Yearly Meeting Gathering 2009

York, 25 July to 1 August 2009. Community and Connexions Created.


The Gathering in York is now over - but we hope Friends present and absent will continue the spirit of the Gathering through the rest of the year and beyond!

On this website you can continue to read and listen to the speakers' presentations, watch the videos made during the week, and read the other articles posted during the week using the tag cloud links below.

We hope you will continue to use the Woodbrooke Workpack (and keep an eye out for the follow-up workpacks), and also add your comments to the individual articles here, on the YMGBlog, on the discussion forum, and in your own meetings and communities.

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  • Marriage and its theology, by Christine Trevett

    An additional piece of reading in advance of the Yearly Meeting sessions on Committed Relationships:

    The idea of marriage, including the closeness and wholehearted commitment which marriage  entailed,  meant that in the Bible it was used as a metaphor for the relation between God and his people Israel (in the Old Testament)  and between Christ and his people the Church (in the New). So if you were looking for a way to describe a relation to God which involved  promise made and accepted, commitment (covenant), care, patience, love, failure and forgiveness/reconciliation – you might choose the analogy of marriage. It’s a sacred, mysterious thing, says Paul.  Human marriage points to something deeper – to a kind of love between Christ and his people.
    Here is the 8th century BC prophet Hosea speaking. He had once had a wife who was adulterous and now he speaks on God’s behalf about the religion of his day. His message is that God, the injured ‘husband’, is constantly trying to woo back a straying partner (the people) which goes around committing idolatry with gods (baalim) to which she hasn’t covenanted in ‘marriage.; So the Biblical picture of the God- humanity relationship is sometimes of a tender, longsuffering husband, ever reaching out to reclaim and reconcile a straying wife who forgets her marriage vows. God says-
    “But now I shall woo her, lead her into the desert and speak encouraging words to her. I shall give her her vineyards again . . . there she will respond as in her youthful days, as when she came up from Egypt [i.e. the Exodus]. On that day she will call me ‘my husband’ and not ‘my Baal’ . . . you [says God to the prophet] bestow your love on a woman loved by another man, an adulteress, just as I the Lord love the Israelites, although they resort to other gods and love the raisin cakes which are offered to idols’. (Hosea 2:14-17 and 3:1)

    The idea of marriage, including the closeness and wholehearted commitment which marriage  entailed,  meant that in the Bible it was used as a metaphor for the relation between God and his people Israel (in the Old Testament)  and between Christ and his people the Church (in the New). So if you were looking for a way to describe a relation to God which involved  promise made and accepted, commitment (covenant), care, patience, love, failure and forgiveness/reconciliation – you might choose the analogy of marriage. It’s a sacred, mysterious thing, says Paul.  Human marriage points to something deeper – to a kind of love between Christ and his people.

    Here is the 8th century BC prophet Hosea speaking. He had once had a wife who was adulterous and now he speaks on God’s behalf about the religion of his day. His message is that God, the injured ‘husband’, is constantly trying to woo back a straying partner (the people) which goes around committing idolatry with gods (baalim) to which she hasn’t covenanted in ‘marriage.; So the Biblical picture of the God- humanity relationship is sometimes of a tender, longsuffering husband, ever reaching out to reclaim and reconcile a straying wife who forgets her marriage vows. God says-

    “But now I shall woo her, lead her into the desert and speak encouraging words to her. I shall give her her vineyards again . . . there she will respond as in her youthful days, as when she came up from Egypt [i.e. the Exodus]. On that day she will call me ‘my husband’ and not ‘my Baal’ . . . you [says God to the prophet] bestow your love on a woman loved by another man, an adulteress, just as I the Lord love the Israelites, although they resort to other gods and love the raisin cakes which are offered to idols’. (Hosea 2:14-17 and 3:1)

    Read the full article

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  • When you arrive at York railway station

    How to get out of the station? Where to go to get a bus or a taxi? Where do you go at the other end? Hopefully this little video will answer some of those questions!

    2 Comments

  • York University campus – 10 Hidden Secrets!

    A fine video presentation to help you acquaint yourself with the university campus before you arrive by Oliver Lester, Christopher Kummelstedt, and Samuel Houlders:

    A short tour of 10 places on campus at the University of York that you may not know about.

