Weekly progress

Week One | Week Two | Week Three | Week Four | Week Five | Week Six | Week Seven
Young Friends weekend | Tapestry workshop

Week One

Minute of Record - Meeting for Discursive Reflection (held on Thursday)

All staff and course participants gathered to reflect on the progress of the AQC to date.

It is satisfying to know that our connection with this land has already begun. Pumpkins have been planted and other steps taken to improve the garden. Composting is under way. We also feel the despair of the land and its need for care. Whilst we love the expansive views from the property we find that small windows in the building itself limit the vista.

Some friends have found that lack of non-scheduled time has prevented them from walking over the property and its environs. We also recognise that we all tend to fill time up even when non-scheduled. We hope further thought can be given to making more time available to enjoy the land. Possibly as the weather becomes warmer and the days longer we could schedule and hour’s walk before breakfast.

We are generally happy with the rhythm of daily life at the Centre. We are aware of how much early Friends were steeped in the Bible, and some of us are keen to trial the idea of reading from the Bible during some meal times.

Concern was expressed by one Friend that the conversation at mealtime was sometimes less spiritually oriented than he hoped for, and that he felt the need to escape conversational trivia by becoming silent. The hope has been expressed that, mindful of this Friends comments, we will be more thoughtful in choosing topics of conversation.

Whilst it appears that the silent day was satisfactory for Friends participating, we nevertheless felt the need to communicate better the spiritual quality of the silence. We have been reminded that for those not used to it, enforced silence for a day needs some getting used to. We need to give thought to the practicalities of how we communicate when we need to get things done in the silence. It has been suggested that it should be acceptable to break the silence briefly in some circumstances such as to seek or to give instruction in relation to jobs, etc.

We considered briefly how the Centre should be advertised. We accept that the courses and opportunities afforded by a sojourn at the Centre must be advertised or people will not come. Applicants should be fully informed of the type of accommodation available and the weather to be expected. It has been cold this week.

We are aware that if the cook’s routine is interfered with by the need to attend unscheduled meetings or for other reasons, it can become difficult for her to provide meals on time. We also agreed that punctuality in the daily rhythm of the community as a whole would be encouraged by ringing the bell for all meals, class times, and daily meeting for worship.

We gave preliminary attention to the possibility of arranging special ceremonies for the welcome and farewelling of course participants and expect that such matters will be given further consideration by the Centre management.

Since last Monday a gentle rhythm has developed in the life of the Centre. We are happy with progress.