Better places to find us

Dear Friends,

This blog was used primarily for the 2007 Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering. Unfortunately, we have not (yet?) been able to host a 2008 Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering; I will post soon with the information about that inability which I have from the planning committee.

In the meantime, here are some better places to find Pagan Friends/Pagan Quakers/Quaker Pagans on the web and in the blogosphere:

Quaker Pagan Reflections*
Musings of a Quaker Witch*
QuakerPagans YahooGroup
Quaker Pagan LiveJournal Community

* These in particular have additional resources listed.

We're glad you found us, and sorry this location is so sparse... please come visit us where we are more!

In Friendship,
Blessed be,
Stasa

About the Epistle

At our Gathering, we each agreed to send the Epistle to our communities -- Pagan and Quaker alike. Please help us pass it along. Feel free to email me at smorganappel at gmail dot com if you need it in a different format. Thank you...

Epistle

To Friends Everywhere,

Greetings! Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering occurred 25-28 Fifth Month 2007 at Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. This is the first of these Gatherings in answer to a prompt to bring Pagan Quakers together physically and spiritually, particularly in the Great Lakes region of America but spreading wherever the spirit of great waters touches. We come from many traditions and experiences which could be categorized under the broad umbrella of Pagan, and primarily from yearly meetings associated with Friends General Conference.

Though we desired in part to spend time alone with each other in the woods, Spirit called us to meet in an established meetinghouse. It is clear we are called to name ourselves and publish our Truth to Friends and Pagans everywhere with great joy. We have felt challenged in being so open and others have felt challenged by our witness. As in all true ministry, Spirit has been with us and made Its Presence known, with strength and Grace. We are grateful to It, to each other, and to friends who have labored with us in openness and obedience to the Divine. We have felt deeply held by the spirit of Friends not able to be with us physically, and give thanks for the resources that many have brought forward. We note that several Friends came forward in response to the Jewish tradition of Tzedek or justice and to their experience as Jewish Friends.

Ann Arbor Friends Meeting held "the organizers and attenders of Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering in the Light with love." It was a pleasure and a challenge to experience the energies of the Gathering and this Meeting blend during this weekend. We felt ourselves reaching up from deep roots and planting a seed, grateful to Spirit for helping us. We are clear that this was the right place to be.

We are very aware that putting the words Pagan and Quaker next to each other brings up deep spiritual issues. Conflict may distract from these deep spiritual issues. We are grateful to Quaker process which slows down the process so that these deeper issues can rise to the surface and helps us stay in and attend to the Light. Being faithful to this process allows us to come to know who we are in relation to these issues and the Light, and come to know our work in the world.

As George Fox and many other Quakers have said, "What canst thou say?" As one Friend here said, both Quakers and Pagans honor true listening and deep consideration, allowing Spirit to speak through us, ministering to and receiving ministry from each other in our diversity, including those with diagnosed mental illness. It has been and is deeply healing for us to be our spiritually whole selves here.

We had unprogrammed and semi-programmed worship together, both indoors and out, as well as Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business. We ate together. We sang together We walked in the rain together, past the gardens of Ann Arbor. We shared our knowledge from our studies with each other of how Spirit, Goddess, the Gods, Christ, and the Light and dark of the Divine Spirit have been moving in our individual lives. We had fun and we look forward to gathering again. Some of us will meet at Friends General Conference Summer Gathering 2007 in River Falls, Wisconsin, on the south fork of the Kinnickkinnick River.

Yours in Friendship,
Blessed Be,

Daniel Hall
Honour Horne-Jaruk
Jen Chapin-Smith
Katy Kola
Lisa Bashert
Stasa Morgan-Appel
Zhanya (JoAnn) Poske

Epistle?

Just a note to let folks know that the Epistle looks to be in its final revision, and should be available soon (*fingers crossed*).

Great Waters 2008?

Yes, there will be a Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering in 2008. Several folks who were at the Gathering this weekend have agreed to serve on the Planning Committee. Watch this space for details, especially if you might be interested in helping to plan next year's Great Waters.

Weather for Great Waters

Forecast from the National Weather Service:

Friday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. West southwest wind between 8 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. North northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. East wind between 7 and 11 mph.

Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Memorial Day: Partly cloudy, with a high near 71.

