Opening Evening Session

Let me say a few words about the tone and purpose of Quaker Spring.  The basic idea is to set aside our own thoughts and habits, and listen to God.  The words of Isaac Penington, written in the 17^th Century, open up that idea: "Give over thine own willing, give over thine own running, give over thine own desiring to know or be anything, and sink down to the seed, which God sows in thy heart, and let that be in thee and grow in thee and breathe in thee and act in thee, and thou shalt find by sweet experience that the Lord knows that and loves and owns that, and will lead it to the inheritance of life, which is God's portion."

Deborah Haines' present-day explanation of Quaker Spring adds: "So, what is Quaker Spring?  It's an opportunity for Friends to come together in the presence of God, to sit at the feet of the Inward Teacher, to explore the inward landscape, to listen to the winds of the Spirit....It's a time to rejoice in God's goodness and to 'know each other in that which is eternal.'...We Quakers tend to be very busy people.  We read a lot, and talk a lot, and fall into the habit of looking for inspiration in other people's words.  We [offer here at Quaker Spring a framework to] gently remind us to look deeper, and to experience the spaciousness of God's time...."

Another way of thinking about our time together here is to try to put away the "programmed" aspects of our life.  Some of us may be used to considering ourselves "unprogrammed" Friends, in contrast to Friends from meetings with pastors and worship with a pre-defined rhythm.  However, much of FGC and OYM religious life is programmed.  Consider the schedules at yearly meeting time, or the FGC Gathering.

At Quaker Spring we expect to slip out of those bonds.  It is hard, not only to put aside our expectations of outward schedule, but also to put aside our well-trained inclination to reason and our well-honed desire for control, and to move into trust - trusting God and therefore even truly trusting each other.  For if I am resting in God's care of me and this gathering, I do not need to defend myself, my ideas, or my desires.  God will open up our path as we go along, with refreshing rest stops and interesting places to explore.

Our experience with Friends' worship, whether "open" or "unprogrammed," has taught us how to put aside our own planning for a little while.  We invite you to extend this openness, to let God direct all your thoughts and activities while you are here at Quaker Spring, to be open to Christ's inward guidance in your choices of what you do, even in your conversations.  Let yourself get into the rhythm of checking with and listening to Christ within you, and you fill find "by sweet experience" that the Lord supports your trust and fills your heart with love.

