A small but enthusiastic contingent of Young Friends helped make the Bucks Quarter Peace Fair, on September 17, a great success. The Peace Fair brings dozens of nonprofits doing work aligned with Quaker values to a wider audience, along with craft vendors, live music, a book sale, kids’ games and a range of food offerings. Starting the day bright and early, before the opening of the Fair, the Young Friends helped set up vendor booths, unloading the vendors’ materials and putting up tents to keep things moving swiftly. [Read more…] about Young Friends Support the Peace Fair
News
A Seeker’s Story
There was a collective feral growl from the four corners of the 30-odd members of the Gallagher extended family.
“He’s doing what!?”
“Dad is attending a recruiting meeting next month,” announced the Gallagher family matriarch. He’s on the brink of renouncing Catholicism and becoming a Quaker.”
I swear, you’d think I was filing divorce papers.
The feral growl became a feral roar.
“HE’S DOING WHAT!?” [Read more…] about A Seeker’s Story
Reflections and Updates: The African American Museum of Bucks County
Friends from Bucks Quarter met virtually once again on August 21, 2022. It was meant to be our first venture into hybrid meeting, and our host, Fallsington Meeting, was up to the challenge. The coronavirus, however, had other plans for us. Meeting in person was contingent upon low transmission levels of the virus; unfortunately, the transmission level was stubbornly stuck at moderate, and we made the disappointing decision to meet only on Zoom. [Read more…] about Reflections and Updates: The African American Museum of Bucks County
Summer of Freedom Camp visits Solebury Meeting
On a beautiful day in July, Solebury Friends Meeting hosted a group of kids from the Summer of Freedom camp, run by the Ujima Friends Peace Center, which is located in North Philly. Solebury Friend Amy Manoff started the day off right. She explained to the kids how she came to be a fruit farmer and, before taking the kids to pick blueberries, answered all their questions. Kraig McClendon brought the kids out to the country for the day. He’s a photographer and enjoyed capturing the day with his camera. [Read more…] about Summer of Freedom Camp visits Solebury Meeting
Giant Children’s Meeting: What’s Next?
In the Fall of 2020, as children returned to school online and many meetings settled into hosting worship on Zoom, the question of how to support religious education programs and community for children and families in meetings was on many minds. Local meetings did amazing things in the depth of the pandemic — care packages, calls and notes to young Friends and their families, outdoor programs when possible — even online Christmas pageants! The PYM Children & Families program was also experimenting, and Giant Children’s Meeting was born from both necessity and hope. Now we’re ready to discern what’s next for creating children and their families in our wider PYM community. [Read more…] about Giant Children’s Meeting: What’s Next?
Thank you to Youth Programs Staff
With great thanks to Alix Vallery and Elizabeth Croce, Youth Program staff for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and of course our meeting families, we had children for the first time since April 2021 at Western Quarterly meeting’s recent gathering! [Read more…] about Thank you to Youth Programs Staff
Religious Education Resources & Events for Fall
When the afternoon sunshine softens and the crickets take over for the cicada chorus, I know it’s back to school time. The former classroom teacher in me feels the tug to get ready for the new year, and of course in meetings we may be getting ready to welcome children and youth back from summer adventures to school-year routines. One of the ideas I’m thinking about a lot is rethinking “First Day School” — both that language and the scholastic model. It’s not “the way we’ve always done things” as Friends, and the interruptions of the pandemic continue to create opportunities for new ways of exploring, listening, and being community in our meetings. Join me for a conversation on this! Below you’ll find resources for Fall and events for conversation, service, and fellowship.
[Read more…] about Religious Education Resources & Events for Fall
Aging Quakers and Gardening
In my first months as the PYM aging support coordinator, I reached out to many of the Quaker aging communities in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. One interesting resident focused activity I kept hearing Friends bring up was gardening. Around the world, gardening has been recognized for its values of reducing stress, improving moods, providing opportunities for exercise, mobility, socialization, and community outreach while connecting with all aspects of nature. Perhaps Quakers feel particularly connected to gardening because of the quiet peace time with plants provides. More than that, Quakers have also found that gardening reflects our concern for the natural world. [Read more…] about Aging Quakers and Gardening
First Contact Reconciliation Seventh Mo. 2022
Through engagement, we find meaning in crafting genuine land acknowledgements as possible “first steps” in recognizing Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live and work. In creating, we are called into collaborating, being accountable, continuously taking up “next steps,” and tending respectful relationships with Indigenous Nations and communities by listening. We encourage the mindful practice of naming the Indigenous People(s) whose land you are on – at home, at work, and/ or while traveling. [Read more…] about First Contact Reconciliation Seventh Mo. 2022
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Epistle for Annual Sessions 2022
Annual Sessions 2022 gathered Friends from across the PYM four-state region and beyond. Visitors from other yearly meetings and Quaker organizations were warmly welcomed. Following yearly meetings’ annual gatherings, outgoing epistles “to all Friends everywhere” are shared widely in our global Quaker community. (You can read others from 2022, some of which were read during our Sessions, posted here on the FWCC website.) Shared below are links to this year’s epistles from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Please read and share widely, especially with Friends who might not have attended Annual Sessions. The epistle committee seeks to capture what occurred during our time together and how Spirit moved among us. [Read more…] about Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Epistle for Annual Sessions 2022
