Spark, November 2024 - Music in the Meetinghouse

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Welcome to Spark Online

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

This is the Online Edition of the November 2024 issue of Spark, which you can also as a pdf file.

 

Music in the Meetinghouse

NYYM PLAYLISTS

Listen to the music mentioned in this issue!

Many of the songs recommended by the authors of these articles (with the exception of the songs from Summer Sessions; see below) have been put together into a YouTube playlist. Go to www.youtube.com/@NewYorkYearlyMeeting/playlists and click on “NYYM Fall 2024.” 

Many of the individual songs recommended by Friends at Summer Sessions (see pages 11-12) are in an audio-only Spotify playlist, which can be played online or via the Spotify app. Click here to access the Summer Sessions 2024 playlist.

 

Contents

Articles On Theme: Music in the Meetinghouse

 

Around Our Yearly Meeting

 

Editor's Note

I’m writing this note right before the 2024 election, and this issue will be received and read after election day. I am worried about the election, but Quakerism gives me something solid to hold onto. No matter who wins, no matter what happens, we are called to keep doing the work. The work of Quakerism is to listen to God/Spirit/Love and to live our lives in accordance with our values, out loud, without fear. No matter who wins we will continue to let integrity, peace, and equality guide our actions. We will continue.

Spark accepts article submissions of 400-600 words, plus images, poetry, news items, and letters to the editor. 

Upcoming Spark themes:

February 2025: The NYYM Times.

Spark will be transformed into a “real”newspaper this February. What are you feeling led to write about? No matter the topic, it’s all fit to print in the NYYM Times. All of the usual sections are possible, depending on what is received: National and International News, Local, Arts and Entertainment, Sports, Business, Travel and Leisure, Food, Opinion, and more. The NYYM Times has an unapologetically religious bias, so there may be some specifically Quaker sections: Living Our Faith, or Gospel Order. Some ideas: report on a recent business meeting; review a potluck spread; write about a recent local event your meeting participated in. Are you led to draw a comic or create a word puzzle? Please share.

Submissions are due by January 7 to [email protected]. 

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

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

 

Sarah Way
NYYM Communications Director
[email protected]

 

 

Notices

New Members

  • Ian Hurley — Morningside
  • Madeline Johnson— Morningside

Deaths

  • Tom Fee, member of Shrewsbury, on October 13, 2024
  • Jimmy Titus, member of Jericho, on October 15, 2024

 

 

News

Walter Naegle, NYYM Administrative Associate, Retires

Walter Naegle, beloved Administrative Associate and surviving partner of civil rights icon Bayard Rustin, has retired from NYYM.

Walter worked for NYYM since March 2002, keeping our membership records, helping out with banking, and doing “whatever Helen asked me to do.” If you ever called the NYYM office there is a good chance you spoke to Walter.

15th Street Meeting Friend Barbara Heizman was responsible for introducing Walter to the yearly meeting. Walter met Barbara at 218 East 18th Street, an address famous among peace and civil rights activists as being an incubator for emerging social justice organizations. Several groups met there in the mid-20th century, including the World Without War Council, the Center for War/Peace Studies, and the Bayard Rustin Fund. Barbara worked for the Center for War/Peace Studies and got to know Walter at 218 E. 18th Street. When Barbara left her job, Walter replaced her. Barbara later worked at NYYM, and when she retired, she strongly recommended Walter for her position. He got the job. That was 22 years ago. 

Walter’s been a tremendous support for NY Friends for all those years. His dry sense of humor will be particularly missed. 

Walter regularly sends emailed updates on events related to Bayard Rustin — museum openings, documentaries, etc. To join that mailing list, email Walter at [email protected].                                   

 

Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway
Peter Murchison
Clerk, NYYM Gun Violence Prevention Task Group

On October 6, 2024, gun buybacks and gun safe giveaways took place in eight cities in Connecticut simultaneously.  About a dozen more sites did just the safe giveaways. In Norwalk, where the Wilton Quakers were the civilian partner with the police department, we received 36 weapons including five assault weapons. We also gave away 30 gun safes for free in the first hour. So there was benefit to people giving up guns, getting grocery gift cards, and people keeping guns, who can now store them safely to protect their children and others.

Gun Violence Awareness Weekend

The NYYM Gun Violence Prevention Task Group invited Friends to unite in a call to end gun violence by symbolically wearing orange during the Gun Violence Awareness Weekend on June 9, 2024. Above are some of the meetings that did so.  Friends interested in gun violence prevention can contact the Task Group’s clerk, Peter Murchison, at [email protected].                    

 

 

ARCH Meetup Groups

ARCH Groups are Zoom meetup spaces for mutual accompaniment, peer support, and community building based on shared interest, experience, and wisdom. Groups include Caregivers & Caregiving; Seasons of Life, 60-80 and 80+; Aging Without Children; and more. For the full list and registration instructions, email ARCH Director Kevin Lovelady at [email protected].

 

Sarah and Marty Glazer Stepping Down as Powell House Youth Program Directors

Sarah and Marty will be leaving their positions as PoHo Youth Directors at the end of February 2025. They have committed to making sure Earthsong 2025 takes place. Look for a job announcement soon.

 

Powell House Executive Directors Leave; Interim Period Begins

The outgoing Executive Directors, Regina Baird Haag and Dennis Haag, moved from Powell House to their new home in Troy, NY, at the end of October. Regina’s gifts in ministry and spiritual leadership will continue to spread joy and care as she takes up service as Pastor at West Stockbridge Village Congregational Church. The Executive Director Search Committee is conducting interviews with several qualified candidates and expect to recommend a candidate for the Executive Director position in December. The Powell House Committee will make the final selection. For this interim period, the rest of the Powell House staff will carry the Executive Director responsibilities until a new Executive Director comes on board. 

 

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, visit nyym.org/subscribe. 

 

Transforming White Organizational Culture — a workshop for NYYM Friends

New York Yearly Meeting is offering Transforming White Organizational Culture, a racial justice workshop by the Center for the Study of White American Culture (CSWAC) to Friends throughout the yearly meeting. Wednesdays, January 8, 15, and 22, 2025, at 7:00-9:00 pm ET. Workshop costs will be covered by NYYM. Please register by Dec. 1. Email [email protected] for more information.

 

 

Upcoming Events

NYYM Fall Sessions

The next gathering of New York Yearly Meeting for business will be Fall Sessions, held online December 6-8, 2024. See nyym.org/fall-sessions-2024 for more.

 

SAVE THE DATE! Spring Sessions 2025 will be held at Oakwood School and online, April 4-6, 2025 

 

Friends’ Decision-Making and Clerking

At Pendle Hill, PA, Nov 22-24

with Steve Mohlke and ,O
A weekend workshop on liberatory clerking skills, particularly valuable for meeting clerks and others doing decision-making work within a spiritual setting. Click here.

 

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.

Living into Prophetic Quakerism: Three Spiritual Nurture Working Group Retreats at Powell House

Facilitated by Lu Harper and Anne Pomeroy.

In each of the retreats in this series, we will be listening for our personal and collective truth and leadings.

Continuing Revelation: Moving Beyond Form into a Living Quakerism, Nov 22-24, 2024

In this retreat we will make space to hear what we are experiencing as Quakers and what we sense is needed. We will look at Quaker forms that have life and evolutionary potential. What supports a sustainable faith? 

Transforming Quaker Culture: Building Authentic Spiritual Community, Feb 14-16, 2025

Stepping Forward Faithfully: Answering the Call and Becoming the Solution, April 25-27, 2025

New Year’s Eve Celebration 

December 30, 2024-January 1st, 2025. A family-friendly retreat and celebration.

 

Embark on a Spiritual Journey with God’s Promise Fulfilled

Are you seeking a deeper connection with your faith? “God’s Promise Fulfilled,” a two-year residency program from the School of the Spirit Ministry, invites you to embark on a transformative spiritual journey, beginning May 2025. With hybrid participation options, this program welcomes seekers from diverse faith backgrounds.

You will join a supportive community of two dozen individuals exploring the idea of an “Inner Teacher,” who promises us “life more abundant” (John 10:10). Over the course of two years, you’ll dive into residencies deepening your spiritual understanding and learning how to live out God’s call in the world.

The first year, Inhale, focuses on personal spiritual growth, while the second year, Exhale, helps you embody grace and serve your community. This program provides an opportunity for reflection, growth, and a chance to respond to today’s spiritual and worldly challenges with courage and love.

Applications are due by December 31, 2024. Don’t miss your chance to experience this transformative journey.

To learn more and apply, visit www.schoolofthespirit.org/gpf.

 

For Young Adults

See Children, Youth and Young Adult Community Director Beth Kelly's list: nyym.org/yaf-events

Powell House YAF Conference: Beyond Pink and Blue,

Jan. 24-26, 2025 (See “For Children & Teens”)
Visit powellhouse.org/event-list/ to register.

 

For Children & Teens

Powell House Youth Conferences

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

 

Worlds Like Our Own for 6th-8th Grade, November 22-24, 2024

Who would you be in a world of fantasy and adventure? Role-playing games can allow us to reflect on ourselves and our world in fun and exciting ways. At this conference we will play games like Dungeons and Dragons, talk about our favorite imaginary worlds, and maybe even design a role-playing game set at Powell House.

 

WinterSong 2024 for 7th-12th Grade, December 13-15, 2024

WinterSong is a celebration of care and community during the darkest days of the year. As we approach the winter solstice, we will share in fulfilling activities and discussion, and burst with fun and creativity. We love to have a big group for our song conferences, so please consider registering early for this special weekend!

 

Beyond Pink and Blue for 11th-12th Grade and Young Adults, January 24-26, 2025

We live in a world that tries to divide people and identities and put them in narrow boxes, when in truth we form a spectrum of possibilities of every kind. We are many rainbows! Come explore your colors together, the nuances and unique aspects of yourself that make you you! 

 

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

Seeking Executive Director(s) for Powell House

Spread the word! The Powell House Committee seeks an Executive Director(s) to help guide and realize our vision for the future with creative, expanded programming and extended outreach in New York Yearly Meeting and beyond. Visit
www.powellhouse.org/seeking-executive-director for details.

 

Quaker 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: These mini-grants ($50 to $500 per application) provide spiritual and material support to those engaged in the compelling task of transforming our relationship with Earth, including addressing the climate crisis. Please apply online, at nyym.org/content/nyym-financial-resources-individuals-and-meetings#earthcare