FROM THE APRIL EDITION OF THE WHITEWATER FRIEND
Contributed by Doug Gwyn - Pastor

A Dream?

I had an interesting dream this week. I was visiting a religious community of some kind. They were going through a time of questioning, perhaps a crisis. They had a spiritual leader who was centuries old, who was kept in suspended animation most of the time. They just brought him out for special occasions or critical questions. He was hidden in the walls of their house. Before the dream ended, I saw them bringing him out -- he looked like a kind of mummy. I woke up and thought, hmm? that's interesting! The more I thought about it, the more it seemed clear that the dream was prompted by our visioning process. We are seeking our 'sacred center'. We are considering where the real strength, wisdom, spirituality of our meeting lies. That sacred center is a living reality, but where, what is it? We must draw it out into fuller awareness and greater intention among us. It's kind of like that spiritual leader in my dream, hidden inside the walls of the house. We know it's there, but we must bring it out into the open and learn from it.

George Fox sometimes wrote of Christ as 'the hidden man of the heart'. That secret presence has to be brought out into our consciousness if we are to be taught and empowered by it. As in Jesus' parable, one shouldn't hide the light of the house under a bushel, but set it up in the middle of the room. Our work to name, honor, and reclaim our sacred center is important. But it's not easy. Like an infinite universe, a Friends meeting has its center at all points -- each of us embodies the sacred center of the meeting. We will need to listen carefully to one another to find the common points among the many valuable personal insights that emerge from our vision groups.

Doug Gwyn

Maundy Thursday worship with West Richmond Friends

We have been invited to share in a brief worship service at West Richmond Friends Meeting, from 5:30 to 6:00 pm on Maundy Thursday, April 8. This will be a time to remember the last evening of Jesus' life. The simple service will consist of readings and music. Josh Brown, pastor at West Richmond, and Doug Gwyn will lead. Please join us.

A Party to Benefit Peter Wafula: Sunday, April 18 at 7:00 pm

Some here will recall Peter Wafula, the Kenyan Friends pastor studying at ESR, who worshipped with us for a while last autumn. It has been a good first year of study here, but Peter really needs to get home to Kenya for the summer, to spend time with his wife and three children. We will hold a fund-raiser on the 18th, featuring dessert, followed by a talk by Peter. We urge you to come, or make a donation through the meeting office, to help our Friend Peter.

QUIP (Quakers United in Publishing) Even Here, Saturday, April 24

Early Friends called themselves 'Publishers of Truth'. They were unprecedented in the sheer amount of their publication of books and pamphlets. We continue to be prolific publishers to this day. Quaker Publishers from around the world will have their annual get-together here in Richmond April 22-25. QUIP will hold a public event for all interested Friends here at First Friends Saturday evening the 24th, beginning at 7:00. Come and hear what's going on with Quakers in publishing.