Lining up for ceilidh dancing. Photo: Photo courtesy of Niki Karakaris.
Eye - 14 March 2014
Young Friends gather
Spiritual journeys, peace, poverty and sustainability were just some of the things explored at the most recent Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM) in February.
Forty-five Friends aged eighteen to thirty-ish travelled from across Britain to gather at Manchester Meeting House for a weekend packed with discussion, worship and fellowship.
In the closing Meeting for Worship of each YFGM a ‘clerk’s offering’ is composed that brings together the strands that form the fabric of these events. On 16 February, Ian Goggin and Brigid Stoney, the current clerks, wrote:
‘We have gathered in Manchester Meeting House for February YFGM. We have enjoyed being in Manchester and having the opportunity to engage with other groups using the facilities, as well as creating a sense of our own community.
‘This weekend we have welcomed visiting speakers for our two main sessions.
‘Philip Austin from Northern Friends Peace Board (NFPB) spoke to us about the history of NFPB. We learnt that the group was formed prior to the start of the first world war, and did not expect to be a long term organisation. However, it is encouraging to hear that not only is NFPB still running today, but that they have had a wide influence for a small group through their advertising campaigns and publications.
‘Imran Tyabji led a spirituality session on the theme of “Spiritual Journeys”. He led us in exercises in mindful listening and creating a visual representation of our personal spiritual journeys. He encouraged us to consider spiritual seeking and action, and how these two aspects may interact in ourselves and others. The session provoked debate as we explored our different views of ourselves as Quakers.
‘On Saturday evening we enjoyed a ceilidh, with music by the one night only YFGM band. We were joined by new friends from the group of asylum seekers supported by Manchester Meeting and also from Friends of the Earth.
‘We have enjoyed a variety of Special Interest Groups, both from visiting speakers and from within YFGM:
- Nick Franklin – Church Action on Poverty
- Rici Marshall – Canterbury Commitment Group
- Sophie Lowendahl – Ceilidh band practise
- Rebecca Mattingly – Yearly Meeting Gathering
- Lizzie Roper – Unitarianism
- Imran Tyabji – Spiritual journeys
- Outreach Committee – Outreach ideas
- Nominations Committee – Thoughts about nominations
- Elizabeth Coleman – Supporting asylum seekers
‘Through the music we make, the conversations we have and the experiences we share, we create a community of friends. We look forward to seeing friends again at our exciting May YFGM at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre to further strengthen the ties that bring us together. We encourage members of YFGM to bring ideas for YFGM to Planning Weekend in March at Brentford and Isleworth Meeting House.’
