FGC Newsletters: May 2020

Each month, FGC distributes digital newsletters to share updates and information about FGC, QuakerBooks, and the FGC Gathering. Below is the introductory text and links to our May 2020 newsletters for friends.

Featured: Vital Friends, Book Musings, and updates about the FGC Gathering

Vital Friends

Dear Friend,

Whenever I talk about my work at FGC with people I meet (which is now at the grocery store, from a safe distance, and under 60 seconds), they almost always respond with, “Quakers are THE nicest group of people! They love everybody!” Such a reputation, as a group of friendly, peace-loving people that seeks to make everyone feel welcome, can make the prospect of responding to conflict feel daunting or lead to an existential threat. How do we call ourselves “Friends” if we have disagreements and instances of wounding?

While it can feel uncomfortable, conflict is a normal part of life. In fact, conflict can lead to new understandings, reveal areas of opportunity or improvement, and confirm what matters most. Conflict can also reveal long-standing spiritual and cultural challenges that require both a community and organizational response, like ongoing instances of racism and structures of white supremacy that prompted FGC’s Institutional Assessment on Systemic Racism.

In this issue, we’re offering resources for navigating conflict (and ways to overcome a culture of conflict-avoidance), a look at the impact you made in 2019 in our Impact Report, information about the 2020 Virtual Gathering, opportunities for virtual worship and worship-sharing organized by FGC Friends, information for having difficult conversations about racism by Friends of the Institutional Assessment Implementation Committee, and a podcast about grief, death, and dying during COVID-19.

In the Light,
Marta Rusek
Communications Manager for FGC

In this issue:

  • How to Respond Effectively to Conflict in your Quaker Community
  • Listening Deeply, Living Faithfully – Impact Report 2019
  • An Update about the 2020 FGC Virtual Gathering
  • Virtual Worship Opportunities organized by FGC
  • FGC’s Anti-Racism Ministry: May 2020 Update
  • A Conversation on Grief, Death, and Dying: a Podcast Resource for Friends during COVID-19

Read the May 2020 Vital Friends Newsletter.


Book Musings: Books That Transport Us

Dear Friend,

Community matters now more than ever as we face COVID-19. Quakers all over the United States and throughout the world are finding ways to share their compassion and connect in love and faith. Friends isolated at home join online in amazingly close meetings for worship. Our FGC committees and staff meet via Zoom as they continue to bring Light to the world. Friends take flowers and food to neighbors who can’t go outside. And here at QuakerBooks we continue to send your family or Meeting books, hoping to bring comfort in this time of fear, grief, and loss.

In the Light,
Audrey Greenhall, Manager of QuakerBooks
AudreyG@FGCQuaker.org

In This Issue:

  • Books that Transport Us
  • New and Noteworthy – Palestine and Israel: A Personal Encounter
  • Friends Journal Picks for May 2020
  • Discounted Books – One and Done Collection
  • 10% discount on orders over $100

Read this issue of Book Musings.


Book Musings: Nesting

Dear Friend,

In this time of social distancing, many children are at a loss for activities, and caregivers have only so much time to give. The irony is that, as many of us adults spend more time online doing what we need to, we may be concerned that our children are having too much screen time. 

With this in mind, QuakerBooks launches its new Buy-5 Book Bundles by featuring children’s books. Whether you buy them for your own family or someone else (perhaps your Meeting’s library), we hope you will be able to enjoy them in sparkling Spring weather!

In the Light,
Audrey Greenhall, Manager of QuakerBooks
AudreyG@FGCQuaker.org
(215) 561-1700 ext. 3044

In This Issue:

  • Buy-5 Book Bundles – Children’s Books
  • Books from Britain – a new collection
  • New and Noteworthy – Marcelle Martin’s A Culture of Faithfulness
  • 10% discount on orders over $100

Read this issue of Book Musings.


FGC Gathering May 2020 Update: Virtual Gathering This Summer!

Dear Friend,

Sink Down to the Seed Sown in the Heart, the 2020 virtual Gathering, will be June 28 – July 4, and will offer a rich schedule of events online.  Registration will open late May.

Come join us online for a new experience!
We will gather in worship seeking the spirit, listen to Evening Program speakers and find new ways to be in community with one another. There will be Pre-Gathering retreats, workshops, Adult Young Friends, High School, and Junior Gathering programs.

Worship and Worship Sharing occurring now
FGC’s Saturday night worship will continue, and there are also worship sharing groups now available. Please see below to sign up.

Thank you!

Thank you to those who filled out the survey. It reaffirmed the FGC community’s desire to meet virtually this summer and has offered insights as to how we might best share out time together online.

In love and service,
Ruth Reber
Conference Coordinator

Lori Piñeiro Sinitzky
Rising Conference Coordinator

Read an update about the Virtual Gathering and view the schedule.


FGC Gathering May 2020 Update: Workshops

Dear Friend,

Sink Down to the Seed Sown in the Heart, the 2020 virtual Gathering, will be June 28 – July 4, and will offer a rich schedule of events online.  Registration will open late May.

Come join us online for a new experience!
We will gather in worship seeking the spirit, listen to Evening Program speakers and find new ways to be in community with one another. There will be Pre-Gathering retreats, workshops, Adult Young Friends, High School, and Junior Gathering programs.

Worship and Worship Sharing occurring now
FGC’s Saturday night worship will continue, and there are also worship sharing groups now available. Please see below to sign up.

Thank you!

Thank you to those who filled out the survey. It reaffirmed the FGC community’s desire to meet virtually this summer and has offered insights as to how we might best share out time together online.

In love and service,
Ruth Reber
Conference Coordinator

Lori Piñeiro Sinitzky
Rising Conference Coordinator

Read about workshops that will be offered at the Virtual Gathering.

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