Aj Schwanz

I’ve maintained this blog for almost a year now.¬† I discovered blogging as a new mama trapped mostly at home:¬† when I couldn’t leave the townhouse due to napping or feeding schedules, I could still connect with the “outside world” via these personal weblogs - total blessing.

At the same time I was struggling with the question of “where have all the young adults gone?” in regards to participation in my worship gathering.¬† My friends and I seemed to have a real experience of Christ in high school, and yet we all faded away come college and entrance into young adulthood.¬† I was recruited to facilitate a workshop at our Yearly Meeting (Annual Conference) regarding The Missing Generation.¬† In preparing, folks pointed me in the direction of postmodernism and the emerging church.¬† But as I threw my questions and experiences out into the grand blogosphere, God opened an unexpected door into connecting with those in my tradition (Quakers) from different branches.

As I said, it’s almost been a year which means that Yearly Meeting is coming up.¬† The workshop last year was a great time of questioning and conversing, and I’ve been asked to facilitate two workshops this year to continue the conversation:¬† one on Emerging and Young Adults, and the other on Quakerism and Young Adults (the titles are more snazzy than that, but I can’t remember them exactly - they’re that snazzy).¬† My mind is saturated with experiences, questions, ways folks are living out good stuff, ways folks aren’t doing so hot, places young adults are, and opportunities to connect.¬† But sometimes when one is *so* in something, it’s hard to know what would be the best stuff to tackle when we gather together.

SO:¬† I’d like to hear from you.¬† Really.¬† I’m not kidding.¬† I’m not asking out of politeness (which I could, having been raised in a proper Southern tradition).¬† You:¬† I wanna know.

• Do these topics (young adults and emerging and/or Quakerism) sound relevant to your situation?

• What assumptions do you have when you hear “young adults”?¬† “Emerging”?¬† “Quaker”?

• Why would you attend such a gathering?

• What would you hope to bring to this conversation?

• What would you hope to take away?

A number of folks have told me, “I read your blog and wanted to leave a comment, but I don’t have anything to say.”¬† I think you do.¬† Others have told me, “I don’t have the time.”¬† Call me - on your way to work or the store or while you’re walking the puppy.¬† Some say, “I don’t feel comfortable sharing publically.”¬† Email me:¬† my contact info’s on the sidebar.¬† I have been so blessed by connecting with you all:¬† thank you for sharing with me.