Dave Edmonds and I have just spent the weekend in Bamford, at the Quaker Community, sharing and connecting with friends from around the country who are already active in fostering our fresh aim as Quakers to evolve into a low-carbon, sustainable community.
This is an exciting time to be a Quaker. A radical root has taken hold in Britain Yearly Meeting and we in Sheffield are gifted with many good conditions to nourish this new growth. What I've discovered over the course of a relaxing, energising and forward-viewing weekend spent in the company of friends is that, as a community, we have all the elements we need in order to grow together.
It seems that many people in our society miss out on belonging to a group, a self-sustaining, active community, based on deep principles and beliefs. As friends, we come together in meetings for worship, or reflection, or for worship sharing and an energy - a witness - greater than our individual parts leads us in dynamic ways to new discoveries, to fresh ground; to fertile soil. Being together makes this happen.
For me, the most exciting word in 'low-carbon, sustainable community' is the final word, 'community'. It really is the first word, and where we, as a circle of friends, can easily begin from. Lucky us!
On Saturday 8th October (10am-4pm), there's a chance to get together for a few hours and look a little deeper, as a group, at what 'low-carbon sustainable community' means to us, who live and worship in Sheffield. Sunniva Taylor, of QPSW, will be helping us with this. Following lunch, we'll have a chance to discern a collective action that we, as a Meeting, wish to work toward over the next 12-18 months.
Personally, I'm looking forward to growing in the spirit of community, to enjoying the great benefits to be unearthed in working shoulder to shoulder with friends as we work and walk in our living witness. In this vision there already lies the seed of sustainability. Working together, we'll water that seed wonderfully and the 'low-carbon' bit will follow!
The Future of British Quakerism
3 weeks ago
3 comments:
Really wish we could join you on Saturday. This whole process of becoming a low carbon community' is a fantastic opportunity for us as Quakers. Thanks for all you are doing to water the shoots...
Thank you, Craig! I'll be blogging about a very rich and hopeful day, shortly...
May I echo what Steve has written about the LWP Gathering at the Bamford Quaker Community. It felt for me quite invigorating to be just that short distance away from Sheffield yet in another world, reconnecting. The Quaker Community in transition, the community as a gathering to reflect on the BYMG minute 'Low Carbon Sustainable Community'. Sun rises and evenings under the stars, shareing with others our thoughts and hopes. Ideas from other Meetings being part of the wider Quaker community. Reflecting and going forward. Thanks to Laurie, Jasmine, Dee and all the other LW gatherers.
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