Quaker Womens Conference on Faith and Spirituality

Registration is happening. Here's the brochure

2011-08-23T22:23:00.002-05:00

Quaker Women's Conference is happening this November 10-13, but the early bird deadline is September 1... which is coming right up. If you miss it you can still register though.

There are the info brochures right below. Note the change in formats, so that there's a pre-conference spiritual preparation retreat on Thursday. Kathryn Damiano's leading it, and she's a gem.

2011-08-23T22:15:00.007-05:00

A welcoming place for the Conference

2011-07-11T10:23:00.004-05:00

Heart 'o Hills Conference Center is the charming camp where QWC met in 2009. It's comfortable, the food was very good, and it has lovely walking trails through beautiful hills and trees. We meet in the Cherokee Conference Center and stay in motel-like facilities. We're very pleased to be able to meet there again in 2011.

If you'd like a glimpse of the facility, here's the page:
Heart o Hills Conference Center

Registration is now open for the November 2011 Conference. Email Registrar Gail Fletcher at 'okfletch@gmail.com' for information about attending this wonderful event.

Meeting for Worship with attention to QWC

2011-07-02T00:09:00.002-05:00

QWC - Quaker Women's Conference - Sisters will meet July 15-16 at Heartland Meetinghouse in Wichita to refine "the plan" for November's conference. Planning retreats are really beautiful... meeting sister Friends and worshiping together as the retreat develops.

It's coming along very nicely, but the conference is only 4 months away. Sure hope we're prepared in time.

Registrar Gail is getting into gear. If you haven't received a brochure with details yet reply to this post and somebody will get you one.

Weaving The Tapestry of Womens Lives

2010-08-23T22:33:00.002-05:00

The Quaker Womens Conference on Faith and Spirituality announces that the next conference will be held November 10-13 in 2011. Location will be the warmly comfortable Heart o' Hills Camp again. It's near Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The 2009 conference was so wonderful, we know you're going to want to join us this year. We're pleased that the conference theme - "Weaving The Tapestry of Womens Lives" - bubbled up from the group in a most amazing way, and we're excited to see where this lovely spirit takes us.

Planning begins on 2011 Women's Conference

2010-03-21T10:47:00.005-05:00

Greetings Sisters in the Spirit...
The Planning Committee from last year's wonderful Quaker Women's Conference issues an invitation to Quaker women. Next month we'll hold the retreat that kicks off planning for the next conference, that will happen in November of 2011. Women from both programmed and unprogrammed traditions will participate, and if you are a Quaker woman from any Quaker tradition, you are invited to be part of it.

2011 seems like a long way off, but many things will happen between then and now. Before November 2011 this committee will have formed deep and lasting friendships, and explored the movement of Spirit in a profound way. If you'd like to participate. Sister of the conference who'd like to join in the planning process are invited to contact Gladys by replying to this post. The planning process is one of the most interesting things that happens around this conference. Your contribution could be make the conference even better.

QWC-Radical Women - Abiding Love... Pam Draper

2010-01-14T23:16:00.005-06:00

(To be published in spring 2010 Friends Journal)

By: Pamela Draper

Photo left: Pam demonstrates "silly"

In order to hear another’s perspective, one must be an open channel; to the other person’s needs, expressions, to your own, and to the great comfort and direction of the Spirit. That is at the center of the biennial Quaker Women’s Conference: being vulnerable, open-minded, porous. As a religious society, we must strive for this to do Spirit’s work.

I am a 25-year-old convinced Friend. I am a member in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, which is solely affiliated with Friends General Conference. I practice unprogrammed Meeting for Worship and have a liberal perspective on social justice.

My roommates were also relatively new to Quakerism. One small difference: they came from the Mennonite tradition! On my first night at the conference, I walked out into the mild, quiet night air and marveled: what was Quakerism, again?

Over the next three days, my heart was moved, my mind challenged, my soul refreshed. I met radical women of every type imaginable: psychologists, mushroom farmers, social workers, missionaries, survivors, artists and teachers; women whose lives spoke of faith, spiritual risk-taking and love for community. I made a wonderful connection with my plain-dressing, teenage roommate – creating music, taking muddy walks to sit by the river. We found that we had many things in common: we’d both been homeschooled and loved music and being silly!

