 MARCH/APRIL 2003 (XXXXI 2) |
Dear Friends,
In the stormy waters that we currently find ourselves navigating, the beacon of peace in each and every corner of our lives is eminently attractive. During Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions, March 27-30, at the Fourth and Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia, we will focus on the question of how we, as Friends, can incorporate peace into the way we live our daily lives — personally, locally, nationally, and globally. The ancient African proverb of a man who spent a night in a room with a mosquito illustrates that even the smallest of creatures can have a large impact on their environment. Imagine all the “mosquitoes” in PYM!
All Friends, be they long-time attenders of Annual Sessions or those who are new to Quakerism, are warmly invited to join us for what promises to be a wonderful opportunity to further the dialogue of what we can do, as a Society and as individuals, to further the cause of peace.
Highlights of the planned agenda include:
Thursday, March 27
- Interest Groups on topics of interest to Monthly Meetings, including an Introduction to PYM Annual Sessions for First-Timers and those who want more information on what to expect
- Opening Worship
- “No Person Is Our Enemy,” address by Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee
Friday, March 28
- Nominating Committee Report, Membership Statistics, Epistle Committee, Friends Fiduciary Report, Treasurer’s Report, and the FY 2003-04 Budget
- Reports by Westtown and George School.
- Care of the Yearly Meeting’s four “houses” (background on decisions we face in the near future)
- Interim Meeting Report
- PYM in Times of Uncertainty: Working Together to Find the Way Forward — How can Friends be involved in PYM priority-setting and making right use of resources in times of economic challenge?
Saturday, March 29
- Finding the Power to Make Peace in All Aspects of Our Lives: What dis-empowers us? How can we better nurture the spiritual communities that support us in living our faith? What is our vision of the world we are building and of the partnerships we are forging?
- How Friends Around PYM are Furthering the Work of the Spirit in the Building of Peaceful Homes, Communities, and Societies
- All Community Gathering (children and adults) with Songs, Worship, and Public Peace Vigil
- First Reading of Outgoing Epistle
- “Finding the Power to Make Peace in Every Aspect of Our Lives” — Address by Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners Magazine
- Intergenerational Talent Show
Sunday, March 30
- Concluding Business: Nominating Committee, Outgoing Epistle, Unfinished Business, Dates of Next Annual Sessions, and Clerk’s Minute of Exercise
- Meeting for Worship
- Children’s and Young People’s Program
When Friends are asked why they attend Annual Sessions, the most prevalent reasons are to connect/reconnect with F/friends, to be able to converse with like-minded individuals, to participate more fully in the life of PYM, and to wrestle with issues of concern. For all these reasons, and many more, please consider joining us this year. If you haven’t received the Agenda and Registration booklet, please call 215-241-7215 to request one!
Veterans and first-timers alike are needed to enrich our corporate worship, provide additional perspectives on business issues and topics of concern, and increase the sense of community at Annual Sessions. Contrary to the belief of some, there are no prerequisites for attending PYM Annual Sessions; one doesn’t need to be appointed or to volunteer, but simply to come! For those of you who plan to attend, I challenge each of you to extend a personal invitation to at least one other individual who hasn’t attended Annual Sessions previously. A personal invitation makes all the difference!
Karen E.R. Hallowell
Gwynedd Meeting (PA)
Clerk of Annual Sessions Planning Group
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM