Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Peace

Hope Leans Forward

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An online series with Valerie Brown offering tools and practices to navigate these challenging times. 

Two consecutive Saturdays, 10:00am-11:30am Eastern Time (US & Canada) in collaboration with Woodbrooke Study Centre.

We are being pulled apart and broken-open by the global pandemic, violence, racial injustice, climate crisis, etc. This course will equip you with tools and practices to navigate these high-stress, high-anxiety times.

Based on Valerie’s latest book, Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way toward Simplicity, Awakening, and Peace (Broadleaf, 2022), this course will cover skill-building, evidence-based mindfulness practice, and soul-amplifying questions grounded in Quaker faith and practice that go to the heart of discerning your life purpose, meaning, and direction and supporting you to live your best self now.

In these highly interactive sessions, we’ll explore the Buddhist Seven Factors of Awakening, including:

  • Choose bravely when conditions are uncertain and ambiguous.
  • Examine unconscious patterns that hold you back.
  • Reflect on what matters most with soul-amplifying questions.
  • Align your values with your work for a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
  • Cultivate body intelligence and body awareness.
  • Show yourself real kindness through self-compassion.

Hope Leans Forward

Written on:

An online series with Valerie Brown offering tools and practices to navigate these challenging times. 

Two consecutive Saturdays, 10:00am-11:30am Eastern Time (US & Canada) in collaboration with Woodbrooke Study Centre.

We are being pulled apart and broken-open by the global pandemic, violence, racial injustice, climate crisis, etc. This course will equip you with tools and practices to navigate these high-stress, high-anxiety times.

Based on Valerie’s latest book, Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way toward Simplicity, Awakening, and Peace (Broadleaf, 2022), this course will cover skill-building, evidence-based mindfulness practice, and soul-amplifying questions grounded in Quaker faith and practice that go to the heart of discerning your life purpose, meaning, and direction and supporting you to live your best self now.

In these highly interactive sessions, we’ll explore the Buddhist Seven Factors of Awakening, including:

  • Choose bravely when conditions are uncertain and ambiguous.
  • Examine unconscious patterns that hold you back.
  • Reflect on what matters most with soul-amplifying questions.
  • Align your values with your work for a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
  • Cultivate body intelligence and body awareness.
  • Show yourself real kindness through self-compassion.

Annual New Years Eve Peace Vigil

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Co-sponsored by the Coalition for Peace Action of Princeton, Trenton Meeting holds our annual Peace Vigil on December 31 at 5 pm.  After an hour of sharing and reflection in the manner of Quakers comes a lively time of fellowship with food and drinks.

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Let’s Talk About Whiteness

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Thirty years ago, Toni Morrison told a newspaper interviewer, “In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.” For most of us, whiteness is still the default, the norm, in our communities – and that makes identifying and eradicating racism more difficult. Our Friend Prof. Janet Gray, currently editing a book of feminist writings on whiteness, joins us online to discuss the idea of whiteness, and how it affects us as individuals and in community. We all have much of value to contribute to the conversation – so Let’s Talk. All are welcome at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81587816369 on Thursday 15 December at 7:30pm for this conversation sponsored by Moorestown Friends Meeting’s Anti-Racism Committee.

Quaker Peace Testimony Today

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A presentation on the changing role of the Friends peace testimony over the years, followed by a discussion about what it means for us today. There will be a potluck lunch following

Annual Christmas Peace Pilgrimage

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The Annual Christmas Peace Pilgrimage
Saturday Dec. 10 Walk the Road of Peace

The Pilgrimage began in 1960 as a Christian witness for peace.
We welcome all persons of any age or Faith to join the Pilgrimage, symbolic of the journey of Mary and Joseph.

During the 10 mile trek from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania we seek to reflect the non-violent life of Jesus Christ and his truth of forgiving love.

Walk with your family and friends and make new friends with others who seek a more peaceful world.

For details and registration please visit peacewalk.org

http://peacewalk.org

The Sacred and Eternal Present Moment

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A Seven-Day Mindfulness Meditation Retreat On Campus with Mary Grace Orr, Anne Briggs, and Rebecca Kronlage.

In order to find inner peace and wisdom, virtually every spiritual lineage stresses the importance of learning to plumb the depths of the present moment. The simple techniques of mindfulness and kindness, taught by the Buddha, teach us to do just that. This silent retreat will have periods of sitting and walking meditation, yoga practice, opportunities to talk with a teacher, and formal presentations. It is suitable for both beginners and experienced students and for people of all faith traditions.

New Year’s: Open Heart, Peaceful Mind

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An in-person retreat for rest and reflection with Valerie Brown.

For more than 15 years, hundreds of people have welcomed the New Year at Pendle Hill with the gift of this retreat designed to rest, reflect, renew, and restore. At these times of high stress and high anxiety, we need now, more than ever, to exhale deeply and feel fully nourished through resilience-building, heart-opening, and peace-making practices. We can’t do this alone. We need a caring and supportive community and space and time to be nurtured and supported.

This retreat includes periods of silence, reflection, group discussion, creative arts, walks in nature, deep relaxation, and mindful movement. Savor guided meditation and extended periods of silence to deepen discernment about how to live your best self as you close the year and enter the New Year.

You will learn how to:

  • Choose bravely when conditions are uncertain and ambiguous.
  • Reflect on what matters most with soul-amplifying questions.
  • Align your values with your work for a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
  • Cultivate body intelligence and body awareness.
  • Show yourself real kindness through self-compassion.

Surrounded by a supportive and caring community, you will restore balance and calm, and feel uplifted toward the best version of you. Return home with tools to create greater peace and hope in your life.

This year’s retreat is based on Valerie’s latest book, Hope Leans Forward: Braving Your Way toward Awakening, Simplicity, and Peace (Broadleaf 2022).

Religious Education Resources and Events for June & July

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Happy summertime, Friends! In the coming weeks, children and teens will be done with school and families will shift into summer routines. I’ll be back in touch in August with ideas for looking forward to the Fall, and if you’re ready to start thinking in that direction this planning guide is still a good place to begin this summer. The resources and events offered below for June and July include Juneteenth, FGC’s “YAY!” gathering, and what’s for families and youth at our Annual Sessions. I hope you will pass them along to families and youth in your meetings and communities! [Read more…] about Religious Education Resources and Events for June & July

Religious Education Resources for March & April 2022

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A parent in my meeting shared with me that they were not sure how to talk to their children about Russia’s war on Ukraine. I recalled a line in an article that had resonated for me as a parent and educator: We don’t have to protect children from difficult feelings, but we must not leave them alone with them. The Tote Bag newsletter for March/April has many resources and events to share with meetings and families, but these ideas for supporting one another and talking about ways to create peace are perhaps the most important. [Read more…] about Religious Education Resources for March & April 2022

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