Durham Friends folks are invited to Vassalboro Quarterly Meeting’s Fall gathering, Friday and Saturday, Seotember 6&7. The Friday evening session will be via Zoom. The Saturday session will only be in-person at Friends Camp (no Zoom). The full announcement and schedule is below. (Vassalboro is a neighboring Quarterly Meeting; Durham is part of Falmouth Quarterly Meeting.) Note an RSVP is requested if you plan to attend either session.
Friday evening will focus on the spiritual state of member meetings of Vassalboro Quarter. The Saturday program will focus on Friends relations with Native Americans.
Fall Gathering 2024, Sept 6th, 6:30 pm-8pm on Zoom and Sept 7th, 8:30 am- 3pm at Friends Camp, China Maine
“Few are guilty………All are responsible” Rabbi Abram Joshua Heschel
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good soil, sprang up, and yielded [a]a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 8: 5-8
Greetings , Friends,
Many “seeds” were sown during Yearly Meeting sessions this August. We were asked to have ears to hear so that we may be the “good soil” and yield.
We were also told of some of our Quaker history and involvement in the Indian Boarding Schools in the 1800-1900’s.
Through the deep and personally-grounded messages, we, as a body, discerned the way forward on the heavy issues facing us.
So, for this Fall Gathering, we wanted to hear the voices from Friends in Maine (all of you!) on what is lifting you up? How are you led, and how do you prepare the soil? How do you nourish the seeds of good within and around you?
On Friday evening, we will be hearing highlights from our monthly meeting’s spiritual life, “state of society,” and reflecting on how those “seeds,” from other monthly meetings, find soil in us to start to grow towards the Light.
On Saturday morning, we will be hearing from two Friends. First, Shirley Hager will share how she came to her most recent leading to foster creation of a program of support for first time Wabanaki university students. Then we will hear from Janet Hough and how following her current deep dive into the Friends Indigenous Boarding school’s is changing her. We will have worship following each offering and a chance to reflect and share.
On Saturday afternoon, there will be a choice to have discussion and open sharing about either:
1) diving deeper into what is rising up for us when we hear of historic & present indigenous oppression
or
2) what is rising up in our response to other injustices
Please save the date and spread the word of Fall Gathering , on the weekend after Labor Day, Fri. Sept 6 and Sat.Sept.7th.
Friday, Sept 6th on Zoom from 6:30-8 pm; a link will be sent
Saturday, Sept 7th in-person at Friends Camp (no Zoom) under the tent or in the Aviary, if the weather requires
See next page for more information about hospitality & Saturday’s schedule
Saturday schedule
8:30 am : Fellowship with refreshments and finger foods
9-10 am : Intro and worship sharing on the Parable of the seed and the soil.
10:15-11 am : Shirley Hager: “The Evolution of a Leading: Way Keeps Opening,” followed by worship sharing
11:00 am: Janet Hough will share about her journey exploring NEYM’s involvement in Quaker Indigenous Boarding Schools, followed by worship sharing;
12:00 pm Lunch (soups from Vassalboro MM), veggies, fruit, salads, breads from other attenders
1: 15pm-2:30pm Break into group of choice for sharing
2:30- 3pm Sharing reflections from the day
For those who would like to stay with Vassalboro Friends on Friday or Saturday evenings, hospitality is offered at the contact below.
Please bring a veggie, fruit, salad or bread to offer for lunch. A choice of soups is provided by Vassalboro MM Friends.
A link for Friday eve will be sent the week prior to all on this email list. If you didn’t receive this email directly from Janet, please ask to be added to the list if you wish to receive further correspondence and the link directly.
FMI or hospitality questions…………Holly Weidner weidnerholly@gmail.com or 649-1305
RSVP is appreciated for Friday and Saturday attendance but not required.
Feel free to invite others who you feel may be interested in joining us for this day of sharing and listening.
