a chance to center down farther than while at school because I know people will be able to support me. I am a little scared here at school to get this centered because I feel like people will not be able to support me while I am in this place.
How can that Whirlpool of Love support me from a far?
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
School
I am finally three weeks into school and getting a hang of my schedule. Work is not stressing me out that much mostly because I am a few days ahead from working this weekend. I am excited about all my classes.
I am taking a History of Religion in America class which is looking at Native American religion and beliefs and how other religions then entered the continent. I am also taking a Quakerism class on social testimonies. I am not so excited about this class other than it is giving space to read some good Quaker books that I have wanted to read for a year or two. It is nice to be reading them and then having class discussions but I am not sure what I am getting out of this class yet.
My favorite two classes are English and a class called "narrative and the creation of self."
For english I am writing a paper on something important to me: community. The essay is a collage of stories around my year at Pendle Hill. It is nice to have time to reflect on my year and get a nice write up of the year and what I am taking away from it.
I am hoping to take some tips on how to make my blog/ writing better out of both my narative and english classes. The narrative class right now is looking at how we define ourselves through different types of writing. So next week I have to write my life story in four or five pages and then I will rewrite it as a myth and fairy tale later in the semester.
Social life is fun here at college but it is hard to stay a way from parties and people being harsh because they are drunk. In my world there would not be miss use of alcohol and other drugs.
This is a quick update and hopefully I will have more time soon to do a more in depth and spiritual update.
Love
Rebecca
I am taking a History of Religion in America class which is looking at Native American religion and beliefs and how other religions then entered the continent. I am also taking a Quakerism class on social testimonies. I am not so excited about this class other than it is giving space to read some good Quaker books that I have wanted to read for a year or two. It is nice to be reading them and then having class discussions but I am not sure what I am getting out of this class yet.
My favorite two classes are English and a class called "narrative and the creation of self."
For english I am writing a paper on something important to me: community. The essay is a collage of stories around my year at Pendle Hill. It is nice to have time to reflect on my year and get a nice write up of the year and what I am taking away from it.
I am hoping to take some tips on how to make my blog/ writing better out of both my narative and english classes. The narrative class right now is looking at how we define ourselves through different types of writing. So next week I have to write my life story in four or five pages and then I will rewrite it as a myth and fairy tale later in the semester.
Social life is fun here at college but it is hard to stay a way from parties and people being harsh because they are drunk. In my world there would not be miss use of alcohol and other drugs.
This is a quick update and hopefully I will have more time soon to do a more in depth and spiritual update.
Love
Rebecca
Friday, August 17, 2007
Quaker Leadership Scholars Program
On Monday I arrived at Guilford College to start my freshman orientation. I had to be here a few days early so that I could get to know my year level in the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program (QLSP).
The first activity we did as a group after getting to know each other was a game called Agree or Disagree. In this game a bunch of questions are asked and everyone answers them for themselves. Most of our questions were questions about our faith. All the questions were on a scale. One of the things I noticed was that I was one of the few kids who were not in the clump of people. On theological questions about the bible or christocentric language I was one of the few people who was excepting. It was interesting for me to realize how comfortable I felt when answering some of the questions.
Afterwards we had a discussion about how the experience felt to us. I liked the activity and said so but then at the end I had one other piece of ministry that had a risen for me. At one point Max Carter had commented that my dad was one place higher then him on one of the conversations. He did it straight to be because he was playing around with me. But I had to bring it to peoples minds that we are in college and college is a time for people to figure out who they are as an adult. It was nice to say that because then I felt like I was letting the labels of my parents off my back even though I do like to identify with that.
I am glad that I had some extra time here to get to know QLSP and I can't wait to get to class so that I can get to know this group even more.
The first activity we did as a group after getting to know each other was a game called Agree or Disagree. In this game a bunch of questions are asked and everyone answers them for themselves. Most of our questions were questions about our faith. All the questions were on a scale. One of the things I noticed was that I was one of the few kids who were not in the clump of people. On theological questions about the bible or christocentric language I was one of the few people who was excepting. It was interesting for me to realize how comfortable I felt when answering some of the questions.
Afterwards we had a discussion about how the experience felt to us. I liked the activity and said so but then at the end I had one other piece of ministry that had a risen for me. At one point Max Carter had commented that my dad was one place higher then him on one of the conversations. He did it straight to be because he was playing around with me. But I had to bring it to peoples minds that we are in college and college is a time for people to figure out who they are as an adult. It was nice to say that because then I felt like I was letting the labels of my parents off my back even though I do like to identify with that.
I am glad that I had some extra time here to get to know QLSP and I can't wait to get to class so that I can get to know this group even more.
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