|
|
|
|
|
Section of the Americas
|
November 23, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
The power of electronic communication is
amazing. In September, as Typhoon Ketsana passed over the Philippines, John
Irving Ocol, a member of Philippines Evangelical Friends Church and a
participant in several recent International FWCC gatherings, sent messages to
those he had met there from his mobile phone about rising flood waters. FWCC's
Asia West Pacific Section immediately put into place a mechanism to receive
donations for flood victims. We, on the other side of the globe, reacted
quickly and sent you the information through our E-newsletter. By this time,
flood waters were waist-high, but John continued to send photos to us from his
phone.
Philippines Friends are still cleaning up,
and I am happy to report that you sent over $6,000.00 to assist them. Thank you
to the many Friends who gave personally, or who shared this news at their
meeting.
Sincerely,  Margaret Fraser You can see John's photo slideshow here. |
|
Bringing
FWCC to where Friends are
If you took the recent FWCC survey, thank you! Your input was very valuable. Just over a week ago the
Executive Committee met to set priorities for our work in the next few
years. Information from various
sources - including the survey and a focus group with Friends in their
20s and 30s - helped shape the discernment. The result is a
re-commitment to FWCC's overall mission. When we asked what kinds
of events or activities you would like to take part in, the top responses were for local
events and informal visits with FWCC visitors in your
meeting or in a Friend's home. With
this in mind, the Executive
Committee is proposing a priority focus on local events based on the World Conference theme. They would be held
throughout the Section of Americas starting in 2010 and continuing through 2011 before the
Sixth World Conference of Friends in 2012. These proposals,
which would require temporary changes to the nature of the annual meeting, will
be examined and laid forth for approval by Friends attending the Section
Annual Meeting next March 18-21,
near Baltimore, MD. Stay tuned for news in the coming
months. Click here to see what those who completed the survey told us.
Photo: Ann Stever and Mike Hinshaw at the recent FWCC Executive Committee meeting in Indianapolis  |
November 30th deadline for next
summer's Quaker Youth Pilgrimage
Young Friends who will be 16-18 years old next
summer still have time to send in their application for this
every-other-year event. What will
the 16-18 year olds you know be doing next summer? Pilgrims on the last pilgrimage offered this comment on their experience: This pilgrimage's theme was a journey through conflict to
peace. On every level we have
started our journey with dialogue and with cultivating an awareness of
listening. This consciousness and
intent has guided us as we examine how world,
communal, and personal conflict
has changed us. Send this link to a young Friend you
know for information and to apply now
|
2010 Annual meeting to offer parallel programming for young adult Friends
Members of FWCC's Young Adult Friends Envisioning group are working
with the Annual Meeting Planning Program Group to develop
parallel programming for young adult Friends interested in coming to an
FWCC gathering but who are not official representatives to their yearly
meetings. We'll post more information to our website as it becomes available. Online r  egistration and information will be
coming soon to our website. Mark the date for annual meeting on your calendar: March 18-21, 2010, in Reisterstown, MD, near Baltimore. Click here for information on the Annual Meeting Photo: Members of the Annual Meeting Planning Program Group at Pearlstone Retreat and Conference center in Reisterstown, MD recently.
|
Global Change coordinator sought
FWCC
World Office is seeking to fill a fixed term position of part-time
coordinator beginning as soon as possible until end June 2010, with extension through 2011 subject to
funding. The coordinator will help organise a series of national and
regional gatherings worldwide and the concluding international
consultation as part of the FWCC's consultation on global change. The
position can be filled from a location other than London
although there will be a need to work closely with the London office and occasionally travel
there. Contact person: Nancy Irving,
General Secretary-FWCC. Check website for job description and application details.
|
Lower Great Lakes/Midwest regional gathering in Michigan draws many to
their first FWCC event
Over 70
Friends representing seven yearly meetings came to hear Patricia Thomas
speak earlier this month on the topic "In the Manner of Friends: Living my Faith
Today." Ann Arbor Meeting hosted
the gathering. For almost half of the participants this was their
first FWCC event.
|
Quaker
Missions postage stamps project changes hands
Twelve years ago,
at an FWCC workshop at New England YM,
the Quaker Missions postage stamps project was born. Since then, Brad Hathaway and others from Mattapoisett
Monthly Meeting have received and sold donated stamps to benefit FWCC, Right Sharing of World Resources and similar
projects and organizations. Over the years,
FWCC has received $10,000 from
this ministry. This project has now
been handed on to Claremont Friends Meeting,
Pacific YM. Please encourage your meeting to save stamps from all
countries including the US.
All except US "flag" stamps currently have value to collectors. Don't
steam them off - just trim the corner of the envelope. This is a great project for all ages. Thank
you for your help. Stamps should now be sent to: Earl Walker, Claremont Friends Meeting, 449
Alamosa Drive, Claremont,
CA 91711
|
| Young Adult Friends plan Wichita Gathering
University
Friends Meeting is inviting Young Adult Friends (aged 18-35) from across North
America to come together May
28 - 31, 2010,
to worship God,
share in fellowship, and grow
together in faith as Friends. Following the gathering,
there will be an opportunity for a shared service project,
June 1 - 3. According to Micah Bales, "YAFs will work together to let our faith
shine, demonstrating our love for
the people of Wichita."
Finally, Great Plains Yearly Meeting
invites Friends to join them for their annual sessions June 3-6,
also in Wichita.
"We hope that you will join us as we worship God,
share in fellowship, and are
challenged to serve others as Christ calls us to. Please save these dates, and let other young adults know about this
opportunity to deepen our faith together as we are gathered and led by the
Holy Spirit."
|
Summer
work camp opportunities in Africa
The Africa Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI)
announces opportunities for participation in work camps next summer. Under the direction of local Africans, workcampers build schools, clinics and community structures such as
peace centers. 2010 summer projects are described on the AGLI website. Friends Peace Teams is the parent organization of AGLI.
(www.aglionline.org) Workcamps are one part of the efforts of AGLI
(pronounced AG'-lee), which
supports reconciliation,
community building and trauma-healing in Burundi,
Congo, Kenya, Rwanda,
Uganda, and, Tanzania at the grassroots level through
Alternatives to Violence Project workshops,
Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities workshops,
mediation training, women's
support groups, etc. For more information contact AGLI or
visit their website.
|
| Does
your meeting mail its newsletter to FWCC?
|
Support Friends World Committee
FWCC Section of the Americas depends on contributions from Friends to do our work of connecting Friends, crossing cultures, and, in the process, changing lives. Your contribution will help us continue that work. Thank you for your support. Make an online contribution now. It's fast, safe and secure. Or, download a contribution form to mail in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
