PYM and many of the meetings in PYM hold their investments at Friends Fiduciary because of their high performance and commitment to investing with Quaker values. On May 23rd Friends Fiduciary shared a message about their work in the context of the current market volatility. The message is reposted here for PYM Friends to see. [Read more…] about A Message From Friends Fiduciary
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Supporting Children and Teens After Violent News
In the last two weeks we have been repeatedly confronted with the legacy of gun violence and ongoing, communal trauma in this country. The three events in recent days have happened in the kinds of everyday places that should be safe — the grocery store, church, and school. How do we talk to children and adolescents about gun violence, racialized violence, and senseless tragedy? Parents and caregivers are helping their children process their feelings alongside their own, and signs of anxiety are different in children and adolescents when compared with adults. Pastoral care for children begins with pastoral care for their caregivers, and the resources below are offered to support parents and families—please share.
[Read more…] about Supporting Children and Teens After Violent News
Workshop on Gathering Virtually
A workshop was held on Saturday May 7, and we returned to the questions we’ve held since 2020 about navigating the new normal of life through the ongoing pandemic. We highly recommend to readers the guidance on virtual gathering authored by Emily Provance, a Traveling Minister of New York Yearly Meeting. [Read more…] about Workshop on Gathering Virtually
Policy on Advocacy Explained
Quaker practice invites Friends to listen deeply to the Inward Teacher and then to follow the leading that comes as a result. This is foundational to our faith, and individuals and meetings expect ourselves to be guided by Spirit in our daily decisions and with the direction of our lives. One way of responding to Spirit is through political action, including creating lasting and structural change through local, state, and federal legislation. Individuals may do this without limitation. When monthly, quarterly, and yearly meeting engagement is political, in addition to seeking unity in spiritual discernment we must also consider what is legally necessary for our non-profit organization. [Read more…] about Policy on Advocacy Explained
Arch Street Meeting House Installs Brand New Outdoor Exhibits
Arch Street Meeting House has just installed brand new outside exhibits. This exciting addition will elevate the meetinghouse to one of the must-see historic sites in Old City Philadelphia and will attract thousands of visitors to the historic property to learn about Quakerism for years to come. On Friday, May 27th, from 5-8, regional Quakers, history enthusiasts and supporters of the Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust will celebrate this milestone with a celebration and exhibit unveiling. [Read more…] about Arch Street Meeting House Installs Brand New Outdoor Exhibits
Barclay Friends Share a Cyber Security Event
On April 27th, Barclay Friends presented on Cyber Crime, Scams and Seniors. Sean Tomlinson informed Sheila Sorkin, PYM Aging Support Coordinator that Barclay Friends are happy to provide resources like this and make them available to the public. [Read more…] about Barclay Friends Share a Cyber Security Event
Concord Quarter’s Intergenerational Radio Play Program
“Something Odd at Quarterly Meeting” . . .
Birmingham Meeting‘s children and youth have used their drama skills and interests to participate in intergenerational programs for Concord Quarterly Meeting over the last twelve years. The young people give a performance that is followed by adults and youth present being invited to respond to wondering questions on issues brought up by the story they share. Various topics have been used for their performances including scripture, Quaker history, and recently a science fiction story! [Read more…] about Concord Quarter’s Intergenerational Radio Play Program
Inviting Young Adult Voices into PYM’s Granting Ministry
Photo Above: top left to bottom right: Lucas Richie (staff), Meg Rose (staff), Sarah Ennis, Yelena Forrester, Afroza Hossain, Naomi Madaras, Liana Irvine, Jeremy Graf Evans, Hanae Togami, Afiya Johnson-Thornton
From 2020-2021, PYM staff organized a program to learn how to better engage and include young adults in PYM’s granting witness. During the year-long experimental program, eight Quakers aged 18-35 (YAFs) served on one of PYM’s granting groups and then provided feedback on their experience to PYM’s Granting Committee.
[Read more…] about Inviting Young Adult Voices into PYM’s Granting Ministry
Quakers Satirized
Written by: Grace Sharples Cooke, Haverford Monthly Meeting
In her humorous cartoons about Quaker proclivities, cartoonist Signe Wilkinson (Chestnut Hill Meeting, PYM) highlights the sect’s inconsistencies. But she is not the first; Quakers have been the target of satirists since the mid-eighteenth century, after the first newspaper was published in the American colonies and satire had become common in England. In the colonies, it took the form of political cartoons or written jokes. There were four 18th and 19th century events in Pennsylvania that produced typical anti-Quaker satire.
Quakers In the News: March & April 2022
A collection of Quaker related links published occasionally.