Susan Smith

6-17-2011

California

Redwood Forest Mtg:  Polly Post

Delaware

Camden Mtg / Phila. YM:  Jennifer Bauman

District of Columbia

Washington Mtg:  Faith Williams

East Africa

Elgon YM:   Sychellus Wabomba Njibwanale

Illinois

Southern Illinois Mtg:  Michael Batinski & Virginia Hoffman

Maine

Durham Mtg:  Leslie Manning

Portland Mtg:  Tom Antonik, Nancy Bowker

Vasselboro Mtg:  Susan Davies

Massachusetts

Acton Mtg:  Ann & Doug Armstrong

Beacon Hill Mtg:  Katherine Fisher, Sarah Spencer

Cambridge Mtg:  Jonathan & Minga Born, James Foritano, Jeff Hipp, Christel

   Jorgensen, Madeline Littman

Framingham Mtg:  Heather & James Gray

Fresh Pond Mtg:  Jessica Hipp, Bruce Neumann, Beckey Phipps, Will Tabor,

   Susan Zeichner

Lawrence Mtg:  Kathleen Wooten

Mt Toby Mtg:  David Ahlfeld, Annie, Ian & Peter Blood-Patterson,

    Margaret Cooley, Nan Davies, Jan Hoffman, Sarah Lambdin,

    Jim Lyons, Tom Mazur

Northampton Mtg:  Angela Hopkins, Suzy Klein-Berndt,

    Benigno Sanchez-Eppler, Eleanor Warnock, Caroline Whitbeck

North Shore Mtg:  Kristna Evans

Wellesley Mtg:  Beth Collea

New Hampshire

Concord Mtg:  Sara Smith

Monadnock Mtg:  Sheila Garrett, Frederick Martin, Jackie Stillwell

Quaker City-Unity Street Mtg:  Beth Gorton

Weare Mtg:  Marian Baker, Brian Drayton

New York

Chappaqua Mtg:  Janet Hough

15th Street Mtg:  Rich Accetta-Evans

Mohawk Valley Mtg:  Buffy Curtis

Morningside Mtg:  Ernie & Vince Buscemi

New Paltz Mtg:  Anne Pomeroy

Syrcuse Mtg:  Rachel Pia

North Carolina

Davidson Mtg / NCYM (C):  Kristin Olson-Kennedy

Ohio

Chesterfield Mtg / Ohio YM:  Susan Bailey

Pennsylvania

Chestnut Hill Mtg:  Ellen Deacon & Ernie Cuff

Keystone Fellowship / Ohio YM:  Seth Hinshaw

Middletown Mtg:  Thomas Swain

Pendle Hill worship:  Kitt Reidy

Plymouth Mtg:  Christine Greenland

Rhode Island

Smithfield:  Susan Furry (sojourning at Northampton Mtg)

Vermont

Putney Mtg:  Noah Baker-Merrill, Elisabeth Dearborn

Virginia

Arlington Mtg / Baltimore YM:  Deborah Haines

Goose Creek Mtg / Baltimore YM:  Catherine Cox, Patricia Barber

Rockingham Mtg / Ohio YM:  Susan & Jack Smith

Name(s) of adult registrant(s): _________________________________

Address: ________________________________________  State: ____  Zip: ________

Home phone: _________________   Cell phone on trip? ___________________

YM: ___________   Monthly Mtg: _________________   Email: _______________________

Children's names & ages: __________________________________________________________

Nights you anticipate being at gathering:
(  ) Fri. 6/17   (  )  Sat. 6/18   (  )  Sun. 6/19   (  ) Mon. 6/20   (  ) Tues. 6/21

Housing preference: 

(  )  Beds (bring your own linens & towels)

(  )  Floorspace (bring your own mattres & bedding)

(  )  Camping

(  )  Local motel

(  )  Housing with local Friends

(  )  Monadnock Mtg (for YAFs on weekend)

Fees:  We run this gathering on a free will offering / "pay what you feel led" basis.  Lower figures of suggested range is roughly what we need to pay The Meeting School for room & board.  If you are able, please give more to help cover additional costs including childcare, organizing costs, and enabling others with very limited means (including Friends from abroad) to attend. If you feel led to attend, please do not stay away for financial reasons! (Especially Young Adult Friends!)

Suggested contributions:

Adults in beds: $25-50/day

Adults on floorspace or camping:  $20-40/day

Adults staying off campus: $15/day or $5/meal

Teens 13-18 on floor or camping: $15-20/day

Children ages 5-12 on floor, camping or off-campus: $10-15/day

Children 4 and under: free

Amount you expect to contribute for participation: ________.  Advance payment is not required. Please let us know asap, however, if your plans change.   Pay by check or cash at gathering.

There is a limited amount of bed space and will be on a first come basis.  If you are able to camp or sleep on bed space, we hope you will consider this.

Mobility issues: Please check if you have mobility needs including need for a 1^st floor room.

Registration deadline:  June 3^rd. Contact us if you would like to attend and have not registered by this date to see if there is still space. 

Childcare & children's program.  We are glad to include children in our gathering but it is especially important to have advance warning about children who will be coming, so please let us know as soon as you can if you are considering bringing children.  We may not be able to accept last minute registrants needing childcare or a children's program.

Dormitory housing $25-$40 per day per adult, including meals

Guest house $40-$60 per day per adult in a double, including meals & linens. (Higher for a single room. Only a limited number of these rooms are available.)

Camping or RV $20-30 per day per adult, including meals

Meals only for those staying off campus $15-25/day/adult

Suggested contribution for children 5-16 half price. Children under 5 free.

The above amounts are general guidelines. Please pay the amount that you feel is right for you. Young adult Friends are especially encouraged to feel free to pay lower fees if needed to enable them to take part.  We hope no one will stay away because of expense!

Travel assistance may be available for those coming from a distance who could not otherwise take part.  Please ask, if this will help you attend.

Ann, Doug & Eric * Armstrong (NE YM)
Susan Bailey (Ohio YM)
Marian Baker (NEYM)
Micah Bales * (Great Plains YM)
Susan Lee Barton (Ohio Valley YM)
Lauren Bauman * (Phila. YM)
James * & John Benson (Ohio YM)
Walton Blackburn
Betsy Blake * (NC YM FUM)
Nate * & Peter Blood-Patterson (Phila. YM)
Jonathan Vogel-Borne & Minga Claggett-Borne (NE YM)
Marie Bundy (Ohio YM)
Betsy Cazden (NE YM)
Sam & Amy Clark (Iowa YM FUM)
Connie, Daniel & Shaquil Collett (Ohio Valley YM)
Gini Coover (raised in Western YM)
Ernest Cuff (Phila. YM)
Buffy Curtis (NEYM)
Ellen Deacon (Phila. YM)
Lynn Edwards
Andrew Esser-Haines * (Phila. YM)
David Finke (Illinois YM)
Lee Garner (Phila. YM)
Michael Goren * (Baltimore YM)
Deborah Haines (Phila. YM)
Liseli Haines (NY YM)
Pamela Haines (Phila. YM)
Alexander Haines-Stephan * (NY YM)
Glen Hay (Ohio YM)
Ken & Katherine Jacobsen (Ohio YM)
Andrew *, Charles & Marge Lamb (Ireland YM)
Lisa Lister (Intermountain YM)
Marc (Pacific YM) & Marylouise Mainhart Lambert
Frederick Martin * (NE YM)
Erin McDougall * (Canada YM)
Paulette Meier (Ohio Valley YM)
Mathilda Navias (Lake Erie YM)
Bernard Naylor (Ohio YM)
Marjorie Nelson (Ohio Valley YM)
Ingrid, Mary & Taylor Pancoast (NY YM)
Helene Pollock (Phila. YM)
Ruth Raffensperger * (Illinois YM)
Claire Reddy * (NC YM Conservative)
Kevin & Shawna Roberts (Ohio YM)
Lois Ann Rockwell (Ohio YM)
Joe & Trudy Rogers (Phila. YM)
Becka Haines Rosenberg * (Phila. YM)
Elizabeth Piersoll Schmidt * (Phila. YM)
Nathan * & Patricia Shope Sebens - (NC YM FUM)
Richard Sidwell (Ohio YM)
Fran Taber & Richard Simon (Ohio YM)
Jack & Susan Smith (Ohio YM)
Jay & Sara Smith (NE YM)
Emily Stewart * (NC YM Conservative)
Ken Stockbridge (Baltimore YM)
Sylvia Thomas (Lake Erie YM)
Lonnie Valentine (Ohio Valley YM)
Karen Walsh (Ohio YM)
Eleanor Warnock (NE YM)
Gavin White * (North Pacific YM)
Susan Zeichner (NE YM)

June 22-24: "YFNA / WGYF:
Past, Present & Future"
Reunion & Envisioning a Future
Young Friends Movement

This weekend brought together past, present & future young adult Friends to share stories, ways these gatherings affected their lives, plans & visions for the future.

June 24-29: "QuakerCamp at Stillwater"

Following the reunion, Friends hungry for spiritual community came together for 5 days of worship, worship sharing and discernment. Here is a description of 2007's Quakercamp daily schedule.

Gathering epistles, accounts, talks & queries:

Friends gathered this week in Barnesville last year wrote an Epistle from Quakercamp at Stillwater describing their sense of deep joy & excitement about what occurred there.

A separate Epistle from Young Adult Friends was also written concerning the work that YAFs there were doing to envision and build a new movement for YAFs in the US & Canada.  For more about YAFs, go to YAFs at Quakercamp

An article entitled "Blessed by the Witness of God" by Pamela Haines describing this gathering in more detail appeared in Friends Journal in December 2007.

You can also read Micah Bales' blog on his experience in Barnesville this week. Micah is an active YAF, recent ESR grad and a member of Great Plains YM (FUM) now living in Washington DC.

Those of us present were deeply moved by presentations each evening by Conservative Friends on their own experience of their Quaker faith. Two of these presentations are posted here:

Friends Business Meeting, as Conservative Friends Experience It by Susan Smith

Scriptures as Understood by Conservative Friends by Jack Smith

An interest group developed a set of Queries on Confidentiality & Openness that may be useful to elders, gathering planners and others needed to discern the right balance between these two important needs within a faith community.

For a list of who took part in this gathering, click on 2007 Quakercamp Participants.

The idea of an initial weekend gathering of those who had found similar nourishment in participation in Young Friends of North America was expanded to include current young adult Friends who are seeking the heart of our faith, where all branches of our Quaker tree can be together in worship and witness. The week that followed was planned with just enough structure to hold us together--a morning of preparation for worship, worship and worship sharing, an open afternoon for visits, small groups and play, an early evening presentation by Ohio Conservative Friends, followed by an open plenary time for whatever might rise up to be addressed.

Those who came were drawn together by a common hunger--to know God experientially, to be present to the Spirit, to be led. We had anticipated the blessing of having that experience across generations. An unexpected blessing was the richness of the interaction among FGC and Conservative Friends.

The evening presentations on community, prayer, scripture, eldering, and meeting for business led to deeper understanding of our common heritage. During a group that a Friend from the liberal tradition called to share her understanding of Barclay's Apology, a conservative Friend in plain dress listened closely, nodded at times, added a few words. His parting comment was that if she could bring a real appreciation of Barclay to liberal Friends it would be a great service. Conservative Friends shared their love for the scriptures, and morning Bible study became a rich time of reflection together. As the week went on, local Friends joined more and more fully into the experience till by the end we were truly joined in the Spirit. One elder observed that this was her first experience of a mixed gathering of Friends that truly worked for members of her beloved Ohio Conservative Yearly Meeting. What a gift to be able to help water each other's roots!

Each day helped shape the next. A late afternoon intergenerational session on sexual ethics that developed unexpected depth was continued the next day. One Friend's discomfort with the way confidentiality was handled led to a lunch conversation that flowed into an afternoon group that led to a set of queries for Friends of all persuasions on confidentiality and openness. A newly-convinced Friend, engaged in absorbing the treasure of our heritage by putting quotes of early Friends to music, sang the words of George Fox, William Penn and Isaac Pennington to us in the time following worship. A group met the next day to support her in her ministry, and interest was expressed in bringing her gifts for Ohio Yearly Meeting sessions. On our last evening together, when a proposed set of queries on sexual ethics led to significant discomfort and the prospect of division, a young adult Friend offered words that allowed us to move forward in unity.

Worship preparation included not only Bible study but times of singing, meeting for healing and lamentation. Worship was never too long. At meal times we were nourished by the simple fare provide by Olney Friends School and by conversation both informal and topical. In the afternoons you might find Friends in pairs on a bench or under a tree talking intently, young adults deep in discernment on next steps in creating an all-inclusive young adult Friends group, individuals in silent reflection, group games full of movement and laugher, a cluster of folks gathered around a common topic, the sound of a concertina floating across the lawn. Clearness meetings sprang up (and flowed over into at least one car ride home). Several Friends who rarely ask for help expressed deep gratitude for the spacious welcoming spirit that opened the way for them. Late evening sings were sweet. Even the all-ages soccer game, campfire and swims in the pond seemed touched by grace.

George Fox tells us that when we have learned to live lives that allow us to walk cheerfully over the earth answering that of God in everyone, we will come to be a blessing in them, and make the witness of God in them to bless us. It was a small bit of earth that we were walking over that week, but the blessings, both given and received, were real.

A second Quakercamp is planned for June 22-28, 2008 in Barnesville, Ohio.

Pamela Haines
Philadelphia, July 2007

Appeared in the December 2007 issue of Friends Journal under "Reports & Epistles"