You are invited to join with Quakers from around Maine for the All Maine Gathering hosted by Vassalboro Quarterly Meeting on Saturday, May 3. It will be held at the South China Community Church, 46 Village Lane, South China, Maine 94358

Program: A Quaker Spin on the Spiral of Active Hope led by Mark Rains

The program for All-Maine Gathering will include opportunities for personal reflection and sharing, leading into small group exploration of Macy and Johnstone’s book and videos for “ACTIVE HOPE: How to face the mess we’re in with unexpected resilience and creative power”, with resources which Friends can take back to their meetings and communities. Brief queries will focus on gratitude, inspiration, concerns, possible action steps, obstacles, and supports. Small groups for lunchtime conversations may emerge to explore four spiraling steps from “experiencing gratitude” and “honoring specific concerns” (climate, exploitation, immigration, democracy, etc.), through ways that Quaker faith and practice (e.g. SPICES) can inform “seeing concerns through new eyes” and “going forth”, as led and supported.  

Provisional schedule

8:30 Mugs & Muffins

9:00 Meeting for Worship followed by introductions

10:30 Program

12:00 Lunch – Soup will be provided. Contributions of bread, veggies, fruit & desserts are welcome.

1:30 Worship sharing / continued discussion

2:45 Closing & Clean-up

~ The Vassalboro QM Leadership Team: Mark Rains, Cynthia Harkleroad, Holly Weidner, Janet Hough