Meeting for Discernment - Winter 2026

Dear Friends,

We invite you to Winter 2026 Meetings for Discernment (M4D) on March 6 and 7, 2026.

Discernment is a deep Quaker practice where we can feel the movement of the Spirit during extended worship and deep listening. To feel the movement of Spirit through and among us it is essential that we enter this space with trust and open hearts. Our journey of seeking together on this path can illuminate our way to Loving Unity. This is experiential.

At Winter 2026 M4D we will be collectively seeking the illuminated path in extended worship and deep listening using this query:

What does the practice of discernment look and feel like 

in your worship community corporately and individually?

We encourage the meeting to consider this query as a body. Take the time and sit together with this query. We invite you to send someone from your meeting to the Meetings for Discernment. This Friend who can speak to the condition of your meeting, and bring back what they have heard to the meeting. 

Friday, March 6, 7 - 8:30pm:

The first half-hour will be an opportunity for Friends new to the meeting for discernment to learn about the meetings for discernment. Beginning at 7:30, the focus will change to those Friends interested in holding the body throughout the meetings for discernment sessions. Friends will share their experiences of eldership and prepare for Saturday’s sessions. All are invited to attend as much or as little of the evening as is right for them.

Saturday, March 7, 9 - 11:30 am:

The first session for extended worship on the query above. **No ministry will be given during the initial period of silence. We have found that this deepens the ministry that will be given.

Saturday, March 7, 1 - 3:30 pm:

The second session for extended worship on the query above. **No ministry will be given during the initial period of silence. We have found that this deepens the ministry that will be given.

Saturday, March 7, 4 - 5:30 pm:

A reflection session to consider what we heard and what we experienced in our sessions earlier in the day.

Some meetings have experimented with holding a mini-meeting for discernment with the query. This could provide an opportunity to listen for ideas applicable to your meeting, to bring ideas and concerns to all other meetings, or both. You can do this on your own schedule as your monthly meeting calendar allows. If you are able to gather before the Winter Meeting for Discernment, you might want to send someone from your meeting or send us an email (m4d-steering-committee@nyym.org) describing what happened.

Registration is OPEN! Please use the Online Registration Form. Registration is pay-as-led. All Friends are welcome to participate in any and all sessions.