I was astonished daily by the amazing variety of beliefs among us. I had never before been to a multi-branch Quaker conference where we actually acknowledged our differences. I remember often being challenged by a spiritual principle that diverged from mine and feeling the slow, internal shutting-down process that is so natural to us. Like all judging, it is a coping mechanism we use to protect our feelings and our sense of identity. I would begin to “pull the shutters” in my heart and mind, disengage, tune out. But then, the faces of women I had eaten lunch with or taken a walk with would serve as an appeal to be present, as they were. Timely, loving promptings of Spirit allowed me to “let down my heart.” Opportunities to share in small groups were halting, but seemed to say, “This is it! Here’s your chance!” It was time to be an open channel. To my surprise, this had more to do with my breath than anything else. The key was in not allowing my body to shut down, giving off an air of aloofness, which can start a chain reaction in a group setting of . I found when I could train my body to reflect open listening and acceptance, my mind wasn’t far behind.

I found programmed worship to be surprisingly comforting. This could be because of my familiarity with it, having grown up in Baptist/Methodist traditions. Having an order of service that included singing, readings and prepared messages was familiar to me. The prepared messages were stories about God’s infinite love (the theme of the conference) and speakers spoke from their direct experience. Having silent worship time after the programmed part of meeting was incredibly rich. I felt the ongoing softening of my heart, the open-channel making. This “spiritual storytelling” – sharing that of God in yourself – was not what I had imagined programmed worship would be. It was natural, Spirit-led and honest.

Workshops were incredibly diverse, spanning from “Reiki for Self-Healing” to “Scripture Reading in the Manner of Ohio Conservative Friends.” These were also chances to connect to the common sacredness we share across the branches. It was delightful to see this cross-pollination of inspiration. Our open mic night included readings from the Tao Te Ching, Christian poetry and the singing of peace rounds. All of our expressions were received with appreciation, no matter how different they were.

Tina Coffin, who was FWCC regional coordinator of the South Central region, started the Quaker Women’s Conference in 1999. A regional gathering was in the works, but was challenging due to the differences between yearly meetings. Then the women got together and things started to happen! Since then, gatherings have happened bi-annually and are always planned by women from the different yearly meetings that are represented at the conference. This year’s attendance included members from South Central, Mid America, Illinois, Great Plains, Iowa (Conservative), Ohio and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings. Many women come time and time again, but it is always open to all.

This gathering of women is an area in our society where blessed bridge-building is happening and where love is abiding. We are called to know that of God in one another. To see how Spirit is active throughout our Society and what we can do to enrich one another’s work. When we strive to be open channels, in body, mind and heart, the Spirit of God can MOVE!

QWC Epistle 2009

2009-12-10T23:50:00.005-06:00

To All Friends Everywhere:

Greetings from the sixth Quaker Women's Conference on Faith and Spirituality. Sponsored by the central states Yearling Meetings of Great Plains Yearly Meeting, EFC-Mid-America Yearly Meeting and South Central Yearly Meeting, the conference was held at Camp Heart O' Hills near Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on November 5-8 2009.

As crimson and ocher leaves trembled above us in the autumn light, forty-three programmed and unprogrammed Quaker women came together to reflect upon "the infinite love of God" and to follow the example of George Fox in "speaking to all conditions." Jennie Isbell, representing Earlham School of Religion, joined us as an active participant.

The conference aimed to help us draw closer to God and each other, to build bridges across the spectrum of Quakerism, to strengthen Quaker witness through women's voices, and to trust that the inward Teacher, the Christ Within, the Inner Light, the Holy Spirit would be present to guide us.

Presenters of the first program, "Two Journeys, One Ocean," modeled and then engaged us in a frank and loving dialogue between programmed and unprogrammed Friends.

In programmed worship Friday night, a Friend inspired us with her testimony of God's light holding her as she journeyed through and recovered from breast cancer. For her this journey was "Not About the Ocean. It's About The Light."

