Greetings to Friends Everywhere,

 

 On July 8, 2005 eleven people gathered at Quaker Knoll for two days of learning, fellowship and fun.  On Friday we learned the value of flexibility due to a series of unfortunate events.  Our proposed trip to the King's Island Spiritfest fell through, so our plans had to be revised literally at the eleventh hour, despite that, everything seemed to go well.  Our Youth Director's van died on the way into town from the camp and then the next van we got had a dead battery, so it had to be jumped. 
  
 We discussed and learned about the structure and function of the Monthly, Quarterly and Yearly Meetings as well as the larger International Organizations.  We joined the larger body of Friends that evening for the banquet and listened to Art Godfrey speak about his experiences growing up in an orphanage.  Afterwards we retired to Quaker Knoll for an evening of games and movies.

 

 Saturday morning we rejoined our fellow Quakers for worship and study, then returned to Quaker Knoll until lunch.  During that time we discussed more about Quaker history and organization and came up with a series of questions.  We distilled these questions into a game which we dubbed "Stump the Quaker"-- some of you may have fallen victim to this. 

 

 After lunch we journeyed to Jungle Jim's Food Market in Fairfield - as the theme is "One Body, Many Members" we felt it would be appropriate to examine what some of our international brethren eat.  We returned to Quaker Knoll for another evening of fun and fellowship.  Sunday morning we rejoined the larger body of Friends at Quaker Knoll for the worship and picnic.

 

 As a member of the Body of Christ, the Quakers have historically been "a leading voice for Christ around the world."  As the younger generation, we realize that it requires more than an investment in and a celebration of our heritage.  In the theme of "One Body, Many Members  we of the younger generation recognize it is our responsibility to create our own heritage.  But we cannot do this on our own, no more than a hand can grasp without an arm and wrist.  It is the responsibility of everyone to work at this future heritage.  Our generation as much as any struggles with the issues of apathy, distraction and geography.  Geography is a big obstacle to Tennessee and Ohio youth "fellowshipping" together.  We have therefore come to consensus that Kentucky needs to go somewhere else immediately. 

 

 The body of Christ is eternal.  In order for us as young friends to be active and contributing parts of this body we need to actively seek His will for us, do His work and strive to perform the work today that makes our current heritage relevant. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Wilmington Yearly Meeting Young Friends.