Spring 2014

philadelphia PYM yearly meeting a Journal of our Quaker faith and practice of the religious Today Society of friends

SEEKING OUR FUTURE Long Range Planning Preparing for Annual Sessions Thank You to Our Volunteers & Donors Deepening our Worship Vital and Growing PYM TODAY • spring 2014 Saying Thank You!

spiritual practice. By that I mean a prac- ter Eckhart might be paraphrased to say, Arthur M. Larrabee tice that connects us one to another. It’s “If the only thing you ever say to an- General Secretary a way of acknowledging what we mean other person in your entire life is “thank Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to each other, a way of being in rela- you” that would suffice.” tionship by giving expression to an In this issue we are saying thank you good part of this issue of PYM inward appreciation for someone or to individuals who give of their time, AToday is about saying “thank you.” something. talent and financial resources by On behalf of all of us I want to say Meister Eckhart wrote: “If the only naming each and appreciating them thank you to each of us. Thank you for prayer you ever say in your entire life is publicly for their work. your vital and affirming participation in ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.” No It is encouraging to see so many the life of our yearly meeting. Thank doubt when he penned these words names, and touching to read of the you for caring about our faith commu- Meister Eckhart was dedication of our wonderful nity including the larger Religious Soci- thinking about our volunteers. It is an expression ety of Friends. Thank you for aspiring to relationship with the of hopefulness. deepen the well of our spiritual experi- Divine. But let’s So let us say “thank you” to ence. Thank you for supporting our expand our under- each other for the gifts we give yearly meeting with mindfulness and standing of the and receive. In my experience, goodwill. Thank you for supporting it teaching to include it is a spiritual practice worth with your involvement, with your time saying thank you to cultivating. and with your financial resources. each other. After all, Thank you for being a part of the com- don’t we Quakers munity from which all of us draw spiri- believe that there is Arthur is a member of Central tual sustenance. that of the Divine in Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. I think that saying “thank you” is a each of us? So Meis-

Contents Spring 2 014 2 Vital and Growing 21 Caring For Our Community Saying Thank You! Threads Hold Us Together Holding Our Work in the Divine Light Young Adult Friends Confront Staying Connected With Your Yearly Alcohol Policy Meeting Community 23 Spiritual Growth and Renewal Long Range Planning: Preparing for Conversation about PYM Structure Deepening Our Worship 6 Annual Sessions What is Annual Sessions? On the cover An Experience of Worship at Sessions Our cover photo is of members participating in an 8 Grant Making All Together Now exercise at Annual Sessions 2013. A Great Day in Gouldtown We practiced “looking through a spiritual lens.” 9 Thank You As we look forward to naming a new General Secretary and approving a Long Range Plan this Gratitude for Your Support: year, we are called to look through our spiritual Volunteers and Contributors lenses as we discern our way forward.

Photo by Joe Coscia, Yardley Meeting

2 PYM TODAY • spring 2014 Vital and Growing Holding Our Work in the Divine Light

better enable Friends of the 21th cen- the seasoning of concerns and opportu- Jada Jackson tury to share their gifts in the most nities for ministry before us in prepara- Clerk, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting effective and efficient manner. tion for Annual Sessions. But this is not the ministry of just Interim Meeting, or hank you to those who have given • General Secretary Search - Friends the Friends serving on these commit- Tthrough your monthly and quar- on this committee are working to assist tees. It is a ministry of the whole body terly meetings to the PYM Covenant. us in identifying the next leader of our of our yearly meeting. We are called to Thank you to those who have given to yearly meeting’s staff and organization. hold this work in the Divine light and the Annual Fund. Thank you to those uphold each other in our corporate who have given the most precious of • Faith and Practice Revision - Friends discernment as we approach decisions gifts - your life energy, blessings and are working to put in writing who we about our Long Range Plan and hiring time. All of these gifts to our faith com- are becoming while retaining the best of our new General munity support us in our ministries, what we are. Faith and Practice is used Secretary. Friend to Friend. by members, attenders and seekers Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the - speaking for us and about us beyond In faith, Religious Society of Friends has much our physical presence. It is an introduc- Jada Jackson to be grateful for and is in a period of tion to our faith community and a great change. Much of this change is to guide to our processes. enable us to better carry on God’s work: Holding integrity and faithfulness to • Long Range Planning - Friends work- our minutes, our processes, each other ing on this group are seeking clarity on and the world is as important as ever in Jada is a member of Trenton Monthly how to reorganize and redistribute the this time of aspiration and change. Meeting and the Burlington Meeting work and care of our yearly meeting to Interim Meeting continues to assist in House Worship Group.

Staying Connected With Your Yearly Meeting

A wealth of insight and inspiration PYM Thread Newsletters PYM Program Notices is yours to take advantage of on your (bi-monthly) Timely announcements and notifi- computer, tablet or smartphone. PYM Stories, resources, activities, informa- cations about upcoming programs electronic newsletters help strengthen tion and inspiration on specific aspects and events. communication, connections, of our Quaker faith and practice: How to Subscribe relationships and knowledge among • Communications & Outreach everyone in our yearly meeting faith • Finance To subscribe or manage your sub- community, across geography, time and • First Day School scription please visit our website at types of media. • Friends Education www.pym.org/online-newsletters or • Pastoral Care use your mobile device to scan our PYM Today Online (monthly) • Peace & Social Concerns QR code on the back cover of this issue and sign up right now! News to help you stay up to date • Worship & Ministry about the life of our yearly meeting. • Youth

3 Vital and Growing PYM TODAY • spring 2014 Long Range Planning: Preparing for Conversation about PYM Structure

Suzanne Day Westfield Monthly Meeting

Listening and learning as rent realities and participate in the life and work of we plan for the future changing condi- our yearly meeting tions. As a result of • Short-term assignments of he Long-Range Planning Group our further discern- meaningful work T(LRPG) held Listening Sessions in ment, the “Strategic • Opportunities for developing skills nine locations in the Spring of 2012 Directions” pro- and encouraging new leadership where we heard mostly from Friends posed for our future • Nurturing vital meetings and who were already well- acquainted with were tightened up. worship groups Yearly Meeting. We heard worries, You may find • Being resources to one another yearnings, suggestions and the fact that these documents beyond our own meetings many in our monthly meetings feel (and more about the work of the LRPG) • Answering God’s call individually disconnected or uninformed about on the PYM website at www.pym.org/ and collectively what our yearly meeting is and does. long-range-planning-group. • Simplifying structure and governance We heard Friends longing for innovative • Improving responsiveness to ways to enliven our religious commu- Possibilities for our leadings nity. What these Friends urged us to Philadelphia Yearly • Focusing on a few things and doing strive for is reflected in a three-para- Meeting’s organizational them well • Handling financial affairs more graph document called “A Vision for structure PYM’s Future” that is available on the efficiently Our most recent efforts have focused PYM website. This is a vision of expec- In October 2013 we conducted a on considering ways we might better tations and hopes that need to be part “Feedback Forum” where participants organize as a yearly meeting. Form of any new plan for our yearly meeting’s reacted to three potential scenarios for a follows function. The form or structure future. future organizational structure for of PYM needs to serve the functions we The LRPG gathered information Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. These have learned are important to our mem- from inside PYM and from other yearly scenarios sought to address our pro- bers and meetings today as well as those meetings both here and in Britain. In an posed Vision, Strategic Directions, and essential to both good stewardship of energetic “Day of Visioning” in April Challenges and Opportunities in differ- finances and property and the opera- 2013, a cross- section of PYM members ent ways. The feedback from this forum tions and functions of the yearly meet- worked together vigorously under the gave very strong support for both a ing. Any new structure or ways of gov- guidance of our planning consultant, Board with executive and financial re- erning must be in balance with the Lawrence Peers. Many “big questions” sponsibilities, and a Coordinating current and anticipated levels of interest about PYM’s future were developed and Group with responsibility for oversight and energy of Friends and the financial possible strategies were generated. In of services and programs desired by resources of our yearly meeting. July 2013, LRPG delivered a report to meetings. Issues that the LRPG has heard need Annual Sessions and received many At PYM Interim Meetings in January to be addressed include: helpful suggestions from the body, such & February 2014, we offered for consid- • Increasing participation of as sharpening our focus on how PYM as eration a proposal for an Administrative younger members an organization serves our local meet- Council (board) and a Quaker Life • Providing new ways to access and ings and how PYM could adapt to cur- Council (coordinating group) and three

4 PYM TODAY • spring 2014 Vital and Growing companion elements (Continuing Ses- immediate proof and satisfaction, tunities the Plan will present to all sions, Granting Committee and Nomi- where in fact the proof itself can only of us, especially during the critical nating Committee) that also received evolve over time. initial phase. strong endorsement at the October We are now called to think strategi- • Consider volunteering to be a part Feedback Forum, as a possible new PYM cally, suspending concerns about tacti- of a new group for implementation structure. This is a work in progress, cal implementation, in order to allow to move us smoothly through the and will continue to be the focus of ourselves the opportunity to imagine necessary transitions projected in much discernment, discussion and and discern a better future and design the Plan. consideration in the coming months the steps to get us there. Any future • Help our new General Secretary, who leading up to Annual Sessions 2014. changes in our organization will neces- will play an important role in bring- Details about these proposals are avail- sarily be phased in over time through ing the Plan to reality over the next able on the PYM website at www.pym. orderly transitions; thus we are called to several years. org/long-range-planning-group. have faith in ourselves. A Plan reflecting the yearnings of our Preparing for change Living Into Our New Plan faith community should be a joy to implement! We face many challenges, internal to How might we live into our new our yearly meeting and externally in our plan, as it develops, as we consider the Suzanne currently serves as Clerk of the surrounding society, as we work toward possibilities, and as we begin to imple- PYM Long Range Planning Group. identifying changes and improvements ment it? The Long Range Planning in the ways we manage our communal Group suggests that everyone consider business and the ways we develop and the following: celebrate community. Change is often difficult and it is natural to resist change • Preparation takes time and until new patterns have been proven to hard work. be effective. As people, we often want • Familiarize yourself with the oppor-

Preparing the Plan between January and July

The Long Range Planning Group continues to work with all interested members as we prepare a plan to present at Annual Sessions 2014. Our timetable is as follows:

Date LRPG Plan

Feb. 8 - Interim Meeting Presented refined proposals for organizational structure to In- terim Meeting.

