USQM Fall Family Gathering

September 18 - 20, 2015

Click Here to Register for the 2015 USQM Fall Family Gathering!

Spirit and Action

The Language of God—The Language of God is the language of metaphor. This is a central premise of the thought-provoking thesis by Barry Morley, a weighty Friend, who proposed that whether they are lofty tales or nursery rhymes, the great metaphors maintain a hold on us, and those most universally treasured resonate the loudest. Discover how the Spirit speaks to you revealing your innermost spiritual state as we explore this concept through discussion, small group sharing, and examination of waking and sleeping dreams, beloved fairy tales, and stories. Participants will learn to recognize how God speaks to them in ways they may have previously overlooked.

Ending Mass Incarceration & The New Jim Crow—This program will explore the problem of mass incarceration in the United States through the lens of Michelle Alexander’s seminal book ‘The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.’ After an overview and discussion of Alexander’s main points, we will brainstorm how we can contribute to a movement to end mass incarceration, with mention of how Friends are getting involved.

Short Bios of Workshop Leaders

Mary Jackson Clark is a member of Sandy Spring Friends Meeting in Sandy Spring, Maryland. She has designed and led professional trainings, retreats, and workshops for over 20 years for corporate managers, Quaker groups, and ecumenical religious groups. She attended and eventually led workshops at Barry Morley's Inward Bound retreats where she became a student of Barry's life work, Language of God. A graduate of Loyola's Pastoral Counseling Program, she is in private practice as a licensed counselor with 20 years experience as a therapist. Mary shares her life with a husband, two adult daughters, a grandson, and a herd of alpacas in Westminster, Maryland.

Yuri Plowden has been actively involved with Quakerism for over 20 years, most recently at State College Friends Meeting in State College, PA. She attended workshop retreats led by Barry Morley, of Sandy Spring Friends Meeting, as he was developing his Language of God concepts, over 15 years ago. These concepts have informed her spiritual seeking ever since.  Although Yuri is a soil scientist by profession, she brings a passion for sharing spiritual journeys and has co-led Language of God workshops in multiple venues, an experience that she finds enormously enriching for attenders and leaders alike.

Tony White lives in Williamsport and attends Pennsdale Friends Meeting. He teaches Philosophy at Penn College of Technology and Misericordia University. He is on the steering committee for the Quaker Network to End Mass Incarceration.

Schedule for 2015 Gathering

Friday, September 18

6:00-8:00 Registration—check in—room assignments

8:00-8:45 Worship—Long House

9:00-10:00 Snack and Visiting in Dining Hall

Saturday, September 19

7:30-8:15 Breakfast and additional registration

8:30-9:00 Family Meeting for Worship—Long House**

9:00-12:15 Children’s activities*

9:00-10:30 Mary Jackson Clark and Yuri Plowden—The Language of God—Laughlin Lodge

10:45-12:15 Tony White—Jim Crow—Laughlin Lodge

12:15-1:15 Lunch

1:30-3:30 Meeting for Worship for Business—Long House

1:30-3:30 Children’s activities*

3:45-5:00 Community Sing on Laughlin Lodge Porch/Free Time/swimming

5:00 How Did the FGC Gathering Nourish You?—Laughlin Lodge Porch

5:45-7:00 Dinner

7:30-9:00 Family Fun—International Folk Dancing

Sunday, September 20th

7:30-8:30 Breakfast

8:45-noon Children’s activities*

9:00-11:00 Mary Jackson Clark and Yuri Plowden—The Language of God part 2—Laughlin Lodge**

11:00-noon Meeting for Worship—Long House**

12:15-1:15 Lunch

1:15-2:00 Planning for 2016 Fall Gathering—Dining Room

*Childcare for all ages

**Childcare for infants and toddlers

Youth Program:

Johanna Jackson of State College Meeting is again running our youth program.  For the older children, supervised wall climbing will be offered.   Swimming and boating will also be available at designated times.  Any questions with regard to children’s programming may be directed to Johanna Jackson:  jmjacks44@gmail.com.

Infants and Toddlers:

Dorothy Habecker of State College Friends Meeting will again oversee this program. Any questions can be addressed to:  dorothyhab@gmail.com.

Important Notice:

Please call Johanna Jackson and let her know that you are coming, and the names and ages of your young folks. Do this as soon as you know! Johanna Jackson:  (734) 929-8679; jmjacks44@gmail.com

Directions

Camp Crystal Lake is located northeast of Williamsport. There are several lakes with swimming and boating, and 40 kilometers of hiking trails. There is a soccer field and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts. Overnight accommodations include a lodge , heated cabins with indoor bathrooms, unheated cabins and tent sites. Come and strengthen our ties to one another, our Quarter community and our God!

Take Route 180 East from Williamsport or West from I-80 to the Pennsdale exit.  Go North on Rt. 220 for 9.5 miles.  Turn left at the Crystal Lake sign on the left, in Tivoli. Follow the signs 7.5 miles to Crystal Lake.

GPS coordinates to Camp Crystal Lake:  41º 22’ 23.3”N,  76º 41’ 48.5”W

Address: 1676 Crystal Lake Road,  Hughesville, PA 17737

• Online Directions to Crystal Lake from State College:  https://goo.gl/maps/mqkrl
• Online Directions to Crystal Lake from Millville, PA:  https://goo.gl/maps/QvNl8
• Online Directions to Crystal Lake from Pennsdale, PA:  https://goo.gl/maps/eKgD4

Crystal Lake Rules: No smoking is permitted inside any building. No Alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are to be brought to or consumed at Crystal Lake.

Phone Numbers: Crystal Lake: 570-584-2698 (NOTE: no cell phone coverage at Crystal Lake)

Be sure to bring:  soap, flashlight, musical instruments, bikes and fishing gear (if you want to bike and/or fish).  Bed linens, towels, and pillows are provided.

Mailing Address and Additional Information:

Please mail all paper registration forms, youth release forms, and checks (payable to USQM) to Claudia. If you have any special housing or medical needs, please note this on your registration or call Claudia. 

Claudia Wilson

256 N. Wilson Street

Bellefonte, PA 16823

814-353-0256

cbewilson@gmail.com

Click Here to Register for the 2015 USQM Fall Family Gathering

U.S.Q.M. Agenda for 9/19/15

Agenda for the Meeting for Worship with attention to the business of Upper Susquehanna Quarterly Meeting to be held on 9/19/15 at Crystal Lake.

• Opening Worship
• Joys and Concerns
• Approval of the Minutes from the 6/28/2015 Meeting for Business.
• Treasurer’s Report – Branin Boyd. New Treasurer search.
• Background Clearances
• Next Year’s Fall Gathering – Where and When?
• Fiber Gatherings
• Reports from Monthly Meetings - How has the Truth prospered in your lives?
• Announcements
• Yearly Meeting Continuing Sessions – November 7, 2015 – Westtown School
• Query: What is God calling PYM Quakers to do to end racism and white supremacy in the Religious Society of Friends and Beyond?
• Meeting for Singing – December 12, 2015 - Dancing Bear Farm
• Other Announcements
• Closing Worship