NYYM Epistle From Summer Sessions

To all Friends everywhere,

Friends gathered at Oakwood Friends School and over Zoom for the 2024 New York Yearly Meeting Summer Sessions to ask the question: “Where is the love?”

With great joy, we felt love in intergenerational play; in deep, worshipful spaces; and in fresh approaches to spiritual exploration. Love shone through tearful smiles as we remembered beloved Friends.

Interwoven with our joy was conflict and challenge. Old and ongoing wounds around othering were revealed. Pain rippled through the body. Love was present and tested.

We hope for commitment to listen faithfully and hold each other across differences. We have much to learn from looking into the depths of the shadow with humility. Conflict offers potential to move us forward in community. May Spirit show us the Way.

In Friendship, we close, continuing to travel a path towards action and insight, as yet unforeseen.

We include with this letter the epistle from Junior Yearly Meeting, lovingly received. 

JYM Epistle

Our JYM Epistle this year is an advertisement for Summer Sessions. We are advertising to those who have not come about how awesome it is to be here. We chose this format so other kids can hear from those of us who were here about why to come, instead of something written for them by adults. And we are excited for our epistle to be an official report to the yearly meeting, included as part of the whole community here at Oakwood.

Our Epistle is a large pink poster with some of the many activities we did this week. Activities listed are: “What are you doing?”, “Sparkling Yoda,” Blindfold game, Reverse charades, kickball, Frisbee, volleyball, cornhole, soccer, art, and slip ‘n’ slide. Presentations including; learning about the faulty prison system with King from AFSC, talking about food and water security with Emma, and meditation with Abby. 

Other fun things were: Karl the dog, contra dance, swimming field trip, spontaneous singing, Fun(d) Fair, bonfire, the coolest lounge, movie nights, and Café Night. Our snacks were; Goldfish, pretzels, popcorn, cheese puffs, yogurt covered animal crackers, fruit snacks, freeze pops, fresh out of the oven cookies, ice cream, lemonade, watermelon, honey covered pretzels, and classic fresh cool nice clean pure amazing smooth brisk straight from the fountain refreshingly delicious Karl approved…WATER!

Side effects may include: Extensive laughter, loss of voice, fatigue from fun, and intense joy.