The Africa Section Choir sings "Upendo Wa Mungu" at the 70th birthday celebrations of FWCC.
Sunday 19 August 2007
And so to bed...
A couple of clips of singing during the FWCC 70th birthday, along with and idea of what happens late at night during the Triennial
Saturday 18 August 2007
Friday 17 August 2007
Worship and Sharing Groups
Each day at the Triennial we've been meeting in groups of about 12-15 people for Worship and Sharing Groups. At many past international Friends events this has been the highlight of the gathering for many and I think that is holding true this time as well.
In my group we did a very interesting exercise. We were invited to make two concentric circles and face a partner in the other circle. The faciliator gave us the question "From where do you receive meaning and power in your life?". I had to listen first for one minute while my partner answered the question. Then the outside circle took one step to the right so I faced a new partner and got to listen to another Friend share their one minute testimony on the same question. So it continued until I had heard 6 Friends stories.
Next it was my turn to listen. I had to answer the same question, again one minute each with 6 Friends in turn. I really liked being able to hear the various answers people gave, the language they used and the honesty with which they talked to me. I also appreciated the chance to consider my own answer 6 times! I hope my answer got clearer and more focused as I continued to think of it through the exercise.
I hope this gives you a flavour of the priviledged position we are in to be able to be hear and discuss with people from all over the world their journeys with and experiences of God. I won't forget the people I have been in this small group with, each one of them with great stories to tell that challenge us, touch our hearts but also bring us joy and laughter.
In my group we did a very interesting exercise. We were invited to make two concentric circles and face a partner in the other circle. The faciliator gave us the question "From where do you receive meaning and power in your life?". I had to listen first for one minute while my partner answered the question. Then the outside circle took one step to the right so I faced a new partner and got to listen to another Friend share their one minute testimony on the same question. So it continued until I had heard 6 Friends stories.
Next it was my turn to listen. I had to answer the same question, again one minute each with 6 Friends in turn. I really liked being able to hear the various answers people gave, the language they used and the honesty with which they talked to me. I also appreciated the chance to consider my own answer 6 times! I hope my answer got clearer and more focused as I continued to think of it through the exercise.
I hope this gives you a flavour of the priviledged position we are in to be able to be hear and discuss with people from all over the world their journeys with and experiences of God. I won't forget the people I have been in this small group with, each one of them with great stories to tell that challenge us, touch our hearts but also bring us joy and laughter.
Tuesday morning session: Lizz Roe
Please have a read of the transcript from Lizz Roe's talk, posted here
Transcript of Bill Medlin's introduction to prophecy
Dear Friends,
Apologies for the slight delay, but you can find the transcript of Bill Medlin's talk here
I do hope you enjoy reading it!
Apologies for the slight delay, but you can find the transcript of Bill Medlin's talk here
I do hope you enjoy reading it!
Tuesday 14 August 2007
Environmental Concerns Working Group
At the Triennial we have met in 6 working groups on various themes of concern to Friends. I have been attending the Working Group talking about environmental concerns.
There are many different problems and happily many different solutions and ways forward here. We have heard from Friends in Kenya and Congo about their tree planting programmes to improve their local environment, re-foresting large areas and providing food and fuel. Friends in New Zealand have set up a fund to enable people to use renewable energy sources, e.g. loans to buy solar powered water heaters for their house, which would be too expensive otherwise.
There was no doubt among the group that the problems are urgent, we as Quakers need to get out there in the world and do something now. Many Friends talked about their Yearly Meetings considering writing an Environmental Testimony but I think this is a side issue. The time to act is now, in fact it's yesterday! Let's think about Testimonies separately.
The group continues and we hope to bring a statement to the whole Triennial to try to bring all Friends together around this concern.
Lizz Roe has inspired us in her message this morning that we can do much with God's tender hand guiding us to reduce our impact on the world's resources. But with only 400,000 Quakers this is not enough, we also must seek to change others. Our theme of finding the prophetic voice for our time seems relevant here, could this be Friends prophetic message to the world today? Should we go out to the world and say "this has to stop!"? God calls his people to act to be good stewards of the world and the plants, animals and other human beings in it. Let's take this message to the world! A message that can enrich people's lives and give hope for the future.
Mi Experiencia en la 22 Trienal, en Dublín, Irlanda
Después de vencer algunas dificultades del largo viaje, desde Guatemala hasta Irlanda, arribamos a Dublín, con una llovizna ligera. Los Amigos estaban en el aeropuerto para darnos la bienvenida y transportarnos a la escuela del King’s Hospital.
