Cloud Quakers is a regular Quaker Worship group. We could perhaps be a Meeting, and might be someday, but for now we are a group of regularly attending Quakers who meet online on Zoom, on Sunday evenings at 7 pm Mountain Time. 7 pm US Mountain Time is 8 in Chicago, 9 in New York, and 6 in California; we apologize for the inconvenience to those in Europe, Africa or the Far East. To join us, download Zoom (it takes ~ 5 minutes), dial 373 452 424, and you're in.
You'll find five or six regulars, and regular visitors. It's remarkably popular, and there are lots of people out there who seek a Quaker community. We intend to provide one for a wide range of people, including those who simply can't attend their local one, or don't really have a local one (mine is 70-80 miles across the White Sands and an incredibly harsh desert), or don't really fit in with their local one. My view is that we can be a community on Zoom; we can minister to each other; we can provide connection to the Quaker community.
There are at least five major kinds of Quakers nationwide, and they are very different from each other. It's a sensitive issue, that we don't pretend that we represent all Quakers when in fact we are just five; that we don't speak for all Quakers when we give our view about such things as gay marriage or the use of the Bible as absolute word. Different Quakers have gone different directions. My view is that we should try to recognize the global picture as well as possible, and at the same time forge our own path as we wish as a meeting. I think there's enough interest out there to eventually come up with and stock at least another meeting. It could be that the times are more important to waltz around, than the issues; at least we haven't run up against many theological differences. We've had conflict, but that's different. All communities have conflict.
Join us if you dare. A little Quarterly statement appears below, but I call it that just because we seem to have made it to our first quarter mark. We are not a Quarterly yet, but maybe someday we will be.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Cloud Quaker Quarterly
The Cloud Quakers Worship Group is now fairly stable as at least four or five of us come every week. It's nourishing, interesting, and lively. I couldn't ask for more. My own purpose was to have Quakers in my life, and around as I try to raise the last four of my ten children, who also happen to be pretty tough, as they present issues we weren't totally familiar with. Now, as I participate in Cloud Quakers on a Sunday evening, my whole family knows I'm at meeting. They tiptoe around me and listen in a little. They consider it a part of me and what I do, and I like that.
There are several issues that have come up in the course of starting a new meeting, not the least of which is zoom itself. Somehow my friend Maurine, a founding member, got listed as "Admin" and her picture now appears as "Admin," while the rest of us appear with our names by our pictures. I am not even sure how she became "Admin;" I certainly never gave her the honor, and so, now I'm wondering how to get it back. She doesn't want it. Like most Quakers; when Nominating Committee comes around, we're nowhere to be found, and so those who are missing get nominated. But in this case, it's a matter of knowing Zoom.
And as we get larger, zoom shows and streams each of our pictures, but you can no longer see each one, because the screen will literally show only about five or six. The remaining are tacked on to that five or six, and you can see them with effort, by clicking on an arrow, but only at the expense of those who you were in the presence of earlier. We like to be in the presence of each other; that's why five or six, on this platform, is probably the ideal number. But surprisingly the format and accessibility of Cloud Quakers is popular, and people are joining us from all over. Starting with us five or six, and our friends, we have an ever-widening community.
It's possible that we attract a few who have had trouble fitting in with their local meetings. I don't have a problem with that. If this were to become regular, our people might be a little more outcast, swim-against-the-tide type Quakers. I don't have a problem with that either. I believe Quakerism is itself large enough to fit those who want to be Quakers but who don't necessarily enjoy worshiping with the local variety. I know when I was in a certain medium-size town in Texas the local variety was mostly evangelical, fundamentalist, etc., and if I hadn't found friends of my own variety, I might have become disjointed altogether. As it is we Quakers are a little scarce in this world and there are whole swaths of the countryside, southeast Kansas for example, where they're hard to be found.
If Quakerism were able to hold and sustain a larger population of like-minded souls, who are attracted to our ways but unable to find agreeable communities, Quakerism would be much larger than the four or five thousand that it is now. It's the existence of communities, that nourish their people, and shine their light on their children, that are the essence of sustainability. We in the loosely knit online Quaker community can do many of the same things for our members as the old rural, meeting-house based communities used to do for theirs; it's just going to be different. We can't shake hands after meeting, or offer hugs. But we'll have to have our own traditions to sustain us.
