Do these words ring true for you? “What can I do? I feel the frustration and pain and want to help, but I’m at a loss of how to do that.” We, on the newly approved Antiracism Collaborative (ARC), have heard your voice, even if it’s a whisper in your heart. We can support the efforts of those who are showing up to lift up the discomfort and the pain and we can continue to support the communities that need our help.
[Read more…] about What Can I Do? Message From Our Newest Collaborative
Not long ago, a typed narrative from a transcribed letter written by a Quaker farmer in “Chester Township” Pennsylvania showed up in some files. It was dated 10th month, 1725, and began “Dear Sister Mary Valentine, this goes with a salutation of love to thee, brother Thomas, and the children…”
This series titled, “In Light Together, Apart” shares artwork of the attenders from the recent YAF retreat. The idea behind the retreat was to collaboratively create something that speaks to where young adult friends are at this time. The themes that emerged were: time, place, people, loss, change, searching, and reflection. This week, we hear “Angel from Montgomery” from Mary Tierney, and we see art by Liz Anderson of Downers Grove Monthly Meeting, Illinois Yearly Meeting, and Kaise Coyle of Norristown Meeting. [Read more…] about YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 2
This story was adapted from an email distributed by Terry Winterton, the Friend in Residence at Glenthorne’s guest house in Grasmere, Great Britain. Anyone who has read William Wordsworth will know that the walks, hillsides, and lakes in this region were powerful sources of inspiration for Wordsworth’s poetry. They also charm Quaker travelers seeking to access Pendle Hill, Swarthmore Hall, and the rural country roads and fells (mountains and hills) walked by George Fox in 1652. All are featured in this short film. (Interested educators can teach this history to children though Faith & Play Stories on George Fox and Margaret Fell.) The region also serves international hikers and nature lovers from around the world.
Young Adult Quakers between ages 18-35 from Philadelphia area and beyond gathered together virtually for a successful at home spring retreat, “In Light Together, Apart” on 15th and 16th May. The idea behind the retreat was to collaboratively create something that speaks to where young adult friends are.
[Read more…] about YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has partnered with the American Friends Service Committee to support local community organizing around the Poor People’s Campaign. The Quaker Life Council minuted an endorsement of the Poor People’s Campaign alongside our Young Adult Friends community. Both bodies invited monthly meetings to endorse the campaign as well. Trenton Meeting of Friends has recently approved an endorsement, which was forwarded to us recently:
Deborah Cooper of Germantown Monthly Meeting has been practicing mindfulness and Buddhism for the last 15 years. Deborah is a licensed professional counselor in private practice and is a provider for the Friends Counseling Service. She studied Mindfulness Stress Reduction at Thomas Jefferson Hospital.
[Read more…] about 10-Minute Mindfulness Meditation Session with Deborah Cooper
In 2018, Friends at Burlington, Haddonfield, and Salem Quarters connected to discuss a program on meetings with dwindling memberships. Together, they explored ways to collaborate and increase communications and activities among the three Quarters. The idea for a South Jersey Quakers website emerged, one that would use the same name as the Facebook account already publicizing local events. The website is now live, and they are still building a variety of content to offer.
Providence Meeting Middle School Friends’ concern for immigrants began when we saw pictures of immigrants on the news and how they were being treated at the US Mexico border. That led to our first fundraiser and learning more about the immigrant situation. We heard that families were being separated, and knew we needed to learn more about migrant life at the border and how we could help. [Read more…] about Youth Call for Action in Support of Immigrants
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