 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2003 (XXXXI 1) |
The Annual Sessions of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting will take place from Thursday, March 27, through Sunday, March 30, 2003, at the Fourth and Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia. Plan to come for worship, discernment on the work of PYM, speakers, fellowship, and workshops on matters of interest to Friends. There will be programs for children and young people.
Due to PYM’s budget situation (see article), the Annual Sessions Planning Group has had to cancel the summer residential portion of Yearly Meeting this year. A Called Session of PYM is anticipated in the fall of 2003 to consider a report from the Structure Evaluation Project Group.
The March sessions will begin with workshops on Thursday and conclude with meeting for worship on Sunday morning. The Saturday evening speaker will be Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, a Christian voice for peace and justice (see article). One or more sessions will focus on “Finding the Power to Make Peace in Every Aspect of Our Lives.” Yearly Meeting will be asked to approve the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003.
An Agenda and Registration Materials booklet will be mailed to members and attenders in February. Those who wish to stay at the neighboring Holiday Inn must return the reservation form by March 7. Further information will be provided by the March/April issue of PYM News. Some material will be posted on the PYM website at www.pym.org.
The Annual Sessions Planning Group accepts the cutting of funds for summer residential Yearly Meeting as “rightly ordered” in view of PYM’s budget constraints. Sessions held on a college campus cost more than sessions at Arch Street because of the costs of using the college, renting equipment, and hiring a temporary registrar. Faced with no money for residential sessions, the planners decided to expand the originally planned one-day March session to the usual Thursday through Sunday schedule.
Expressing regret at cancellation of the summer sessions set for Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the Annual Sessions Planning Group minuted: “We have been warmly welcomed by Friends of Chambersburg Meeting and Caln Quarter. We were excited about the opportunities presented by the facilities at Wilson College and especially by the possibility of improving our acquaintance with Friends who are distant from Philadelphia. We regret that those openings may not be followed this year and remain committed to outreach within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.”
reported by the editor
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM