Welcome Friends
to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.
This site includes information about Quakerism and the latest news
of our faith community, which includes Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern
New Jersey, all of Delaware and Eastern Maryland. We would like to invite you to come worship with us. All are welcome! Please visit these links
to find out more about our faith, witness and fellowship:
Summer Sessions at DeSales
From July 30 through August 3 we came together as a Yearly Meeting at DeSales University near Allentown PA. The theme was “Sharing Our Journeys: In Light, Love, and Peace.”
What Happened at March Sessions?
PYM NEWS: From Friday, March 28, until Sunday, March 30, we came together as a Yearly Meeting to ask, “How are we doing on peace?” The need to ask this question came out of a realization on the part of many Friends that we are not currently in unity about what peace means to us or about how to live our testimony in the world.
After March Sessions: Follow-Up on Peace
PYM NEWS: Five powerful ways forward for our Yearly Meeting
Clerk's Reflections on March Sessions 2008
PYM NEWS: The storytelling about peacemaking was excellent and inspiring. I heard that many Friends carried these stories to their meetings that Sunday after ses-sions. The stories we heard will remain with many of us for some time. The fellowship and renewed sense of “community” was strong among us. We are growing in our ability to have rich sharing across the generations. The Meeting for Worship on Sunday was favored. It was a good Yearly Meeting.
Sessions to Explore Peace Witness
 PYM NEWS: The March Sessions of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting -- on the theme: “How Are We Doing On Peace?: Revitalizing Our Testimony, Sharing Our Stories” -- will be March 28-30, 2008, at the Fourth and Arch Street Meeting House.
Yearly Meeting Staff Reorganization Taking Shape
PYM NEWS: A major change is the reduction in the number of departments. Although at PYM we don’t often use the term “department,” it probably best describes the ways in which our different staff functions are organized. Pre-Plan, there were five departments. The Plan calls for reducing that number to three: Advancement and Communications, Business and Finance, Program and Religious Life.
View job openings here
Letter to the Editor: Visit to West Bank Challenges Peacemakers
PYM NEWS: Returning to work at PYM following three weeks in Israel and Palestine with Christian Peacemaker Teams, I am grateful to find so much emphasis on engaging our Peace Testimony.
Letter to the Editor: Giving to Larger Body Needs to Increase
PYM NEWS: I was dismayed to find out that Quakers fall in the bottom 1% when it comes to giving to the larger body of our religious organization.
Coming to terms with my ministry, and a call to the ministry of others
PYM NEWS: It’s hard to be Quakers because our spirituality requires all of us to take on the role of ministers and also the role of lay people. We have to equally receive healing and spiritual nurture and give healing and spiritual nurture, though not always simultaneously.
Interim Meeting Minutes, June 26, 2008
Interim
Meeting Minutes, June 26, 2008
Interim Meeting Agenda
Interim Meeting Agenda for 6/26/2008 - For PDF version click here
Interim Meeting Minutes of May 22
Interim Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2008 - click here for PDF version
Willistown Saluted for Environmental Festival
 PYM NEWS: Willistown Meeting (PA) was recognized for its Environmental Stewardship Festival and featured 12 times throughout the Verizon Yellow Pages. Willistown Meeting was selected as one of two Community Heroes in the Western Main Line directory.
Friends Foundation for the Aging Established
PYM NEWS: Friends Foundation for the Aging is the new name for McCutchen Friends Home, which previously operated a residential and skilled nursing facility in North Plainfield, New Jersey, on properties given by the McCutchen family.
Friends Hospice Begins Active Care
PYM NEWS: Since last October, Friends Hospice’s team of paid and volunteer staff members has been actively working with individuals and families to assist people to live fully as they, their family and friends cope with life-limiting illness.
Notes of Gratitude for Friends Education Fund
PYM NEWS: Recently parents of Friends school students receiving PYM tuition assistance were asked about its value. The result was a landslide of heartfelt gratitude.
Service-Learning Project
 PYM NEWS: Middle school students from Gwynedd Meeting (PA) and their adult chaperones pulled 12 bags of trash from the Delaware River during a canoe trip last September.
Register for Spiritual Formation Program
PYM NEWS: The PYM Spiritual Formation Working Group announces the 2008-2009 program, open to all Friends and attenders. The opening retreat runs from Friday dinner September 26 through Sunday lunch September 28, 2008, at Pinelands Center at Mt. Misery, Browns Mills, New Jersey.
