QuakerSpring Daily Schedule
Quaker Spring gatherings are intended to function as a "Quaker conference with a difference". Instead of lining up workshop leaders and speakers in advance, Friends gather to share their gifts, leadings, and longings with minimal pre-programming of the week's schedule. The winds of the Spirit are blowing, and we do not know exactly where they are taking us. The schedule was developed in the belief that if we gather in expectant waiting and joyful fellowship, we trust that the messages we need will arise from among us.
We will open the week this year (2012) on Sunday evening with a time for introductions and hearing the concerns on each others' hearts.
Here is the rough shape of the days to follow:
9:00 Preparation for worship. Most Friends seem to enjoy gathering for Bible study. This may either take the form of exploring a specific passage in depth or letting those present "lift up" passages as led out of prayerful silence. Other activities such as meditative walks, a meeting for healing, or sharing "lamentations" for the suffering in the world have also happened at times during this timeslot.
10:00 Meeting for Worship. A time of open "waiting" worship guided by the Holy Spirit. This may last anywhere from 1 to 2 hours. There may be time following worship for intercessory prayer, song, sharing of concerns, or anything else that arises among us during worship.
1:00-6:00 Open time for conversation, soccer, swimming, games, quiet time, family time, clearness committees, workshops, small group threshing around a specific topic of interest, or a group meeting to support a Friend's gift of ministry.
7:30 Evening "Meetings for Discernment". We will take time to listen as a group to what God seems to be speaking to us around important issues facing Friends and the world at large today. We will share without formal presentations, but will attempt to be attentive to the Inward Teacher rather than our own ideas.
9:00 Singing? Walks? Quiet conversation? (and a good night's rest...)
Listening Committee. This informal committee meets each morning over breakfast to discern the best ways to shape the day to come based on concerns & suggestions raised during the previous day. This includes scheduling small group activities in the afternoon and choosing a topic for the next evening's plenary session. These meetings are open to any gathering participant.
The name of this group refers both to our intention to listen carefully to the hopes, needs & discernment of all those taking part in the gathering and also, of course, to hear the voice of our Inward Teacher and to allow it to shape our time together.