The second program session, "A Journey From The Ocean of Darkness to the Ocean of Light" featured one Friend's account of the importance of her faith during a series of extra-ordinarily difficult family-related crises. Another Friend described the work of Evangelical Friends Church Mid-America in supporting Kibimba Hospital in Burundi.

Throughout the weekend we shared aspects of our spiritual journeys in the small home groups that provided a more intimate place for us to reflect upon the themes of the conference. Here we could discuss our thoughts and feelings about each presentation, practicing the candor and compassionate listening the conference encouraged.

Friday night coffee house provided light-hearted fun together and enjoyment of our sisters' musical, story-telling, and creative writing talents. On Saturday morning one Friend led us through a series of playful and invigorating physical exercises which, if practices regularly, could keep us strong physically and support our spiritual fitness as well.

There were many workshop opportunities. Some of us found our inner actor in the improvisation workshop. Other workshops addressed reactions to the Iraqi refugee situation, provided an opportunity for scripture reading in the manner of Ohio Conservative Friends, taught skills in compassionate communication and compassionate listening to help identify our special gifts.

There was opportunity to do yoga each morning and a workshop on using Reiki for self-healing. Some of us spent an afternoon at the Cherokee Heritage Center in Talequah where we learned about the Cherokee Nation's history and its cultural and spiritual traditions.

An informal songfest ended our last night together, offering another opportunity for sharing joy.

Throughout the weekend we had ample opportunities to worship together. We worshipped in the style of Friends in programmed worship on Friday, in unprogrammed worship on Saturday, and on Sunday in a blended worship incorporating both programmed and unprogrammed elements. We shared meals, talk and laughter. We shared photo opportunities and awards of flowers especially commemorating our 10th year (6th biennial conference). We learned from and listened to each other in structured and unstructured settings, helping us achieve the goals of drawing closer to God and each other, and building bridges across the spectrum of Quakerism.

Submitted by Epistlists Elisa Dale and Kathleen Cairns
Approved by the Sisters of the Conference November 8, 2009

2009-06-21T22:22:00.004-05:00

Registration for this year's Quaker Women's Conference is open now. If you've attended the conference before you should be receiving the registration brochure soon. Registration deadlines are August 15 for the early bird special ($15 discount), and September 1 for the final deadline.

These may seem like early deadlines, but many thing need to happen after your registration is received.

Because this is a "participant-led conference," and part of the goal is to get to know each other better, after you register a conference planner will contact you about the active roles you may wish to take. Some are very simple (sing in the choir, fix coffee), others more complex and require stronger leadership commitment. Your level of participation is up to you.
To help us get to know each other, you'll get an opportunity to respond to a thoughtful Open Response Query by writing a brief essay. This is always a simple but profound way to explore your own experience in relation to the conference theme. You'll be asked to return the Query, and your response will be shared with other women as we prepare to attend the conference. Sisters of the conference say that it's a lovely way to meet other women before we even arrive. When we get to the camp we realize that we know these women already, from their essay. It's been wonderful.

If you have not attended before, please let us know you want to come. Send a registration request to registrar Sara Scribner at SaraBScribner@aol.com . We're getting excited. Look forward to seeing you in November.

2009-04-08T13:04:00.002-05:00

Sue Wine and Elda Ann Cox during the 2007 QWConference.

Sisters in the Faith

2009-04-08T02:49:00.005-05:00

Quakers have been given the gift of diversity. Even though it's a gift that's sometimes hard to appreciate, it has lessons that sisters of this conference value deeply. Our beliefs may vary. Our lives may seem peculiar to one another. Our values may seem at times to contradict our claims of sisterhood.

But beneath it all our unity in the Spirit rests on a solid rock of certainty that the Spirit of God moves in and among us through every condition in which we find ourselves.

The Infinite Love of God... Speaking to all conditions.

"And the Lord answered that it was needful I should have a sense of all conditions: how else should I speak to all conditions? And in this I saw the Infinite love of God." (George Fox)

As Quaker women in the 21st century, we, like George Fox in the 17th, want to have our own conditions ministered to and also to speak to the conditions of others in our world. Together, let's consider how we may more fully experience "the infinite ocean of light and love" that George Fox saw flowing over the ocean of darkness.