February and March Add “Action Steps” and suggested timeframes and benchmarks.

Apr. 12 - Interim Meeting Submit a Draft Long Range Plan.

May and June Opportunity for members & meetings to familiarize themselves with the Draft Long Range Plan.

July - Annual Sessions Present the Draft Long Range Plan and Next Steps for decision and adoption.

5 annual sessions PYM TODAY • spring 2014 What is Annual Sessions?

Tricia Coscia Yardley Monthly Meeting

hen I walking around the campus. The cica- strengthened my relationships with Wwas a das sang throughout the morning and Friends from many meetings. Many new attender into the night while young Friends rode Friends who have experienced Sessions at Yardley scooters, played dress-up, and listened say that they have grown in their Friends Meet- to guitar music under the tents outside understanding of what it means to be a ing almost 20 Taylor Hall. At night, children and their Quaker, have enjoyed the experience of years ago, my parents caught and released fireflies: a worship in a larger group, and have definition of picture of our past, our presence, and learned much about spiritual Annual Ses- our future.” discernment in meeting for business. sions was The primary purposes of our gather- If you have experienced Annual limited to ing in Annual Sessions are to join Sessions, I encourage you to share your what I read in fellow Quakers for communal worship, experience with other Friends who have Faith and Practice. It is a good defini- spiritual refreshment, business and not yet attended. I invite you to talk tion, but truthfully I skimmed over it fellowship. It is tempting to say that with new people in your meeting and and focused on the poetry of the testi- over the years our time together has share your thoughts on our Facebook monies, advices and quotes from evolved into much more but I suspect page (www.facebook.com/ Friends. that it was not entirely different philadelphiayearlymeeting). Over time, I learned that there was hundreds of years ago. Friends in 1862 If you have not yet attended Annual much more going on. I noticed a did not rent a college campus with pre- sessions, I invite you to join us this unique excitement among Friends who pared meals, dorm housing and an summer (even if only for a few hours or had attended Annual Sessions, although indoor pool, but sharing meals, nurtur- one day). I still did not quite know what it was. It ing children and sleeping in the homes This year’s Annual Sessions will be was a number of years before I attend- of those closest to the meeting house held on the campus of Muhlenberg ed, and I was there as part of my job - must certainly have bred the same kind College, Allentown, PA, from July 23- but when my first “Sessions” ended I of fellowship and spirited atmosphere 27. This year’s theme is “Worship is a was sorry to leave, and it has been that we experience at Sessions today. Door to Love.” Registration will open way for me ever since. “This annual assemblage is held for April 30. I hope to meet you this I often wonder how best to explain religious communion, for mutual summer! Annual Sessions to new members and interchange of thought and opinion, for attenders - as well as members who the perpetuation of old friendships and Tricia serves as PYM Sessions and Volun- have never attended. For me, the follow- the formation of new; in brief, for a teer Coordinator. ing passage from the 2013 Outgoing festival of two or three days of social, Epistle captures the spirit and definition intellectual, and spiritual fellowship of Annual Sessions: and profit.” (Longwood Progressive “As Spirit accompanied us in Meeting Friends – Minutes, 1862) for Worship for Business, afternoon For me, my first experience at conversation groups, evening work- Sessions in 2009 felt very much like a shops and morning worship-sharing, “festival” as Longwood Progressive Spirit was also present among those Friends described it over 150 years ago. Friends who sat outside the dining hall My continuing experience of Sessions writing in journals, talking quietly, or has deepened my faith and

6 PYM TODAY • spring 2014 annual sessions An Experience of Worship at Sessions

Lane Taylor Plumstead Monthly Meeting

ne of my greatest chal- experience a continuing where I found that the comments and Olenges as a Friend has worship that enlivened thoughts Friends were sharing on each been to sit in waiting, expect- my spirit. I was not only subject profoundly related to me; the ant worship. This form of impacted by the energy depth of worship even in the workshops worship feels like an essential and liveliness of the Meet- was palpable. This active presence part of our faith to me but ings for Worship with among Friends became something that while I was easily moved by Attention to Business, but I could carry with me throughout An- the other many beautiful I was able to watch and nual Sessions, experiencing worship aspects of our faith, I strug- experience the impact of during meals and free time, noticing gled in worship. I struggled the divine spirit moving myself finding moments of meditation to clear my head of intrusive throughout the gathered and calmness effortlessly, as opposed to thoughts and I struggled not body. Each voice, regard- my usual struggle. I also found that to move around in my seat (the latter less of the speaker’s tone and inflection, each night, I would find worship again was noticeable to the point where I became relevant and valuable to our before falling asleep, treasuring these could have taken a lesson from the work as a body. No longer did waiting moments of clearness of mind after a patient children in my meeting politely feel like such a challenging event. As I spiritually-enriching day. anticipating their exit into First Day relaxed, I realized that my presence and For me, what makes the experience School). As a result, I felt that I was respect for the gathered space invited of Annual Sessions so worshipful is the missing out on a key experience that is spiritual guidance. presence of Friends nurturing and shar- central to Quakerism. In order to feel This newfound experience was also ing their Inner Light with each other. If more connected to my faith, I sought present for me during workshops, I felt unsettled at the beginning of a out the Quaker experience by meeting, I would look to a connecting with other Quakers at Friend already deep in worship, Annual Sessions. Annual Sessions 2014 feeling grateful that the gath- My thought was that in my state at ered body and I were being that time, I was not an adequate vessel held so lovingly by that Friend. for the Spirit. I did not feel that I had Worship is a Door Our loving presence anchors the tools to prepare myself to receive to Love Annual Sessions and one an- messages and wisdom for myself; and I other in worship, and I cannot felt ill-prepared to share and contribute July 23-27 wait to be present for this experience again in July. messages to other Friends. I thought Muhlenberg College that my best bet was to sit among Allentown, PA Friends in a gathered body to experi- Lane serves as Clerk of the PYM Worship & Care Standing Com- ence the messages that I was taught Please Register could be expected during worship. I mittee and is a member of the was admittedly taking a passive role in by June 20, 2014 at PYM Sessions Planning Group. my faith, allowing myself to feel com- www.pym.org/annual-sessions-2014 fortable with results that would not be a direct result of my own participation. Contact 215/241-7238 or email What actually resulted at Annual [email protected] Sessions was not passive; I began to

7 grant making PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 A Great Day in Gouldtown

the school stemmed from previous Carol Walz collaboration between Lisa Garrison Mount Holly Monthly Meeting and Gerri Lane, Director of Media and Library Services at the Fairfield Public School. Spurred on by last year’s gift of polar vortex coated the Delaware books to the school library by The PYM AValley and much of the nation Willits Book Trust, Ms. Lane had begun with ice on January 10, 2014 as Willits building a collection of the artist’s illus- Book Trust member Lisa Stewart Garri- trated books. On this morning, E.B. son arose at 5:30 a.m. to bake quiche Lewis spoke with 4th and 5th graders for a planned reception at the Fairfield about his life, his illustrations and the Township Public School in Gouldtown, process of visually depicting The Legend a crossroads community in the rural of the Cape May Diamond, a story of the Delaware Bayshore Region of Southern Lenape people, their ancient, ongoing New Jersey. relationship with the Delaware River Gouldtown’s interracial history and Bay and the translucent quartz reaches back more than three hundred pebbles that have served as symbols of years with free Black, Native American friendship between natives and new- E.B. Lewis autographs copies of his book and Quaker roots. On this day, two of comers. the oldest PYM grant making commit- Carol Lively, a member of the Salem to share their feelings. That affirmation tees had worked together to create a Quarter Indian Committee and the speaks directly to children on the special event at the local school, an Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation, had periphery who are most in need of hear- event also sponsored by nearby Green- invited members of the tribe who ing such messages.” wich Friends Meeting. served as models for the book illustra- Increasingly, the Willits Book Trust The PYM Indian Committee helped tions to attend the event. They too views book giving as a way of recogniz- bring E.B. Lewis, a noted children’s ventured out on the icy roads to be at ing and honoring African American book artist, to the school and rallied the school, among them Chief Mark communities within multi-racial set- members of the Salem Quarter Indian Gould, Sonnie Ridgeway, a Lenape spiri- tings such as Gouldtown and this col- Committee to attend. The Willits Book tual leader, and his grandson Danny. laboration with the PYM Indian Com- Trust provided signed copies of his Danny, pictured as a small boy in the mittee expanded that mission. At the illustrated book, The Legend of the Cape story’s illustrations, is now 14 years old. reception for the school’s book club May Diamond, for 6th-8th grade mem- For Gerri Lane, the presence of the artist members and tribal leaders, Chief Mark bers of the school’s book club and par- and tribal leaders provided an impor- Gould spoke about the long-standing ticipating classroom teachers; and in- tant context for dismantling negative relationship between Friends and the vited members of the Nanticoke Lenni- stereotypes about Native American Nanticoke-Lenni Lenape people. In Lenape Nation whose tribal grounds are Indians that children may hold and creating a cultural event that brought located nearby. Nationally known, providied a positive sense of native tribal leaders together with South Jersey award-winning African American artist presence within the local community. Quakers and the Gouldtown school E.B. Lewis has illustrated 65 children’s “When he works with children and community, the Willits Book Trust and books, most with strong emotional teachers, E.B. Lewis conveys a palpable Indian Committee are pleased to have themes. He created the illustrations for picture as only a visual artist can,” ex- revisited and honored historic relation- Each Kindness, now the best-selling chil- plained Lisa Garrison. “In talking with ships while laying a groundwork for dren’s book on bullying, using Haddon- children about the process of becoming future collaboration. field Friends School buildings and stu- vulnerable and how such emotions dents as models. shaped his sensibilities as an artist and Carol serves as PYM Director of The idea of bringing an illustrator to a man, he gives permission to children Grant Making.

