Pendle Hill is such a nice place to live. I now have been here just about six months.
Two weeks ago was the end of the second term. The last week of every term we have Festival Week, which is a time for students to give presentations about what they have been working on during the term. I found myself not wanting to go to school because I wanted to see students presentations. It is so hard to be a community member who is not always around because so much is going on during the day when I am at High School.
During Festival Week, I had three hour delays for school so I was able to take advantage of Meeting for Worship every morning at
Some of the presentation I got to go to were on
The person talking about
Grieving as a community was the post powerful for me. It started off by two students reading a certain Psalm they had struggled with and where now having a dialogue with it. I had never thought of having this dialogue while reading the Bible. We learned so much about these people and got to see how they had been able to move on with their life.
Afterwards we settled into worship for half an hour and people were able to grieve as a community. It was such a community builder because it let people show the emotions they usually hold back.
Programmed Meeting for Worship
I had never taken part in a Programmed meeting so I was hesitant to the idea and was interested to realize that I was willing to participate fully. I entered the Meeting for Worship being willing not to sing all the songs and maybe having to translate the Bible so that I would be able to relate it to my life but instead I was able to hear the Bible reading for what it was and take the message fully and relate it to my life.
The message was about how Age, Class, Race, Gender, ect. don't matter; God will be able to see through it and is willing to give the message to whoever. This has been a big issue for me and I have needed to remind myself and others that because I am under 18 God does not filter the messages God gives me.
Music Sharing
Two students have been working on their music while at Pendle Hill. One has been working on a CD he released this last week. It was nice to hear some of the new songs. The other student has not been able to make music for three years and he finally was able to share with us last term and this term he had three new songs. He is thinking of starting to record under another name. It was nice to see both students share their music and see what happens when they are at home or in the recording studio.
6 comments:
Rebecca,
Thanks for writing about these experiences. You present Pendle Hill in a very different light from what I'm used to--not that I've ever even been there, but I've heard a lot about it... and I have come away from those conversations often assuming that Pendle Hill is very... academic... intellectual...
But your post shows me that it can be very personable, too, and tender.
Blessings,
Liz Opp, The Good Raised Up
Rebecca--
My mother grew up in Wallingford, and went to your high school. She was welcomed at Pendle Hill when she was exploring religion as a teenager, which is how our family ended up Quaker. My father and all my grandparents are/were also convinced Friends through knowing her.
It's good to hear from you, and to know that Penle Hill is still a welcoming place for young people.
Peace, Lisa
Liz, I have been to Pendle Hill twice and found it to be a warm, inviting place. The Staff there are wonderful and friendly and I really enjoyed my time there. I would encourage anyone who wants to go away on a retreat to consider going to Pendle Hill. The programs I attended really solidified my Quaker beliefs. So go if you get the chance. :-)
thanks friends for your comments.
Liz maybe we should get you out here for something and let you experience our wonderful Quaker community.
Lisa I did not know that your mom was from around here. I love the area and am glad that Pendle Hill had something to do with your family and Quakerism. I am having a hard time with how few people know about Pendle Hill even though it is in their own community.
rebecca
Rebecca, thanks for this:
"Liz maybe we should get you out here for something and let you experience our wonderful Quaker community."
It made me smile... I feel I am keeping my eyes and ears open for an Opportunity... I know I cannot rush it, though.
Blessings,
Liz Opp, The Good Raised Up
Yay for Quakerquaker!! I didn't know you had a blog, dear one. It's good to read about festival week - I remember it always being an extremely powerful time. I am glad you got to see some of the presentations ... And I wonder, have you felt led to do a presentation about the ways in which you have had your world open up since going to PH? It's wonderful to hear your words, and your wisdom, dear Friend. It's true that God knows no age (among all the other divides) - and I don't know anyone who embodies that message more fully than I have seen you do. Blessings, dear one. So many blessings to you, as I know you have been a blessing in so many lives. (Including mine!)
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