QuakerSpring
Friends of various ages and from many YMs have come together & spent time listening to ways the winds of the Spirit are blowing through their lives. You can get a sense of what took place by reading the Epistle from QuakerCamp at Stillwater and a Friends Journal article called Quakercamp at Barnesville - blessed by the witness of God
There is much more information about the 2007 gathering including talks by Susan & Jack Smith of Ohio Yearly Meeting, other accounts of the gathering, a typical day's schedule, & a list of the attenders at
Quakercamp 2007.
In the fall of 2008, a decision was made to continue holding these gatherings under the name "QuakerSpring". (same type gathering - new name!) We plan in the future to hold these gatherings in other regions (would Friends in your area be drawn to this?) but for now...
The next QuakerSpring will be held again in Barnesvile on June 27-July 4, 2010.
This gathering will immediately follow Ohio YM's Christian Education Camp & the Conservative Friends Gathering, both held in Barnesville, and will just precede FGC Annual Gathering in Bowling Green, Ohio. Come for a day or a week!
Gathering
costs are very low (around $30/day for a
dorm room & less for campers). There are children's programs in the morning and childcare available in the evening. For more information on next June's gathering, click on:
QuakerSpring 2010
Our planning/discerning group currently includes: Becka Haines Rosenberg & Deborah Haines (Baltimore YM), Micah Bales (Great Plains YM), Judy Smith (Lake Erie YM), Betsy Blake (NCYM - FUM), Susan Bailey & Susan Smith (Ohio YM), Ann Armstrong, Peter Blood-Patterson & Susan Zeichner (New England YM), and Ellen Deacon & Andrew Esser-Haines (Philadelphia YM).
We welcome others joining us, especially Young Adult Friends & Friends from other branches!
One
of the most exciting things about these gatherings has been the
powerful sharing across generational lines between Young Adult and
older Friends. Many in both groups have spoken of how powerful and
unusual this experience has been. To see more about this, go to YAFs at QuakerSpring.
We are also beginning to work on planning and/or facilitating similar gatherings in other parts of the country. A retreat will be held at Woolman Hill, Deerfield NH on Nov. 21, 2009. For information go to New England gathering.
We welcome contributions to support this work. For more information on how this can be helpful, please go to: Contributions to Quakerspring
You can email the QuakerSpring planning group if you have questions or ideas about this summer's gathering. If you prefer, you may also write Ann Armstrong, PO Box 1401, Shirley MA 01464 or call her at (978) 425-4620.