We are in a liminal space right now: there is uncertainty about what is ahead, but it is also a threshold to a new place. Thinking about planning for First Day programs this fall, I wonder what new possibilities are emerging during this de-stabilized time? In March, there was a crisis response and many meetings pivoted into online spaces; now the shift is to the new normal. Friends are thinking about how and when to return to meeting houses and what the implications are for children and young people gathering with the meeting. Some questions we might consider in this moment of community planning:
[Read more…] about Fall Religious Education Planning: Connection and New Directions
Religious Education
Annual Sessions Final Keynote: “We Belong Together” With City Love
Overall, we’ve had 386 people attend during six days of annual sessions’ virtual programming, including young people who participated in Youth Programs.
While the Community Engagement team ran a multitude of keynotes, worship sharing/affinity spaces and meetings for Business or Worship, devoted Youth Program staff built meaningful All Together Time, and facilitated morning and afternoon programs supported by Friendly Presences. There were also Bible classes, tech sessions, and very helpful, previously curated, advance documents and videos. Young Adult Friends (YAFs) did spiritual practices including lectio divina, welcomed two YAFs as keynote speakers, and convened contemplative prayer. Parents gathered for an evening worship sharing as an online version of the “Family Neighborhood.” Five plenaries, 18 workshops, and five meditation classes preceded everything as part of the ‘Runway to Sessions.’ [Read more…] about Annual Sessions Final Keynote: “We Belong Together” With City Love
Youth Programs Epistles 2020
Children’s Program Epistle
To All Friends Everywhere, from the Children of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
We gathered for our Annual Sessions in Zoom rooms, July 29 to August 2, 2020. Our time together included playing, singing, laughing, and being close to Spirit.
The artist in residence Zenaida Peterson helped us to deepen our relationship with God through poetry and games. We wrote poems and made zines. We laughed a whole lot. Together we wrote this poem: [Read more…] about Youth Programs Epistles 2020
Young Adult Friends Epistle from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions 2020
To all Friends everywhere:
Greetings from a gathering of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Young Adult Friends, together from many different homes for Annual Sessions, July 29–August 2, 2020. Many of us gathered from the lands around Philadelphia, on the traditional homelands of the Lenni Lenape. We humbly acknowledge that many or all of us are settlers here, and live on stolen lands. [Read more…] about Young Adult Friends Epistle from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Annual Sessions 2020
We Are . . . PYM Youth!
Photo: Young Friends (high school group) together in program on Thursday, July 3
This year, we start our Sessions days with all-ages worship and All Together Time on Zoom. In the last part of the hour of worship, Youth Programs staff transition us from waiting worship to All Together Time. This is when we do something all together in a worship space that uses our spirits and bodies and connects us with one another. When we gather for Annual Sessions, we are an all-ages spiritual community, even in virtual spaces. [Read more…] about We Are . . . PYM Youth!
Youth & Families at Annual Sessions
You’re invited!
Families and young people are a vital part of our PYM community and when we gather for Sessions it is to be an all-ages spiritual community. The time of Covid-19 has changed the shape of our gathering this year — and the shape of this summer for many families. We hope PYM programs will support parents and children at home who are seeking experiences of online camp and community this summer.
Summer Fun for PYM Families
It’s Summertime!
If your family is like mine, you’re planning for a different shape to this summer. Many day camps and sleep-away camp experiences are cancelled. Some parents are continuing to work from home. But alongside the continued Covid changes and challenges, we’re also finding new ways to enjoy nature, be in community, and create summer memories. Popsicles will still be cold and delicious in the summer heat! There are adventures ahead.
Looking at the summer calendar, we hope PYM families will join us for the gathering of our wider Quaker Family: PYM Annual Sessions.
Why come to Annual Sessions? The opportunity to be with Friends from across the four states in our Yearly Meeting region to worship, learn, discern, and bear witness together to our hopes for our Religious Society and wider society. For young people, the experience of being with a bigger group of “Quaker Kids” than most of them experience in their home meeting. This year, the added possibility that these programs may be a help to parents and children at home, seeking online “camp” and community — we’re got you covered!
July 29-August 2 in virtual spaces using Zoom, we will gather for worship, All Together Time, and Youth Programs during the days, and dynamic keynote addresses in the evenings. The week is capped off with an all-ages concert led by City Love on Saturday evening, offering us, “Music for the world we need. From the heart. For the people. Painting a tangible vision of love, hope, equity, justice, virtue, gratitude, peace, sustainability and freedom in this world.”
