It’s a joy to announce that Kristin Simmons has accepted the position of Youth Engagement Coordinator for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. She will begin serving in this full-time position in mid-January. Many Friends will know Kristin in her current position as Middle School Friends Co-Facilitator. This shift in roles allows her to expand opportunities to be in relationship with meetings and support the ministry of children, youth, and family programs alongside colleagues on the Community Engagement staff.
News
A Care Package for Bible Study
The “Worship & Care Package” for PYM, a recently announced endeavor to support worship and pastoral care in our yearly meeting, includes two worship paths for Friends to walk together as we seek to deepen our experiences in faith community. One path is support for intergenerational worship, and the other is Bible study in the manner of Friends. Both practices are present in the roots of Quakerism and would have been familiar to early Friends. Today, we have an opportunity to explore intersections between Bible study and continuing revelation, generational experiences of the stories, and listening for how ancient texts can speak to our condition and witness in the world. Always, we can wonder together. [Read more…] about A Care Package for Bible Study
Tuition Aid for Quaker Children in PYM Friends Schools
The Yearly Meeting’s Quaker Education Granting Group reminds meetings and families that local meeting members’ children who are applying to or attending Friends schools are eligible to apply for educational support for the 2023-24 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 Quaker Children in PYM Friends Schools
Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections 2023-2024 Research Fellowships
Quaker & Special Collections at Haverford College is now accepting applications for its 2023-2024 Fellowship programs. These Fellowships provide funding for scholars at any stage of their careers to engage with our unique materials. [Read more…] about Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections 2023-2024 Research Fellowships
PYM Explores Training for Pastoral Care Committees
The ministry of pastoral care is about sustaining a caring and loving meeting community. It includes caring for both the individuals and for the meeting community through a huge range of activities including: [Read more…] about PYM Explores Training for Pastoral Care Committees
Make Your Gift to PYM Count for our Worship & Care Package
A family who loves our faith community has given PYM a $30,000 challenge gift. This gift will support a package of worship and pastoral care offerings for PYM and our meetings. It’s a care package of worship and pastoral care – a Worship & Care Package! [Read more…] about Make Your Gift to PYM Count for our Worship & Care Package
NJ Call for Action Toward Appropriate Mascotry
We applaud ongoing courageous conversations advocating for children’s rights throughout our educational systems. And for decades we have carried a concern for Native “themed” mascots. By common definition, mascotry includes team names, images, and logos, as well as related game-day and fan rituals.
Let’s be honest with one another. Citizens of the United States have inherited a legacy of domination by doctrines. Public schools may be conditioned to accept rather than critically examine the use of identity, language, and traditions creating disregard by continuing to dehumanize Indigenous people. [Read more…] about NJ Call for Action Toward Appropriate Mascotry
Invitation to Submit Spiritual State of the Meeting Reports
All monthly meetings, quarterly meetings, and other local Quaker communities within the PYM area are invited and encouraged to submit Spiritual State of the Meeting Reports. Known leaders of monthly and quarterly meetings have been sent this request and guidance on how to conduct the spiritual self-assessment of your community that would lead to composing a report. See the “Guidelines for a Spiritual Self-assessment of the Meeting” section of our Faith & Practice for more information, and read answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about the Spiritual State of the Meeting reports. The reports are due April 15, 2023. [Read more…] about Invitation to Submit Spiritual State of the Meeting Reports
A Week of Gratitude Alongside Trauma
This week is one that wants to be filled with gratitude – especially for family and neighbors. In our beloved Philadelphia Yearly Meeting family there are stories on stories of our connections with neighbors. [Read more…] about A Week of Gratitude Alongside Trauma
Companions Open to Spirit & Each Other at Pendle Hill
On a glorious weekend in October, the Spiritual Formation Collaborative hosted a workshop/retreat at Pendle Hill with a focus on becoming Spiritual Companions. We had four leaders: Nadine Hoover, Joann Neuroth, Cassie Cammann and Barbara LaSage, who volunteered their time, experience and Spirit to lead us closer to the Quaker way of being in the world. [Read more…] about Companions Open to Spirit & Each Other at Pendle Hill