2009 Quaker Womens Conference on Faith and Spirituality, November 5-8, Heart o' Hills Conference Center near Tulsa, OK. For registration information email SaraBScribner@aol.com.

6th Quaker Women's Conference in planning

2009-02-13T22:23:00.006-06:00

The sixth Quaker Women's Conference on Faith and Spirituality is now in the works. Please put this date on your calendar:

November 5-8, 2009
Heart O' Hills Conference Center
Welling Oklahoma

This is a new camp site for the conference. It's 60 miles east of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and only a few miles from Tahlequah. Very different then the red rocks of Canyon Camp, but also beautiful, with rolling hills, trees and streams. The conference center is a comfortable retreat, simple, but with all the amenities we're accustomed to.

The center is proud of their kitchen staff, and they've worked carefully to help set up a menu that meets a variety of needs for us. If you have special dietary needs please let us know. Hope we can help you now.

More Conference information will be coming out soon. Please ask, if you have questions. We'd love to talk about it.

Conference Epistle 2007

2007-11-19T21:44:00.000-06:00

The fifth biannual Quaker Women's Conference on Faith and Spirituality was held November 1 – November 4, 2007 at Canyon Camp and Conference Center in Hinton, OK. The camp lies at the base of Red Rock Canyon. We were graced by days of sun lighting up the rugged cliffs and early autumn foliage. Our theme this year was “Mustard seeds in the 21^st Century: Growing in the Spirit.” In attendance were fifty-one Friendly women including members of our sponsoring yearly meetings: Evangelical Friends Church, Mid-American Yearly Meeting, South Central Yearly Meeting, and Great Plains Yearly Meeting, as well as women from other Yearly Meetings. We were fortunate to welcome Dorothy Day from Friends World Committee for Consultation and Sue Axtell from Earlham College of Religion. Peggy Parsons, recorded minister of Freedom Friends Church in Salem, Oregon, joined us as a guest speaker.

“Spiritual journeys take different paths.” These were the first words of the registration brochure inviting us to Quaker Women's Conference. Coming from different paths, we arrived at Canyon Camp equipped with homemade jam, herbs and spices. These would be mingled in Thursday evening's bread-baking activity. This activity introduced us to the women assigned to our home group. We shared the process of transforming a sack of dry ingredients into golden brown goodness using Betty Jean Penrose's mother's recipe.

Through a series of scriptural passages and queries, our home groups provided a safe environment for us to share our stories of spiritual turning points, weathering storms, God's call in our lives, and bearing fruit. The home groups offered an opportunity to speak to each other in the Spirit, bridging our differences in love.

Times of programmed and unprogrammed worship refreshed our spirits. Deeply personal stories of spiritual growth and prophetic ministry touched our hearts and challenged us to listen and act upon God's call in our lives.

Eva Brightup and Liz Wine shared journeys of coming into awareness as a spiritual being. Our traveling Friend from Oregon, Peggy Parsons, recounted a transformative experience in which God utilized her to begin a process of healing for a traumatized church and community. Peggy identified obstacles to hearing and obeying God's call to action. She challenged us to remove these obstacles.

Jude Filler and Lois Smuck inspired us with their courage in weathering personal storms and finding the Spirit in adversity. Donnetta Carpenter and Donna Dzerlinga offered fresh understanding on what it means to bear spiritual fruit in ministry and in raising children.

Twelve workshops were offered over the weekend. Some of these focused on creative expression, including beading, knitting scarves, faith-booking, and butterfly-making. Consistent with our theme of sowing seeds and growth, we provided workshops on eating and growing locally and on Quaker attitudes toward food and drink.

We enjoyed learning about each other as programmed and unprogrammed Friends through two workshops: “Quakers by Convincement” and “Similarities and Differences in Quakers”.We also learned about each other in the informal process of getting together to eat, sing, talk, walk and play. Shelli Kadel led and accompanied a small, but enthusiastic choir.

In one workshop we turned our hearts and minds to the suffering of Iraqi refugees. In another we viewed the hopeful beginnings of peace in Rwanda and Burundi with a slide show presentation on Evangelical Friends mission work.