Children and Youth gather in their groups (Children K-5, Middle School, High School) 1-2 times a day in age-appropriate length program times. Young people are invited in all-ages worship each morning, which will end with 20 minutes of “All Together Time” and multigenerational, spiritual fun led by youth programs staff.
Children’s Sessions for rising K-Grade 5 combines a camp experience and spiritual community for children with stories, play, art, and music. We’ll explore the Children’s program theme “Using Your Voice!” in ways that celebrate the power of our voices, kindness, and knowing each other in community. Children will receive a “Spiritual Care Package” in the mail before Sessions starts, with materials to use during all-ages worship and Children’s program times.
Saturday evening after the City Love concert and getting the kids in bed, join us for Parent Worship Sharing. Parents, primary caregivers (including grandparents), foster parents, and guardians of infants to teens are invited to a virtual “neighborhood gathering” hosted by the Young Adult Friends community, August 1 from 9-10pm.
MORE Summertime Fun with Friends!
Next week! Register by Friday, June 26
Friends General Conference Virtual Junior Gathering
Sunday, June 28 to Saturday, July 4
Virtual Junior Gathering is a loving space for families and children of all ages to join in Spiritually-centered and creative practices together daily during the week of the FGC Gathering. Most days, 4:00-5:30pm EDT. Click this link for daily activity descriptions!
Youth Standing Strong Together Storytelling Camp
Week One: June 29 – July 3
Week Two: July 6 – July 10
Registration is open for Youth Tellers and applications for Mentors and Hosts. Learn more on the program FLYER!
Virtual Peace Camp August 3-14 
offered by Gwynedd Meeting — August 3-7 and 10-14, 2020! “Your elementary school aged children will enjoy three interactive Zoom sessions per day and three videos per week with experienced Peace Camp teachers, following the theme “Open Heart, Open Mind, Open Hands are the Keys to Peace”. Games, songs, art projects, creative problem solving, communication practice, relaxation methods and service projects all contribute to peacemaking skills and peaceful experiences. Children learn to value and appreciate themselves and others, while celebrating differences. With the guidance of teachers, they discuss how to be good stewards of the earth.
To learn more about the 2020 Gwynedd Friends Virtual Peace Camp, and to register your child for one or two weeks August 3-7 and/or 10-14, please go to GwyneddMeeting.org/PeaceCamp.html. Tuition cost is $100 per child per week, from which $25 is due at the time of registration and the balance due by July 15. For scholarship assistance, please call 215-699-3055 and leave a message for Peace Camp. Checks should be made out to “Gwynedd Friends Meeting”, with “Peace Camp” and your child’s name in the memo, and mailed to Gwynedd Friends Peace Camp, 1101 DeKalb Pike, Gwynedd PA 19454. We are looking forward to this new, creative, Virtual Peace Camp experience!”
Joining the Families in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Area Facebook Group is another way for us to to stay in touch! Family resources and support are posted there. Visit PYM Children & Families on the PYM website for updates on program and events. Questions? Reach out to Melinda Wenner Bradley, Youth Religious Life Coordinator, MWennerBradley@pym.org
YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 5
This series titled, “In Light Together, Apart” shares artwork of the attenders from the Young Adult Friend (YAF) retreat on May 15-16, 2020. The idea behind the retreat was to collaboratively create something that speaks to where young adult friends were at that time. The themes that emerged were: time, place, people, loss, change, searching, and reflection. The stories and art shared in this series reflect the feelings and opinions of the people who made them. YAF’s have been hosting weekly YAF worship services, and this week it will be on Sunday the 28th.
This week we feature art by Jen Schrandt of Haddonfield Monthly Meeting and Meg Rose of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. Meg also serves PYM as our YAF Coordinator. This week’s story comes from Naomi Madaras.
[Read more…] about YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 5
YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 4
This series titled, “In Light Together, Apart” shares artwork of the attenders from the Young Adult Friend (YAF) retreat on May 15-16, 2020. The idea behind the retreat was to collaboratively create something that speaks to where young adult friends were at that time. The themes that emerged were: time, place, people, loss, change, searching, and reflection. The stories and art shared in this series reflect the feelings and opinions of the people who made them.
[Read more…] about YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 4
YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 3
This series titled, “In Light Together, Apart” shares artwork of the attenders from the Young Adult Friend (YAF) retreat on May 15-16, 2020. The idea behind the retreat was to collaboratively create something that speaks to where young adult friends were at that time. The themes that emerged were: time, place, people, loss, change, searching, and reflection.
[Read more…] about YAF At-Home Spring Retreat 2020: In Light Together, Apart Week 3