STRENTHENING WYOMING FRIENDS MEETING AND ITS COMMUNITIES

STRENGTHENING WYOMING FRIENDS MEETING AND ITS COMMUNITIES

2018 Wyoming Friends Meeting Retreat/Fall Gathering

YMCA of the Big Horns

September 6-9, 2018

Join us for four engaging days in the mountains as we explore community at its best in our Wyoming context. The special circumstances of WFM-our geographic distances, infrequency of Gatherings, and need to draw from 5 disparate, small Quaker communities-make it unique. These circumstances bring both challenges and enrichment, as Quakers from elsewhere can attest.

Here is a sampling of questions/topics we may explore:

            *What do we see to be the identity and future of WFM? Could we restructure our Meeting to better serve our needs?

            * How would you describe your local community of Friends?

            * What’s the best way to facilitate growth in our communities?

            * Is there a role WFM could play to better support us, individually and as communities, in developing spiritual strength?

            *Are there ways to relate to one another on a deeper level through WFM?

            *In the history of Quakers are there persons, practices, or stories of community that might mentor us?

            *What gifts, as individuals and as communities, do we have that we might share?

            *How can we embrace diversity and make a place at the table for each of us?

            *Beyond Gatherings, how can we further strengthen communication within WFM?  

Our presenter and facilitator for this weekend will be Holly Baldwin.
Holly Baldwin is following a leading to help Friends live more boldly into the Holy invitation for their lives, as individuals and groups. She has many years of experience guiding others in the ways of Quaker community. She recently finished a decade of serving as the Director of the Beacon Hill Friends House, a Quaker center and intentional community in Boston, MA, and a term as the clerk of the Permanent Board of New England Yearly Meeting. Holly is a member of Fresh Pond Monthly Meeting in New England Yearly Meeting, but has recently moved to New Mexico and attends Albuquerque Monthly Meeting.

Fear not, it won’t all be “work”! There will be plenty of time built into our schedule to take advantage of what the YMCA Camp and the Big Horns have to offer: hiking, kayaking, canoeing, campfires, stargazing, fishing, and special offerings brought to us from Friends within our circle.

We hope you will join us!

The Gathering Retreat Planning Committee