Spark, September 2023 - News and Ideas

Start Spreading The News!

Share your meeting’s news, announcements, and upcoming events with the rest of the yearly meeting by sending them to communications@nyym.org. News items will appear in Spark, our printed newsletter, and our weekly email newsletter. Want to get Spark in the mail? Email walter@nyym.org, or call 212-673-5750. Want to receive the weekly update emails? Sign up at subscribe@nyym.org.

Welcome to Spark Online

The online edition of New York Yearly Meeting's print newsletter

This is the Online Edition of the September 2023 issue of Spark, which you can also as a pdf file.

 

News and Ideas

 

Contents

Articles On Theme: News and Ideas

 

Other Articles: Notes from Summer Sessions

 

Around Our Yearly Meeting

 

 

Editor's Note

I'm grateful to those who chose to attend Summer Sessions 2023 at Oakwood Friends School, a new location for NYYM after over 70 years at Silver Bay YMCA. I am still sad about the change of location from Silver Bay, one of my favorite places on earth. They aren't choosing to accommodate our group any more, at least for now, and that hurts. Some aspects of meeting at Oakwood are better: being the only group on campus; the housing clusters for teens, young adults, and families with children; the good food and welcoming staff; and the lack of competing activities, leading to a remarkable sense of unity. Silver Bay can still be visited. I hope those who love Silver Bay will consider vacationing there at a different time next summer, and will give Summer Sessions 2024 at Oakwood a try.

Spark accepts article submissions of 400-600 words, artwork, photos, poetry, shorter news items and announcements, and letters to the editor. 

 

Upcoming Spark themes:

November 2023: Perspectives on the Peace Testimony. Guest edited by Susan Weisfeld. While the Peace Testimony has given Quakerism its distinctive spiritual character, and many feel they subscribe to it—how exactly do you define or understand it? Is it personal, or corporate, or both? Is it comfortable or difficult for you? Have you been disturbed by its lack of flexibility, or can it be flexible and/or subscribed to on a segmented basis? Submissions are due by October 1 to susanweisfeld@aol.com.

Please also send your meeting’s news and upcoming events for the NYYM weekly email update or Spark to communications@nyym.org. Join NYYM's weekly email list at nyym.org/subscribe.

NYYM is on Facebook (NewYorkYearlyMeeting), Twitter (NYYMTweets), and Instagram (newyorkyearlymeeting).

Peace, 

Sarah Way, NYYM
Communications Director
communications@nyym.org

 

 

Notices

New Members

  • Mariah Esposito—Fifteenth Street
  • Pamela Mackey—Binghamton Community Friends
  • Laureen Park—Brooklyn

Deaths

  • Carol Condon, member of Rahway-Plainfield, on April 9, 2023.
  • Sue Ellin, member of Brooklyn, on March 8, 2023.
  • Viola Hale Hathaway, member of Poughkeepsie, on June 3, 2023
  • Don Kissil, member of Chatham-Summit, on May 18, 2023.  
  • Bruce Pacho Lane, member of Rochester, on June 9, 2023. 
  • Thamby Ninan, member of Collins, on July 29, 2023. 
  • Valentine Titus, member of Westbury, on April 19, 2023. 

 

 

News

Highlights & Action Items from Summer Sessions Minutes

The minutes from Summer Sessions 2023 are available online at nyym.org/content/minutes-summer-sessions-2023 or in print if a request is made to the NYYM office. Some highlights and action items:

The recommendations from the Task Group on Financial Sustainability were approved by the body (see minute 2023-07-32). The new Budget Development Committee will develop a multi-year budget for NYYM with input from Friends and meetings. Friends are invited to consider service on a new Task Group on Priorities and Connections that will “recommend ways in which the yearly meeting can identify how the Spirit is moving among Friends and faithfully support and further that movement.” Contact the convener, Fred Dettmer (fdettmer@aol.com), to volunteer.

Friends are asked to consider a statement on racism and inclusion brought by Angela Hopkins and Adria Gulizia as part of the report from Friends World Committee for Consultation (minute 2023-07-24). An excerpt: “Regardless of our good intentions, the facts of racism, white supremacy and white privilege continue to influence our behaviors and impede us from achieving the Beloved Community to which we aspire.” 

A minute on Protecting the Rights, Safety, and Human Dignity of Trans People was brought by New York Quarterly Meeting and NYYM's Witness Coordinating Committee (see minute 2023-07-27). Friends were asked to take this minute back to their meetings for further discernment.

