[saymaListserv] Quaker Meeting At Southern Dharma Retreat Center

Wed Aug 25 20:34:00 JEST 2004

Dear Friends:  

  Some new attenders or members of your Meetings might be interested in
attending.

This Retreat will be September 10-12, 2004

Sharon Annis

Quaker Meeting at Southern Dharma Retreat Center 

Out of Silence: Social Action from A Spiritual Base 
.A Quaker Meeting 

Southern Dharma Retreat Center is waiving its registration fee to honor all
those who are actively engaged in seeking non- 
violent solutions to our current issues. 
The retreat includes lodging and three meals a day. 
Contributions to Southern Dharma can be made at the end of the retreat. 

Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) arose in England 350 years ago,
during the Protestant Revolution. The turmoil of that transitional period
led people in many different directions. Quakers, or Friends of the Truth,
emerged as a unique form of worship within the Christian experience. 

Fundamental to Quakers is the belief that there is "that of God" in
everyone, thereby we each have the potential for ministry. Worship, in the
manner of Friends, is a unique experience where each individual is led to
use the God-given capacity to be a minister. We come together as
individuals, but meet as one body in expectant waiting. This is not the same
as individual meditation, rather it is corporate worship. Within the
silence, we receive guidance from the Divine, either directly or through
messages offered by others. This experience of corporate activity provides
us with guidance for living our lives. 

Quakers do not profess particular creeds; however, we are encouraged to let
our lives speak our faith through living out several "testimonies." Doing so
has the effect of sustaining worship throughout the week and incorporating
our spiritual lives into our worldly lives. 

During this retreat, participants will have the opportunity to experience
corporate worship as well as Quaker decision-making processes. Participants
will experience meeting for worship in the manner of Friends, worship
sharing practices, business meetings, and will discuss how Quakers marry
"under the care of the meeting" and conduct memorial services. We will share
information about the lives of historical Quakers as well as discuss current
experiences of Quakers, including their peace work. While most Quakers don't
use "thee" and "thou" anymore, we do have some language that is unique to
Friends: concepts such as a "sense of the meeting," "unity," "speaking out
of the silence," "worship sharing," and a "gathered meeting," will be
shared. As is the tradition and practice of Quakers, the retreat will be
conducted in the context of worship, and periods of speaking will arise from
within the silence. 

Lorrie Beavers is a member of the West Knoxville Friends Meeting and is a
"birthright Friend" with a particular interest in meditation. For six years
she has been involved with a Buddhist meditation group based on the
teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. She was also a past clerk of the Knoxville
meeting. 

Sharon Annis is a member of the West Knoxville Friends Meeting. She has
served on the Religious Education Committee for Friends General Conference
(FGC) and is currently clerk of the Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting.
Sharon is a "convinced Friend" and her primary focus and passion is the
spiritual life of the meeting. She was also a past clerk of the Knoxville
meeting. 

Penelope Wright s a member of the Nashville Friends Meeting for which she
currently serves as clerk of the meeting. She also serves as the clerk for
the Ministry and Nurture Committee for FGC. As an endorsed "traveling
Friend," she travels by invitation to various meetings, usually serving as
an elder/traveling companion for one traveling with the ministry. 

Evan Richardson is a member of the Asheville Monthly Meeting for which she
currently serves as clerk of the meeting. Evan and her husband were married
in the manner of Friends, "under the care of the meeting." 

Southern Dharma Retreat Center 
1661 West Rd 
Hot Springs, NC 28743 
PH: 828-622-7112 
email: info at southerndharma.org 
www.southerndharma.org 

Southern Dharma Retreat Center . 1661 West Road . Hot Springs . NC . 28743

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