8 PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 thank you

Gratitude for Your Support: Volunteers and Contributors

hiladelphia Yearly Meeting is a community of 103 monthly meetings, 13 quarterly Thank you Pmeetings and many thousands of members, attenders, sojourners and other people. We support and strengthen each other in Quaker faith, practice, witness and community. for your time Our work together is made possible by the countless hours of time given by Friends, and talent! financial support from monthly and quarterly meeting Covenant Contributions and support of the Annual Fund by individuals, meetings, working groups and others. In 2013, PYM members and friends contributed more than Thank you for your Covenant Gifts! 33,500 hours of service to our committees, helping with youth The collective work of Friends in our yearly meeting is sustained by the ongoing programs, assisting with office generosity of all monthly and quarterly meetings through Covenant Contributions. work, staffing the library, These corporate contributions from our 103 monthly meetings are the largest part of the interpreting the historic Arch yearly meeting’s operations budget and are one way that we join with one another to Street Meeting House for the nurture Quaker faith and practice. We are grateful to each meeting for the discernment, public, making Annual Sessions care and faithfulness represented in your Covenant Contributions. Thank you! successful and much more! In honor of that faithful Thank you for your contributions! service and to thank all of our volunteers, we sponsored a Over 2,500 individuals nurtured Quaker faith and practice through financial beehive through the Honey Bee contributions to the yearly meeting Annual Fund in 2012 and 2013. Their names are Conservancy - and since a hive listed below along with the percentage of Friends from each meeting who participated in contains some 30,000+ bees, supporting the Annual Fund. We are deeply grateful for each and every gift. Thank you! that’s approximately one bee for every hour served! Stay tuned Abington Quarter for news of the bees on the PYM Abington Meeting Miriam Eyre Robert Sanchez website this spring. 27% Participation Jon Farquharson George Schaefer and Volunteers are the heart of Eight Anonymous Gifts Patricia and Harvey Fingeroff Georgette Hamaty what is Philadelphia Yearly Joseph and Patricia Ambrose Loretta and Scott Fox Peter and Bonnie Schorsch Meeting. Richard Arras Daniel Garrett Irvin and Marilyn Schorsch If you are interested in Bruce and Carol Beaton Mark and Heather Garrison Walter and Kathleen Singer volunteering to help with PYM William Berlinghof Martin Heckman Thomas and Carolyn Spencer programs please contact Tricia Lowell Booth Benjamin and Karen Hoyle Ruth Spencer Coscia, Sessions and Volunteer ThankRosemary Bothwell Keiko Kishi Debbie Stauffer andYou Coordinator at volunteers@pym. Benjamin Lloyd and Carol Palmer John Brady and Linda Haughton org or call 215-241-7238. Mary L. Buckman Susan McKey Daniel Turner If you are interested in serving Bet Conover Charles Lockyer Diane Vernon on a PYM committee or working Patricia Conroy Ian MacInnes Mara Wai Janet Conway and Don Pearce Todd and Susan Makler David and Patricia Wermeling group please contact Paula Cell, Nancy Cunningham Barbara P. Mason Bob Wirtshafter and Clerk of Nominating Committee Tom and Kathy Dwyer Janet E. McBride Angela Sorrentino at [email protected] or fill out a George and Sharon Eastburn Keith and Elizabeth Mosley Linda Wolohan and Russ Allen simple form on the PYM website Jay Ely Deborra Sines Pancoe and at www.pym.org. Craig Pancoe 9 thank you PYM TODAY • Spring 2014

Byberry Meeting Horsham Meeting Unami Meeting Elizabeth and Charles Fritsch 43% Participation 17% Participation 49% Participation Phillip Henderson One Anonymous Gift Two Anonymous Gifts Three Anonymous Gifts Richard and Josephine Howe Michael R. Gilbert and Gina Judith and Kenneth Foulke James and Sandy D’Amato Gustav Langford and Esposito Gilbert Drusilla Gullberg Philip and Nancy Donnelly Molly MacInnes Harry and Lillian Leeser Penrose and Marian Hallowell Elizabeth Goff Beverly Lomax Mary Ellen McNish and Frank Jarrett Mary and Rick Hanisch Ken Miller David R. Miller Ellwood and Joan Kirk Irv and Jenny Hollingshead Bonnie Saunders David and Suzanna Nepley Diane and Vincent Miernicki Jon Layer Peter Schiano and Lisa Wildman Richard and Alice Wetherill Robert and Kathryn Leber Jill Steelman Gwynedd Meeting Joyce Moore Fallsington Meeting 21% Participation Norristown Meeting Rebecca Osborn 27% Participation Eleven Anonymous Gifts 21% Participation Randy and Marietta Quinby Five Anonymous Gifts Carl Baron Three Anonymous Gifts Mary Reichley Henry Beck and Sandy Snyder Louise and Edmund Crossen Bill and Emily Asch Jane Berger Clifford Gillam, Jr. Upper Dublin Meeting Will and Jackie Bowers Jeanetta Bicking Kelly and Mary Green 17% Participation James and Lisa Collins Michael Bilinski Bradley LeVan and Karen Two Anonymous Gifts Violet Devlin Russell and Ginger Bishop Shanoski John Baer Melanie Douty-Snipes and William Carr, Jr. Eric and Kimberly Malm Ginny Cameron Jonathan Snipes Skip Corson, Jr. James Verno Marion Doane Dorothy Eaton Virginia P. Dawe Mary Louise Wright John and Anne Spears Burgess Ekman Mickey Edgerton John Ziegler Maryly and Sohrab Hossain John and Karlene Ellsworth Bucks Quarter Virginia and Robert Huxley Doug and Deborah Faulkner Plymouth Meeting Bristol Meeting Robert and Stephanie McBride Eduardo and Dorothy Ortez John and Linda Gist 17% Participation 10% Participation Susan Plaisted Walter and June Hallowell Four Anonymous Gifts One Anonymous Gift Louise Salinas Rolland and Janet Henderson Sally Bishop Timothy Dwyer Sam and Marion Snipes Kenneth and Eleanor Hiebert Carol Corson Sally Snipes Rachel Hubbs Elizabeth Foley Buckingham Meeting Susan Snipes-Wells and Ronald and Judith Inskeep Ralph and Louise Henninger 17% Participation Thomas Wells Dee Kruschwitz Barbara Hoekje Two Anonymous Gifts Charles and Laura Thomforde Cynthia and Ralph Levy Wayne Homan Elaine and Charles Fettig Amy and Richard Wagner Constance Lezenby and Charles Hough Christine and Michael Godshall Charles Maxfield Joan MacLatchie David and Bonnie Miller Lehigh Valley Meeting Jeannette McGinley Beth Mead Loretta Miller and Larry Hastings 56% Participation Pegene McPhaden Bethann Morgan Karen and John Ort Five Anonymous Gifts Reba Mohan Mary Lucile Nuse ThankJim Williams, IV YouKaren Beatty Donald and Carolyn Moon Grace and Jonathan Scott Nicholas Butterfield and Albert and Marcia Paschkis Richland Meeting Grover Stults and Pam Caprio Rachel Osborn Mike and Debra Peasley 12% Participation Roe Tormollen John and Anne Cheezum Vicki and James Poorman Two Anonymous Gifts Falecia and JP Wasicko Martha and William Christine Dorothy Reed Susan and Jim Abbott Rick Dow and Donna Hartmann Tom Rie Peter Camana Doylestown Meeting Frances Dreisbach Daniel J. and Carol S. Ritting John Knisley and Holly Thomas 17% Participation Donna Forsythe Carol Shearon Richard and Jeanette Pasqua Two Anonymous Gifts Amy and Jonathon Frey Lea Stabinski Tom Peterson Anne Biggs Howard Gallup Samuel and Donna Swansen Susan Powell Ted Dempsey and Robert and Cathy Gumlock Bunny and Thomas Swartz John Ries Geraldine Dougherty Barbara Kozero Neil and Kristin Trueblood Nikki Savage Ann Ehrich Mimi Lang Arnold and Caroline Trueblood Kathryn Spare David Eldridge and Lisa Carney Jan and Paul Larson Margot West Elizabeth Eschallier Gordon and Linda Maule Richard and Mary Whiffen Wally and Jane Evans Karen Moore Richard and Evelyn Willis Esther Friend 10 PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 thank you

Ted Morgan and Christie Clovis Plumstead Meeting Solebury Meeting Mary Lou Hatcher Camille Cocozza 46% Participation 26% Participation Bonnie O’Donnell Anita Crofts Two Anonymous Gifts One Anonymous Gift James Orben and Debra Orben Sarah Crofts Kenneth and Diane Ahl Cindy Baum-Baicker Jim Prowant Betsy and Daniel Crofts Elyse Fox Lisa and Boris Becker Bob and Carmen Riggs Alan Crosman Alan and Carol Gray William and Ann Brady Robert Root and Anna Marzullo Mary Dart Carol Hey Valerie Brown and John Strachan Stephanie Rosado-Heller Harris Eckstut Bill Hoblin and Sarai Nieves Marjorie Crooks David and Kimberly Rose Reza and Magda Eghbal Beth Taylor and Robert Happ Malcolm and Elaine Crooks Nan Sell-Parry and John Parry Joseph and Carolyn Evans Marie Tollini Mike Daley and Marybeth Snyder Faith Shireman Daryl Fair and Catherine Faure Grant Stevenson Barbara Kibler Quakertown Meeting Donald Griffin Clifford and Lois Sunflower George Fisk 33% Participation Bob Holt Nancy Taras Kate Fullerton and Two Anonymous Gifts John Kellogg Olyvia Ulrich Eric Armour Norma Bowers Chris and Cathy Kerr Conrad and Cecelia Walton K.C. and Sharon Goodman Gerard and Ramona Kirwan Daniel Kling Donald and Doug and Robin Meaker Patricia Knight Makefield Meeting Margaret Grubbs Jodie Penniman and Paul and Marilyn Lanctot 24% Participation Hugh and Kathleen Harr Walter Krzastek John Mathieu and Jane Fox Laquer Emily Heacock Patricia Stover Karen Love-Mathieu Hugh Shaudys Bill and Linda Heinemann Rob Mulcahy and Betsy Cotton Jerry Taylor Jr Elizabeth Hendricks Kevin Mullen Elsie Wright Scott and Susan Hoskins Middletown Meeting Marya Hunsicker Wendy and Steven Kane at Langhorne Paul Kester 32% Participation Volunteer Profile: Laura Kinnel Three Anonymous Gifts Odie and Bob LeFever Becca Bubb Jerry Belew Amy McLellan JoAnn Cassidy Abington Monthly Meeting Ginger Monarch James and Claudia Haviland Martin and Lisa Ogletree James and Robin Hipple Becca Bubb first became ac- Chip Poston, Jr. Meagan Longcore and tively involved in Philadelphia Mark and Angela Ratliff David DiMicco Ann and Norval Reece Yearly Meeting’s youth programs James and Deborah Newbold Anne and Lance Roberds when she was in middle school William Newbold Daniel Seeger and began attending the youth Tom and Holly Olson Almira Sharp programs. She returned after Blake and Janice Parry Ray and Kati Sowiak graduating college to serve as the John and Kathie Parry Nancy and Jack Starmer Young Friends Program Assistant George and Nancy Pickering Norman and Betty Tjossem for three years and became active William Sheffer Terese and John Waitz Matilda Styer in Young Adult Friends programs. James Whitmoyer and Thomas Styer, III For most of her life, Becca has felt Susan Thompson Roger Wood that the PYM youth programs are at the heart of Quakerism and Caroline Wilson John H. Wood, Jr. have helped her discover who she is as a Quaker. Most recently, Anthony and Jennifer Wolf Susan Wood she has served as a member of the YAF Working Group and Clerk Lewis and Joann Woodman of the Pastoral Care Committee. Becca values the sense of com- Newtown Meeting Madeline Ziesel munity and groundedness that the youth programs have always 30% Participation provided her. In her new role as PYM Alternate Clerk she hopes to Two Anonymous Gifts help provide some multi-generational connectedness throughout Carol Ashton-Hergenhan Janet Braker and PYM and continue to serve our faith community. David McCullough Becca serves as PYM Alternate Clerk. Ken and Marjorie Burton