    1. The Buddha suggested by Oliver Hutchings
    2. Central Hall
    3. The Observatory
    4. The Wentworth Art Space suggested by Tom Flynn
    5. Nightline
    6. The Watertower
    7. Siward’s Howe
    8. The Library suggested by Erik O’Connor
    9. The Norman Rea Art Gallery
    10. The Real Quiet Place

    Editors – Oliver Lester, Christopher Kummelstedt and Samuel Houlders
    Directors – Oliver Lester, Christopher Kummelstedt and Samuel Houlders

    Concept devised by Oliver Lester

    (YouTube link)

    2 Comments

  • A few final things before YM Gathering

    Evening meal on Saturday
    Though the timetable does not show it, those who are on a half board deal will be fed on Saturday. Supper is served between 5.30 and 7.00. The welcome session is from 7.30.
    Swine flu
    We have been considering this and precautions are in place should anyone come down with swine flu at YM Gathering.  Before travelling you are advised to check governmental advice either by calling 0800 1 513 513 or checking http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831?CID=SFlu&TYPE=sponsoredsearch&CRE=2
    Events Listing
    When you arrive at YMG you will be given an Events Listing which will explain what your choices of activity are during the week. You can have a sneak preview of what awaits at http://www.quaker.org.uk/files/YMG2009-Events.pdf . Please don’t print all this out as it is quite extensive but pages 114 and 115 give a blank timetable which you might like to start filling in with your choices!
    Internet access
    As well as e-mail checking facilities at the Cyber café there will be internet access for those who bring laptops and pay a £10 charge to the University for the week. Access will be in some public areas where there is wi-fi access and/ or in bedrooms if you have an Ethernet cable to plug into the wall socket. You may already have an ethernet cable or could bring one. If you would like to check what one is follow this link:http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopDetail.asp?ProductID=1149
    We hope to see you in a few days in York.
    1 Comment

  • Final update before the Gathering!

    Index

    Before you set off
    Getting to the Gathering
    Parking
    Disabled parking permits
    Disabled drivers access to buildings
    Registration for the Gathering
    Registering for the Children and Young Peoples Programme
    Child bedding reminder
    Home Groups
    Emergency number

    Before you set off
    There will be much to think of at the Gathering and so, if you have not already done so, have a look through Documents in advance. As well as practicalities it lets you know what will be happening in Yearly Meeting in session and advance reading gives time for reflection and consideration.
    All participants on the Children and Young People’s Programme should have received a mailing with information about their programme – all responsible adults have also been sent a letter. If you haven’t had this please ring Simon Best on 020 7663 1160 or email simonb@quaker.org.uk

    Planning ahead
    Arts
    If you might enjoy joining in the art activities at the Gathering, already have your own pencils/paints/paper/brushes, etc and have the space, remember to bring it along.
    Bring & Share entertainment
    On the Friday evening there will be a Bring & Share entertainment –If you don’t bring it you can’t share it!
    Bring your cheque book!
    If there is any chance that you will be changing excursion or that you might owe us money then bring your chequebook. We don’t have a card facility and aren’t set up to handle cash so a cheque is far easier for us.

    Getting to the Gathering
    Those of you arriving at the railway station will be greeted and may be clustered into taxis to go to individual colleges. This may save walking across campus with your luggage and shared taxis are comparable, price wise, with buses.
    Those of you arriving by car are advised to look on the ‘where we sleep’ map on the inside of the back cover of Documents in advance and identify their route to a suitable car park.
    It is hoped that once we have arrived those who can will leave their cars for the week.

    Parking
    Those without a disabled parking permit will need to pay for their parking. Many gatherers have a prepaid parking permit which will be waiting for them with their welcome pack. Please make sure this is clearly displayed in your car. Those who do not have a parking permit will need to pay by the day using the pay & display machines in each car park.

    Disabled parking permits
    Any car displaying a disabled parking permit is entitled to park in any of the car parks on campus, free of charge.

    Disabled drivers access to buildings
    Many of the buildings have disabled parking close by. The Central Hall has a drop-off and pick-up point close by but the parking is in the central car park which is a little further away. There will be a pick up and drop off point in the central car park and a ferry service will be run at the beginning and end of plenary sessions for those who do not have a driver to drop them off.

    Registration for the Gathering
    Please try and arrive after 2.00pm and go straight to your registration point.
    For residents this will be the residential college porters lodge, except for those in James College who will register in Goodricke Hall (this will be signposted). Non residents should come to the information desk in the Exhibition Centre. When you register you will get a welcome pack in a recycled newspaper bag. This will include a bottle of water (refillable as all the cold taps on campus are drinking water) and more information including the Events Listing. You should also receive an envelope which contains your personal information, such as any trips we have booked for you. 0-15 year olds will receive their own welcome bag when you register them on the Children and Young People’s Programme (see below) you should also be directed towards any other requests such as mobility scooters or children’s bedding.

    Registering for the Children and Young Peoples Programme
    Once you have found your accommodation children and young people will need to register at the CYP Programme desk in Vanbrugh College. Registration for the CYP Programme will be open from 3:00pm to 7:00 pm on Saturday 25th July.

