QuakerSpring

The last 3 Junes, well over 100 Friends from 20 yearly meetings have gathered together in Barnesville, Ohio, to explore what Spirit-led Quakerism is about at its core - and to experience it together. These were truly "gatherings with a difference" - with most of the week left unplanned and open to the leading of the Spirit.


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

susan_jack_mtgrm_above.jpg
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!

Walking_to_lunchW.JPGGathering 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!

eliz_claire_becca_deborah.jpgOne 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.

We hope you will join us this June!

QuakerSpring Home

June 27-July 4, 2010

Barnesville, Ohio

Materials on next summer's gathering:

General info on gathering

Daily schedule

Cost to attend

YAFs & Quakerspring

Info on Barnesville area

Print-ready flyers & posters for June 2010 gathering:

Flyers (text only):

Flyer_2010.pdf
Flyer2010.doc


Posters with photos

(approx 3MB size)
Poster_2010.pdf
Poster2010.doc


Registration forms:

Registration2009.doc

Return to:  Homepage






About original QuakerCamp in 2007:
QuakerCamp 2007 report
Blessed by the Witness of God
Micah Bales' blog
2007 Participants List

Documents from 2007 gathering:
2 epistles from this gathering:
1. from QuakerCamp at Stillwater
2. from YAFs at Quakercamp

2 talks given here:
1. Conservative Friends Experience of Mtg for Business
2. Scriptures as Understood by Conservative Friends

Queries on Confidentiality & Openness

From 2008 gathering:
Nurturing Gospel Ministry
(summary from threshing session on eldership)

A letter was sent out in July inviting Friends to help us in:
Discerning Next Steps for Quakercamp

From 2009 gathering:
"Minutes of Exercise" summarizing what Friends shared at evening plenary sessions on -
Faithfulness (Wed. eve)
Brokenness (Thurs. eve)
Love (Fri. eve)
Community (Sat. eve)

2009 Participants' list