FGConnections Autumn 2006

Reflections on the Western Gathering

photograph by Mike Goren

By Angelina Conti: The 2006 Gathering at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington offered many milestones. It was the first Gathering on the West Coast and nearly half of the Friends who attended came from Western states. Registration numbers far exceeded expectations and nearly 1700 Friends gathered for fellowship, worship, nurture and play. Views of Mount Rainier, the clattering of musical bricks, the dedication of a Peace Tree, and the gathered witness of hundreds of Friends in the college gymnasium—too big a body for PLU’s largest auditorium!—are just a few memories that make this Gathering special.

In this issue of FGConnections we seek to share a range of experiences from the 2006 Gathering. We want to provide a window into the Gathering experience and to share stories of divine love and understanding that emerged during the week.

Angelina Conti is an attender at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. She is the FGC Publications Intern and acting editor of FGConnections.

Expanding Circles

By Aimee Bucholz: “These circles where we came together felt open, inviting, inclusive, and always ready to expand for one more.”

Listen and Obey the Spirit

By Rubye Howard Braye: “This type of adventure is what many of us are invited to partake of at Gathering. When we go forth – leaving the shore and venturing out – we sing, dance, and play, binding the fear and freeing God-given courage to live.”

Touching others … others touching us

By John Helding: “It is in how we walk our walk, in how we model the peaceable kingdom, that we have the greatest hope of changing the world.”

Water Has Memory

A poem by Raelyn Joyce

Living Water Cards

A selection of writings by Friends shared during the Living Water and Peace Tree Witness.

Sailing to Gathering

By Linda Hill and John Scull: “Traveling to and from the Gathering by sailboat was spiritually enriching. The deep level of preparation and follow-up we experienced would be equally possible with other slow forms of travel – walking, rail, or cycling – but perhaps impossible with more hectic modes such as automobiles or airplanes.”