Peace and Concerns Standing Committee's HOPE Bulletin
PDF: August 2008 Hope_Bulletin_2008_08.pdf
Quaker Gray to Quaker Green Challenge
 PYM NEWS: Thanks to hundreds of committed Friends, the Friends Center Capital Campaign is more than 95% of the way to the $4 million mark. You can help to boost the campaign over $4 million before June 30.
Federal Rebates: Corporate Witness for Earth?
PYM NEWS: A Friend in my weekday worship group asked if we had considered how we might use the $600 tax rebates being discussed in Congress. Most Friends would prefer to see our government fund education, healthcare, and those in need, rather than give money to citizens to buy more “stuff.” But what if we used these rebates as a witness for the Earth?
Financial Stewardship and Monthly Meetings
PYM NEWS: On October 27, 2007, Meeting treasurers gathered to begin a discussion on increasing both the dollars contributed and the percentage of members who contribute. This meeting was the beginning of what several Monthly Meetings hope will be an ongoing discussion among members about the meaning of membership and the strengthening of our Meeting communities.
Grants for the Study of Christian Mysticism
PYM NEWS: The Elizabeth Ann Bogert Memorial Fund for the Study and Practice of Christian Mysticism, administered by Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas, makes annual grants of up to $1,000.
A Matter That Needs Our Attention
PYM NEWS: ... a distance to go for the PYM Annual Fund.
Racial Justice Website
PYM NEWS: The Ministry for Racial Justice and Equality in PYM is pleased to announce its new website, where you will find information about the group, its mission, meeting dates and times, minutes of past meetings and a reading list.
Quaker Quest Offered
PYM NEWS: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is moving forward on a plan to offer the outreach program Quaker Quest to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings. Recently, the Support and Outreach Standing Committee approved the creation of a Quaker Quest Working Group.
Minutes of the General Service Standing Committee
Minutes of the General Service Standing Committee from the May 7, 2008 meeting
Click here for PDF version
Seeking Interpretation and Volunteer Coordinator
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is seeking an Interpretation and Volunteer Coordinator who will be responsible for recruiting and training greeter/guides for religious and historic interpretation on Quakerism and for providing outreach on behalf of PYM to seekers and tourists. Knowledge of Quakers and Quakerism required. Looking for someone with experience in recruiting and managing volunteers as well as experience with sales, bookkeeping, and inventory. Must be able to work on Saturdays.
Click here view the full job description and the application process or contact Ginny Connolly, Human Resources Coordinator, humanresources@pym.org or 215-241-7225.
Seeking Children's Religious Life Coordinator
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is searching for a Children's Religious Life Coordinator who will stimulate and support the spiritual vitality of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting by supporting meetings in the work of children's religious education and nurturing the spiritual lives of children. Responsibilities include:
1) assisting meetings with the overall planning, implementation, and evaluation of First Day School programs
2) supporting other opportunities for children to participate in the life of the Meeting.
3) developing resources and training for religious educators who work with children through Grade 5
We seek an active member or attender of the Religious Society of Friends who is able to work with children and adults, and to facilitate groups to develop their interest, gifts, and skills. Must have strong communication skills and be able to travel within the limits of PYM spending many Sundays traveling to monthly meetings.
Click here to view the full job descriptions and the application process or contact Ginny Connolly, Human Resources Coordinator, humanresources@pym.org or 215-241-7225
Seeking Director of Development
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is searching for a Director of Development to be responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing a fund raising and development program. An aspect of this position is to be mindful of the spiritual dimension of the work. This person works in close collaboration with the Associate Secretary for Advancement and Communications, the Development Services Working Group, and the Deferred Giving Governance Group. We seek an active member or attender of the Religious Society of Friends with experience in development work.
Click here to view the Director of Development job description and application process or contact Ginny Connolly, Human Resources Coordinator, humanresources@pym.org or 215-241-7225.
Click here view the full job description and the application process or contact Ginny Connolly, Human Resources Coordinator, [encodel]humanresources@pym.org[/encode] or 215-241-7225.
Love your library: It’s a green thing to do
PYM NEWS: There are a number of ways in which all libraries come naturally green. Instead of spending your green money on buying books, you can borrow them for free. Instead of adding one more book to the pile of ravaged trees in the universe, you have helped to save another tree.
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Clerk's Mailing here!