Report on Visit to Downers Grove Meeting,
November 2-4, 2001
By Marty Grundy

owners Grove Meeting (Ill. YM) asked the TMP for a visit from a seasoned Friend to facilitate a one-day retreat on responding to spiritual hunger. Ahead of time the meeting was given the verse, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for a right relationship with God: they shall be filled", and the queries, "What do you hunger for in regard to Divine Love? What do you yearn for, in regard to Downers Grove Meeting?"

Marty Grundy, with Deborah Fisch as spiritual companion/elder, facilitated a Saturday retreat. They hoped to listen Friends into an awareness of their strengths, and encourage them to build on those strengths within the framework of the Religious Society of Friends. Marty and Deborah had dinner with the two co-clerks Friday evening, and Saturday breakfast with Ministry and Counsel Committee.

Twenty folks attended the retreat from about 9:30 a.m. through a pot luck supper. Nearly all of them were able to stay for the entire time. The emphasis of the retreat was to help them rediscover the depth of wisdom and experience within their own membership, and to reaffirm the importance of making time to tell each other their stories of God's love and presence. There was also reflection on what supports one's own intention to live more open to God, and what distracts or blocks it. With time for individual journaling on specific queries, followed by small group sharing, Friends were quickly drawn into the value and joy of listening to each other. One list was made of the attributes of their ideal Friends meeting and ideal Friends, and another list of the present qualities of their meeting and members. The retreat concluded with seeking some suggestions for getting from B to A. By the end of the day enthusiastic plans were being laid to continue some small groups.

Sunday morning Marty joined the adult FDS class which was reading Rosemary Anne Moore's Light in Their Consciences. (Deborah had to leave late afternoon Saturday for a previous commitment.) This was followed by meeting for worship.

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