Friday evening Liz Wine emceed a coffee house. We enjoyed poetry, tai chi, singing, and scarf juggling. Saturday evening two historical Quaker Women, Mary Dyer and Elizabeth Fry, mysteriously appeared. Although laced with humor, the stories of these Quaker heroines exemplified courage and trust in God's call.

After semi-programmed worship on Sunday our conference closed with singing hymns and songs frequently used by Quakers from different traditions. Discussing these songs and hymns in small groups allowed us to open a window from which to view differences in our traditions.

“Spiritual journeys take different paths.” These words reflect reality, but from November 1st to November 4th, programmed and unprogrammed Quaker women were on one path – the path of loving companionship. We left the red rocks of Canyon Camp having been taught by the Spirit.

2007-11-09T20:46:00.001-06:00

Fifty-two women attended the 2007 conference. A few had to leave Sunday morning before the group photo was taken. Photographer was Alice Jake, who didn't want to be in the photo anyway.

Wow, Lovely Conference

2007-11-09T20:32:00.001-06:00

Wow, lovely conference. All sisters of the conference report that they've made it home safely, and are in the process of recovery. Now we have the memories, like the odor of fresh bread, that wafts us back to the experience.

Fresh bread was the first order of business. We met in Home Groups and lovingly formed the loaves as we got to know each other. We planned to have the bread at Friday night's Home Group session, but those of us still hanging around the kitchen got a sample as it came from the ovens. Sorry if you missed it. It was still really good the next evening.

Each loaf included lots of 'provenance' -- ingredients with personal history -- for us. Herbs, flavors, blue corn meal, stone ground flour. The provenance also included fresh-churned butter, jams, honeys and other tasty treats that remind us of our homes and history. That part waited for Friday night.

One Week One Day

2007-10-24T13:50:00.000-05:00

It's Wednesday. One week and one day from now - on Thursday - women will begin meeting at Canyon Camp for the 2007 conference. If it's anything like today's weather, it'll be a brisk November day. As we move back and forth between Hardt Lodge and the dining hall our pace will be brisk, and the talking and laughter will shiver off the red canyon walls around us. It's a protected and protecting place for deep connection.

If you're planning to join us, expect your final mailing very soon. It will have maps, instructions, and other info. If you don't receive it soon, email Kathleen Cairns (kathleencrns@yahoo.com) to check on it. We can email instructions at the last minute too.

The planning committee is excited that the day is finally coming. We're looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. We're glad you're a part of it.

Open Response Query, 2007 QWC

2007-09-11T01:52:00.000-05:00

2007 Quaker Women’s Conference on Faith and Spirituality

Theme: Mustard Seeds in the 21^st Century: Growing in the Spirit

Query: Reflect on an experience (or experiences ) which has contributed to your spiritual growth.

What is a Query?

“…Queries remind us of the essential faith and principles of the Religious Society of Friends. They challenge and inspire us in our personal lives and in our corporate life…As we speak to what we know to be true in our lives and to listen to each other in humility and understanding, we trust the Spirit that transcends our human effort and comprehension… (We) hope that we may be more faithful and find deeper joy in God’s service.”

Faith and Practice, Pacific Yearly Meeting, 2001, page 48.

Why do we pose this query prior to the Conference?

We have found that reflecting on a query prior to the conference helps us to prepare to engage the theme of the conference. Prior sharing of our responses with other women attending the conference serves as an introduction to each other. It can help facilitate deeper relationships with each other during our time together.

What to do with this Query?

Spend some time in reflection and prayer. Write about the thoughts, feelings, insights, that rise up within you, to the extent you feel comfortable sharing them. Your response need not be long or address all the parts of the query. It does not need to be an “answer” to the questions.

Directions for sending your responses:

Please send your response by e-mail or regular mail by October 1^st so that there will be time to share them with other women who are attending. On your response indicate whether you wish to receive others’ responses by e-mail or by regular mail. Be sure to include your e-mail or mailing address on your response.

Mail responses to:

Kathleen Cairns

4870 E. 68^th St. #234

Tulsa, OK 74136

Or send them by e-mail to: kathleencrns@yahoo.com phone number: 918-671- 1843

Your Name:

Your City or Town:

Query: Reflect on an experience or experiences which have contributed to your spiritual growth.

