Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

How Meetings Coped with a (Mostly) Virtual Christmas

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As the nation welcomes new leadership in Washington, and our state health systems continue to confront Covid 19 with vaccine roll-outs, it’s important to celebrate what we have right at home: faith, connection, and fresh ideas.

This Christmas, PYM worship communities and meetings needed to reconsider exactly how to engage Friends in virtual or distanced Christmas celebrations. With the help of many people, including resources shared by PYM’s Youth Religious Life Coordinator, Melinda Wenner Bradley, Friends came up with the wonderful ideas shared below. [Read more…] about How Meetings Coped with a (Mostly) Virtual Christmas

Providence Young Friends Host Immigration Vigil At Delaware County Courthouse

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Providence Meeting’s Middle School Friends led a highly successful vigil for immigrant rights at the Delaware County Courthouse on October 3, 2020. The event was to focus attention on the treatment of immigrants on the U.S. border and a call for action to address this issue. Supporting our middle school Friends were a large contingent from the Movement of Immigrant Leaders of Pennsylvania (MILPA) and local elected officials. [Read more…] about Providence Young Friends Host Immigration Vigil At Delaware County Courthouse

Quaker Houses: Germantown’s Historic Johnson House

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The Johnson House is Philadelphia’s only documented, accessible, and intact Germantown stop on the Underground Railroad. It is open to the public as a place of historic importance. Johnson House was built in 1768 and owned by a family of Quaker abolitionists who worked with free and enslaved people to secure a safe passage to freedom for numerous African Americans.

[Read more…] about Quaker Houses: Germantown’s Historic Johnson House

Technology Access for Seniors and People with Disabilities

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Access to technology and social connection has become ever more necessary, particularly for those who for a variety of reasons remain predominantly inside their current place of residence. This includes seniors and people with disabilities across ages. TechOWL – part of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University – is a lending library sending iPads, laptops, and internet connections (via hotspot) to seniors and people with disabilities throughout Pennsylvania. This technology would allow Friends to participate in online community activities, including worship and sessions, as well as to stay connected with family and attend telehealth appointments.

All devices can be borrowed for 4 weeks with an option for longer. The program is free and a local TechOWL specialist will:

  • work with you to select the right device;
  • load the software and the apps that you need and want;
  • support and teach you throughout the process.

More information about the Assistive Technology Lending Library program can be found on the TechOWL website. You can also contact them at 800-204-7428 or send them an email at techOWL@temple.edu.

Pastoral Care for Our Children in These Times

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As the pandemic continues, and this week our nation struggles once more against the legacy of racial injustice and violence, our children look on. 

Children and teens are experiencing the continued uncertainty of Covid and its impact on school, peer relationships, and future plans. Additionally, the events in Washington D.C. on January 6 were deeply disturbing and young people may feel anxiety, confusion, fear, sadness, or anger, and have questions about what they see and hear in the media and from friends. As parents, we’re holding space for our children’s feelings alongside our own anxiety, fury, and questions about moving forward. What follows are resources specifically for children, youth, and families.*

[Read more…] about Pastoral Care for Our Children in These Times

PYM Statement Concerning the January 6th Capital Insurrection

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The events that have happened in our nation’s capital are deeply concerning. Below is a quote from Faith and Practice followed by a message from your Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Co-Clerks, Jean-Marie Prestwidge Barch and Frank Barch, and the General Secretary, Christie Duncan-Tessmer [Read more…] about PYM Statement Concerning the January 6th Capital Insurrection

George Eastburn’s Twitter Feed – A Quaker Voice in Social Media

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Quakers are interesting people, and they see things differently – because they are often looking for a sense of faith and connection in the smallest things. So when we came across the Twitter feed of Abington Friend, George Eastburn, we noticed the Quaker eye, and we also appreciated his voice. [Read more…] about George Eastburn’s Twitter Feed – A Quaker Voice in Social Media

Zoom with former NPR Correspondent, Andrea Seabrook

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The following story was submitted by Lehigh Valley Meeting member John Marquette. He attended the Zoom talk with Andrea Seabrook on January 6th. As a former NPR National Political Correspondent, Andrea created the event in response to the January 6th storming of the capital by Trump supporters. The Zoom was attended by more than 20 Quakers and friends, and served as a window into the soul of politics as seen by Andrea and others. [Read more…] about Zoom with former NPR Correspondent, Andrea Seabrook

Join Virtual Worship “Near” You

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For Meetings Who Want to be “Found “ by Seekers Everywhere

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is compiling monthly meeting virtual worship offerings to post online. If you are part of your meeting’s leadership team and your meeting has not yet filled out the worship and events survey there is still time to do so. Once you fill this out, we will get the information on your meeting’s page on the PYM website. This will help people find you.

Quaker Artist: Zenaida Peterson

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This edition of Quaker Artists features Zenaida Peterson (they/them), a Boston-based spoken word poet. They were PYM’s Annual Sessions 2020’s Artist-in-Residence. They work with Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) and support the organizing of a poetry slam tournament called FEMS that centers on feminine people.

[Read more…] about Quaker Artist: Zenaida Peterson

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