The question comes up about whether we should be a meeting; whether we should have Meeting for Business; whether we can do some of the things meetings do. I am of mixed feelings. We are now a worship group, and I don't have any problem having a worship group that is somewhat outside the regular structure of Quakerism. I very occasionally attend Las Cruces meeting; I am still a member of Southern Illinois Quaker Meeting. I've been a Quaker for long enough that I don't have a problem representing it or clerking a meeting. In a sense, though, I want that connection, and may go down to Las Cruces just to ask for it. We would be part of Intermountain Yearly meeting, I suppose. We would gain membership in a Yearly that perhaps would know about us, and visit, and / or help us out.
Ah, but that's a question for another day. For this one, let's simply figure out how to use Zoom to our best advantage.
There are several issues that have come up in the course of starting a new meeting, not the least of which is zoom itself. Somehow my friend Maurine, a founding member, got listed as "Admin" and her picture now appears as "Admin," while the rest of us appear with our names by our pictures. I am not even sure how she became "Admin;" I certainly never gave her the honor, and so, now I'm wondering how to get it back. She doesn't want it. Like most Quakers; when Nominating Committee comes around, we're nowhere to be found, and so those who are missing get nominated. But in this case, it's a matter of knowing Zoom.
And as we get larger, zoom shows and streams each of our pictures, but you can no longer see each one, because the screen will literally show only about five or six. The remaining are tacked on to that five or six, and you can see them with effort, by clicking on an arrow, but only at the expense of those who you were in the presence of earlier. We like to be in the presence of each other; that's why five or six, on this platform, is probably the ideal number. But surprisingly the format and accessibility of Cloud Quakers is popular, and people are joining us from all over. Starting with us five or six, and our friends, we have an ever-widening community.
It's possible that we attract a few who have had trouble fitting in with their local meetings. I don't have a problem with that. If this were to become regular, our people might be a little more outcast, swim-against-the-tide type Quakers. I don't have a problem with that either. I believe Quakerism is itself large enough to fit those who want to be Quakers but who don't necessarily enjoy worshiping with the local variety. I know when I was in a certain medium-size town in Texas the local variety was mostly evangelical, fundamentalist, etc., and if I hadn't found friends of my own variety, I might have become disjointed altogether. As it is we Quakers are a little scarce in this world and there are whole swaths of the countryside, southeast Kansas for example, where they're hard to be found.
If Quakerism were able to hold and sustain a larger population of like-minded souls, who are attracted to our ways but unable to find agreeable communities, Quakerism would be much larger than the four or five thousand that it is now. It's the existence of communities, that nourish their people, and shine their light on their children, that are the essence of sustainability. We in the loosely knit online Quaker community can do many of the same things for our members as the old rural, meeting-house based communities used to do for theirs; it's just going to be different. We can't shake hands after meeting, or offer hugs. But we'll have to have our own traditions to sustain us.
The question comes up about whether we should be a meeting; whether we should have Meeting for Business; whether we can do some of the things meetings do. I am of mixed feelings. We are now a worship group, and I don't have any problem having a worship group that is somewhat outside the regular structure of Quakerism. I very occasionally attend Las Cruces meeting; I am still a member of Southern Illinois Quaker Meeting. I've been a Quaker for long enough that I don't have a problem representing it or clerking a meeting. In a sense, though, I want that connection, and may go down to Las Cruces just to ask for it. We would be part of Intermountain Yearly meeting, I suppose. We would gain membership in a Yearly that perhaps would know about us, and visit, and / or help us out.
Ah, but that's a question for another day. For this one, let's simply figure out how to use Zoom to our best advantage.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Friday, February 1, 2019
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Cloud Quaker how-to
First, download Zoom; it takes about five minutes. You have to have a computer with good connection; phones will work, but won't work well. Zoom is a program that will stream both the main movie (whoever is on center) and little movies for all the participants, so, it needs bandwidth and a decent connection; though you might think this rules many people out, in fact, most people can do it if they are conscious and careful. I myself have to be careful to be in the living room and have my computer charger plugged in, but if all is in order, it's really no problem.
