Many meetings across Philadelphia Yearly Meeting participated in local fall festivals this year, engaging with communities through outreach. Hosting booths with inviting displays, they shared information about Quaker values, answered questions, and extended warm invitations to explore Quaker worship and practices. These events were wonderful opportunities for meetings to connect with neighbors and build bridges. If your meeting participated in a fall festival, we’d love to hear your story. Please send it to communications@pym.org.
Radnor Monthly Meeting’s Outreach Committee, led by Friends like Darlyne Bailey, used their local festival as an opportunity for outreach. Their committee emphasizes that outreach is everyone’s responsibility, connect with other faith communities, and strengthening engagement within the meeting. At their fall fest, they provided materials, answered questions, and engaged with visitors to introduce them to Quaker values and Radnor’s programs.
Diana Pope from Radnor Monthly Meeting reflected on the engaging and rewarding nature of their festival participation. The committee used creative strategies, such as encouraging visitors to ask questions about Quakerism in exchange for cookies, to spark conversations. Diana noted that many attendees already had ties to Quaker schools or knew Friends in other contexts, creating natural points of connection. She also found the festival to be a platform to share information about Radnor’s forums and programs.
The event also provided insights into how the meeting could expand its outreach. Darlyne shared that community members expressed interest in the meetinghouse grounds, and discussed how the physical space could serve as a welcoming tool for outreach. Diana also mentioned the importance of using opportunities to reflect Quaker values, from the beauty of the grounds to the programs offered.
Radnor Monthly Meeting Outreach Committee is working on building new relationships, strengthened existing ones, and demonstrated how Quakers live their faith through connection. Diana summed up the experience by expressing gratitude for the opportunity to meet so many people who were curious about Quakerism. Darlyne shared her joy in seeing Quaker values resonate with a diverse audience, reaffirming the importance of outreach in creating a more connected and inclusive community.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting celebrates the many meetings that participated in fall festivals this year and invites others to share their experiences. Your stories help us collectively reflect on and learn from the ways we are building community and sharing Quaker faith and practice. If your meeting has a story to share, please send it to communications@pym.org so we can celebrate your work and continue to inspire others across the yearly meeting.
Additional Option for Outreach Funding
Friends and Meetings are encouraged to apply to the Membership Development Granting Group to support upcoming outreach projects that seek to attract new members and increase membership, no matter the size. Applications for this round are due by December 31. For more information, please reach out to grants@pym.org.