Great Waters - what to bring? (part II)

If you do handwork -- crochet, knitting, beading, basket-making, quilting, sewing, or anything else I'm leaving out -- feel free to bring your work. It's always good during Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business and discussions, and sometimes during workshops; and there may also be a workshop specifically about handwork, magic, and ministry.

Great Waters - what to bring?

Hello Friends!

As the Great Waters Gathering approaches, I wanted to remind everyone to bring games, such as board games and card games, with you as we will have time to play Sunday evening. Do you have a song book? Bring it for the No-Talent-Needed Show and community sing on Saturday evening.

Friends from out of town will be especially interested in sharing meals at the Meeting House. Local Friends are welcome to join in the sharing, too, of course. Please be sure to talk to Jen and Stasa about this Saturday morning or when you arrive. Cash contributions towards the purchase of food are welcome!

Almost all of the workshops and other activities take place at Ann Arbor Friends Meeting, 1420 Hill Street, Ann Arbor. However, our semi-programmed worship will take place in a nearby park and there is an opportunity to visit the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, so bring your walking shoes.

Some Friends can only join us for part of the weekend or for certain workshops. This is OK. However, we ask that every participant nonetheless contribute $45 because we still have not raised the necessary $500 towards the cost of renting the Meeting House. Ann Arbor Friends Meeting is not sponsoring the Gathering.

I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

Jen Chapin-Smith
Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle
Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering

Info on Workshop with Ann Arbor Friends

Ann Arbor Friends are specially invited to join the participants of Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering, who are renting space from the Meeting over Memorial Day weekend, at a workshop-- "The Quaker Pagan Community: What is the experience of Quaker Pagans in the larger faith community?" The workshop will take place Sunday, May 27, in the Meeting Room, 2:00-4:00 pm, after the potluck. Ann Arbor Friends are also welcome to register to attend other parts of the Gathering.

Great Waters financial update

Dear folks,

As you know, this is the first year for Great Waters. We expected to have some bumps in the road this first year, and yes, we've had a few. :) With support, magic, Quaker process, and community, we've met them all so far.

We are hoping for your help in meeting our most immediate challenge right now. We are running into a "bump" concerning finances and meeting our rent:

~ Renting the space is going to be app. $500 for the weekend.
~ We expected that if ten people registered for Great Waters, we'd break even on the rent.
~ Because a number of people who wanted to come have scheduling conflicts (one of the disadvantages of Memorial Day weekend), we have fewer people registered than we expected, and consequently have less money in registration fees than expected.
~ We are about $160 short.

We'd appreciate it if you'd consider a gift of any amount of money to help ensure that the Gathering takes place and meets its financial obligations. Any amount we receive over what we need for rent will be put toward reimbursement for postage, photocopying, and supplies.

Gifts should be made out to our Treasurer, Stasa Morgan-Appel, and sent to our registrar, Jen Chapin-Smith, 2758 Canterbury Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. At this time, gifts are not tax-deductible.

We are hoping that Quaker Pagans who can't come, as well as those who can, recognize that the Gathering is an important part of building our community, and will help support Great Waters. We wouldn't have come this far without the support of everyone who has contributed in so many different ways. We are confident that because of our community -- because this is essential work which is supported by a wonderful community -- Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering will have what it needs to be successful.

Thank you.

Yours in Friendship,
Blessed be,
Stasa

Workshop with Ann Arbor Friends

At Great Waters, we are offering a workshop to which we are specifically inviting members of the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting community. We have scheduled it tentatively for Sunday, May 27, from 2:00-4:00 pm (after the Meeting potluck), in the Meeting Room.

Important: Please check this page for confirmation of time and location.

Thanks!
Stasa

Deadline extended!

We still have space, so if you're thinking of coming but haven't sent in your registration, it's not too late.

If you'd still like to register, please email great-waters at hotmail dot com asap, or call Stasa or Jen, so we can plan accurately.

Looking forward to seeing you!
Stasa

Home hospitality; registration

Good news! We have been hearing from a number of local Friends who are able to offer home hospitality. If staying in someone's home would make the difference in terms of financial accessibility for you, please be sure to let us know on your registration form, and we will connect you with one of these local Friends. (If you've already sent in your registration, feel free to email us at great-waters at hotmail dot com.)

The registration deadline is fast approaching (May 3). Many thanks to those who have already sent in your registrations -- it helps the planning committee. If you haven't sent yours in yet, you don't have to wait until May 3... :)

Blog down?

When I went to check something on the blog site today, it was down. Anyone else have any trouble? Thanks.

Sample outreach posting

Are you a Quaker who experiences the Divine primarily through Nature, the Earth and Her seasons, the Divine Feminine, the Goddess and the God, or other pre-Christian Deities? Are you a Pagan who finds Quaker worship and Quaker testimonies – Peace, Simplicity, Equality, Integrity, and Stewardship/Earthcare – a central part of how you walk through your life? Come to Great Waters. Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering is a weekend for Pagan Quakers and Quaker Pagans, over Memorial Day Weekend 2007 (May 25-28), in Ann Arbor, MI. For more information, please see www.great-waters.blogspot.com or email great-waters@hotmail.com.

Outreach

On behalf of the Planning Committee for Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering, I am asking for your help with outreach. We need your help to get the word to other Pagans, Quakers, and folks who might be interested in our Gathering.

Would you be willing to send an email to friends and loved ones whom you think might want to know about Great Waters? to any email lists you're on? or to make a post to your blog or LiveJournal or web site?

We're a home-grown gathering dedicated to community-building. Community springs from the connections between each of us as individuals, and between individuals and a larger group of people. In this case, this means one email or web view at a time. :)

Thanks for your help, and I hope to see many of you at Great Waters!

In Friendship,
Blessed be,
Stasa

Press release

News Release

Quaker Pagans Host Conference in Michigan

Can one be a Quaker and a Pagan at the same time? Members of the Religious Society of Friends who experience the Divine through Nature not only say "yes," but are organizing nationally for the first time - at Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering.

The Gathering takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28, 2007 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Gathering includes workshops, worship, discussions and more at the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting on Hill Street. Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle is sponsoring the Gathering.
While Ann Arbor Friends Meeting is not co-sponsoring the Gathering, the Meeting holds the Gathering in the Light; Gathering organizers also hold Ann Arbor Friends Meeting in the Light.

"Are you a Quaker who experiences the Divine primarily through Nature, the Earth and Her seasons, the Divine Feminine, the Goddess and the God, or other pre-Christian Deities?" the organizers write on their website, www.great-waters.blogspot.com. "Are you a Pagan who finds Quaker worship and Quaker testimonies - Peace, Simplicity, Equality, Integrity, and
Stewardship/Earthcare - a central part of how you walk through your life? [Then] come to Great Waters."

The $45 registration fee does not include food or lodging (information on both, including camping options, are available at the website).

Participants under the age of five attend for free.

Find out more about Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle at
http://www.witchvox.com/vn/gr/usmi_grf.html.

New link list

I've just posted a new link list titled "Resources," which contains most of the resources listed throughout the blog in one place.

How to register for Great Waters

1. Read the brochure completely, available here as well as at the link to the right.
2. Fill out the registration form, available here as well as at the link to the right.
3. Mail your registration, postmarked by by 05/03/07, to the address on the form, with the appropriate payment.

If you can't download the form, or if you have additional questions, please leave a comment here, or email us at great-waters@hotmail.com.

We are looking forward to the Gathering, particularly to seeing old F/friends and new, and to spending time together in community!

In Friendship,
Blessed Be,
Stasa

Regsitration form and brochure now available!

Thanks to Friend Laura Salmonstone, the following files are now available on the Great Waters blog:

~ Registration form
~ Brochure
~ Full-page flier
~ Half-page flier

Click on the links to the right.

You can see Laura's work at http://www.salmonstone.net/.

Thank you, Laura!

Modified brochure

Note: This is the same info as in the brochure, but formatted completely differently. - sm

Great Waters
Pagan Friends Gathering
A Gathering for Pagan Quakers & Quaker Pagans

Memorial Day Weekend
May 25-28, 2007
Ann Arbor, MI

Are you a Quaker who
identifies as Pagan?

Are you a Pagan who
identifies as Quaker?

Come celebrate
a weekend of community!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you a Quaker who experiences the Divine primarily through Nature, the Earth and Her seasons, the Divine Feminine, the Goddess and the God, or other pre-Christian Deities?

Are you a Pagan who finds Quaker worship and Quaker testimonies – Peace, Simplicity, Equality, Integrity, and Stewardship/Earthcare – a central part of how you walk through your life?

Come to Great Waters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering
Great Waters is a weekend for Quaker Pagans and Pagan Quakers:
• Quakers, or those familiar with and in sympathy with Friends beliefs, testimonies, and worship,
• who experience That-Which-Is-Sacred primarily through Nature, the Earth and Her seasons, the Divine Feminine, the Goddess and the God, or other pre-Christian Deities (or who also identify as Pagan).
• Hosted by Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle, and held in spiritual care by an international group of Quaker Pagans/Pagan Quakers.
• We will share worship, worship sharing, ritual, meals, games, workshops and interest groups, time outdoors, and a visit with the Friends (Quaker) Meeting whose space we are renting.

Gathering Site
• Our Gathering site is Ann Arbor Friends Meetinghouse in Ann Arbor, MI.
• The Meetinghouse is wheelchair-accessible.
• Although Ann Arbor Friends Meeting is not co-sponsoring this event, the Meeting holds the Gathering organizers and attenders in the Light with love. Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle likewise holds Ann Arbor Friends Meeting in the Light with love.

Gathering Schedule
Gathering events are planned at the Meetinghouse as follows:
• 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Friday night, May 25
• 8:00 am – 9:00 pm Saturday, May 26
• 8:00 am – 9:00 pm Sunday, May 27.
• 8:00 am – 12:30 pm Monday, May 28
Please note that we will be sharing space with regularly-scheduled activities in the Ann Arbor Friends Meetinghouse throughout the weekend, but particularly on Sunday (First Day).

Lodging
We encourage you to make your hotel or campsite reservations as soon as possible.
• Hotels: Please see http://arborweb.com/hotelsindex.html for a listing of area hotels.
• Camping: For information on local RV and tent sites (KOA, private, and state park), please see www.great-waters.blogspot.com. Fees at local campsites range from $10-$25 per night.
• Home hospitality: Whether local Friends will be able to offer home hospitality is not clear yet. If you will not be able to attend the Gathering without home hospitality, please let us know on your registration form.

Food
• Because the Meetinghouse does not have a licensed kitchen, and catering would increase Gathering costs, we will not provide meals.
• However, during times when no other group has reserved the kitchen, individuals may use the Meetinghouse kitchen downstairs to cook food they have brought. We will organize potlucks for lunch Saturday, and dinner Saturday and Sunday. For lunch on Sunday, we will join Ann Arbor Friends Meeting’s regular potluck.
• Dining out is also an option: the Meetinghouse is near downtown Ann Arbor, with its many restaurants.

Registration
• Registration must be postmarked by May 3, 2007.
• Registration must include payment in US funds in the form of a check or postal money order.
• Payment is non-refundable unless another person can fill your spot.
• If space is available, registrations postmarked after May 3 will be accepted with a $10 late fee.

Fees
• The Gathering fee is $45 for each person over the age of 5 years.
• This fee represents an estimate of the cost of the Gathering (renting the Meetinghouse and the expenses of organizing the event) divided by the expected number of participants.
• This fee does not include housing or food, which are not provided by the Gathering. Those who wish to share potluck meals should bring an additional $3 per meal; see “Food” for more information.

Financial Assistance
If you need financial assistance to attend, please apply to your home faith community – Monthly/Yearly Meeting, Circle, Coven, Grove, etc.

Transportation
• By air: The nearest airport is Detroit Metro (DTW) (30 minutes away). Shuttles and taxis usually cost around $45. For information on airlines and ground transportation (including car rentals and sample taxi fees), see www.metroairport.com.
• By rail: Amtrak has a station stop in Ann Arbor (ARB) at 325 W. Depot St. (6 minutes away). For train schedules and fare information, see www.amtrak.com.
• By bus: Greyhound Bus has a station in Ann Arbor at 116 W. Huron St. (5 minutes away). For bus schedules and fare information, see www.greyhound.com.
• By car: We suggest www.mapquest.com for directions from home or the airport. The site address is 1420 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, MI.
• Carpooling: We strongly encourage carpooling! If you can offer a ride from anywhere along your way, including the airport, please indicate so on your registration form.

For more information
• On the web: See www.great-waters.blogspot.com. Includes additional resources and detailed camping information.
• Email: great-waters at hotmail dot com.

Information on camping

If a hotel feels a little too expensive, or if, like many nature-lovers, you're just happier camping, here is some information on local camping options (both RV and tent). Most of these are within a 30-minute drive of the Gathering site. Some additional campgrounds are listed here.

The average temperatures in this part of southeastern Michigan at the end of May are highs around 75 F, with lows around 50 F.

We hope this information is helpful!


Detroit / Greenfield KOA

6680 Bunton Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, (734) 482-7722
email: information at detroitgreenfieldkoa dot com
Reservations: (800) 562-7603 or on-line

Southeast of Ann Arbor, on Lake Greenfield, app. 20 minutes by car from the Great Waters site. Pet-friendly. Fees range from $26/night for tent camping with no hookup to $42/night for Kabins and are based on 2 adults. Please note that the campground does have activities planned for the holiday weekend.


KC Campground

14048 Sherman Road, Milan, MI 48160, (734) 439-1076
reservations by phone or on-line

South of Ann Arbor, also lakefront, app. 20 minutes by car from the Great Waters site. Fees range from $20/night for rustic sites to $25/night for electric and water and are based on 2 adults, with children under 17 free.


Pinckney Recreation Area (Bruin Lake)

8555 Silver Hill Road, Pinckney MI 48169, (734) 426-4913
reservations by phone or on-line

Northwest of Ann Arbor, on a chain of lakes in the beautiful Pinckney State Recreation Area, app. 30 minutes by car from the Great Waters site. Pet-friendly. Fees range from $10/night for rustic sites at Crooked Lake or Blind Lake, $16-$22 for modern sites at Bruin Lake, to $60/night for the Glenbrook Yurt (capacity of 5). For definitions of rustic and modern, click here.

Michigan State Park Motor Vehicle Permits are also required. Depending on the length of your stay, it may make more sense to purchase a yearly permit than a daily one. Reduced rates are available for people who receive Food Stamps. Be warned that the resident/non-resident designation depends on the registration of your vehicle, not your driver's license or checkbook.
~ annual resident permit, $24
~ annual non-resident permit, $29
~ daily resident permit, $6
~ daily non-resident permit, $8

Brochure and registration form

The brochure and the registration form are now available! Hooray.

However, I've run into a technical hitch and would love assistance. If there's a way to post a file on Blogger, I've yet to figure it out. So, if anyone knows how to do so, or would be willing to host two documents -- the brochure and the registration form -- on their website, please email us at great-waters at hotmail dot com.

Hosting would simply mean that when people clicked on the link on the blog, the document would open from wherever it's hosted; neither document would need to be listed anywhere on your website.

In the meantime, if you'd like to receive a copy of the brochure and/or registration form by email, please email great-waters at hotmail dot com.

The brochure and registration form are also available to members of the QuakerPagans YahooGroup in the Files section.

Thanks!

Update on flier, brochure, registration form

Just a quick note to say that the flier and the brochure with registration form are nearly done, and should be available by the end of the week.

Explicitly Quaker Pagan resources

I had somehow managed not to post links here to the excellent work of Cat Chapin-Bishop and Peter Bishop. Let me remedy that.

From QuakerPagan.org:
Quaker Paganism
A Pagan's Queries
Resources, including lists of articles about Quaker Paganism and Quaker Universalism

Their blog:
Quaker Pagan Reflections: Welcome to the online journal of a pair of Quaker Pagans

One of the really nice things about Cat and Peter's work is that it comes from an explicitly Pagan Quaker/Quaker Pagan perspective.

Activities at the Gathering

What will happen at Great Waters?

Worship; worship sharing; interest groups and workshops; ritual; get-to-know you activities; fun and games; large-group discussions about Quaker Paganism/Pagan Quakerism; potluck meals together, as well as a potluck with Ann Arbor Friends Meeting; Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business; spending time with Ann Arbor Friends during their regular First Day (Sunday) activities; a No-Talent-Required-Show; and more.