11 annual SeS- SionS

thank you PYM TODAY • Spring 2014

Kirk and Judith Norris Tricia and Joseph Coscia Princeton Meeting Louis Le Fevre Daryl and Rhoda Renschler Clare Eggers-Hewitt 19% Participation Fred and Sandy Millner George and Frances Rhoads Bruce and Diane French Three Anonymous Gifts Joan Ordille Susan Tinsman Holly and Joel Gardner Nestor Arroyo Maia and Jules Simon John and Joan Winterbottom Liz Little Michael L. and Gale Aucott Joseph Taylor, Jr. Susan Madeira Diane Barlow Barbara and John Vadnais Southampton Meeting Holly Phelps Melba Battin 44% Participation Caln Quarter George Phelps John and Gloria Borden Bill Dockhorn and Carol Wengert Cornelia and Marshall Schmidt Georgene B. Callahan Bradford Meeting Carolyn Eckel Andrew Sites Clement Cottingham and 5% Participation Hans Peters and Laura Lynch Joseph Sites Dee Lewis Carol Hanson and Harry Rothwell Betty Steckman James Daley Dennis Wallace Dorothy Schroeder Janet Zimmerman Jane Fremon Chambersburg Meeting Ruth B. Gage Wrightstown Meeting Burlington Quarter 43% Participation Lilian Grosz 22% Participation Six Anonymous Gifts Barnegat Meeting David Hartig and Three Anonymous Gifts Robert and Beth Moore 20% Participation Barbara Fisk-Hartig James and Anne Alden Margaret Pfoutz Robert Cicione Shelley Krause and Frank Arrison Sarah and Nicholas Trbovic Franklin Reusch, Jr. Terri Riendeau Drew Augenblick Pat Sherwin William and Suzanne Banks Roland and Pamela Machold Downingtown Meeting Betsy Bayardi Crosswicks Meeting Heloise Mailloux 55% Participation Arthur and Julia Manuel Evelyn and Mark Boada 38% Participation Four Anonymous Gifts Gregory and Audrey McBride Nelson Camp and Alice Maxfield Two Anonymous Gifts Keaven and Judith Anderson George and Marae McGhee Robin and Bernard Campbell John and Linda Andrews John Black Dick Nurse and Ninfa Mueller Leo and Pamela Fitzpatrick Stephanie Brown Jonathan Brezon and Michael and Mary Robertson The Forte Family Jack and Monty Caldwell Christine Beard Janice and Thomas Roddenbery Paul Haviland, Jr. Donald and Lauren Czehut Harry and Martha Bryans Daniel and Irene Rodgers Holly Hecht Stuart and Martha Palmer Jeff and Pam Bryer John and Carol Spears William Hunter, Jr. Jean Scattergood Kate Campbell Robert Stockton Gail and Alan Keim Mary Sohler Robert and Ginny Connolly Joseph and Marietta Taylor Gwendolyn Kerber Lisa Spooner William Ewing III Mary Timberlake Louise and Robert Kidder Anne and Maurie Stevenson Howard and Alison Frysinger Roberta Truscello Jean LaRue Harry and Jan Williams Patty Gibian Charles and Letitia Ufford Claudia Mahon Judy Wright Kim Haas Jaromir and Kay Marik Ann and Mitsuru Yasuhara Sally Harrison Little Egg Harbor Meeting Garey Hesselton Lincoln and Julie Merwin Rancocas Meeting David Miller 8% Participation Robert and Helle Krentel 33% Participation Maria Myers Margaret Cunningham Jamie and Cheryl McVickar Three Anonymous Gifts MarkThank Pouy YouSherry McVickar Mount Holly Meeting Susanne Bingham Phyllis and Del Purscell Graham and Deborah Miles 24% Participation Joseph and Jean Jordan Katherine Rowe Irene Oleksiw and Alex Miller Three Anonymous Gifts George and Margaret Rowe Trenton Meeting Julian Onderdonk and Zehdreh Allen-Lafayette Susan Sandberg 46% Participation Mary McCabe Albert and Dorothy Bacon Richard and Bette Segel One Anonymous Gift Dina and Matthew Patukas Chris Darlington Jack Seitner Bob Appelbaum Peggy Pillard Toby Riley, III Gordon Brooks Helen Read Yardley Meeting David and Miriam Swartz Jane Brooks Linda Robertson 19% Participation John and Carol Walz Martha Brumbaugh James Supplee One Anonymous Gift Len Byles Susan and Peter Temple Biz Antrim Jean Comfort Cathy Toner and James Tobin Conrad and Barbara Baldwin Len Byles and Timothy and Nancy Warner Sid and Carolyn Cadwallader Theresa Fitzgibbon Gerry and Rita Williams Laura and Charles Clappison Jada Jackson

12 PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 thank you

Exeter Meeting Reading Meeting 71% Participation 25% Participation Volunteer Profile: Three Anonymous Gifts Three Anonymous Gifts Douglas and Elizabeth Bell Judith and Philip Bohne Nicholas Hoskins Kenneth and Jane Cook Christine Field Newtown Monthly Meeting Jack Grebinger Judy Geiser Margaret Keck Charles Gilbert Nick has been a regu- Deborah Kirlin Kathy and Rick Githens lar supporter of PYM Bike McDonough Jim and Wendy Hall youth programs, espe- Jed and Shirley Smith Darlington and Frances Hoopes cially Young Friends, for Tom Hughes whom he has been a Harrisburg Meeting Janet Lamborn 39% Participation Taylor and Betty Lamborn Friendly Adult Presence Two Anonymous Gifts Roger Lawn and for the past five years. Nancy Alleman Bonnie Kirchner Nick has also served as a Rick Gallagher Jim and Nan Morrissey member of the Young Jessica and John Hayden Jean Pedersen Adult Friends Working Sabina Howell and Lee Pickett and James Russo Group and Sessions Plan- Franz Niedermeyer Marie Ryan ning Group and currently Ted Huryn Blair Seitz serves on the Friends Christopher Kimmel and Institute Granting Group. Llenay Ferretti Sadsbury Meeting William Moore 19% Participation “In the past few years I have lived in London, Prague, Richard Morse One Anonymous Gift Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Diego and Los Angeles. Given Patricia Naeye Frank Fetter, II my transient lifestyle, being engaged with the yearly meeting Carter Nash Connie Webster has provided opportunities for me to connect with other Donald Owen and Eileen Green young adults in a similar phase of life, and to see how I can Bill and Kay Pickering Schuylkill Meeting Glenn Pickering 26% Participation actively contribute to the larger Quaker community.” One Anonymous Gift Kenneth and Wicky Woerthwein “I have been able to serve Young Friends as they explore Frank and Jean Marie Barch Lancaster Meeting Megan Connolly the role of Quakerism in their lives. I certainly do not have 20% Participation Alan Croasdale definitive answers but I provide support and demonstrate Three Anonymous Gifts Chris and Leslie Jones that their questioning is healthy. Young Friends are my Nancy and Larry Bieber Lucy McIlvaine strongest connection to my personal faith. There is a power Maria G. Cattell Mary Moulton in our shared experience of uncertainty and seeking. It re- Esther Cope Brian Weber and Debbie Flad minds me that service is a way to stay connected to the Joseph DiGarbo, Jr. things that engage and support my faith.” Frances Dunlap Chester Quarter Jean and William Eaton Chester Meeting Anna Marie Fischer Margaret Johnston 17% Participation Lansdowne Meeting Lois and Grayfred Gray Donald Kidder Two Anonymous Gifts 22% Participation Jim and Cindy Herr Linell McCurry Anna Ensor Two Anonymous Gifts Rick Joi Elizabeth Mogee Doris Landers John and Catharine Cary Amanda and Doug Kemp Merlin and Jill Muhrer Beth Lawn Paula and David Charles and Marga Lane Janet and Frank Mustin Jack and Shaila Garde-Lester Cullinan Cryzewski Patricia Lea Vivian Rankin Niyonu Spann Anne Darlington Charles and Molly Milner Joan Strauss Feldman Eleanor H. Scott Joseph and Anna Moore Darby Meeting John and Mary Furth Jerry and Linda Sena George H. Nofer 5% Participation Helen S. Hardin Paul Sheldon Joanna Sadler Elizabeth and Robert Appleton Jacqui Harper Scott and Karen Silverman Ed and Carol Shane Richard Hoffman and Amy Snipes-McKamey Barbara Spiegelberg Susan Kellog Robert and Denise Venturi

