Live Web Coverage from FGC (not)
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Over on Beppeblog Joe dreams of daily web coverage of the FGC Gathering. Well, FGC's not paying its webmaster (me, for now) for such service but I'll try to sneak in a few posts between bookstore customers. The bookstore set-up was remarkably easy. There was no truck crisis, no computer crisis, no getting lost on highways.
As regular readers will know, I'm leading a workshop called Strangers to the Covenant with Zachary Moon and this morning was the first workshop. Although it was billed as a workshop for high school students and adult young Friend (so 15-35 years old), though almost all of the participants are high schoolers (what does that mean?). It seems like a great bunch. I arrived about fifteen minutes early to center in worship; two of the attenders came in the room and sat with me and one by one everyone came in and joined the worship. I had to wonder if a group of older Friends would have been able to resist the temptation to ask about each other's jewelry, complain about the air conditioning, etc.
Julie reports that the cafeteria food is good. We've also been happy patrons of Gillie's and Bollo's Cafe.
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About Martin
I’m a Quaker from
South Jersey with a love of
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Funny thing about those high school students, they make great Quakers. Working with the New England Yearly Meeting Young Friends (High School) the adult leaders are always amazed at the depth of worship and the clarity of passion among these younger friends.
Hope the workshop goes well.
And no, I have not found the cafe with wi-fi. I just escape to my dorm room and connect via ethernet. By around 7pm I am completely peopled out and need some quiet blog time alone.
FGC: So many Quakers and so little quality time alone.
Loving greetings from Portland, Oregon, USA. I'm praying for your workshop.
Re: Depth of worship and clarity of passion among younger Friends: This is precisely my observation on the evangelical end of things as well, specifically Northwest Yearly Meeting.
Hey there, everyone. Am still recovering from my own experiences at Gathering. Reading other Quaker blogs is helping me slowly, carefully return to life in the Twin Cities.
Martin, you write:
I had to wonder if a group of older Friends would have been able to resist the temptation to ask about each other’s jewelry, complain about the air conditioning, etc.
The answer for me is: Yes.
Like your experience of worship in your workshop, mine was nearly the same: I arrived 15-30 minutes early, arranged my notes, and settled into grounding worship. As the 18-20 Friends arrived, they easily and quickly sat themselves and joined me, worshipfully. The worship felt rich, deep, and connecting.
I hope to write a summary of my own Gathering experience—a positive one, with several surprises—on The Good Raised Up. Stay tuned.
Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up
Hi Liz: Well I'm glad some of the old fogeys still remember how to worship (wink and a smile!). Your Friend, Martin