Quaker Meeting for Worship.

We will meet for worship in the unprogrammed tradition. What is Friends' worship? Below are some resources from Friends General Conference. While some of these are from what may seem to non-Christians to be a narrowly Judeo-Christian point of view, please don't let that keep you from their wisdom. In addition, I am hoping some Pagan Friends will step forward to share their experiences on this site.
~ Enriching Meeting for Worship, from FGC's "A Quaker Toolbox."
~ The Quakers, or, Our Neighbors, the Friends, by William J. Whalen.
~ Friends and Worship, by Douglas V. Steere.
~ Silent Worship and Quaker Values, by Marsha D. Holliday. "What to expect at Friends' worship."
~ Helping Prepare Teenagers and Children for Meeting for Worship, by Margaret Kantranides.

Worship sharing.

In the spirit of worship, but a little less formal than Meeting for Worship; often based on a query or series of queries.
~ Worship Sharing, from FGC's "A Quaker Toolbox."

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business.

How Friends do business within Meetings.
~ Quaker Business Basics, from FGC's "A Quaker Toolbox."

Interest Groups and Workshops.

Do you have a workshop you'd like to offer, or is there a workshop you hope someone else will offer? Let us know! (Leave a comment!) So far, some of our workshop ideas include sustainability, singing, a trip to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market, what does it mean to be a Quaker Pagan/Pagan Quaker?, semi-programmed worship: where Quaker worship and pagan ritual come together, handwork in the Light/handwork ministry and magic, a walk in the Arb (Nichols Arboretum)... and more. What would help deepen your spiritual practice as a Quagan? What would help you feel part of a community of others who share both your Quakerism and your Paganism?

Ritual.

Many Pagan traditions share ritual and/or magic* as a form of worship. One example of a generic ritual structure would be: cleansing space and setting aside ordinary time, space, and worries; marking sacred space; welcoming the earth, air, fire, water, and spirit essential to life; welcoming the Divine; setting an intention (which could be as simple as experiencing the Divine); creating a symbolic representation of that intent; raising energy towards it; grounding the energy that's been raised; making a commitment to a concrete action in support of that intention; quiet time/ trance/ meditation time; sharing food and drink; thanking the earth, air, fire, water, spirit, and Divine presence; and re-entering ordinary consciousness.
* Dion Fortune and Starhawk both discuss/define magic as "the art of changing consciousness [or, the art of creating a change in consciousness] in accordance with will."

Get-to-know-you activities.

A Big Wind Blows, anyone? Okay, maybe we'll play A Big Wind Blows, maybe not. But you get the idea. We will spend some time getting to know each other in some non-threatening, not-too-personal, physically accessible, lighthearted, fun, silly and even serious ways.

Fun and Games.

Literally. Bring your favorite game -- board game, movement game, almost any kind of family-friendly game -- for our Fun and Games night.

Potlucks.

Our lunch and dinner options are eating out, or potlucking together. On Sunday, we will also participate in Ann Arbor Friends Meeting's monthly potluck. (Jen, as you're on Potluck Committee for AAFM, is there anything you'd like to share?)

No-Talent-Required-Show.

Read or tell a story, sing with some friends or by yourself, dance, tell a joke, do a skit, recite poetry, read something you've written... Some talent-sharing (or talent show, or no-talent show) offerings from other Gatherings that come to this writer's mind include: reading a favorite children's story, singing new versions of "Simple Gifts," leading a group song, stories, small groups singing both serious and silly things, little kids making fun of grownups, a dialog between Simple Life and Radiant Faith, a dialog between Prudence and Simplicity, three younglings singing FLGBTQC's new name to the tune of "ABC"... I'm sure other Friends can help me out here.

Spending time together... building and celebrating community.

Most of all, we will spend time together, in a space where each of us is 100% welcomed as a Pagan and as a Friend, where we can celebrate and enjoy being with each other.

A note

Our Gathering will not be comprehensively inclusive of all traditions with Quakerism or Paganism. (In fact, there's no way it can be.)

In terms of Quakerism, those of us involved in planning and supporting this Gathering come primarily, although not exclusively, from the unprogrammed Quaker tradition and are part of Friends General Conference. In terms of Paganism, we come from very different traditions -- some very structured, some very egalitarian, some feminist, some eclectic, some ecstatic; and I know I'm leaving many out.

