Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Consultation for New Meetings and Worship Groups 8/12/2007-8/14/2007 Friends Center, Barnesville, Ohio.
This consultation, organized and convened by Jack and Susan Smith of Rockingham Monthly Meeting, brought together Friends from near and far, to share, to learn, and to build fellowship with one another. We worshipped, we had Bible reading, we shared in the preparation of our common meals and the clean-up chores, and we also had unstructured time to enjoy the surroundings and one another’s company. There were eight sessions held over the two and a half days of the consultation, with several topics covered in the first six sessions, each led by one of the participants. Among the topics were: The history of new meetings among Conservative friends; What mistakes have happened, how can they be avoided, what does seem to work, and what we have learned; Recognizing and encouraging spiritual gifts, and how much structure is needed? To what extent should new groups be part of a big picture?; What is the role and place in the group of the convener, and the role of the sponsoring established monthly meeting?; What are the responsibilities of the new group? There was time in each session for questions and sharing. The last two sessions were left open for discussion and sharing on previous topics, and the discussion of topics arising as a result of what had taken place in the previous sessions. It became apparent during the sessions, and in our discussions during times of common labor and fellowship, that we shared some common experiences in-spite of having such varied and unique circumstances, and even that which was unique to the experience of another was encouraging to all, for it confirmed that the Lord does not use a cookie-cutter approach to how we develop as branches of the true Vine.
This consultation, organized and convened by Jack and Susan Smith of Rockingham Monthly Meeting, brought together Friends from near and far, to share, to learn, and to build fellowship with one another. We worshipped, we had Bible reading, we shared in the preparation of our common meals and the clean-up chores, and we also had unstructured time to enjoy the surroundings and one another’s company. There were eight sessions held over the two and a half days of the consultation, with several topics covered in the first six sessions, each led by one of the participants. Among the topics were: The history of new meetings among Conservative friends; What mistakes have happened, how can they be avoided, what does seem to work, and what we have learned; Recognizing and encouraging spiritual gifts, and how much structure is needed? To what extent should new groups be part of a big picture?; What is the role and place in the group of the convener, and the role of the sponsoring established monthly meeting?; What are the responsibilities of the new group? There was time in each session for questions and sharing. The last two sessions were left open for discussion and sharing on previous topics, and the discussion of topics arising as a result of what had taken place in the previous sessions. It became apparent during the sessions, and in our discussions during times of common labor and fellowship, that we shared some common experiences in-spite of having such varied and unique circumstances, and even that which was unique to the experience of another was encouraging to all, for it confirmed that the Lord does not use a cookie-cutter approach to how we develop as branches of the true Vine.
