Medford MM is changing as Quakerism evolves. We are drawing new attenders who are attracted by all the testimonies – not just on peace – but even more so to the centered silent worship we have been experiencing recently. This growth is offset by the decline in older Friends residing at the nearby Quaker CCRC. Four young Friends with their children have added a new vitality and the first day school even includes children from non-attending families.
We are more open to the larger community through an improved website – still evolving – and a new native plant restoration project which forms an inviting front entrance with mulched paths along which will be included signage informing pedestrians about the plants as well as the Meeting. The Meeting is making its procedures leaner and we are more willing to experiment – as, for example, rotating the Clerk more frequently so as to involve more Friends in this role.
We are headed toward developing more program for our youth – especially teenagers. We want to strengthen our connection and support of Newton Meeting and the Quarter. We are headed for continuing self evaluation as the recent extent of innovations takes hold – will our monthly potluck survive? Will the several small groups (one on reading Friends Journal, one on parenting, one on the manumission of slaves in our area, and one on the foundations of Quakerism) bear fruit? We have to ask ourselves; are we too busy? All this while we maintain weekly collections of food, soft plastic, and diapers to remind us of our concerns, in turn, for the hungry, the environment, and those active in ending gun violence – plus an annual collection of toiletries for the migrant workers in our area.
Our witness on climate change is ongoing and embedded in Meeting work in multiple ways for more than 30 years. We have guidance from an extremely active member, Ruth Darlington. Significantly, two children are in our Climate Group. An annual plant swap ties into our climate witness. We will be becoming more familiar with what PYM has to offer by really looking at its website – especially around youth programs, Bible study, racism and climate but the feeling is we have more than enough to keep us occupied for the near future. We hope our relationship to PYM will grow organically from what is currently a confusing mix of closeness – individual members closely involved – and distance, with few members in attendance at YM Sessions, and new Friends unaware of the larger Quaker institution.