I hope more of the folks involved in planning and supporting this Gathering will add their own voices to the posts about this Gathering.

Yours in Friendship,
Blessed be,
Staśa Morgan-Appel

Some suggested reading

I thought I'd post some resources here for those of us who feel familiar with Quakerism but shaky on this Paganism stuff, or familiar with Paganism but shaky on this Quaker stuff, since our weekend is going to be all about where they intersect.

The first four items are resources I have suggested as advance reading for a workshop I'm facilitating at Friends General Conference Gathering this summer.

Faith and Practice

I highly recommend Faith and Practice. This is a "book of discipline" that a number of yearly meetings publish, and it is a good source of information and shared wisdom about Friends' testimonies, worship, practices, and history.

The version with which I am most familiar is Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's, which is available on-line here, or in hard copy through Quakerbooks of Friends General Conference.

I can also recommend Britain Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice, available on-line here, or in hard copy (you guessed it) from Quakerbooks.

For a list of Faith and Practice books of other yearly meetings, click here.

If there is a Quaker library in your area -- at a college or a local monthly or yearly meeting -- you will be able to borrow a copy.

The Spiral Dance

Starhawk's book The Spiral Dance: the Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess remains an excellent introduction to Paganism, particularly Witchcraft, as well as a good resource for experienced Witches looking to deepen their spiritual practice. This is available in hard copy only, although a large excerpt is available on-line here. Your local library may have it, or you might decide to buy it. Rather than buying from a mega-chain, please buy from an independent bookstore, either on-line or in person. BookSense is a good resource for independent bookstores. And one of my favorite independent bookstores, Quakerbooks (of course!) can order it for you as well.

"Christians in My Meeting Made Me Pagan"

This is Friend Daniel Hall's essay/posting to the QuakerPagan YahooGroup "about that conversion experience." It's available on-line here.

"The Syncretic Pagan"

This is Friend Laura Salmonstone's essay in the Witchvox Adult Pagan Essay Series about her spiritual journey and her spiritual life. It's available on-line here.

Some additional web-based resources:

Covenant of the Goddess
The Pagan Pride Project
Quaker.org
QuakerFinder.org (primarily, but not exclusively, FGC)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope some of these resources are helpful for folks who are planning to come to our Gathering, or who are simply curious. Happy reading!

Ooops!

Well... your humble editor was working on a budget yesterday for non-profit fiscal year '08, which is the only explanation I can come up with for the date fumble. Yes, Great Waters is really happening in 2007 (not 2008 as previously posted). I apologize for any confusion or inconvenience my typo may have caused!

What is GWPFG?

What is Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering?

~ a Gathering for and of Pagan Quakers/Quaker Pagans
~ Memorial Day Weekend 2007, Friday night through Monday afternoon
~ hosted by Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle and supported by an international group of Quakers/Pagans
~ site is the Ann Arbor Friends Meetinghouse in Ann Arbor, MI

Although Ann Arbor Friends Meeting is not co-sponsoring this event, the Meeting holds the Gathering organizers and attenders in the Light with love. Huron Valley Pagan Friends Circle likewise holds Ann Arbor Friends Meeting in the Light with love as well.

What does "a Gathering for and of Pagan Quakers/Quaker Pagans" mean?

~The Gathering is open to Quakers, or those familiar with and in sympathy with Friends beliefs, testimonies, and worship, who experience That-Which-Is-Sacred primarily through Nature, the Earth and Her seasons, the Divine Feminine, the Goddess and the God, or other pre-Christian Deities, or who also identify as Pagan.

What's going to take place at this Gathering? How can I learn more? I would like to attend - how do I register?

~We will post a schedule as well as registration materials as soon as they are available.

What if I have questions that aren't answered here?

~Leave a comment! We will be happy to get back to you.

Welcome!

Welcome to Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering! At our blog site, you will find the most updated information as soon as it becomes available.

You can receive an email notification each time an update is available! Click here to subscribe through FeedBlitz.

Thanks, and welcome!

Yours in Friendship,
Blessed be,
Staśa Morgan-Appel
for the organizers of Great Waters Pagan Friends Gathering