Possible questions to consider in your reflections:

1. How did the experience help you to become aware of God and the Spirit in your life?

2. Who and what nurtured you in your spiritual growth during that time?

3. What challenges and difficulties did you face?

4. What gifts has this experience brought to your life?

5. How can you share these gifts?

You may use this page, front and back - or attach pages as needed.

Mail responses to:

Kathleen Cairns

4870 E. 68^th St. #234

Tulsa, OK 74136

Or send them by e-mail to: kathleencrns@yahoo.com phone number: 918-671- 1843

How would you like to receive other’s responses?

______ I prefer to receive others’ responses by e-mail. My e-mail address is:

______ I prefer to receive others’ responses by regular mail. My address is:

2007-07-04T01:17:00.001-05:00

Sondra Sage, from New Mexico, took some nice photos in 2005. This one, of the rocking chairs on the Hardt Lodge porch, just look so friendly. They're still there... just waiting for us to come back and sit in 'em to laugh and talk.

QWC Top Ten -- from Liz

2007-06-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

Liz’s Top 10 reasons YOU should attend QWC:

10. You will constantly hear laughter and feel the warmth of love!

9. The food is yum yum yum!

8. It’s affordable and scholarships are available!

7. Don’t you want to learn how to fold butterflies?

6. It is a lovely break from business/home/the busyness of daily life.

5. The women who attend are friendly and fun—who could pass up new friends?!

4. The location is in a canyon that will lift your spirits!

3. We would love to meet you and get to know you!

2. It will give you the opportunity to grow spiritually and learn bunches about Quakers different from yourself!

And the #1 reason to attend QWC is………

The Holy Spirit will be there, so shouldn’t you?

Early Bird Registration

2007-06-15T23:04:00.000-05:00

Registration form

2007-06-15T23:01:00.001-05:00

Invitation from Lorraine

2007-04-17T23:44:00.000-05:00

Quaker Bonnot article from Lorraine 3-07

You are invited to attend the 5^th Quaker Women’s Conference in the Canyon Camp Conference Center, Hinton, OK, on November 1^st thru 4^th, 2007. In this beautiful place, women from different traditions of Quakerism (Evangelical Friends, Friends United Meeting, and Friends General Conference) will gather to learn from each other, support each other in spiritual growth, leadership, and ministry, and have fun! The theme this year is “Mustard Seeds in the 21^st Century: Growing in the Spirit.” Every participant will have a part in the Conference (from bell ringer to group leader). We will participate in song, dance, workshops, worship, and with plenty of talking. The cost is modest ($110.00 for a room with 4, to $145 for a room with 2). We will strive for a balance in numbers of women in each tradition, so please express your interest early. Registration is limited to 60 participants. Early bird registration (with a discount) is Aug. 15. Final deadline: Sept. 1. Interested?

Yearly Meeting Contacts

Betty Jean Penrose

Independence Friends Church

Independence KS

620-331-1842

funmemoriesbj@sbcglobal.net

Mid America Yearly Meeting

Evangelical Friends Churches

Beth Green-Nagle

Hominy Friends Church

Shawnee, OK

405-275-6702

Beth.green.nagle@okbu.edu

Great Plains Yearly Meeting

Friends United Meeting

Sue Wine

Topeka Friends Meeting

Topeka, KS

785-246-0950

Jwine2@cox.net

Unaffiliated

Friends General Conference

Or e-mail: QWCregistrar@yahoo.com

It's hard to believe this conference has gone on for 10 years

2007-04-12T00:10:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe this conference has been going on for 10 years now. Since it only meets every other year, the years add up fast.

It was started from a conversation at an FWCC (Friends World Committee for Consultation) Annual Meeting in about 1998. People who attended that first conference in 1999 have told me that they were all nervous about meeting. Everyone was pretty tense. After 10 years though, a really good group of women tends to come back year after year. We feel like there are warm bonds among the women that reach across that 2-year span and kind of draw us back together for another chance to connect.

