Epistle from All Poland Gathering 2022
Epistle of the All Poland Gathering of Friends, Warsaw-Włochy 2022
On the third weekend of October 2022, we met in the cosy home of our Friend Zuzanna Pędzich in Warsaw-Włochy. For the first time in three years, we enjoyed personal contact, engaged in conversation about current Quaker issues and shared our understanding of the testimony of peace in the current wartime circumstances.
In the evening, the ten of us (who came from České Budějovice, Gdańsk, Katowice, Piła, Poznań,Trzebiatkowa, Warsaw) shared news from local groups, heard greetings from FWCC EMES and fromEMES AM, as well as from Bradius Maurus, who was unable to be with us for the first time since the All Poland Gathering was established. During the Meeting for Worship we remembered our Friends who had passed away – Jola Grabowska and Lyn Atterbury.
As we proceeded to our first decision-making meeting after the difficult time of the pandemic, we had concerns if the APG would survive. The pandemic had strained our strength, weakened our willingness and ability to play roles without which the functioning of a formal assembly is very difficult. However, once again we experienced the strength of the Quaker spirit and our need for community, and despite the small turnout, we ended our decision-making meeting uplifted by the readiness of Friends both to perform the roles needed and to organize Gathering next year.
A wonderful vegan meal and a short walk in the lovely surroundings prepared us for Pavel Marušinec’s inspiring lecture on the role of religious doctrines. The worship sharing on this topic attracted the largest number – fourteen – of participants and was extremely lively. We were very touched by the metaphor of the spiritual life as a journey on which we take a backpack filled with certain beliefs. Who decides what and how much to put in the backpack? What to take out of it? Do Quakers have a list of indispensable equipment?
Filled with joy of music-making together, in excellent spirits and accompanied by Zuzanna’s children, we put together the Polish verse (or even two, plus the chorus) of the song Every time I feel the Spirit. We will add it to the English verse, already prepared by the Warsaw Group for the World Gathering of Friends to be held in 2024 in South Africa.
Appreciating the opportunity to spend time together and be spiritually uplifted at our gathering in Warsaw, we look forward to meeting again in the autumn of 2023 in Poznan.
With friendly greetings,
Epistolar Committee: Magda Knapowska and Kasia Kaczmarkiewicz
