JHYM Retreat Staff Notes
Be the Change You Wish to See in the World
JHYM Retreats * May 4-6, 2007 * Portland Friends Meeting
Dearest Friends,
Thank you for offering your time and spirits to this retreat community. Without exaggeration, this would not be possible without you! As staff we are: Buddy Baker-Smith, Katey Baker-Smith, Sara Gove, Sara Hubner, Eileen Johnson, Denis Lachman, Kara Price, Karin and Scott Sprague, Carolyn Stone, and moi. Though Dee Kelsey will not be physically with us, she has done extraordinary amounts of prayerful organizing for the service projects again this year. She and Wendyl Ross, who is doing the same in the food end of the retreat – i.e., “phoning it in” – are incredible gifts to all of us and very much part of this retreat’s STAFF. In addition, Emily Kelsey, wonderful Young Friend, will join us on Saturday afternoon as a local resource and visitor on one of the service projects. Such a wonderful crew. Thank you dear Friends!
And yes, we do have some JH’ers coming – 28 of ‘em as of today -- only 1 of whom is a first timer. I think we’ll probably have 30 for the weekend.
A note on the absence of Wendyl
Our beloved Supreme Kitchen Goddess will not be with us this weekend. As one of the two Resident Friends for Wellesley Meeting, she’s decided she needs to be home for their clean up day this year. (She’s been with us at JHYM the past two years while Wellesley’s held their clean up days, so I guess we can share her this time!) Our experience at a couple of other retreats recently has been that it takes a small village to replace Wendyl – without even trying to replace the grace she channels. Nonetheless, she and I are working out a plan for the weekend, with the idea of two staffers overseeing each meal. Other staffers will then oversee cleanup crews so there will be opportunities for everyone to help out! Wendyl will be sending a small amount of prepared food to us, mostly for those JH’ers with special food needs (a huge help) as well as a detailed menu and shopping plan. Thank you, Wendyl, for your incredible generosity and love!
IF YOU CAN, PLEASE BRING
Work gloves for the outside service projects
A few metal and/or leaf rakes, and clippers might be useful, too.
Yarn and knitting needles if you knit and can/want to teach others during free time
The Theme
Our theme for this weekend comes from Gandhi’s words of wisdom: Be the Change You Wish to See in the World. Not “create” the change, or “demand” the change – simply BE it. As I have prayed into this theme, I’ve been struck by many implications. For me, it means faithfully listening to one’s heart and prayer towards a vision of what that change can be – and then being a witness in daily life to it through one’s breath, spirit, and life. It challenges me to do less and breath deeply more. It urges me to trust both that I am safe in God’s hands and that my individual acts and witness are ‘enough.’ (How does this sit with us and some of the world issues that our JH’ers are concerned about right now???) And sometimes it asks me to be a fool for God – to do the right thing even though it is impractical or out of synch with the rest of the world – which is particularly challenging for some of our JH’ers and practical-minded adults….like me.
Friends’ understanding of staying close to our Guide, and of minding and faithfully following that which stirs our hearts, relate closely here. That ‘be’ word, though, hits me in a profound way – for it is more than even just right action. It affirms the possibility and worthiness of reaching towards embodying the essence of the Divine, of God’s Love, and becoming part of the creation of heaven on earth, here, in 2007. Pretty radical stuff, really.
This year, once again, our JHYM Retreat Community has provided a safe and miraculous testing ground for experimenting with this be-ing. I am in awe, again, at how tenderly, courageously, and beautifully our diverse crew of JH’ers has come together and created a place where they, indeed, are able to BE the change they wish for the rest of the world. And in experiencing it here, I sense, celebrate, and pray that they feel more hopeful and centered to BE that change out in the world; to simply be more honest, more faithful, and more open-hearted in all of their relationships and actions. Truly, they inspire me to live my life more faithfully out in the rest of the world, too.
Retreat Timelines
Arrival: The Baker-Smiths will be arriving between 3:30 and 4 along with a couple of JH’ers. As of this moment, Wendyl is planning on delivering food and a “plan” somewhere around this time. Buddy, Katey and Sara Gove have all indicated their willingness to arrive early to help with a grocery shopping trip (Buddy and Katey) and Friday night dinner prep (Sara). It would be very helpful to get one or two more staffers arriving by 6:30, as JH’ers start rolling in by then, with the rest of you (except Denis whom I know can’t come until later) arriving by 7pm. If you can come earlier, please do – but definitely let me know if you’ll be later than 7.
Wrap-up: Worship is at 10:30 Sunday morning, followed by lunch and a final cleanup. We should be out of there by 1pm without much problem at all. Sara Gove needs to leave very early Sunday morning – please do let me know if any others of you can’t stay until the end.
DIRECTIONS TO PORTLAND FRIENDS MEETING ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
Program Details
Small Groups will meet 3 times over the course of the weekend: Friday evening, Saturday morning, and late Saturday afternoon. You will find suggestions for discussion topics as well as games and activities in your staff notebooks when you arrive on Friday night. Just remember that our goal in the small groups is to create community more than to cover any sort of content! We will be divided into 4 small groups – with 7-8 JH’ers and 2-3 staffers for each group. You’ll be in the same small group for the weekend.
Friday evening: After some Opening Worship, we’ll do the usual names, program overview and theme introductions. We’ll also break into small groups, sign up for Saturday afternoon service projects, get re-acquainted with each other, share dessert and hang out.
Saturday Morning Opening Circle:
Kara – would you be willing to share/lead a song or two or three at the beginning of Opening Worship around the theme? I am hopeful that we will also hear from a JH’er during this time as well (still working on this).
We’ll then break into small groups for “check-ins” and discussion. After some free time (major group games need to happen) and snack, we’ll gather back into a large group circle before lunch for worship. Due to a soccer team commitment, Robin Carpenter won’t be with us, but she has generously agreed to let me share some of her poetry on experiencing God’s Presence with the group. Katey, I am hoping that you might also be willing to talk for 5 or 10 minutes on your experience of “being present” to the children in Bolivia last fall.
Saturday Afternoon: This is also our annual “Service Project Retreat.” On Saturday afternoon we will be going out into the Portland area to lend our hands and hearts in a variety of ways. Thanks to wonder-woman Dee, this year’s projects include working at the local soup kitchen; hosting a tea party at an area nursing home; picking up trash at the local city park and along a beach trail (separate projects); and lending a hand at the new Friends School on MacWorth Island.
When we return to the Meeting House, we’ll head to Quiet Hour, followed by small groups, and supper prep.
Saturday Evening: After Supper, we will break into two groups. The 8th Graders will have a discussion, led by Kara and Katey (I’m assuming you’re both willing), on going into Young Friends in the fall. I’m hoping to get a current YF in on this discussion, too. Hint: This program time could include sharing a YF song or two, and possibly a YF game?!??!!
Simultaneously, the 6th and 7th graders will joyfully -- and quickly -- work on creating special gifts to present to the 8th graders at the Circle of Affirmation which will immediately follow. Thanks to my mother and Kevin Lee who have been faithfully eating oatmeal so that we have a box for each 8th grader!
Last year’s circle was really a beautiful evening of extended sharing in friendship and community – I anticipate this year’s will be also.
My Mantra on Free Time:
Junior Higher’s want free time, but most of them want it with structure so that they can be in community. “Free time” is not staff “free time” -- it’s more like “show time.” With creativity, open-heartedness, and humor, please initiate group games (Apples to Apples, or other card games; JYM Ball, Kick Ball, Capture the Flag), inspire craft projects, be the adult presence at impromptu dance sessions, encourage new Who’s Who Book pages, start conversations, and simply engage stragglers into the mix in any ways you feel led – or the young people themselves lead! Your kind and generous willingness to be in relationship with JH’ers during free time is beautiful, beautiful ministry, and one of the cornerstones of our community. Thank you dear Friends.
Staff Assignments
Registrar: Buddy
Retreat Nurse: Karin
Craft Table Elder: Carolyn
Name Tag Czar: Katey
Photographer: Buddy
Service Project Master Planner: Dee
Service Project Transportation Coordinator: Sara H.
Group Game Leaders: Scott, Buddy, Kara, Denis
JH’ers Special Dietary Needs Point Person: Sara G.
Grocery List Point Person: Eileen
Supreme Kitchen Goddess’ fill-ins: almost all of us! (And we’ll STILL miss her!)
Final note:
Do know, dear dear Friends, my gratitude and love for each of you. I am really looking forward to our weekend together in community and ministry. Travel safely and be well.
With love,
Gretchen Baker-Smith
JHYM Retreat leader
508-997-0940 (home) 508-287-6441 (cell) * Gretchen@jymretreats.org
It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result. (Gandhi))