13 thank you PYM TODAY • Spring 2014

Robert J. and Eleanore Potter Will Starr and Lisa Reno Goshen Meeting Janet R. White Caroline Rodgers Mark Taylor and Brenda Perkins 21% Participation Toni Isard Yagoda John and Jane Shaw Stephen Weimar and Four Anonymous Gifts Parker Snowe and Ann Renninger Saunders Dixon, III Media Meeting Leslie Friedman Paul Joyce Collins Williams and Paul Eisenhauer and Marian Post 38% Participation David Thomas and Virginia Williams Joyce Jack Embick and Sallie Welte Four Anonymous Gifts Debra Will Elizabeth Wray Audrey H. Langhorne Jennifer Van Denbergh and Laurie Lewis and Charles McElwee David and Margaret Camp Concord Quarter Michael Campbell and Dan Curry Edward Moll Birmingham Meeting Susan Garrison Sarah Willie-LeBreton Middletown Meeting Lila Cornell and Richard Baker William and Ann Windsor 31% Participation (Concord) Nancy DeMis Six Anonymous Gifts Springfield Meeting Peter and Uliana Ekman Nancy Arnosti 24% Participation 13% Participation Three Anonymous Gifts Anne Flick and Neil Braun Tod and Margaret Baseden Walter Conard Rich Ailes and Shirley Dodson Garrett and Susan Forsythe John and Linda Braceland Brett Fallon Christopher Balderston James Forsythe Ted Brinton Dick and MG Van Ingen Deborah and Robert Cassady Lola Georg and Viv Hawkins Susan Brodesser John and Betty Corry Dorothy Haviland Amy and Michael Brooks Swarthmore Meeting Carol Emmons C. Kruskal and Reiko Hewitt Luis and Wendy Castillo 23% Participation Carol Gerken Patricia Hunt Charles and Marcia Cole-Quigley Six Anonymous Gifts Jane Mack Alfred and Eleanor Hurd David and Sarah Darlington Rudolf and Elizabeth Amann Charles and Jane Mack W. Joplin and Alison James Patrice Fletcher Donna Armstrong Dale and Susan Frens Peter Ogle and Rachel Winslow Peg Lippincott Barbara Casini Samuel and Carol Osborn Benjamin Preddy and Maryetta Glancey Betsy Christopher Anne W. Harrington Carol Savery-Frederick and Marjorie Sickles Preddy Louise Christopher William Frederick Charles Randall and Richard and Janet Heckler Eleanor Clark David and Sallie Jones Thomas Swain Judith Watkins Jane Torrance William DeGrado Cindy Kipp Dorothy Reichardt William and Ann Welsh David and Barbara Grove Dr. Barbara Knickerbocker Cecilia Sibinga Robert and Nancy Hayden Christopher and Celia Lang West Chester Meeting Sara Timmons Bruce Hunt Ellie White Douglas Linton 22% Participation Edmund and Adalyn Jones Martha Boston and Robert Williamson and Andrea Knox Three Anonymous Gifts Christopher McKenney Emily and David Anmuth Paula Williams Florence Lewis Emily Myers Patrick and Kathleen Davis Joseph Linton and Providence Meeting Gwynne Ormsby Stephen and Dee Fitzgerald Wendy Piccard 21% Participation Barbara Parsons Lonnie Graham and Michael and Anne Malone One Anonymous Gift Greg and Julie Senko Christina Roberts Paul and Mary Mangelsdorf AllenThank Bonnell Serita Spadoni YouCaroline S. and Barbara Marshall Sam and Barbara Caldwell Bill and Darlene Waddington Milton B. Helmuth John and Nancy McKinstry Mayland Crosson Douglas and Betsy Wenny Shirley Hood Mary Lou Parker John and Merril Dutton Lark Worth Anne Leuiken Jean Perkins Joseph and Lynne Elliott Ruth Young Randy and Deb Lyons Jo Pfaff Medard and Mary Gabel Robert McCarter Thomas Preston Concord Meeting Mac F. Given Rosa Packard Pierre Ravacon Bruce Haines 11% Participation Marina Pavluk and Mahoud Effat Kenneth and Anne Rawson Robin Harper Brenda Beadenkopf William and Ursula Plummer Phyllis Raymond Eleanor Harris Carol and Francis Bradley Marianne S. Potts Ruth Reynolds Janice Lanier Raymond and Barbara Hamilton Malika Richards and Michael and Genevieve Ritzman Paul and Margaret Linvill William Palmer Daniel Indro Florence Roberts William and Lynn Oberfield Annette and Hiram Parent Sharon and Scott Smith Jim and Bere Saxon Anthony Olmstead Jessica Raymond Rod and Ann Waters Lois Sellers Philip Peterson and Elizabeth Richards Larry Wheeler La Verne Shelton Janice Kirkwood Marian Walker Margaret White Daniel Snyder and Joan Neely David Wickard Erica Young 14 PYM TODAY • spring 2014 Thank you

Westtown Meeting Wilmington Meeting Haddonfield Meeting John and Kathleen Donch 32% Participation 19% Participation 18% Participation Kathleen Fastiggi One Anonymous Gift Three Anonymous Gifts Five Anonymous Gifts Mary Anne Gaffney and Denis and Judith Asselin Richard and Pamela Carter Ranan and Purnima Banerji Susan Borkowski John and Aminda Baird Pamela Cerchio Judith Barnes Stuart I. Harris Sarah and Robert Bernhardt Curtis and Carol Clapham Therese and Charles Barringer Cynthia B. Kolaski Margaret Brown Chenda Davison Dr. Mary Bell Mary Noland David and Paula Brown Stephan and Drew Biehl and Ken Jones Frances and Joseph O’Neill Taun Chapman Paulette de la Veaux Lisa Boyell and David Brady Wayne Partenheimer Lisa Cromley and Bruce Harrison Thomas Dew, Jr. Robert and Connie Brookes William and Judith Patterson Marc and Marion Dear Jean Dew Scott Buchheit and Pam Perry Ruth Podolin David Dobbins and Zac Dutton Shelagh Wilson William Fitzhugh Jonathan Evans Cheryl Glasgow Kevin and Karen Gallagher Richard and Hermetta Harper Volunteer Profile: Isabella Harrison Patty Haughton Thomas and Margaret Haviland David Hollingsworth Jane Keller Nancy Hoffman John and Marjorie Hoopes Pennsdale Meeting Bruce James William Hudson Sara Kehew Mark and Jean Kaufman I joined the Quarter Peter and Juliet Lane Erik and Stephanie Knudsen Oversight (now Organiz- Margaret Locke William Marks ing) Committee about 20 Jan and Alice Long Charles Paschall, Jr. years ago at the time when Norman and Cathy Robinson Linda and Jerry Powell we were seeking funding Timothy and Janny Sterrett Jay Pownall for a Quarter Coordinator Ginny Sutton Emily Scott and then searching for Virginia Vaughan David and Susan Scott someone to fill the posi- Susan and Brian Waterhouse Bayard Snyder Ralph and Gretka Wolfe Howard Starkweather, Jr. tion. At the time I was Anne Wood Mary Starkweather-White quite content to function Alan Wright and Paula Kline Robert and within the confines of my Lillian R. Yeh Barbara Ann Tinker monthly meeting but our Harvey Zendt coordinator Wade Wright Willistown Meeting encouraged me to step beyond my monthly meeting, get on the 18% Participation Haddonfield Quarter road and attend Yearly Meeting Summer Sessions. Two Anonymous Gifts Atlantic City Area Elisa and John Barbis The next year, I accepted nomination as a Recording Clerk, a Meeting Tim Barnard role I served in for 6 years. Being a Recording Clerk enabled me 30% Participation Lynmar and Claudie Brock One Anonymous Gift to see first-hand how our yearly meeting functions and to meet Pamela Costanzi Robert and Meed Barnett a wide variety of Friends, many of whom I grew to deeply ad- Keith and Kathy Fox Alice Gitchell and mire and respect. I learned so much by knowing, working and Irene and Clay Johnson Jamie Cromartie just being among Friends, so my “blessed community” expand- Janet and Richard Kilpatrick Nancy Tompkins ed exponentially. Mare McLoughlin Eric and Carol Metzker Cropwell Meeting Now my energies are focused on the Spiritual Formation Ellen Millick 27% Participation Program. It has been an enormous privilege to work with the Ron Ploeg David and Nancy Barclay devoted and faithful Friends who facilitate and participate in Robert and Jean Schaefer Connie Evans and this program! Time and again I have witnessed the Spirit at Will and Rebecca Scull Dean Richert work among us as our spiritual lives are enriched and deepened Betsy Swan and Jon Kimmel Deborah Saunders Liz and Ken Tankel through our journeys. My yearly meeting work has also served Joyce Winston as a springboard to volunteer work with the FGC Sessions Plan- Anna Wright ning Committee, a new venture which I am gratified to begin.

15 thank you PYM TODAY • Spring 2014

Leonard Rico Sandy and Susan Heath Nancy and Michael Robinson Frank and Mary Jo Strawbridge Lucy Savarese Griffin and Katie Henry Mark Roderick Yssabella Watt John Sheffield Les and Patti Hopton Eleanor Stevenson Sarah Tatman Yeager Maria Shivers Nancy Jones Barbara Watson Anna Sutterley Catharine Karsten Barbara Zimmerman Newtown Square Meeting Patricia and Harley Williams Louisa Khanlian 14% Participation Robert and Rosalind Williams Christopher Kimberly Haverford Quarter Hilary Conroy Cheryl Kozloff Haverford Meeting Doug Humes Medford Meeting 18% Participation Louis and Betsy Matlack Old Haverford Meeting 33% Participation John Mills Three Anonymous Gifts 35% Participation Seven Anonymous Gifts Jeanne Minchak Helen Bair Five Anonymous Gifts Mary Bacon and Ray Minchak Robert C. Bishop Walter Cope Stephen Edgerton Yuriko Moriuchi Benjamin Blair, Jr. Patricia Finley Lynne Brick Julia Mutch Sylvia T. Bronner Ellie Knickman and Janet Bruner Betty Mutch Benita and Edward Campbell Douglas Kurtze Jacqueline Cleaver Susan and Bruce Pansius Terry and Grace Cooke Steve Loughin and Ruth Darlington Elizabeth and Dennis Preston Douglas and Susan Davis Carol Strawson Susan Dietz Ruth Quackenbush Kim and Kate deRiel Deb and James McCafferty Harry and Lois Forrest Marty and Emma Richter Edith Gleason Bonnie McMeans Walter and Joyce Haase Suellen and Matt Riffkin Sandra Green Patty Rettig Alice Andrews and Laird Holby Warren and Florence Sawyer Diana Harrison Janet Jackson-Gould Alison and Glenn Senter Michael Inskeep Radnor Meeting Florence Lippincott and Lynne Piersol Peter Small 20% Participation Gertrude P. Marshall Peter and Michelle Jenney Nick Smith Six Anonymous Gifts Robert and Marylou Morrow Janna Kane Bill and Marty Smith Thomas and Elizabeth Margery and George Rubin Douglas Keith Asa Stackhouse Balderston Martha Rudrauff-Levy and Richard and Margaret Lytton Carol and Thomas A. Todd Sarah and Robert Bishop Thomas Levy Stella Miller-Collett Laurence and Margaret Van Meter Ruth Blattenberger Roland and Jean Stratton Robert and Elizabeth Post Debra and Dennis Williams Maura Curran Cathy and Scott Wilson Robert Roche Hannah Wilson Letty Lee Dahme Ron and Suzanne Woodill Priscilla Roche Tom and Jackie Zemaitis Jeffrey and Anne Dalke Lisa and John Rooney Moorestown Meeting Patsy Higgins Dent Newton Meeting Judith and Louis Santiago Mary Kaye Edwards and 25% Participation 9% Participation Edward and Shirley Shakespeare Rob Knowlton Seven Anonymous Gifts One Anonymous Gift Marion Smith David Eynon Samuel and Diane Allen Elizabeth Southworth Westfield Meeting Kathleen Folwell Nancy Asher John Gullace and Joy Takahashi Billie Gilfillan KarenThank and Robert Barton 19% Participation Anne VanArkel You Gene and Jolinda Grace Edwin and Monique Begg Four Anonymous Gifts Howard and Anne Wood Peggy and Brooks Harris Moon and Mark Joan and C. Miller Biddle Robert Woodward, IV Beiferman-Haines Joan and James Brackbill Bart Harrison Lorna Hoopes-Hardt John and Adele Bourne Lynn Conant Merion Meeting John Caughey Indira Cope Alice Kelley 34% Participation Allan Christianson Charles and Elaine Coward Judy Love Keogh One Anonymous Gift Maurice and Martha Collins Carol Crawford Robert Krick Rocco and Linda Bianchi Newbold Cooper, Jr. Dennis and Anne Creter Beth and Bob Krick Susan and Robert Campbell Andrea Cranmer A.J. Figueroa and Gary Haines Craig Long and Linda Hock-Long David and Eileen Carpenter Lisa and Stephen Dainton Louise Hager Margaret and Thomas Mayer Laurel and Doug Costa Richard and Catherine Dole Robert Heal Donna and John Murray Marge and John Dawson William Guthe and Linda and William Kimball Steve and Jennifer Olshevski Evan and Janet Frazer Kiyo Moriuchi Kate and John Latimer Lindalee V. Oswald Alice Hoffman Molly Haines Isabelle McVaugh Paul R. Smith Ross Mitchell Noel and Nicholas Harbist Karen Nulton Isobel Thompson James and Paula Pettyjohn Neil and Marian Hartman William Probsting Geraldine Tisdall William and Sarah Roth David Crawford 16 PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 thank you

Valley Meeting Marjory Abbott Grace Gonglewski and Chestnut Hill Meeting 26% Participation Doris Allebach Eric Schoefer 31% Participation Two Anonymous Gifts Alison Anderson Steve Gulick and Four Anonymous Gifts Tracey Dolan Charles Ault Glenavie Norton Philip Anthony and Paul Felton, Jr. Phyllis Babcock Nicole Hackel Meg Mitchell Tom Hoopes and Greg Barnes and Robert Henderson and George Benz Beth Castiglione Yoko Koike Barnes Dana Reinhold Jude Brandt and Grace Moses Kert and Jean Kadyk Barbara Benton Patricia Prudence Hill Ginny Christensen Corona Machemer Betsy Berger Mary Anne Hunter Karen Cromley Anne Moore Rob and Lela Betts Cope Tony and Lee Junker Ellen Deacon and Ernest Cuff Mary-ann and Kurt Reiss Becky Birtha Kathleen and Christie and Zach Mrs. James P. Schellenger Julian Brelsford and Liz Martin Carrie Karhnak-Glasby Duncan-Tessmer Philip and Roberta Scott Baird and Carol Brown Arlene Kelly and Helene Pollock Diane Dunning Alice Walkling Susan Chast Vale Kenny Mary Jane and Don Flaith Cathryn Coate and Ingrid Lakey Eileen Flanagan and Tom Volkert Philadelphia Quarter Robert Capanna George Lakey George and Dona Garrettson Central Philadelphia Chuck Esser and Pamela Haines Arthur M. Larrabee and John and Mary Hagner Meeting Mary Hall Flounders-Arnett Nancy van Arkel Amey Hutchins and 40% Participation Elizabeth Flower Elisabeth Leonard Dylan Steinberg Ten Anonymous Gifts Philip and Carol Furnas Alison Lewis Ann and Philip Jones Janet Lowe Mary Day Kent Hannah Mayer Hollister Knowlton Volunteer Profile: Deborah McCaffrey-Wilson Stevik Kretzmann and Angeline Mingia Robert Fudge Carter Nash Phillip Mullen Jon Landau and Signe Wilkinson Harrisburg Monthly Meeting David Nicklin and Lynn Mather Amy Kietzman Hannah Scardina Mazzaccaro Carter Nash is Clerk of the PYM Support and Outreach Ron Ozer and Dorinda Dove Irene McHenry and Standing Committee, and has served a member of the Lega- Marcia Paullin Randy Granger cy Granting Group and as a PYM representative on the Sandy Rea and Stanley and Margaret Myers Pennsylvania Council of Churches. “I was a “Navy brat,” Stephanie Judson Jeffrey Perkins Ruth Reber having grown up with a father who served 20 years in the Charlie and Shirley Philips Robin and Elizabeth Robinson Carolyn Schodt US Navy. While christened into the African American Robert Rosenthal and Peter and Jean Warrington Episcopal Church, one of the results of my dad having Cindy Palmer David Watt and Laura Levitt been in the Navy was that I had no initial attachment to Bill Sanderson and Carla and Bruce White any particular religious denomination.” Carolyn McCoy Warren and Yoma Witte Jennie Sheeks and In 1992 Carter first visited a Quaker Meeting. “I felt Beth Zelasky Jason Bethune welcomed during that visit and continued to attend, join- Bradley Sheeks and Frankford Meeting ing the meeting in 1993. While things haven’t always been Patricia McBee 46% Participation peaceful in our meeting it has been both my home and my David Shen One Anonymous Gift family. It was through being our meeting’s alternate repre- Carol Smith Kathleen Braker-Woloszczuk and sentative to Interim Meeting that I became involved in Patricia Stewart Michael Woloszczuk serving PYM on the Support and Outreach Standing Com- Margo Tassi Andrew Fineman mittee, representing PYM on the Pennsylvania Council of Steve and Margaret Thompson John Kennedy Churches as well as serving on the Legacy Granting Group.” Nan Thompson Harley Miller and Thomas and Louise Tritton Doreen Velnich “I have long believed that we are all put here to be God’s Rita Varley David and Mary Reed hands. Let us learn to allow God to guide us in listening Dorothy Wilson Virginia Renninger and seeing in such a way that we know when others are in Karen Winner Paul Riley need and help them as we are able.”

Note: Carter requested that his photo not be published. 17 thank you PYM TODAY • Spring 2014

