Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Upper Susquehanna Quarter

Friends in Spirit Online Discussion & Worship

Written on:

Friends are welcome to join Friends in Spirit Worship Group for discussion and silent worship.

We consider current events as well as traditional Quaker testimonies and revelation. Many discussions are “what ever rises” other topics have included dreams, artificial intelligence, and wars. Please contact elainegleet@gmail.com for current topics.

All of our meetings are over Zoom. Our participants gather from many states from Massachusetts to Florida.

Friends in Spirit Online Discussion & Worship

Written on:

Friends are welcome to join Friends in Spirit Worship Group for discussion and silent worship.

We consider current events as well as traditional Quaker testimonies and revelation. Many discussions are “what ever rises” other topics have included dreams, artificial intelligence, and wars. Please contact elainegleet@gmail.com for current topics.

All of our meetings are over Zoom. Our participants gather from many states from Massachusetts to Florida.

Friends in Spirit Online Discussion & Worship

Written on:

Friends are welcome to join Friends in Spirit Worship Group for discussion and silent worship.

We consider current events as well as traditional Quaker testimonies and revelation. Many discussions are “what ever rises” other topics have included dreams, artificial intelligence, and wars. Please contact elainegleet@gmail.com for current topics.

All of our meetings are over Zoom. Our participants gather from many states from Massachusetts to Florida.

Friends in Spirit Online Discussion & Worship

Written on:

Friends are invited to join our online discussion and silent worship on Tuesday evenings. We begin with discussion at 6 p.m. and worship at 7 p.m. (Eastern).

Our members are geographically scattered from Massachusetts to Florida, so don’t worry about the rivers and mountains that might separate us!

For current topics of discussion please contact elainegleet@gmail.com.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89797671505?pwd=UE9VVFh5VWJoZ0V2bmJqV3JuZEdFUT09

Meeting ID: 897 9767 1505
Passcode: 754242

Upper Susquehanna’s Crystal Lake News

Written on:

With more than a little trepidation, the planning group for Upper Susquehanna Quarter’s Fall Retreat and Meeting with Attention to Business, decided that Crystal Lake 2021 was a GO for last September!

Knowing that in a COVID-leery environment we might attract far fewer participants, planners decided to focus on a home-grown event. One that was less reliant on well-known presenters (who might draw well, but would also cost us a lot in presenter fees) and leaning more toward things we could do ourselves. An event that would be inclusive as possible of all ages of attendees, and that would aim to bring the Upper Susquehanna Quarter (USQ) community together after a prolonged period of self- enforced isolation. [Read more…] about Upper Susquehanna’s Crystal Lake News

Greenwood Friends School welcomes Andy Jones-Wilkins

Written on:

Greenwood Friends School is excited to introduce new Head of School, Andy Jones-Wilkins!

Andy Jones-Wilkins began his career in education in 1989 at the oldest Quaker school in the country, the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. After five years of service Andy and his spouse Shelly embarked on a two year, 18,000 mile bicycle tour around the world before settling in Paradise Valley, AZ where they both taught at the Phoenix Country Day School.

Andy’s administrative career began at Head-Royce School in Oakland, CA where he served for five years as the Head of the Middle School before accepting his first Head of School appointment in 2006 at The Community School in Sun Valley, ID. Longing to return to Friends education, Andy became the 6th Head of School at Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville, VA in 2011. While there he guided the school through a comprehensive accreditation process with Friends Council on Education and along the way reinforced the school’s Quaker identity. Most recently Andy served for two years as Head of School at The Delta School before accepting the appointment as Head of School at Greenwood Friends in Spring, 2021. [Read more…] about Greenwood Friends School welcomes Andy Jones-Wilkins

Upper Susquehanna Quarterly Gathering: Joy in Community

Written on:

Friends in the Upper Susquehanna Quarterly Meeting (USQM) met for the Fall Family Gathering at Crystal Lake on September 21-23, 2018. To our joy, we welcomed in 28 children, a wonderful bounty of young energy and activity. Workshops included:

  • Personal reflections on the spiritual journey through prison, by Mujedded Muhammad of Columbus, OH
  • Centering Prayer, with Lynne Graham of Wellsboro
  • Hidden Bias, by Becky Misangyi of State College
  • And a presentation on political action and lobbying given by Christine Ashley, from FCNL.

For the second year in a row, the Upper Susquehanna Quarter joyfully supported the life of the Quarter with financial subsidies. The actual cost per person this year was $95. However, we asked for only $30 for each individual, and a small amount more for families. We’ve received many young families at Quarterly Meeting, which we find heartening.  Many of the families in attendance have been coming to Quaker Meeting for less than five years! Though we cannot continue the financial subsidies forever, they have breathed new life into the Quarter.

Throughout the weekend, we found ourselves enriched by the size of our group. What energy! More than 80 of us attended, 1/3 of whom were children. Every child had other playmates in their age group. 11-13 year olds called the weekend the “best time” and celebrated the sheer number of kids. Parents called the weekend both “immersive” and “exploratory.”
In the youth program, Johanna Jackson coordinated youth activities for the fifth year. Dorothy Habecker organized activities for our youngest children, ages 3-4. Youth activities were vibrant, active, and had a variety of crafts and options. The 14-16 year olds, joined the adults for part of a workshop, and agreed to lead a game for younger children. Everyone enjoyed the Climbing Wall, which was supported with a gift from Martin Melville. Martin said, smiling, “It was worth every penny.”
Starting this year, we invited all of our youth ages 5+ to attend Meeting for Worship with the adults. Many of the young people remained for 30 minutes of silence, and they rose to the occasion of extended worship. Adults commented on the calm, collected feeling of gathering. We offered tools to the young people for sitting in Worship, including fidgets to hold, play-doh to shape, and thoughtful drawing.Also new this year, we supported the teens with a coming-of-age ceremony on Saturday night. Adults from around the Quarter wrote blessings and affirmations for the teens. Representing the wider community of their Quaker Meeting, parents read these notes aloud and shared the love of the wider community. Families felt touched to receive this support and love from the Quarter. In our teens, we celebrated: their humor, their gentleness, their wonderful joy and talents. What beautiful people they are becoming.

In all, the weekend was fruitful, boisterous, joyful, and creative.  Our time together sparked new ideas for next year’s Fall Family Gathering. We crave a more centered time for different ages and generations together, and we are uplifted by the energy and higher numbers here in attendance.The next Fall Family Gathering will be held on September 27-29, 2019 at Camp Crystal Lake. Jill Lashmett is our paid Coordinator for 2019, organizing logistics and scheduling. Johanna Jackson plans to continue as Youth Programs Coordinator, and Dorothy Habecker is interested in working again with our youngest group.

Written by Johanna Jackson, Upper Susquehanna Quarter

Update your contact & Meeting information at pym.org/updates

© 2024 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting · Privacy Policy