When you open up zoom (zoom.us), join a meeting, and join 269-126-704; if a password is required, try Quaker. In the 7am meeting, I may be a minute or two late but will be there at 7 am or sooner. In the 7 pm (Mtn time) meeting I have lots of help and lots of us will be on there early.
I don't want to make a lot of prohibitions - no trump, no proselytizing, etc., until I have to. Let's just say it's a Quaker worship group and treat it like that. Ministering each other will be our first priority.
The right Quaker meeting is hard to find. A person is lucky if the one in their town is the right one for them; I've been lucky that way, once. Most people struggle to find the right connections and have a religious community in their lives that suits them. If you think about it, moving the quest online is good that way: it ensures that, if there are people out there who are right for us, there is a possibility of finding them, and having a community with them. I am interested in trying.
Quaker meetings and worship groups have always had a lot of visitors. When you publicly call yourself a Quaker you have to expect that. Visitors range from genuinely curious seekers to students writing papers for their Religion class, to people who think that if we are open-minded and spiritual by nature, they can push their religion on us. My point is, we can maintain our integrity, just by being honest and welcoming to visitors, and reminding them that it is, in fact, a worship group. There's no reason we can't just answer their questions, if they're curious.
I have less patience with Green Party proselytizers, as it seems there are plenty of other places to do politics. But, same, I think if we listen to people, we'll hear all kinds of things, and then, we ourselves can decide when to honor our main commitments.
I look forward to meeting everyone. I feel the best way to form a community is to jump right in there, and be there for people. It doesn't happen overnight. If this is the place you want to be, on a regular basis, you'll know it. Otherwise, I have no problem meeting you, and knowing you're out there still looking. The right place will come along, for everyone.
When you open up zoom (zoom.us), join a meeting, and join 269-126-704; if a password is required, try Quaker. In the 7am meeting, I may be a minute or two late but will be there at 7 am or sooner. In the 7 pm (Mtn time) meeting I have lots of help and lots of us will be on there early.
I don't want to make a lot of prohibitions - no trump, no proselytizing, etc., until I have to. Let's just say it's a Quaker worship group and treat it like that. Ministering each other will be our first priority.
The right Quaker meeting is hard to find. A person is lucky if the one in their town is the right one for them; I've been lucky that way, once. Most people struggle to find the right connections and have a religious community in their lives that suits them. If you think about it, moving the quest online is good that way: it ensures that, if there are people out there who are right for us, there is a possibility of finding them, and having a community with them. I am interested in trying.
Quaker meetings and worship groups have always had a lot of visitors. When you publicly call yourself a Quaker you have to expect that. Visitors range from genuinely curious seekers to students writing papers for their Religion class, to people who think that if we are open-minded and spiritual by nature, they can push their religion on us. My point is, we can maintain our integrity, just by being honest and welcoming to visitors, and reminding them that it is, in fact, a worship group. There's no reason we can't just answer their questions, if they're curious.
I have less patience with Green Party proselytizers, as it seems there are plenty of other places to do politics. But, same, I think if we listen to people, we'll hear all kinds of things, and then, we ourselves can decide when to honor our main commitments.
I look forward to meeting everyone. I feel the best way to form a community is to jump right in there, and be there for people. It doesn't happen overnight. If this is the place you want to be, on a regular basis, you'll know it. Otherwise, I have no problem meeting you, and knowing you're out there still looking. The right place will come along, for everyone.
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Cloud Quaker Worship Group
Hello and welcome to Cloud Quakers. We are a group that meets online once a week; actually there are two meetings, 7 am mountain time, and 7 pm mountain time. This would be 8 & 8 in Chicago, 9 & 9 in New York, 6 & 6 in California. I am hoping to find times that everyone can join us, though I know this is somewhat Americo-centric; I'm not sure which, if either, would be useful to our international friends.
My purpose is simple. My life was changed because Quakers were there when I needed them. Sometimes what a person needs is love, a listening ear, and a spiritual approach to dealing with life's issues. For many people good Quakers are hard to find; I know they are for me here (I live in a tiny mountain community in the clouds; it's in the southern Rockies of New Mexico; it's a nice town, but it's mostly a tourist town and simply doesn't have many Quakers). I believe that online tools, namely zoom, make it easier to form a Quaker community and that we should just get on it and do it.
