Join Facebook discussion of Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches by Mathilda Navias
Posted by leymworker in News on August 12, 2018
Emily Provance, a young Friend, hosts Quaker Open Book, a collection of book groups facilitated through Facebook, designed as a way to support reading as a personal spiritual practice and to build connections between Friends who otherwise might never meet.
For each book group, she posts a query every two days, and participating Friends are also encouraged to ask one another questions about the readings. We read veeery slowwwly, about a chapter every two weeks.
Emily writes, “Mathilda Navias created something remarkable in writing Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches. What I love most about it is the way in which Navias approaches Quaker process – not by saying “this is THE way to do such-and-such” but by saying “look at all the ways Quakers do such-and-such.” For me, that shifts the focus from right/wrong to the spiritual principles beneath.”
First day: August 23rd, 2018
Join the Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches group here.
More information on Quaker Open Book can be found here.
Building culturally inclusive communities of faith
Posted by leymworker in Events and Opportunities, News on August 12, 2018
Emily Provance, a young Friend, has recently launched a new four-year ministry called Holy Experiments. She explains: “Holy Experiments is designed to support Friends with an aim toward following Spirit adventurously and building culturally inclusive communities of faith. This will happen in a variety of ways. One piece will be skill-building – looking at culture and structure methodically, with a lens to understanding and learning to perceive unintended effects. The second piece will be what I’m calling ‘along the way’ – affirming the spiritual conditions necessary in a faith community that’s doing hard things. A third element will be weekly queries, and a fourth will be concrete, specific experiments – things that Friends are encouraged to try, to see what happens, and then to keep or release, as led.
Friends are welcome to engage as able. You can step in, drop out, participate fully, be an observer…and that level of participation can change over time, day to day, week to week, whatever you can do. You can receive weekly emails and you can receive a weekly query by text message. Sign up for emails by clicking here or by texting HOLYEXPERIMENTS (all one word) to 84576.
There’s also a Facebook group for regular interaction with other Friends.
I want to come and speak with Friends in your area about this work; please invite me. This ministry is under the tender care of my support committee, which is itself under the care of my local meeting, which is Fifteenth Street Monthly Meeting in New York City.”
More information on Holy Experiments can be found here. You can also email Emily and request to receive occasional e-mails in which she shares her reflections and recent experiences traveling in the ministry.
LEYM Policies & Procedures Manual updated
Posted by leymworker in News on July 24, 2018
A newly revised version of Lake Erie Yearly Meeting’s Policies & Procedures manual that incorporates additions and changes approved at the 2017 Annual Sessions is now available.
Click here to view or download the manual. If you print it, it works well to 3-hole punch the pages and put them in a 3-hole binder.
Apply to Become FGC’s Spiritual Deepening Fellow
Posted by leymworker in Job Openings on June 27, 2018
Friends General Conference has a job opening:
This is a nine-month paid fellowship at FGC’s Philadelphia office for someone with strong writing and communication skills seeking to gain an understanding of non-profit program coordination and Quaker religious education. This fellow will work closely with and under the supervision of the Spiritual Deepening Program Coordinator and other FGC staff to support the development of Spiritual Deepening program content for adults and children.
This work will be guided by FGC’s minute of purpose, major goals and associated programs. It will include substantial work in creating facilitation guides for Spiritual Deepening exercises from both new and existing materials. This position will play a role in coordinating volunteers as well as participating in broader promotional and planning efforts for the Spiritual Deepening Program. Familiarity with Quaker religious education for adults and children and comfort with small-group processes will be important, but the position does not require high-level work experience. Friends General Conference will support the fellow in pursuing relevant training opportunities in facilitation, volunteer coordination, and/or nonprofit professional development.
The full job description, pay and benefits is available here. The anticipated start date is September 4, 2018.
To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and contact information for three references to Rachel Ernst Stahlhut, the Spiritual Deepening Program Coordinator, no later than 5pm, Friday July 11th, 2018.
Retreat for School of the Spirit program participants
Posted by leymworker in Events and Opportunities on June 23, 2018
Contemplative-Silent Retreat
On Being a Spiritual Nurturer
The Way of Ministry
Have you participated in a School of the Spirit program? Do you desire a reconnection? Join us for a Spiritual Renewal Retreat, September 13-16 at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, PA (outside of Philadelphia). It has been 3 years since our last retreat and we have a lot to share with one another and an exciting format for helping us do that.
For more information and to register: http://www.schoolofthespirit.org/spiritual-renewal-retreat/ We hope to see you there!
Participate in the Quaker “School of the Spirit”
Posted by leymworker in 2018 Gathering, Events and Opportunities on June 21, 2018
Do you feel a call to nurture and accompany people in their spiritual lives?
Are you wanting to deepen your spiritual life?
Are you interested in exploring your spiritual gifts?
If so, God may be calling you to the On Being a Spiritual Nurturer Program.
If you are thinking of participating, or you know someone who would be a perfect candidate, please visit our website www.schoolofthespirit.org. The School of the Spirit will continue to consider applicants through July, or until the class is full.
If you’re at this summer’s FGC Gathering in Toledo, Ohio, July 1-7, consider stopping in to the School of the Spirit’s presentation on Monday afternoon, from 3:15-4:15. Of course we’ll hope to attract people who might be interested in the Spiritual Nurture Program. And it would be wonderful to have some of the graduates and others there to help us explain our varied experiences with the ministry.
Apply now for FWCC’s 2019 Traveling Ministry Corps
Posted by leymworker in Events and Opportunities, News on June 18, 2018
Applications are now available to join the Friends World Committee Traveling Ministry Corps (TMC) in its third year. The TMC uses traditional Quaker practices to build 21st century skills in cross-cultural dialogue and local leadership development in both rural and urban environments. These traveling Friends share their own spiritual experience and the sense of unity that is possible across the branches of Friends. They encourage Friends to learn from one another, and following consultation and discernment with local communities, proceed to minister through prayer, pastoral counseling and encouragement, religious education, or peace, justice and environmental concerns. Friends meet “face-to-face and heart-to-heart” to share both that which unites and that which divides them in the life of the Spirit. Open exchange builds understanding, respect, trust and love, and, with God’s help, renews awareness of a worldwide family of Friends.
Members of the TMC are chosen for their ability and commitment to working with diverse participants, their demonstrated ability to connect traditional practices with contemporary concerns, and their availability to travel across the Americas to work with local communities.
Applications, including supporting documentation, are due by September 30, 2018. Decisions will be announced in November. The training will take place right before the Section Meeting in March 2019.
For more information, go to Traveling Ministry Corps
Quaker Spring retreat June 25-30, 2018 in SE Ohio
Posted by leymworker in Events and Opportunities on June 1, 2018
FGC Gathering in Toledo, Ohio, July 1-7, 2018
Posted by leymworker in 2018 Gathering, Events and Opportunities, News on May 31, 2018
We are ONE MONTH away from the 2018 FGC Gathering! This year, we will gather together at the University of Toledo to explore our theme, The Power of Truth, through worship, workshops, and community events. Our time together in sparkling Toledo promises to be spiritually enriching and memorable, so if you haven’t registered yet, consider making the Gathering part of your summer plans now.
Note: Late fees for registration will begin tomorrow, June 1.
LEYM Fall Youth (K-12) Retreat
Posted by leymworker in News on May 19, 2018
You are invited to the 2018 Lake Erie Yearly Meeting Fall K-12 Youth Retreat
Friday, September 28, 7:00 pm – Sunday, September 30, 2018
Location: Templed Hills UCC Camp, 5734 Durbin Rd. Bellville, OH 44813
Click here for complete information and a registration form.