 

Friends Wore Orange for Gun Violence Awareness

New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM) Friends marked Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, June 2-4, 2023, by wearing orange in solidarity with victims and survivors in their communities and nationwide. "Wear Orange" started in Chicago 7 years ago to memorialize the shooting death of 16 year old Hadiya Pendleton; see WearOrange.org. NYYM Gun Violence Prevention Coordinator Peter Murchison is pictured in DC with Friends Committee on National Legislation leadership. Also pictured are Friends in Poughkeepsie, Purchase, Morningside, and Fifteenth Street Meetings. A Gun Violence Prevention Task Group has been formed in NYYM to work on the issue of gun violence. Contact Peter at pdmurch@gmail.com to join.

 

Friends Marched in the NYC Gay Pride Parade

A group of Quakers marched in the NYC Pride Parade on June 25, 2023, as they have every year since the parade began. The photo shows Robert Renwick and Karl Karma (the dog), Morningside MM. Participant Solange Muller said, “It was my first pride parade. I had no idea what to expect and I felt the leading to be there in honor of my daughter. The Quakers marched at the very end. As we waited our turn, we watched the amazing floats and groups. 5th Avenue was lined with people, and we felt joy instantly as we marched. We waved and exclaimed: ‘Happy Pride Day’ to those who cheered us on. Robert and I felt tremendous love as the Quakers wowed New York with our commitment to peace, justice, equality and respect for all. A communal experience of belonging.” Photograph and poster: Solange Muller, Bulls-Head Owego MM

 

REQUEST RESOURCES on Voices for the Next Generation: Insights from a Listening Tour with Quaker Children, Teens and Families in New York Yearly Meeting

In 2021 and 2022, Mattie Johnson conducted a listening tour throughout New York Yearly Meeting to learn about the needs of children and families, what is working, and what changes we dream about. Fill out the brief form at bit.ly/2023ListeningTourReport to receive the full report, slides about suggested best practices for integrating families into the meeting, and an invitation to a discussion of the tour's findings.

 

Welcome Kevin Lovelady as ARCH Director

After a nine month-interim period and an arduous search, Kevin Lovelady has accepted the position of Aging Resources, Consultation, and Help (ARCH) Director. Kevin has served as an interfaith chaplain at Albany Medical Center and as a New York State certified Peer Specialist serving adults experiencing mental health crises, and has been an ARCH Regional Coordinator since early 2020. He was trained  in ARCH by Callie Janoff and Yana Landowne and accompanied ARCH co-founder Barbara Spring on ARCH visits. Kevin is in the final units of his Master of Divinity (MDiv) at Earlham School of Religion, anticipating graduation in May 2024. You can email Kevin at klovelady@nyym.org.

 

NYYM's Weekly Update Email

An email newsletter is sent to NYYM Friends each Friday. Past editions are available at nyym.org/weekly-updates. To subscribe, fill out the brief form at nyym.org/subscribe. If you've subscribed but haven't received any emails, please check your spam folder. 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Save the Date(s) for Sessions

The next gathering of New York Yearly Meeting will be Fall Sessions, held online December 1-3, 2023. 

Spring Sessions 2024 will be held April 5-7, 2024, at Oakwood School and online.

Summer Sessions 2024 will be held at Oakwood School and online, Friday July 26 or Saturday July 27 through Wednesday July 31, possibly to Thursday or Friday. Final dates will be announced ASAP.

 

Powell House Workshops

Powell House is the retreat and conference center for NYYM. Visit powellhouse.org/event-list/ to register or call 518-794-8811.

CRAFTING SACRED CONNECTIONS: THE ART OF HYBRID WORSHIP
October 6-8, 2023
with David Coletta

When we hold our meeting for worship in both our meetinghouse and on Zoom, it allows a whole new level of accessibility for people who can’t come to the meetinghouse. It’s God calling us to make space in new ways. We call it “hybrid” or “blended” worship, and we call the work of holding these spaces together “tech host,” or “Zoom host.” But the work is really care of worship with attention to connection. The work is challenging, pushing us out of our comfort zone whether that comfort zone is the tech part or the worship part. It takes a team of people who can support each other when it gets hard, teach each other the tips and tricks, and pray for each other to be faithful. This workshop is for tech teams (including teams of one who want to grow larger) to come together, teach each other about how to hold that connection, share what works and what doesn’t, and bring home new energy and inspiration for supporting hybrid worship.

FALL WORK-WEEKEND 2023
October 27-29, 2023

Enjoy learning new skills? Like to work among 57 acres of God’s creation in Columbia County, NY? Bring your favorite tools, old clothes and hearty appetites. Our cooks will have lots of good, nutritious & yummy food for us. We have plenty of work projects, both inside and outside our buildings. 