Zoom is like Skype. Some people may never get past the simple process of downloading onto one's computer (as one does with Skype) and running it, but for most it's no big deal. Also, of course, one must master talking to the little green dot (into the camera) and manipulating it to the best effect. I think, basically, that it's possible and reasonable to have a quaker meeting with five to twelve people happily. If we get more than that, regularly, we'll have spinoff meetings. I may advertise that here or I may use the Facebook site exclusively.
I will use this site to ruminate about the issues that come up in the process of organizing and having an online meeting. That will do two things. One, it will make a public record of what I'm thinking, and where I stand about issues here. Second, it will invite others to comment as it's all public. Third, it will help me sort things out myself.
At this point it all sounds like "me me me." Actually it's a community thing. I do it for the community; I just don't have one yet. I fully intend to have the community make these decisions, and have as close as I can to consensus on each one.
If people are moved to join the community and help with the $15/mo. zoom fee, they are more than welcome. For now I am more than willing to cover it. It is our only issue. That, and how to communicate; at first I was into an e-mail announcement system. Now, I think Facebook is better. Facebook is like the phonebook; most people are on it, and those who refuse, go out of their way to get what they need without it. That is in contrast to e-mail; everyone has e-mail too; but sometimes they only look at their e-mail when they're in a business mood, and then, they tend to set aside things that are not business, and sometimes go days without looking at it.
But the reason I chose against e-mail, really, was security. You can set up sophisticated blocking systems so that people receive e-mails without knowing who else has received the same e-mail, but in general, one's e-mail address goes from place to place in a system like this and eventually the wrong people get it. No thanks on that. I'd rather have Facebook, which has a kind of built-in privacy.
Here's to a new Quaker worship group! See you on Sunday!
My purpose is simple. My life was changed because Quakers were there when I needed them. Sometimes what a person needs is love, a listening ear, and a spiritual approach to dealing with life's issues. For many people good Quakers are hard to find; I know they are for me here (I live in a tiny mountain community in the clouds; it's in the southern Rockies of New Mexico; it's a nice town, but it's mostly a tourist town and simply doesn't have many Quakers). I believe that online tools, namely zoom, make it easier to form a Quaker community and that we should just get on it and do it.
Zoom is like Skype. Some people may never get past the simple process of downloading onto one's computer (as one does with Skype) and running it, but for most it's no big deal. Also, of course, one must master talking to the little green dot (into the camera) and manipulating it to the best effect. I think, basically, that it's possible and reasonable to have a quaker meeting with five to twelve people happily. If we get more than that, regularly, we'll have spinoff meetings. I may advertise that here or I may use the Facebook site exclusively.
I will use this site to ruminate about the issues that come up in the process of organizing and having an online meeting. That will do two things. One, it will make a public record of what I'm thinking, and where I stand about issues here. Second, it will invite others to comment as it's all public. Third, it will help me sort things out myself.
At this point it all sounds like "me me me." Actually it's a community thing. I do it for the community; I just don't have one yet. I fully intend to have the community make these decisions, and have as close as I can to consensus on each one.
If people are moved to join the community and help with the $15/mo. zoom fee, they are more than welcome. For now I am more than willing to cover it. It is our only issue. That, and how to communicate; at first I was into an e-mail announcement system. Now, I think Facebook is better. Facebook is like the phonebook; most people are on it, and those who refuse, go out of their way to get what they need without it. That is in contrast to e-mail; everyone has e-mail too; but sometimes they only look at their e-mail when they're in a business mood, and then, they tend to set aside things that are not business, and sometimes go days without looking at it.
But the reason I chose against e-mail, really, was security. You can set up sophisticated blocking systems so that people receive e-mails without knowing who else has received the same e-mail, but in general, one's e-mail address goes from place to place in a system like this and eventually the wrong people get it. No thanks on that. I'd rather have Facebook, which has a kind of built-in privacy.
Here's to a new Quaker worship group! See you on Sunday!
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Hello! My name is Erika, and though I am not a Quaker presently, I have started attending the Cloud Quaker's weekly worship in 2021. My ...
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