Las actividades comenzaron con una bienvenida folklórica y, después, las reuniones de adoración y negocios, en los cuales tuvimos que vencer constantemente el sueño, provocado por las 7 horas de diferencia en el tiempo.
En general, hemos estado muy entusiasmados con la presencia de tantas personas de diversas culturas, tradiciones e idiomas.
Sabemos que esta experiencia es muy enriquecedora para el trabajo que hacemos en nuestras actividades diarias, y estamos contribuyendo a enriquecer a todos los Amigos con quienes estamos conviviendo. Esperamos ansiosamente participar también en las próximas reuniones.
Édgar Amílcar Madrid
Junta Anual “Amigos” de Santidad
Chiquimula, Guatemala, C. A.
@Éáéíóúñ
Las actividades comenzaron con una bienvenida folklórica y, después, las reuniones de adoración y negocios, en los cuales tuvimos que vencer constantemente el sueño, provocado por las 7 horas de diferencia en el tiempo.
En general, hemos estado muy entusiasmados con la presencia de tantas personas de diversas culturas, tradiciones e idiomas.
Sabemos que esta experiencia es muy enriquecedora para el trabajo que hacemos en nuestras actividades diarias, y estamos contribuyendo a enriquecer a todos los Amigos con quienes estamos conviviendo. Esperamos ansiosamente participar también en las próximas reuniones.
Édgar Amílcar Madrid
Junta Anual “Amigos” de Santidad
Chiquimula, Guatemala, C. A.
@Éáéíóúñ
Blogging workshop
A sucessful workshop on 'easy ways to get onto the web' brought together Quakers of all ages who wanted to know more about blogging. The workshop included setting up a blog at ugandayearlymeeting.blogspot.com
Hopefully the fruits of the workshop will be coming to a web browser near you very soon!
Hopefully the fruits of the workshop will be coming to a web browser near you very soon!
Monday 13 August 2007
Sunday morning (2) Marion McNaughton
DUDUZILE MTSHAZO:
Good morning, friends. Welcome back. We are still continuing with worship and exploring around the theme. I would like to introduce to you a friend of a friend, Marion McNaughton, a grandmother of two and another one to come! She has been a tutor at Woodbrooke, but now she is doing much more important work, having retired she is now a volunteer gardener at Woodbrooke! Talk about caring for the earth. We are going to worship and when Marion is ready she will rise to the podium and will give us her message. May we then Friends go into worship.
MARION McNAUGHTON ADDRESSED THE TRIENNIAL AS FOLLOWS
Please read the full text here
Good morning, friends. Welcome back. We are still continuing with worship and exploring around the theme. I would like to introduce to you a friend of a friend, Marion McNaughton, a grandmother of two and another one to come! She has been a tutor at Woodbrooke, but now she is doing much more important work, having retired she is now a volunteer gardener at Woodbrooke! Talk about caring for the earth. We are going to worship and when Marion is ready she will rise to the podium and will give us her message. May we then Friends go into worship.
MARION McNAUGHTON ADDRESSED THE TRIENNIAL AS FOLLOWS
Please read the full text here
Sunday 12 August 2007
First worship session and introuction to Prophecy
(This is a mini update to tide you all over until fuller transcriptions are available later today. I'm also working hard to get more participants onto the blog. This should be a lot easier when we have reliable internet access!)
The morning worship session included a gently-spoken but very rich introduction to the theme of prophecy from Doreen O'Dowd of Ireland YM. Doreen looked at many examples of Biblical prophets, summarising some of the main qualities the prophets shared, and encouraged us to feel that we too can fulfill a prophetic role.
Following Doreen's introduction, Martine Kuipers of Netherlands YM ministered about the power of starting with small things, such as Quaker work with prisoners in Northern Ireland, which began with something as simple as a up of tea, and grew into a powerful ministry to the community.
Marion Mcnaughton of Britain YM then took up the theme, taking a long look back at the roots of prophecy, stretching back to Hebrew times. She said "to understand prophecy, we must understand where we come from".
Marion offered many insights on prophecy, including a wonderfully compact definition "a spontaneous human response to a transforming encounter with God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit".
Marion also spoke strongly in favour of inspirational, encouraging prophecy, giving the example of Jeremiah who prophesied unsuccessfully for 23 years. She feels that prophecy should energise, inspire and encourage.
A thought from Marion which really struck home with me was her quote from Jean LeClerc, who advised that "we must love the age we live in. God has given it to us, and we must give it back to him".
I feel that this thought flies in the face of the stereotype of prophecy as 'doomsaying'. For an optimist like me, that's a very helpful thought!
After Marion's introduction, we had a half hour full of deep ministry on prophecy. I don't know if it's because of the stage we're at in the gathering, but there seems to be soul food coming out left right and centre.
The morning worship session included a gently-spoken but very rich introduction to the theme of prophecy from Doreen O'Dowd of Ireland YM. Doreen looked at many examples of Biblical prophets, summarising some of the main qualities the prophets shared, and encouraged us to feel that we too can fulfill a prophetic role.
Following Doreen's introduction, Martine Kuipers of Netherlands YM ministered about the power of starting with small things, such as Quaker work with prisoners in Northern Ireland, which began with something as simple as a up of tea, and grew into a powerful ministry to the community.
Marion Mcnaughton of Britain YM then took up the theme, taking a long look back at the roots of prophecy, stretching back to Hebrew times. She said "to understand prophecy, we must understand where we come from".
Marion offered many insights on prophecy, including a wonderfully compact definition "a spontaneous human response to a transforming encounter with God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit".
Marion also spoke strongly in favour of inspirational, encouraging prophecy, giving the example of Jeremiah who prophesied unsuccessfully for 23 years. She feels that prophecy should energise, inspire and encourage.
A thought from Marion which really struck home with me was her quote from Jean LeClerc, who advised that "we must love the age we live in. God has given it to us, and we must give it back to him".
I feel that this thought flies in the face of the stereotype of prophecy as 'doomsaying'. For an optimist like me, that's a very helpful thought!
After Marion's introduction, we had a half hour full of deep ministry on prophecy. I don't know if it's because of the stage we're at in the gathering, but there seems to be soul food coming out left right and centre.
Saturday 11 August 2007
They're coming!
The local and World Office admin teams are run off their feet today as Quakers gather at King's Hospital School, Dublin. Many Friends from Africa are already here, and are off on a trip in Dublin, hoping for a break in the clouds.
This is a brief post from a cafe across the road from the school, as we aren't fully set up with their network yet. Hopefully in an hour or to, we'll be connected and reporting more frequently, but for now, be reassured that the Triennial is off and running!
This is a brief post from a cafe across the road from the school, as we aren't fully set up with their network yet. Hopefully in an hour or to, we'll be connected and reporting more frequently, but for now, be reassured that the Triennial is off and running!
Thursday 9 August 2007
Triennial Theme
You may have read this elsewhere, but just in case, here is the Triennial theme:
Finding the Prophetic Voice for our Time
Finding the Prophetic Voice for our Time
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift—1 Corinthians 14:1, NRSV
of prophecy.
It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual—1 Corinthians 14:1TEV-Good News for Modern Man
gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God’s message.
Wednesday 8 August 2007
Triennial participants start with peace
During this week running up to the Triennial, around 20 participants from around the world are taking part in a study tour in Northern Ireland, on the theme of peace.
Roy Blair, chair of Quaker Service Belfast said: ‘Quakers have worked for peace and conflict resolution in many parts of the world, including in Northern Ireland. We are delighted to welcome our international visitors and to share our experiences together.’
Based at the Moyallon Centre, near Portadown, from 7-11 August, the Friends from Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Africa are seeing reconciliation projects, meeting politicians at Stormont and representatives of the Newry and Mourne Community Relations Forum as well as visiting local Quaker initiatives.
On 9 August, the group will plant a tree at the Moyallon Centre to remember Nagasaki Day, all the more poignant as there will be a Japanese Friend among them.
The final day will take the visitors along the picturesque Antrim coast and on to the Corrymeela Community at Ballycastle to see what long term cross community peace building has been able to achieve.
Roy Blair, chair of Quaker Service Belfast said: ‘Quakers have worked for peace and conflict resolution in many parts of the world, including in Northern Ireland. We are delighted to welcome our international visitors and to share our experiences together.’
Based at the Moyallon Centre, near Portadown, from 7-11 August, the Friends from Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Africa are seeing reconciliation projects, meeting politicians at Stormont and representatives of the Newry and Mourne Community Relations Forum as well as visiting local Quaker initiatives.
On 9 August, the group will plant a tree at the Moyallon Centre to remember Nagasaki Day, all the more poignant as there will be a Japanese Friend among them.
The final day will take the visitors along the picturesque Antrim coast and on to the Corrymeela Community at Ballycastle to see what long term cross community peace building has been able to achieve.
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