That's especially true for women who've been part of the planning committees. Each planning committee has been unique, but the friendships that develop have been important to the development and continuation of the conference. We always look forward to meeting. In the planning process, we have a chance to live out the ideals of mutual respect and understanding that we hope the conference is nurturing.

This year, because of travel costs, we decided to try to have most of our meetings by conference call. It's not as warm and intimate as the quarterly retreats were, that we used to do. They're still pretty fun though. And they seem to be productive. Guess we'll find out how it works. Lots of other national and international Quaker committees meet this way. We have had two retreats, and may have one more. Still haven't met Lorna Long, from Derby Friends Church, yet. I'm looking forward to that.

filling the well

2007-04-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

QWC was essential for my spiritual well-being and has continued to nurture my spiritual growth. Before I came to my first conference, my well was dry. I spent most meetings for worship in my MM nursing a baby, chasing a toddler, or managing multiple other children sitting on my bench. Coming to QWC, refilled my well. I again _felt_ the closeness of God's presence. Among other women I had the space to worship, express my gratitude for Christ's love and regain a sense of peace. This spiritual nurture made it possible for me to go home with more strength and a better perspective on my own life and God's love for me.

-Beth

2007-04-04T10:33:00.001-05:00

Judy Hopkinson said...

One of the best things about this conference for me was the opportunity to meet and grow to understand Quaker women from different traditions. It is a special blessing to be challenged in ways that broaden the soul and humble the intellect.

I am so grateful for the new Friends I made, and for the rich tapestry of perspectives they bring to my life. -- Not that I didn't work for it. Spiritual work can wear you out like nothing else! It takes focus and committment and sometimes the ability to listen when you would rather speak. (OK - that last part is harder work for some of us than for others.) But the good news is that there was ample respite in the form of worship, quiet time in nature, and fun activities like crafts and yogo. A well-planned balance of work and recreation made it a growth experience to cherish. It makes me smile - partly with joy and partly with pride - each time I think about it.

April 3, 2007 7:37 PM

Canyon Camp is a beautiful location for this conference

2007-04-03T15:24:00.000-05:00

Part of the charm of the conference has been the beauty of the setting. Canyon Camp is located in the Red Rock Canyon area of Oklahoma, northwest of Oklahoma City. A deep gash in the gently rolling hills near Hinton, that drops abruptly to a level canyon floor with a trickling stream through the center. Red sandstone encloses the camp in a loving embrace that mellows the prairie winds. Wildlife unique to the canyon floor have sometimes been sighted, and willows and fall wildflowers greet us when the weather has been warm. At other times light snowfall has brushed us with its pure grace.

Every year we've met there we tell each other... "The conference is great, but it's also worth the trip just to come to the canyon." or, "The canyon is just so restful." This is a wonderful setting to come and gently explore ways that Friends of many traditions can reach out to one another, in spite of historic conflicts.

2007 Quaker Womens Conference is in planning stage

2007-03-30T21:39:00.000-05:00

The central states Quaker Womens Conference is planned for November 1-4, 2007. It will once again be held in the beautiful Red Rock Canyon area near Hinton Oklahoma. Hinton is about an hour West of Oklahoma City.

This conference primarily includes women from Great Plains Yearly Meeting, Mid America Yearly Meeting, the Missouri Valley Conference, and South Central Yearly Meeting. Women from other Yearly Meetings are also welcome, and Friends have attended from Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, and elsewhere.

Sponsors and supporter of the conference include the main Yearly Meetings, Quarterly Meetings Bayou and Arkansas-Oklahoma; and Monthly Meetings and Churches such as Green Country Friends(OK), University Friends(KS), Fayetteville Friends(AR), Life Oak Friends(TX), Hominy Friends(OK), Friends Meeting of Austin(TX), Derby Friends(KS), and Independence Friends(KS).

Theme for the 2007 Conference is "Mustard Seeds in the 21st Century: Growing in the Spirit". The conference planners labored deep and long to clarify for themselves a theme that spoke to the common need to nurture in ourselves that Inner Light, the Holy Spirit, and to trust the Inner Teacher, the Christ within. We hope women who join us next November will find Soul Food that feeds the mustard seed of their faith, in whatever stage of growth it flourishes.