Germantown Meeting Joan McIlvaine Monthly Meeting of Mullica Hill Meeting 27% Participation Ed Nakawatase and Jean Hunt Friends of Philadelphia 15% Participation Five Anonymous Gifts Chris and Helen Nicholson 32% Participation Two Anonymous Gifts Samuel and Jeanne Angell Donald Palmer and Five Anonymous Gifts Glenn and Yvonne Johnson David and Holly Ambler Virginia Tobler Diane Amarotico Wilbert Shea Florence Battis Mini and Chris and Kathy Paulmier Andrew Anderson and Beryl Skinner Michael Mini Jeffrey Purdy Nancy Colon Charles and Judith Suplee Peter Baumann and Mary Butler Bob and Pat Reifsnyder Kirby Bell and Lynn McGinley John and Margaret Warner Lauren Baumann Ted Rhoads Susan Binns Salem Meeting Walton Burwell Jonathan and Julia Rhoads Emily Brown Elizabeth Cary Donald and Nancy Rhoads Richard and Rachel Bull 13% Participation Dorothy Cary and Philip Kane Samuel Rhoads Audrey Greenhall Two Anonymous Gifts Charles and Deborah L Cary Thomas Roby and Rachel Burch John and Christine Hoenstine Christine and John Cameron Howard and Paula Cell Marlene Santoyo John and Penny Hunt Kathleen Crewes Norris and Usha Childs Robert and Ruth Seeley Michael E. Kachur Suzanne and David Culver Carla Childs and Christopher Segal Dabney and Mark Moncher Edward and Nancy Fogg William Cozzens Toni Sharp Pamela Moore Benjamin and Kitty Ford Jack Childs, Jr. Parvin and Jean Sharpless Hugh O’Neill Donald Hindle and Sally Birdsall Penny and John Colgan-Davis Robert Smith Lou Phillips Curt and Linda Lefferts Deborah Cooper David Stokes Elliott Robertson Alice Waddington Theodore Coxe, Jr. Francis and Sheila Stokes Jaime and Sita Rosado Mary Waddington Richard and Phyllis Taylor Caroline Davidson Tim and Myriam Siftar Seaville Meeting David and Betty Jean Elder Ramsey Thorp Craig Smith, Jr. 23% Participation Thomas and Eleanor Elkinton Randal and Leanna Whitman Elizabeth Smith-Paladino and Three Anonymous Gifts Melissa Elliott Homer B. Wilcox Louis Paladino Thomas and Letty Chadwick Marjory Evans, Jr. Donna Wilhelm Carol Spawn David and Jeanne Swift Thomas Evans Rachel H. Wilson Brian and Monica Sullivan Christopher Evans Gail Woodbury Andrew Thompson Woodbury Meeting Elizabeth Falconi Charles Woodson and Tom and Jane Unkefer 4% Participation Deirdre MacLeod Abbe Fessenden Henry Weis Joann and Donald Sparks Joanne and Kenneth Ford Peter Yeomans and Elizabeth Widdicombe Deborah Frazer Kathleen O’Shea Anna May Windle Woodstown Meeting David George and 25% Participation Green Street Meeting Patricia Gerrity Salem Quarter Two Anonymous Gifts 15% Participation Barry Halkin and Greenwich Meeting Mike Ayars, Jr. One Anonymous Gift Cindy Hodgson 12% Participation Patti Burns Dick and Shirley Bansen Catherine Hamilton One Anonymous Gift Sally Crane Gerald Denisof Marion Heacock Burton and Jeanne Doremus Jeff and Donna Gibson ThankRobert and Roma Dockhorn You David and Elizabeth Heath Lisa Garrison George and Dana Houghton Gabriel and Bonnie Ehri Jody Hobbs and Jim Pifer Carol Powers Linda Jeffrey and John Frisone Suzanne Kalbach Klaus-Peter and James Wasson Dorothy P. Kramme David La Fontaine and Gertrude Hoehne Frank and Jennifer Lenik Patrick Egan Mickleton Meeting Ayesha Imani Shirley Lock Hewitt and Merna Malone Gay G. Johnson 24% Participation Jack and Chris Mahon Sharon Mullally Rebecca Johnson-Weisberg Two Anonymous Gifts Deborah Seabrook Alyson Scott Daniel Jones John and Theresa Bond George and Beatrice Shenton JoAnn Seaver Richard Juram Bill Carrigan and Emily Blanck Charles and Toy Tyson Charles Walter Stewart Harold Juram Elizabeth Crispin Gwynneth P. Walton Phyllis Stickney Karen Lightner Walter and Kathleen Pierson David and Dorothy Way Ethel A. Trefsger Patricia Macpherson Arlene Storer Allan and Peggy Walters Suzanne Marinell Minerva Ward Ed Marshall and Joanna Bassert

18 PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 thank you

Southern Quarter John Turner Camden Meeting Mary Yancey Volunteer Profile: Frank and Joyce Zeigler 40% Participation Paul Sheldon Four Anonymous Gifts Wicomico River Meeting Lansdowne Friends Meeting Roger Allen 26% Participation Paul and Ginny Bender Two Anonymous Gifts Paul serves as a mem- Lance Billingsley Virginia Coggeshall ber of the Fund for Suffer- Garrett Colmorgan Jean Johnson ings Granting Group, Joanne Freed Toby Smith Carol Giesecke which provides financial Charles and Gilda Jennings Upper Susquehanna relief to Friends who are Ralph and Ruth Johnson Quarter suffering because of action Polly Jose Huntingdon Meeting they took in obedience to Susan Kight 50% Participation conscience. “For me, the Eileen and Allan Redden Larry and Ginny Mutti importance and signifi- Linda Simpson cance of the Fund for Suf- Lewisburg Meeting ferings is its connection Chester River Meeting 13% Participation 31% Participation Gerald Cooke with the historic mission Albert and Anne Briggs both of Quakers being Barbara Harrison Millville Meeting willing to suffer for the Jack and Pat Matthews 34% Participation sake of conscience and being willing to support those who John and Rosemary Myers One Anonymous Gift have suffered for the sake of conscience.” Kenneth Roberts Baker and Becky Anderson Trudy and Joseph Rogers James and Carolyn Dalton The group responds with spirit-led discernment to re- Foster and Betsy Doan quests on an as-needed, often urgent basis. In recent years, Third Haven Meeting Mel and Carol Endy the fund has supported a lawyer whose income was drasti- 30% Participation Anne Foulke cally affected due to his leading to do pro-bono work, Four Anonymous Gifts Charles and Nancy Gale helped pay fines incurred due to war tax resistance, helped Gwen Beegle Elaine Graham with unexpected personal expenses of Heeding God’s Call Paige Bethke Mary Hogan and contributed toward an individual’s legal fees for estab- Kenneth Carroll Robert Mosteller lishing conscientious objection. Laurence Claggett, Jr. Ed and Angela Solenberger Lorraine Claggett Dick and Shirley Wenner Paul says of this work, “The Fund not only provides sup- Deborah Cox port for individual Quakers, but enables other Quakers and Catherine Cripps North Branch Meeting the yearly meeting as a whole to share in leadings of indi- Jane and Steve Escher 64% Participation Doreen C. Getsinger vidual Friends, perhaps when those giving support are un- One Anonymous Gift John and Marsie Hawkinson able to participate more directly. Although I have never David and Carolyn Elliott Sandra and James Herbert personally applied for support from the Fund for Sufferings, Barbara Farley Katherine Johnson and I feel uplifted knowing that friends would likely be willing to Barbara Lewis Dick Smith share my witness should there ever be a financial need.” Skip Mendler and Janet and Robert Kemp Caroline Romano Gregory Leibman Herbert and Gwen Quick Allan Mielke State College Meeting Jane Jenks Small Michele Sands Susan Mize and 29% Participation Cathy and Kevin Klein D. Douglas and Grace Miller Steve Kanstoroom Pennsdale Meeting Two Anonymous Gifts Dayton Coles and Sheri Powell Elizabeth Pennock Priscilla Morris and John Sener 14% Participation Robert and Renee Crauder Campbell and Yuri Plowden Sumner and Frances Parker Two Anonymous Gifts Polly and James Dunn Mercedes and Donald Richards Cynthia Quast Mary and Victor Engel Lucretia W. Evans Richard Swails and Jeffery Rank Patricia and Tom Martin Adrienne Rudge Gary J. Fosmire Louise Sandmeyer John Schreiner and Heidi Wetzel Mary Haight Stephen Thiermann Laurie and David Jeffreys

19 thank you PYM TODAY • Spring 2014

Mary Thom Members of the above London Grove Meeting Amy Polhemus Margy Frysinger and meetings who also gave 12% Participation Celeste Richardson Stephen Tuttle directly to the Annual Fund: Two Anonymous Gifts Jim Sarniak Dean Tuttle Richard and Carol Bernard Kenneth and Marilyn Benson William Schier Claudia Wilson Patricia and Joseph Bohnert Claire Birney Robert and Michelle Simmons Mary Woodward Walter and Jennifer Borders James and Karen-Lee Brofee Ronald Taylor R. Swain Fennimore Thomas and Tamara Brosius Deirdre Wielgus and Towanda Meeting Peter and Suzanne Franck Mary Jo and Englebert Ciganek Mark Cochran 20% Participation Marjorie Hall Linda and Tim Currie David Hauser Organizations Alta Hoffman Susanna Davison Margaret Wood Abington Monthly Meeting Wright and Sandra Horne Rick and Barbara Draper Barnegat Monthly Meeting Charles E. Jackson Philip Gilbert Wellsboro Meeting Brandywine Quaker Singles Ilona and Joseph Lind Pamela Leland and 25% Participation Buckingham Mountain Dick and Mary Logan Renna van Oot Two Anonymous Gifts Foundation Beverly McCausland Thomas and Brenda Macaluso Robby England Colyton Foundation Stan Glowiak and Douglas and Patricia Mooberry Bryn Hammarstrom and Crosslands Friends Annamarie Medeiros Bill and Sally Moore Lynne Graham Worship Group Allan and Janet Palmer Mark and Anna Myers Greg Smith and Molly Williams D’Olier Foundation Donald Pratt Martin and Sandy Reber Development Working Group Richard and Nancy Pratt Laura Reilly and David Hartley Western Quarter Estate of Alfred C. Schroeder David and Elizabeth Rhoads Scott and Susan Rhodewalt Special note: The following Exxon Mobil Foundation Patricia and Charles Robertson Elinor Thomforde Foulkeways Worship Group nine monthly meetings within Jim Reamer and Michele Sullivan Ruth Vaurio Friends Rehabilitation Program Western Quarter contribute to Joan Vick Kendal Meeting Medford Monthly Meeting the Annual Fund through the William and Judith Wilson Quarter: 39% Participation Merion Monthly Meeting One Anonymous Gift Monthly Meeting of Friends Centre Meeting Other Annual Fund Anne Taylor Bronner of Philadelphia Fallowfield Meeting Gifts Bill and Shirley Dorsey New Garden Monthly Meeting Hockessin Meeting Individuals Terry Engeman North Branch Monthly Meeting Kennett Meeting Steve Artz and Stephanie Steckle Peter Frorer Corwin and Kay Drake Plumstead Monthly Meeting Marlborough Meeting Marian Fuson Barry Crossno Reading Monthly Meeting Mill Creek Meeting David L. Hewitt Halette Anderson Jonathan E. Rhoads Trust New Garden Meeting Sara Hodgson Dawn Atwater Solebury Monthly Meeting Newark Meeting Erika Muhlenberg Frank Ausilio Syosset Central School District West Grove Meeting William D. Ravdin Barbara Campbell Trenton Monthly Meeting Jean Donegan-Vrabel Western Quarter Alexis Dougherty Westtown Monthly Meeting Clare Eggers Westtown School ThankYou can nurture the future of Kathleen Fairchild YouWoodstown Monthly Meeting our beloved community of Friends! Edward Felicioni Drs. John and Janet Garrett Hali Giessler Friends who requested their Please remember Karen Harkaway names not be published Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Aaron Harley are listed as Anonymous. If Kaye Henley you see an error or omission when making your estate plans Carol and Robert Hergenhan in this list, or if you prefer Edmund Jones to be listed as Anonymous Judy Katz in the future, please contact For more information about deferred giving Thomas Lucas Jennie Sheeks, Director of to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, please contact Development, at Jennie Sheeks, Director of Development Jay Marshall [email protected] or call 215-241-7115 or [email protected] Cicely Meaker Margaret Mook (215) 241-7115. Cliessa Nagle 20 Tammy Nguyen PYM TODAY • Spring 2014 caring for our community Threads Hold Us Together

