September/October 2001 (XXXIX 4)

YEARLY MEETING

Middle School Friends report interesting experiences at PYM

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Middle School Friends were busy at Residential Yearly Meeting. Here are reports from a few of them.

n Thursday, July 19, the Middle School Friends talked about older people in their lives. They also watched a video about Quaker retirement homes. After they watched the video four older Quakers were asked to visit and answer questions about their childhoods and lives. The four guests were George and Lillian Willoughby, Margery Larrabee and Stephen Angell. The conversation varied from sliding down glaciers to giving a message to President Nixon. We were all happy to hear that it was the Willoughby’s 61^st wedding anniversary that very day. The conversation was ended with lemonade and cookies which were enjoyed by all.

Jamie Wright
Westfield Meeting (NJ)

n Friday, July 20, everyone at PYM came to see Charlotte Blake Alston, a storyteller, singer and songwriter. She told stories, sang and showed everyone her instruments. One of them was a 21-stringed instrument called a kora. Charlotte did a great job and everyone really enjoyed her.

After her performance there was a talent show. Seven of our Middle School Friends participated. About 15-20 people altogether were in the show. There was flute playing by Jamie Wright, juggling by Carl Stanton, dancing by Renata Arauz-DeStefano and singing by Robert Cromartie with back-up dancing by Josh Moore, Jeremy Isard, Gregory White and Corin Johnson! From everyone who was in the show, to everyone who watched it, it was really fun to see.

Rachel Wells
Falls Meeting (PA)

n Saturday, July 21, Middle School Friends went to Saucon Park in South Bethlehem to clean up the creek. It is a lovely park used mostly by Hispanic families. The day we were there one party with 150 people had the pavilions beautifully decorated with streamers and balloons and was playing lively music. Up a hill a family was having a barbecue, and there were many children using the playground.

After we had hauled weeds and trash out of the creek (Carl Sigmond converted his wheelchair into an excellent cart for the heaps of weeds to be carried to the pile) we took a lunch break. A very startling thing unfolded as we sat there. Another large party appeared with tables, food, grill, volleyball net and about 30 people. We noticed that a few people were dressed all in white and new friends whom we’d worked with that morning said fairly nonchalantly that there was going to be a baptism in the creek. We asked if it would be alright to watch the ceremony and we sat along the bank above. This Pentecostal congregation gathered and sang and prayed. Then two ministers — a man and a woman — went into the water and held hands and prayed and shook and then welcomed the first person to join them. They joined hands and prayed and the person wept and when he was ready was completely submerged backwards into the water and then stood up again to great cheers by all. Then one at a time the other three did the same. The little children were invited to jump in and swim and then our young people were invited to join in and it was very refreshing and fun.

The Middle School Friends had a good talk before heading back to campus about baptisms, Quakerism, and special things that happen at their Meetings like baby welcomings and Christmas pageants.

Melanie Douty
Radnor Meeting (PA)
Middle School Friends program coordinator

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