 

Celebrate World Quaker Day

World Quaker Day — October 1, 2023 — will be an opportunity to learn, reflect, and act in preparation for Friends World Committee on Consultation's 2024 World Plenary Meeting in South Africa and online. The theme of the meeting is Living the Spirit of Ubuntu: Responding with Hope to God’s Call to Cherish Creation and one-another. For more on ubuntu and World Quaker Day, visit fwcc.world/worldquakerday

 

Deepening at the Root

An extended workshop at Pendle Hill, October 5-9, 2023 (Thursday evening through Monday lunch)

Facilitated by Christopher Sammond

Through experiential exercises, small group sharing, large group processing, and worship, we will create a community of deep trust and openness, taking off the armor shielding our hearts and opening us into deeper communion with each other and the Divine Source. We will spend time exploring how that deeper communion enhances each of our experiences of worship, listening for vocal ministry, and listening for and discerning individual leadings for action. Visit pendlehill.org/events/deepening-at-the-root/

 

Friends' Decision-Making & Clerking: Participating in Meetings for Business with Joy and Confidence

A Conference at Pendle Hill

November 17-19, 2023 

This on-campus workshop with Steve Mohlke and ,O is an opportunity for both new and experienced clerks of Friends' meetings and committees to meet and think together about the role of presiding clerk in the spiritual practice of meeting for business. For more, click on the Learn tab on pendlehill.org and look in Upcoming Events.

 

For Young Adults

Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director Beth Kelly maintains a list of upcoming YAF events at nyym.org/yaf-events

SIMPLY NOURISHING

A Powell House Conference
for young adults 18+

October 6-8, 2023

A good meal nourishes you and lifts your spirit. Intentionally choosing ingredients and cooking them together is a powerful act of creation. At this conference, we will partake in the spirit-filled acts of cooking, baking, and eating. We will focus on simple, delicious recipes that will ideally be helpful in your own kitchen. We will also play games and talk about food and its role in our life.

 

For Children & Teens

Powell House Youth Conferences

Visit powellhouse.org/event-list/ to register or call 518-794-8811.

CLANTASTIC! for 4th-6th Grade

October 20-22, 2023

Pillow fort building is a common activity at Powell House. Entire worlds form within cushiony structures. Economy and trade flourish. Sometimes, feelings are hurt and justice is needed. At this conference, we will explore what it takes to form a society where peace and justice prevail. We will form clans and develop rules and customs. What happens when clans come together? Let’s find out!

BEYOND PINK AND BLUE for 7th-10th Grade

November 3-5, 2023

We live in a world that tries to divide people and identities and put them in narrow boxes, when in truth we form a wide spectrum of possibilities of every kind. We are a rainbow. We are many rainbows! Come explore your colors together, the nuances and unique aspects of yourself that make you you! Let’s dance along these rainbows until we find the pot of gold where they all come together and we can truly welcome and cherish each other for who we truly are.

DIY CABARET for 6th-8th Grade

November 17-19, 2023

On Saturday night of every youth conference at Powell House, we have Cabaret—a time to share creative acts that range from beautiful songs to laugh-out-loud improv games. At this conference, you will get to craft instruments and props yourself for a DIY (do-it-yourself) Cabaret. We will have lots of time for designing materials and have an extra creative (and potentially quite long) Cabaret! We will also sprinkle in games and discussions during the weekend to help us explore different aspects of crafting and performance.

 

SAVE THE DATE (and register!) for these future PoHo conferences:

SPICES: INTEGRITY for 11th-12th Grade and Young Adults, December 1-3, 2023

WINTERSONG 2023 for 7th-12th Grade, December 15-17, 2023

 

Online Worship

Many of the local meetings in New York Yearly Meeting are holding online or hybrid online-and-in-person meetings for worship every week. Visit nyym.org/online-worship-opportunities for the most up-to-date information.

 

 

Opportunities

Job Openings

These Quaker organizations often have job openings. Check their websites for current opportunities:

Friends General Conference: www.fgcquaker.org/work-at-fgc/

American Friends Service Committee: afsc.org/careers

Friends Committee on National Legislation: www.fcnl.org/about/work-fcnl

 

NYYM Grants for Earthcare and Climate Justice Projects

NYYM Friends and meetings are invited to apply for grants of $50 to $500 from NYYM’s Earthcare Fund to support their projects related to Earthcare and Climate Justice. 

Visit nyym.org/content/nyym-financial-resources-individuals-and-meetings#earthcare to find out more and to apply.