Christie Duncan-Tessmer Chestnut Hill Monthly Meeting

yearly meeting is a community of are a gathered people. better sense of the geography and diver- Athe Friends and meetings within it. Two of the successful programs that sity that Philadelphia Yearly Meeting It holds great richness and depth from we have been guided to support are the encompasses. Each Thread Gathering the diversity of spirituality and experi- new Thread Gatherings and Thread News- includes experience sharing, workshops, ence across our many meetings. It of- Letters. We call them the Thread Pro- worship and community. In the past fers opportunities for gatherings and grams because there are common year Gatherings have included Commu- worship among greater numbers of threads of concern that weave through nications and Outreach, First Day Friends. It can nurture seeds of aspira- all of our monthly meetings, and our School, Pastoral Care, Peace & Social tion and witness that often require larg- programs focus on those threads. For Concerns, Stewardship of Finances and er numbers of Friends to manifest. And example, we all attend to deepening our Worship & Ministry. worship and ThreadLetters are a family of e-news- connection to letters we publish approximately bi- Spirit; we all monthly. Each focuses on a specific provide care for thread and includes stories about the one another; ministries and work in our meetings, we all need to resources, ideas, a bulletin board and steward our calendar: Communications & Out- finances. Each reach, Meeting Finance, First Day of these minis- School, Friends Education, Pastoral tries is a thread. Care, Peace & Social Concerns, Worship In a commu- & Ministry and Youth Programs. nity, these Members and meetings provide the threads weave stories, information and resources together to included in each issue. Subscription is support our free and available to anyone interested. faith, practice See the back cover of this issue for infor- and witness. mation about subscribing. And when we Our hope and expectation is that our bring the mutual sense of community, resources it is a means by which members and threads together across our yearly meet- and tools that may be shared with each meetings can readily intersect and share ing we strengthen the very fabric of our other will strengthen Friends and faith, practice, knowledge, experience, religious Society. meetings and renew our yearly meeting continuing revelation and witness. All Thread Gatherings are occasions community. of this helps strengthen and anchor us where Friends focus on a particular For more information, see our web as Friends and help us more wholly thread, share knowledge and experience pages at www.pym.org/threads/gather- serve one another and the world. with one another, worship and get to ings and www.pym.org/threads/newslet- Over the past eighteen months, our know one another better. Thread Gath- ters. yearly meeting has recast our resources erings are always held in a local meeting to better support Friends’ relationships house and the location varies from Christie serves as PYM Associate Secretary across all PYM meetings, serving as the gathering to gathering. This opens the for Programs and Religious Life. spark to bring us together in ways that way for us to visit one another in our strengthen awareness among us that we own spiritual homes and gives us a 21 caring for our community PYM TODAY • spring 2014 Young Adult Friends Confront Alcohol Policy

Zachary Dutton Wilmington Monthly Meeting

here is a conceit among ered at an informal social these aspects emerged in informal dis- Tyoung adult communi- event. This Friend’s sug- cussions that arose and persisted out- ties - at least those within gestion was to pattern our side our business sessions. Friends which I have trekked - that approach after the meth- talked with each other about their frus- alcohol consumption is od developed by some trations with the status quo, about their implicit and social fellow- colleges: that, accepting fears of what the wider fellowship of ship untainted by glass, the reality that eighteen, Friends would think and about their bottle or can is not nineteen and twenty uneasiness about approving a policy frowned-upon: it is un- year-olds are going to that might comply with the law but not heard-of. Very often the drink regardless of its with our conscience. We acknowledge status quo among young legality, that it is better to that any policy we may approve has to adults is to go out on Sat- provide a supervised expe- be accompanied by a change in mind- urday night for a few moments of in- rience where older young adults provide set. And change in mindset doesn’t dulgence in the bar scenes that pervade the special kind of advice and guidance often happen during business meeting, our society. Most young adult Friends that can only be conveyed from one no, it happens in worship and fellow- acknowledge the fact that not every young adult to another; that the mes- ship when spiritual intimacy is the only moment of social intimacy and revelry sage to drink moderately and responsi- agenda item. necessitates libation however we are bly and not to excess be clear and re- At the end of our business session almost never called to act on that peated. This approach requires active our clerk laid out the concerns that had knowledge except in the context of mentoring on the part of “of-age” yet to be addressed and acknowledged Quaker community wherein alcohol Friends and that discourse about alco- that we had not been able to conclude consumption is still largely banned. hol consumption be brought out of the our discernment about a policy regard- What began as a mere liability con- shadows into conscious direction. Fur- ing the consumption of alcohol. The cern has opened us to the fact that the thermore, the entire apparatus for work before Young Adult Friends prom- ethos of young adulthood is, in this healthy discourse depends upon a com- ises to bring intention to the ways we case, largely at odds with the ethos we munity whose members are patient and choose to celebrate each other, to cel- inherit as young adult Quakers. Friends loving – a characteristic of our Quaker ebrate life and to share in our collective might then understand why young community. spiritual path ahead. My deepest hope adults struggle with this issue. Another Friend proposed that we is that the wider fellowship of Friends We were prepared for set-backs in completely do away with drinking in will hold us with love and prayer with- our process of discernment, the latest of the presence of underage Young Adult out judgment as the tribulations of this which emerged during our 2014 Winter Friends. touchy subject continue to test us and Retreat business meeting. We consid- Our community will need to con- hopefully foster intimacy in our experi- ered again how to approve an alcohol tinue to wait upon each other and open ence of the divine spirit. policy that would guide us especially at ourselves to further discernment, trudg- informal social events organized by the ing together through the unceasing Zachary serves as Co-Clerk of the PYM Young Adult Friends Working Group. muddiness that is characteristic of the Young Adult Friends Working Group and It became clear we were to face im- Quaker discernment process. The as Coordinator for Western Quarterly passe when a Friend asked how we fundamental aspects of this work, I have Meeting. would prevent someone who was un- noticed, tend not to happen during derage from drinking when we are gath- business meeting. At our Winter Retreat

22 PYM TODAY • spring 2014 s piritual growth and renewal Deepening Our Worship

Ginny Green and nurture, numinous share with others and I felt London Grove experiences, the role of si- a deep connection with Monthly Meeting lence and spiritual listening. others as they shared. She also suggested that we There was laughter, more share lunch in silence, serious moments and peri- uring a discussion at a Worship & which for some of us was ods of connected silence. DMinistry Committee meeting some something we had not done When the time for our Friends shared that they would like to before. Traditionally lunch small groups ended, we deepen their experience during meeting has been a time for fellow- again gathered in our large for worship. We routinely gather in ship and conversation - this circle. This was what Con- silence each First Day and while we would be a new experience! nie called “Gathering the Graces of the frequently have profound sharing some Ruth Kinsey led us in a guided day.” We used a worship sharing format felt the need to go deeper, to enter meditation exercise on “Being in the to share what we had experienced in meeting for worship with more open- presence of God on behalf of one our small groups. I felt a sense of joy, a ness and more intention. another.” After the meditation, some lightness, a warm connectedness, a We decided to explore by organiz- people shared their experiences with the gratitude, a peace as a gathered body. I ing a workshop and involve a larger larger group. We then gathered again was delighted and felt so grateful for the circle by inviting outside facilitators and in our large circle, placing 4 chairs in spirit’s working, the Worship & Ministry Friends from across Western Quarter. the center. Ruth, Connie and two work- Committee for planning the day, for the Connie Lezenby and Ruth Kinsey, mem- shop participants then demonstrated facilitators and for each person who bers of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting, the process that takes place during small joined us to deepen their worship. We were recommended as possible group spiritual nurture. The four took closed with silent worship. facilitators. turns sharing something about their life One participant observed that as the Zachary Dutton, Western Quarter while everyone else listened. Open end- group interacted we became treasures to Coordinator, helped publicize our ed questions were asked and found each other. There is such abundance workshop and on Saturday, October 26, helpful. and potential for love, nurturing, en- 2013, twenty four people gathered at For lunch, we had plenty of delicious couragement, support and caring right London Grove Meeting, including food but no talking! It was quite a new in our midst. Our connectedness and Friends from London Grove, Newark, experience for many, including me. I the truth that we are indeed all one in Kendal, Crosslands, Marlboro, Kennett, am usually very comfortable with si- the divine Spirit becomes our primary and Mill Creek Meetings. lence but this was the first time I experi- frame of reference, the primary ground We began the workshop by arranging enced being at a meal without the usual from which we may grow. a large circle of chairs in our social conversation and verbal fellowship. Several people commented how room. Out of the silence, each person When lunch was over, Connie asked for “perfect” their particular groups were introduced themselves and shared a comments. One person found the si- - how well they fit together. My feeling spiritual practice that they use or are lence extremely uncomfortable, another is there is magic that happens when we drawn to. It was wonderful to hear the found it refreshing as she usually found come together in such a setting. To variety of practices that people engage it hard to make “small talk” and she truly listen and to truly be listened to in, from chanting to hanging out laun- had enjoyed the quiet. transforms us. We learn that we matter, dry to reading scripture! Each person After lunch we broke into six small that our story and our life matters and was unique but our experiences over- groups. Each group had a facilitator that we are not alone! How wonderful lapped as well and the exercise helped and guidelines for the spiritual direc- to realize that, and feel it in our hearts! us to know each other better so quickly! tion process. Each small group met for After introductions Connie Lezenby about an hour and a half. My experi- Ginny serves as Clerk of the London Grove shared insights about spiritual direction ence included going very deeply to Worship & Ministry Committee

23 PYM philadelphiaToday yearly meeting of the religious Society of friends 1515 cherry Street philadelphia pa 19102-1479

PYM Today is our journal of Quaker faith and practice, published by philadelphia yearly meeting of the religious Society of friends, and distributed free to members.

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting 1515 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102

Phone: 215-241-7211 Fax: 215-241-7045 Website: www.pym.org

Jada S. Jackson, Clerk arthur m. larrabee, General Secretary martin d. reber, Director of Communications

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