Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Middle School Friends

South Jersey Gathering: Welcoming Families, Spiritual Writings, Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Judicial Court

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Tri-Quarter 2021 Virtual Gathering Information

The news below has been adapted from web content and email information shared by Carleton Crispin on behalf of the South Jersey Quakers. At their September tri-quarter meeting, Friends in South Jersey shared presentations by Greenwich Meeting, Gary Smith, Rev. J. R. Norwood, Ph.D., and PYM’s Youth Religious Life Coordinator, Melinda Wenner Bradley. Friends who missed these interesting presentations can access links to the recordings. Brief content summaries are also included. [Read more…] about South Jersey Gathering: Welcoming Families, Spiritual Writings, Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Judicial Court

Friends Prepare for World Quaker Day

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The picture above shows Friends at Newtown Meeting as they assembled in 2018 to honor World Quaker Day. While the meeting has been gathering virtually during the pandemic, they are still planning to celebrate this ‘special day’ of Friends’ activities around the world.

World Quaker Day is an annual event sponsored by Friends World Committee on Consultation (FWCC). This year they have designed an interactive way for Friends Meetings in the Americas and elsewhere to engage in shared celebration. [Read more…] about Friends Prepare for World Quaker Day

Building the Quaker Community We Want to Be

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The Youth Programs theme for the coming year, “Building the Quaker community we want to be,” is inspired by the hope that local meetings will consider the invitation from our Youth Programs to collaborate and use this theme in some way in your ministry with children and youth. Shared below are specific curriculum resources to support interest in thematic planning between our circles of spiritual community. [Read more…] about Building the Quaker Community We Want to Be

Youth Epistle “We Were Here”

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Each year the three Children and Youth programs of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting share Epistles at the close of Annual Sessions. This year, one united Epistle was shared by Youth Programs staff. Below please find their 341st Annual Sessions Epistle. 

[Read more…] about Youth Epistle “We Were Here”

Youth Programs at Sessions Reimagined!

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We’ve scrambled our plans for Annual Sessions and made something new! Register here for all programs described below!

Recognizing that young people are both “Zoomed out” and families are out and about more this summer, Youth Programs staff have rethought and remixed our approach to Annual Sessions this year. We’re very excited to partner with Historic Fair Hill to offer an in-person event on Sunday morning, July 25, for children and youth of all ages and their families! During the week of Sessions, we scaled back online programming to focus on special guests and programs that explore identity, inclusion, and belonging. With these programs, we’re kicking off our Youth Programs theme for this year: “Building the Quaker Community We Want to Be.”

[Read more…] about Youth Programs at Sessions Reimagined!

Ujima Friends Peace Center – Freedom Summer 2021

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Ujima Friends Peace Center is a worshipping Quaker community of people of African Descent who have committed themselves to the village with residents of North Philadelphia to decrease various forms of violence that arise from systems of oppression. The Center can be contacted at admin@ujimafriends.org. Below is a story about their summer plans.

[Read more…] about Ujima Friends Peace Center – Freedom Summer 2021

Tuition Aid for Friends Children in PYM Friends Schools

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PYM’s Committee on Friends Education reminds families that monthly meeting members’ children attending or applying to Friends Schools  are eligible to apply for educational support for the 2021-22 school year. Funding for all grants comes from the National Friends Education Fund and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting endowment income from the Jonathan Rhoads Fund and other PYM education endowments. [Read more…] about Tuition Aid for Friends Children in PYM Friends Schools

Middle School Friends Made Pie!

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Middle School Friends began their Fall Hangout series with a fun afternoon of baking!

After spending some time getting to know each other through introductions and a “favorite thing about fall” scavenger hunt, Chef Alix (our fabulous MSF Assistant!) led everyone through the steps of making a key lime pie.  Each pie had its own unique characteristics – just like our Middle School Friends – and they all were delicious! [Read more…] about Middle School Friends Made Pie!

Youth Call for Action in Support of Immigrants

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Providence Meeting Middle School Friends’ concern for immigrants began when we saw pictures of immigrants on the news and how they were being treated at the US Mexico border. That led to our first fundraiser and learning more about the immigrant situation. We heard that families were being separated, and knew we needed to learn more about migrant life at the border and how we could help. [Read more…] about Youth Call for Action in Support of Immigrants

Youth Programs Host Virtual Camp Swatara Gathering

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Young Friends and Middle School Friends gathered last weekend for an online version of our traditional Camp Swatara gathering. In addition to staples of our usual programs  —  worship sharing, business meeting, and committee time —  we got creative and reinvented some of the most treasured parts of the Swatara gathering for this digital platform. 

In lieu of the usual Saturday morning hike up the Appalachian Trail to the rock pile, we gathered in the morning for a group “hiking” game that we could all do from the comfort of our backyards and living rooms. Saturday night, the two youth programs came together again for a talent show and campfire song circle where musician Simon Purchase James led us in song.  [Read more…] about Youth Programs Host Virtual Camp Swatara Gathering