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Report from Iowa Yearly Meeting - 2002IOWA YEARLY MEETING (Conservative) HELD JULY 16-21 AT SCATTERGOOD FRIENDS SCHOOLFive Penn Valley Meeting Friends attended some or all of Yearly Meeting. They were: Jim and Ginger Kenney, Cathy Gardner and John and Reva Griffith. Because of the small number present from this meeting, those attending were busy with committee responsibilities. But not so busy they weren't able to attend the evening collections where the theme was Faith in Action. Speakers discussed restorative justice, prison ministry, the war and drugs, mediation, and experiences in South America. Some attended Bible Study in the mornings. The first Bible study session concerned "Bible Reading as led by the Spirit." For Bible Reading in three mornings David Eley, a frequent guest from the yearly meeting in Texas, shared spiritual experiences under the title of "Christ in you, the hope of glory."Business meetings with their unique combination of worship and business were held in the mornings and some afternoons. We must report that the benches have not softened, but the continuing miracle of combining worship and business has its usual softening effect. Other afternoons featured updating of organization activities in the AFSC, FCNL and Iowa Peace Network, a session on innovative ideas for Scattergood, and a discussion of world resources. The children were again a lively presence at Yearly Meeting as they took part in some of the adult activities and carried on their own special versions of business and fun. As usual, a number of guests enriched the yearly meeting with their special contributions. And the food, much of it fresh from the school's organic gardens, was superb. 125-150 persons attended all or part of the sessions. The weather was a bit steamy but mostly bearable. This annual gathering of Friends was for the most part the usual friendly occasion. |