by Diane Bowden | Mar 30, 2016 | Friends General Conference
The Advance Programs Are Here! What is the Gathering? The purpose of the Gathering is: “to help Friends know and deepen their relationship with the Spirit and with each other, to strengthen their identification as Friends among other Friends, and to testify to the continued presence of Friends as a vital and unique faith community.” The Gathering brings together Quakers of all ages from all over North America and around the world, to a place where we can interact with one another via workshops, worship, study, fellowship, and recreation. In safe community we can be challenged and comforted, inspired and surprised.
We eagerly look forward to welcoming you—in person—at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota, July 3-9, 2016. 2016 Theme: be humble, Be Faithful, BE BOLD.
Registration opens on April 1. Scholarships and work grants may be available. For more information, go to
the FGC Gathering website.
by Diane Bowden | Mar 30, 2016 | Adult Spiritual Education, Bible Study
The Adult Spiritual Education committee will hold a one-hour Bible Workbench on Sunday, April 3, at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room. We will discuss John 20:19-3– the desire to be believed, the ability to express doubt, the difficulty in trusting that something can be good or possible, and the experience of feeling incredulous. You don’t need to read the scripture in advance, or be Christian or knowledgeable about the Bible in order to participate. We follow the guidelines/contexts/questions shaped by The Educational Center’s “Reading Between the Lines” series (edited by D. Andrew Kille): What is happening in this story? Where is the story alive and happening in the world around us? How is this story my own internal story? Where does it live in my life?
by Diane Bowden | Mar 30, 2016 | Committees
The Building and Grounds committee will hold the annual spring workday at the Meetinghouse on Saturday, April 23, from 9 AM to 3 PM. Please join us as we beautify the grounds and do building cleaning and maintenance. Lunch is provided. Come anytime that is convenient.
by Diane Bowden | Mar 25, 2016 | Adult Spiritual Education
The fourth session of “Living the Quaker Life” will be held this coming First Day, March 27th, in the Community Room and will begin at 9:00 am. Coffee and tea will be available prior to the start. Please note the assigned readings in Faith and Practice 2013 for each session, below. Also, be assured that all are welcome to participate. This week as we study “Appreciating whence we came,” it’s appropriate to remember that Quakers believe that every day is holy. The “high holy days” of other denominations are not the same for us. See you on First Day!
Session: Appreciating from whence we came Mary Julia Street
Pages 1-17 in Faith & Practice
Our history Donny Lloyd
Our place in history Betsy Brinson, ASE
Our elders
“Living the Quaker Life” is a six-session series being held on the 2nd and 4th First Days in February, March, and April from 9:00 to 10:45. The series is designed for long-time members, attenders, newcomers, and especially anyone who is considering membership. Above are the topics, the presenters, and the member of the Adult Spiritual Education (ASE) committee who will be facilitating the session. Please note the pages that are being assigned for each week in the Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice 2013. Other readings may be assigned by the presenters.
by Diane Bowden | Mar 24, 2016 | Adult Spiritual Education, Bible Study
The Adult Spiritual Education committee will hold a one-hour Bible Workbench on Sunday, April 3, at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room. We will discuss John 20:19-3 — the desire to be believed, the ability to express doubt, the difficulty in trusting that something can be good or possible, and the experience of feeling incredulous. You don’t need to read the scripture in advance, or be Christian or knowledgeable about the Bible in order to participate. We follow the guidelines/contexts/questions shaped by The Educational Center’s “Reading Between the Lines” series (edited by D. Andrew Kille): What is happening in this story? Where is the story alive and happening in the world around us? How is this story my own internal story? Where does it live in my life?