In this past year, how has your meeting worked to create and strengthen the reality of a Beloved Community? How has your meeting fostered an environment in which members and attenders of all ages know they are loved, cared for, trusted, and respected?
MMM Friends strengthen our community by our social events, our various working committees, and by reaching out to those Friends in need. We also have several community building activities, and we continue Adult and Child Religious Education. At the rise of many meetings, we often share our personal Joys and Sorrows, leading to a more connected community.
How have you sought to be neighbors and in relationship with other communities?
We at MMM strive to be good neighbors to all communities with which we interact. Our Clerk participates in the Moorestown Ministerium, an association of all religious communities in Moorestown. We are closely tied to the activities at Moorestown Friends School. Our Friends Enrichment Program, now several decades old, continues to aid children from the community who would otherwise not be able to participate in many activities. Many Friends are active in MEND, which supports affordable housing here in Moorestown. In addition, Our Witness in the World committee seeks ways to promote Friends values to the greater community.
How has your meeting been called to address issues of racism this past year? What additional concerns and initiatives have your meeting or meeting members been led to address?
MMM continues to work on racism in part via our Anti-Racism committee which promotes thought-provoking activities such as readings and films, among many discussions. Additionally, this group hosted a table at the town’s Juneteenth celebration and conducted voter registration at the event.
What learnings and yearnings particular to your meeting would you like to share?
One exciting project developed by our meeting is the Wednesday Worship Zoom meeting, to which all PYM (and even further!) members are invited. This small but dedicated and active group reaches individuals from near and far and engages in interesting and very thoughtful discussion.
What are things the Yearly Meeting might do to support your meeting?
Perhaps PYM could provide professional development for members interested in impacting Friends and others’ policies. MMM friends feel that the workshops and courses developed by PYM are very useful and well-received. A request for sharing ideas and analytics from PYM to the local meetings was received. Also, the youth trips were very much encouraged by Friends whose children attended. They hoped that there could perhaps be more of them and that they would garner more publicity so more would attend.
