November opened Philadelphia Yearly Meeting with Friends from across our region gathering for Fall Continuing Sessions activities on Zoom and at Arch Street Meeting House. Friends took part in affinity groups, worship, business sessions, and a multigenerational workshop; Fall Continuing Sessions also welcomed Chris Mohr as General Secretary.
During Fall Continuing Sessions, Young Friends met in Old City for a walking tour focused on Quaker history. They held their own meeting for worship with attention to business after the tour to plan upcoming tasks and marked the moment of their facilitator, Ember Eldridge, stepping into a new career in social work and therapy.
Children who gathered for Fall Continuing Sessions had time for crafts and a reading of The Invisible Web by Patrice Karst. The children spent the rest of the morning at the nearby playground, and participated in afternoon programming.
Fundraising Friends met on November 13 for their first shared conversation on stewardship in local meetings; the cohort will continue on second Thursdays each month (next meeting December 11). Friends in Business met later in the month as board members from the Anna T. Jeanes Foundation, Temple University Hospital, and Temple University Health System gave a presentation.
PYM Explained: The Weaving of Friends, Meetings, and Ministries was released as a new resource for Friends seeking information on how the yearly meeting operates as one connected body. The resource lists the structures that support our communities shared tasks.
Stories were published on the PYM website during November through collaboration with staff and meetings. One story highlighted PYM Friends and Affiliates participating in food distribution across the region; another story shared how Horsham, Hockessin, and Crosswicks Meetings prepare and share their newsletters.
Fund for Sufferings, clerked by Tricia Coscia with liaison support from Lisa Garrison, updated its website and guidelines after reviewing its long history of offering material support to PYM members who face financial hardship tied to their witness.
Quaker Buildings and Programs Granting Group met this month and approved $38,900 for building renovations and capital improvement projects. Grantees included Pendle Hill Quaker Study, Retreat, and Conference Center, Burlington Quaker Meeting House and Conference Center, United Friends School, Wilmington Friends School, Merion Monthly Meeting, Rancocas Monthly Meeting, Trenton Monthly Meeting, Woodstown Monthly Meeting. Grants ranged from $1,000 – $15,000. The granting group will meet again in the spring to grant an additional $38,000.
This month also provides a few opportunities for connection. PYM staff will host a table with crafts and program information at Meetinghouse by Candlelight at Arch Street Meeting House on December 5. December 13 will have many different groups of Friends meeting. One event brings a children and families gathering at Woodbury Friends Meeting, a Middle School Friends Overnight at that site. There will also be a Young Friends (9th-12th grade) program at Downingtown Friends Meeting on the same day as well as a winter potluck for Young Adult Friends and Seekers in Delaware County (exact location TBA).
Some Friends across out community will receive emails about Benchamin this month; these messages share accounts for Friends and seekers about support and Spirit within PYM this year.
If you need more information on anything please reach out to communications@pym.org.
December Happenings
Meetinghouse by Candlelight
December 5 @ 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm / Arch Street Meeting House
Celebrate the season with festive live music, hands-on craft activities suitable for all ages, and exciting raffle prizes from local Old City businesses and institutions.
Use this link to learn more: https://www.pym.org/event/meetinghouse-by-candlelight/
Love As Action: Philadelphia – AFSC
December 6 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm / Love Park
Join the American Friends Service Committee with Friends Meetings and other Quaker groups in the Greater Philadelphia area to witness how current federal immigration actions affect people in our communities.
This link will guide you to more information: https://www.pym.org/event/love-as-action-philadelphia-afsc/
Holiday Family Meetup
December 13 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm / Woodbury Friends Meeting
The meetup will bring together children, Middle School Friends and families from across our community; the plan includes an intergenerational activity, a parent and guardian worship sharing period, children’s activities, and dinner as a community. Families are asked to bring a snack, side dish, or dessert to share. All ages are welcome, including grandparents.
Friends can use this link learn how to register: https://www.pym.org/event/holiday-family-meetup/
Middle School Friends Overnight
December 13 @ 6:00 pm – December 14 / Woodbury Friends Meeting
Middle School Friends will have a chance to stay for an overnight at Woodbury that begins as the meetup ends.
Friends can register using the same link as the one for the Holiday Family Meetup: https://www.pym.org/event/holiday-family-meetup/
Young Friends December Gathering
December 13 @ 10:30 am – 2:30 pm / Downingtown Friends Meeting
Join Young Friends (grades 9 to 12) for a Holiday Gathering. This is a chance to get to know other teens around Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for worship sharing, conversation, lunch, and some holiday fun!
Friends can use this link to learn more and to register: https://www.pym.org/event/young-friends-december-gathering/
Young Adult Friends Winter Potluck
December 13 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm / Delaware County, PA (Exact Location TBA)
Young Adult Friends and Seekers ages 18 to 35 are invited to meet for a potluck. When Friends register they will be asked what dish or drink they plan to bring along. Friends bringing item are asked to bring items that do not have peanuts or tree nuts. The exact address will be shared closer to the date.
YAFS can use this link to learn more: https://www.pym.org/event/yaf-winter-potluck/
Fundraising Friends
Decemeber 11 @ 12:00 pm / Zoom (Second Thursday of Each Month)
Strong and stable monthly meetings are the shared foundation of a thriving Quaker community. This is why PYM staff are hosting monthly virtual gatherings of Friends who carry stewardship or fundraising work for their PYM meetings called Fundraising Friends!
Registration is over Zoom, Friends can register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kuV06JOjSWaOo00OxAkP7w#/registration
Grant Opportunities
Granting Groups Dates:
- Aging Grants: Apply by May 1 or Nov 1
- Quaker Education Granting Group: Apply by May 1
- Fund for Sufferings: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
- Quaker Fund for Indigenous Communities: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
- Membership Development: March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1, Friends need to apply at least two months before the start date of your project.
- Quaker Buildings & Programs: Apply by October 1 or April 1
- Travel and Witness: Apply by March 1, June 1, September 1, or December 1
Learn More about Grants Access Grants Portal.
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Philadelphia Yearly Meeting continues to be a place where seekers and Friends are welcomed through faith, fellowship, and action. Financial giving helps sustain this work by supporting gatherings, care, and communication across our meetings.
Through this giving and shared faith, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting remains a community active in peace and inclusion.