    Child bedding reminder
    If you are the responsible adult for a child who is sharing a room, you should have received a message asking if you need us to provide a sleeping bag and roll mat, or a cot. If you have not had this message but do need some bedding please let us know straight away.

    Home Groups
    When you arrive at YM Gathering you’ll find out which Home Group you have been allocated to. If you did not submit a Home Groups preference form, many of you will be allocated to a cross age ‘Allsorts’ group, which will be about half young people (mostly in the 12 – 18 age group) and half adults.  It’s important that these groups have a balance of young people and adults:  so if you were allocated to such a group and feel you wouldn’t go, please email Sarah Richards (sarahrchds@yahoo.co.uk ) to say so.  We hope the groups will greatly enhance the sense of community for you at the Gathering and we hope they will be a very positive experience for everyone.

    We are also still short of a few facilitators for these groups, so if you feel you could facilitate such a group and haven’t already volunteered, please let Sarah know:  there will be a training session for facilitators at 4 p.m. on the first Saturday of the Gathering.

    Emergency number
    If you have trouble coming to YM gathering or have any difficulties during the week please let us know on 0750 479 7425. There will be someone holding this phone at all times, so please only use it out of hours if you need an immediate response.
    We look forward to gathering with you on the 25th.

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  • Latest news – events summary now online

    Yearly Meeting Gathering is almost upon us – and you can start thinking about some of the activities you might like to do throughout the week by glancing at through the events summary!

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  • Latest news – May 11

    Mailing

    The May mailing for gatherers has now been sent out – you can download an electronic version of this also.

    Current Booking situation

    We are finalising all the bookings we received before the end of March and then will be getting on to processing the forms received during April. We have very nearly filled all the bedrooms we currently have available  (about 1,380 bed spaces) and also have about 200 non resident gatherers booked (for between a day and the whole week). It may be possible to get some additional bedrooms but we do need to know what we are asking for and so urge anyone you know who is not yet booked to get a booking form in as soon as possible. We do not know if we will run out of bedroom capacity or meeting room capacity first, so do ask non-residents to book as well. We will keep availability up to date on this site.
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  • Here’s your monthly update for May!

    BrochureHome Groups

    We hope Gatherers will join ‘Home groups’ to provide a small fixed group which will meet five times during the Gathering. It is important that we make sure you are in a group which will suit you. To this end we hope you can visit www.tinyurl.com/YMGHomeGroups and complete a short online questionnaire. For those who are not able to do this a paper questionnaire will be in the mailing to be filled in and returned.

    Travelling to YMG

    Some gatherers have already set off for York in a narrowboat from Godalming, others will be walking or cycling from various parts of Britain.
    For those with more conventional travel plans it is worth noting that now we are within three months of the start of YMG you can book rail travel now and get the best prices. You should even be able to book ‘York PlusBus’ tickets which will include your bus fare to the campus. However if you have difficulty walking with your luggage and are in either Alcuin or Halifax colleges you might be better to wait and share a taxi from the station with others going to your college as then you will be dropped off right at the door.

    Car share

    Some Friends have either offered or asked for carshare. We will try to match offers and requests over the next few weeks and notify the Friends concerned.

    Internet access at YMG

    If you have a laptop and would like to make use of the university network you will be able to buy access for the week for £10 from Conference Support based in the Exhibition Centre. This will be open from 08.30 – 17.00 Saturday – Sunday and 08.15 – 17.45 Monday to Friday.
    We will also have a small free to use internet café but this will be best suited for picking up a few e-mails rather than heavy duty internet use.

    Offers of help

    Many Gatherers have offered their service to make YMG a thriving community on many levels. The committee are sorting out how best to make use of the offers and will be in touch soon. If you have offered to facilitate (options, response groups and/or home groups) we are aiming to be in touch in mid May, and if you have offered to help with practicalities or as a day helper on the Under 19s programme, you should hear by the end of May.

    Creating the Gathering now

    Learning Materials for local meetings
    We have sent out learning materials to all local meetings. This was created by Woodbrooke to strengthen local meeting and their engagement with the theme of the Gathering, Creating Community: Creating Connections. It is meant both for those who will be present during the gathering and those who will not. We hope your meeting is one of those which is exploring it, but if not ask to see it so you will know what others in the Yearly Meeting are doing.

    Through the web
    Do keep an eye on the blog here which contains periodic updates. Also remember the forum at www.quaker.org.uk/forum where there are lots of topics about different aspects of YM Gathering, including one on use of the Learning Materials.

    Sharing the update

    We had hoped to send paper copies of this e-mail to those without electronic access, however pressure of time means that this will not happen for the next couple of weeks. If you know someone coming to YM Gathering who does not have an e-mail address please print off a copy and share it with them.
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