Audio: Quaker youth speak out

NOTE: Due to being spammed, I am re-posting this entry. If you wish to make a comment, you'll now have to type a series of digits in the box below your comment. -Liz

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Thanks to Paul L. of Showers of Blessings, who has a link to an audio feature within the online version of Friends Journal.

The audio feature allows web-surfers to listen online to young adult Friends, talking about their Quakerism, the importance of gatherings to them, choices they make about life, and more.

I acknowledge I haven't had a chance to listen to these audio-articles, except in the smallest snippets, while I'm visiting with friends.

In addition, if you're like me, where learning-through-listening is among your weakest skills, then listening online might get tedious. Still, it may be worth it to poke around and click on a few topics in order to "eavesdrop" on what some young Friends are talking about.

Also of interest might be this brief history about the "quake as retreat" phenomenon among young midwestern Friends.

Blessings,
Liz

World Gathering of Young Friends

I have been reminded that we can see photographs and listen to presentations from the World Gathering of Young Friends online. I have only begun to look at the World Gathering's home page, taking time to let a few photos come and go before scrolling down to review what audio might be available.

I also took time to read and consider the 1985 epistle from the previous WGYF, held at Guilford College, North Carolina. In particular, this epistle seems to address concerns that are still alive today: given the branches of Friends, what unites us as Quakers; and how do we live into the Testimonies that are intrinsic to letting our lives preach? One quotable phrase:

...We are called to be peacemakers, not protestors.

I'm hoping that an attender or two from either the 1985 or the 2005 World Gathering will share their experiences online. Martin K's Quaker Blog Watch has pointed to the August 18 post from an Indiana Friend who is at the World Gathering, which ends on August 24.

I find I am hungry to learn more of how the Spirit is moving among Friends, especially young Friends and especially around the world...

Blessings,
Liz

Vanessa Julye's plenary address:The Seed Cracked Open

Recently a number of Quaker blogs refer to the emerging and recent ministry about addressing racism within the Religious Society of Friends.*

I myself wish to lift up a plenary address made by Friend Vanessa Julye in Eighth Month 2005, at the annual sessions of New York Yearly Meeting.

The text is long (17 pages), is a PDF file, and is compelling. Please consider downloading it: The Seed Cracked Open: Growing Beyond Racism.

Blessings,
Liz

*I regret I don't have the energy to post links to those blogs right now. Readers can look at Beppeblog for an example.

Tags and a catalogue of links

NOTE, October 2007:

This post is now in two sections. The first is a set of the tags (which are also links) that I have been using for The Good Raised Up--and a link to my Del.icio.us page. The second section is my original "catalogue of links" that I have been updating occasionally, ever since posting it in 2005.

As always, if you wish to contact me directly, please email me at lizopp AT gmail DOT com.

Blessings,
Liz

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Tags used in The Good Raised Up

being of service blogging Christianity covenant community convergent Friends corporate nature early Friends elders and eldering faith FGC FGC Gathering Gathering2007 God guest piece holidays individualism intervisitation Isaac Penington IYM(C) Judaism

language and terms love membership ministry obedience paradox personal journey personal story Quaker disciplines Quaker events Quaker fundamentals Quaker identity resources Scripture spiritual diversity sustainability tangent use of internet worship worship group

My del.icio.us page

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Catalogue of links

A few months ago [Spring, Summer 2005], I was coming across so many outstanding blog-posts that I wanted a way to catalogue them for easy retrieval... well, easier, anyway. I began cutting-and-pasting the links to these posts on my computer's "Post-It note" application, and now that list is quite long.

So it's time for me to post them now, so I can find them later. From time to time, I'll likely add to the list. No doubt I will not include everyone's favorite post or series of posts, and for that, I apologize in advance.

My intention is completely selfish and self-serving: that is, for me myself to have a way to access what has resonated deeply with me, or has given me tremendous food for thought at the time.

Blessings,
Liz

NOTE, June 2006: Beppe's links no longer work, since the original "beppeblog" has transitioned to another site. I am, however, leaving the subject of his posts within the catalogue. I know Beppe is on his own journey, and I miss his take on Quakerism already.

UPDATE, April 2007: Rob's links no longer work; he's been out of the loop for awhile, but I am only now updating this list... No doubt over time, fewer and fewer links will be active, as people move on.

My personal list of significant blog posts

Quaker Basics

Rich of Brooklyn Quaker, on vocal ministry
Trev, stages of worship
Barry, the heart of Quaker experience
Paul L, Quakerism's core
Claire's compilation on the essence of Quakerism
Paul L, the elephant and the blind men, especially the comments
Paul L, 100 Quaker things Friends should know
Martin, the centrality of God in Quakerism
Marshall, the corporate practice of Quakerism
Rich, "that of God in everyone" ...that of God in every one"...and quite the discussion ensues
Will, how we know it is God who leads us

Concerned Members One of Another

James R's guest piece, spiritual inclusiveness and nontheism
Beppe comments on Universalism
Beppe's series on uberQuakers
Paul L, treading down reasoning to meet together in unity
Martin on Quaker youth and YAFs [4/2007, discovered link is not active]
Rob, on attracting Young Friends
Nancy A., explanations for a weak worship experience
Beppe's discomfort when there is a call for interior work
Rob's own catalogue of significant posts
Pam, where have all the Quaker leaders gone
Zach, how modern Friends differ from early Friends

Quaker Identity, Renewal, & Discipline

Rob, discerning to blog
Beppe writes about corporate identity vs. individualism
Danny, on radical Quakerism [4/2007, discovered link is not active]
Barry, Quaker renewal
Rob considers faithful lives and Quaker identity
Peggy, being a message bearer and not an orator
Peggy, attending to what is around us
Mark, are Liberal Quakers burying the "talent" we've been given?

Mending Quaker Schisms

Guest piece on Quaker Ranter, traveling to meet with Quakers
Robin M., her vision of reunifying Quakerism
Peggy's description of convergence among Friends

Faith Crisis

Martin, Ranters and liberal Friends
Kwakersaur, spirituality without faith (Oct. 2007 - link no longer active)
Johan, discontent among Friends
Rob, crisis of the Quaker faith tradition
Contemplative Scholar, queries about disillusionment with Quakers

Christianity and Quakerism

Beppe, a Quaker Christianity?
Rich, a Christian Quakerism?
Beppe compares and contrasts Martha and Mary energy
Sarah, calling herself Christian (or not)
Lorcan, challenge of Jesus language
Nancy A's thoughts on just wars

Specific Experiences in Worship

Alice, on prayer (Oct. 2007 - link no longer active)
Rob, God getting a word in edgewise
Gregg Koskela intervenes to protect the spiritual safety of open worship
Jon, how his Friends Church calls upon God during worship

Judaism

Rachel of Velveteen Rabbi, on Jewish renewal
Rachel of Velveteen Rabbi, 40 weeks leading up to Yom Kippur
Rachel, answers to questions about the Jewish blogosphere

UPDATES:
October 7, 2005
March 17, 2006 [reorganized into categories]
June 17, 2006 [includes attributing a post to the correct blogger. Sorry, Rich!]
October 2007 [added tags-as-links]