Spark, September 2024 - Holding Gender in the Light

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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 September 2024 issue of Spark, which you can also as a pdf file.

 

Holding Gender in the Light

Guest Editors: Katherine Alford, Anne Pomeroy, Cai Quirk

The desire to devote an issue of Spark to issues around gender arose after the approval of the “Love Thy Neighbor Minute” at Spring Sessions 2024. (Read it at nyym.org.) In the course of our discernment there were times it was clear that we as a body needed more perspectives on the issues of gender identity. This issue is a beginning toward reaching that goal. We broadly solicited articles about gender identity. We did not cull out articles that did not recognize gender identity. We simply did not receive any such articles. 
Quakers have a long history with the power of language and how we address each other. Our choice of words is a reflection of how we see and respect each other's light. This is reflected in several articles submitted about Friends' journeys around the continuum of gender pronouns. 

When we embrace gender diversity, we live in to our testimonies of equality and community. 
Gender identity is not a ‘new’ issue. There have been gender queer people throughout history.  We invite the reader to continue to have conversations about different perspectives on gender so that we can be a more whole spiritual community.     

 

Contents

Articles On Theme: Holding Gender in the Light

 

Other Writing from Friends

 

Around Our Yearly Meeting

 

Editor's Note

Spark welcomes submissions of articles, artwork, poetry, short news items, and letters to the editor. Email them to [email protected].

Upcoming Spark themes:

November 2024 — Music in the Meetinghouse & in Our Lives.

Has music been a form of ministry in your meeting for worship? What was (or is) that like? Can music be integrated without overshadowing the silence? Does music contribute to a sense of community within your meeting? If so, how?

Are there particular types or forms of music that resonate with Quaker values? 

Can music be a form of prayer or meditation for you? How does music enrich your life?

All Friends are invited to respond, whether you attend silent, waiting worship or worship that regularly incorporates hymn-singing. Articles should be 600 words or fewer. We will be creating a Spotify playlist of songs suggested by Friends. If you have a song that speaks to you and your Quakerism, please send in a link and the artist & title! Email submissions to [email protected] by October 7. 

Join NYYM's weekly email list at nyym.org/subscribe.

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

Sarah Way, NYYM
Communications Director
[email protected]

 

 

Notices

New Members

  • Paul Becker — Chatham-Summit
  • Elizabeth Riker — Syracuse
  • Ed Smoot — Chatham-Summit

Transfers

  • Rebecca Boucher, from Brooklyn to Bulls Head-Oswego

Deaths

  • Angel Ramos, member of Rochester, on August 10, 2024.
  • Andrea Sears, member of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting, on August 8, 2024. 
  • Thomas Scott Shedaker, member of Manasquan, on May 22, 2024.
  • Henry Alan Weisel, member of Conscience Bay, on May 16, 2024.

 

 

News
 

Sign up for the  Weekly Update

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. 

 

World Quaker Day is October 6!

Celebrate being part of a global Quaker community! Visit
fwcc.world for more

 

George Fox is 400!

Quakers around the world are celebrating the 400th anniversary of George Fox's birth with events throughout the year. fwcc.world/fox/

 

 

Upcoming Events

ARCH Foundations Workshop

4 part series: Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, 6:30-8:30 pm ET via Zoom

ARCH is a pastoral care program of NYYM that holds that our interdependence and mutuality are important tools for navigating the changes brought by aging. The workshop is developed as a series of meetings complemented by additional exercises, readings, and group activities. Sign up at nyym.org/arch.

 

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

Nov. 22-24, at Pendle Hill,

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. Visit pendlehill.org

 

NYYM Fall Sessions

December 6-8, Online

The next gathering to conduct the business of the NYYM will take place fully online, Dec. 6-8. Details will be announced in the Weekly Update email and in the next Spark.

 

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.

Fall Work Weekend

October 25-27, 2024, in person

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.

 

Living into Prophetic Quakerism: A Series of Three Spiritual Nurture Working Group Retreats

Facilitated by Lu Harper and Anne Pomeroy. The retreats:

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

Continuing Revelation is a key aspect of our faith. 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 must we carry forward? 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, Apr 25-27, 2025

 

For Young Adults

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

Stewing, Bubbling, Brewing

for Young Adults (18+)
October 18-20, 2024, at Powell House

What’s cooking in your cauldron? This conference is all about the patience and slow work of creating something beautiful and nourishing. We will center a lot of the theme around cooking with lots of food projects. Additionally, we will have discussions that will broaden our scope to anything from social justice to creative projects.

 

For Children & Teens

Powell House Youth Conferences

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

 

Junior Counselor Training for 9th-12th Grade

November 8-10, 2024

Calling all current and future junior counselors (JCs)! Here’s your chance to carry the torch and see Powell House through new eyes. This conference serves as a training for new JCs as well as an opportunity to bolster your skills for current JCs. In addition to gaining skills as a JC, you can expect to have a fun and fulfilling weekend with plenty of games and connecting activities.

 

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!

 

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