Comments on: FGC Gathering Workshop

By: Liz Opp

Liz Opp — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 00:49:10 +0000

Glad to see the enthusiasm–it’s so encouraging! And no fair teasing those of us who won’t see the Gathering Advance Program until mid- or late-March! smile
Anyway, more than once, it has occurred to me that since I am planning a workshop for adults at the Gathering about deepening and sharing our Quakerism with others, and you and Zachary are planning a workshop for young adult Friends who are eager for experiencing a rich Quakerism, maybe there can be a way for our workshop groups to come together somehow–for worship sharing; worship; a mutual session; I’m not sure what. …If nothing else, maybe us workshop leaders can meet and share ideas, check-in, etc.
Though don’t get me wrong: I know how hard it is to put aside time for a get-together like what I’m proposing. And I don’t even have kids or a job to fill while at the Gathering!
Blessings,
Liz

By: James

James — Sun, 20 Feb 2005 22:48:25 +0000

This is really interesting. Early Friends (and certain recent ones like Howard Brinton) talked repeatedly about the differences between the substance and the shadow; and the power and the form.
It seems that many FGC meetings have lapsed into shadowy ponds with dry forms but not the kind of fire possessed by their Quaker forebears. Which reminds me of a meeting I used to attend: people there place greater value on various committee meetings than on religious education…
Please do post updates on this workshop. I am interested in knowing how it will turn out (mind you, FGC workshops usually reflect narrowly defined partisan endeavors, so yours could be an unpleasant surprise to some…)

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 16:11:29 +0000

I just have to report: I took a peek at the workshops being offered at this year's Gathering and there are at least four which I would _really really_ like to take. With 70-plus workshops, this shouldn't be a surprise but there have been years I've struggled to find anything that really grabbed me. Maybe we'll have to start a thread for the Quaker Ranter top-ten workshops once the Advance Program ships...

By: Joe G.

Joe G. — Sun, 30 Jan 2005 23:58:41 +0000

…and Zachary and I are only a part of a shift that’s been happening at the FGC Gathering over the last few years.
Hey, Martin!
Congrats on the upcoming workshop. No problem with the age “boundaries”: this makes sense given its topic and purpose.
I probably won’t be going to Gathering due to other commitments. However, the statement that you wrote above caught my eye. What kind of changes with the FGC Gathering are your referring to? Curious minds want to know… 🙂

By: Jeffrey Hipp

Jeffrey Hipp — Sun, 30 Jan 2005 19:34:41 +0000

Awesome! If the Way opens for me to be at this year’s Gathering, I look forward to taking part in the workshop. It’s a bit unclear if I’ll be going to the World Gathering of Young Friends, but if I do, that and NEYM Sessions will be stretching my vacation hours rather thin.
I’ve also been considering whether an interest group on plain dress could contribute something meaningful to the Gathering — whether it would draw enough people, etc.
Martin — please hassle me to send you an e‑mail about the NEYM YAF mid-winter retreat. It was a rather intense, prophetic and rockin’ experience for us. Plus, more than 50 people attended!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:05:18 +0000

I haven’t even really thought about the FGC gathering, but now I think I should. The prospect of this workshop makes my soul tingle.

By: Liz Oppenheimer

Liz Oppenheimer — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 14:12:31 +0000

Woo-hoo! I've been waiting to read/hear about your workshop. This is just terrific, and I resonate and affirm the truth of your process: "I’ve found that when I’ve laid the groundwork for a decision, things can often move suprisingly quickly." Friend Arthur Larrabee often says, "The Spirit favors the well-prepared," and I think the experience you and Zachary had in meeting one another at the Lord's table, so to speak, affirms this. I feel caught up in the wind of the Spirit, and I believe there will be a new sort of buzz around campus during the week of the Gathering. Blessings, Liz