Summer Sessions 2013

Summer Sessions

July 21–27, 2013  •  Silver Bay, New York

Keeping Faith: Answering That of God in All Creation

Welcome to New York Yearly Meeting Summer Sessions 2013

NYYM Summer Sessions is a wonderful opportunity for worship and work, relaxation and fellowship in a place of safety, trust, loving care, and renewal. Quakers and friends of all ages gather together for this week-long residential program—an immersion experience in the practical and worshipful application of the testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends in every aspect of our lives.

This year our theme is Keeping Faith: Answering That of God In All Creation, an adaptation of a famous quote by George Fox. We invite you to read the message from our Yearly Meeting clerk, Jeff Hitchcock, below, to learn more about our theme for the week, and then get started on your way to Summer Sessions by clicking on Steps to Summer Sessions—Registration and Other Essentials.

Quicklinks to Everything Summer Sessions

• See the Documents section at the bottom of this page for the Sessions' minutes and other documents.
• Registration & Other Summer Sessions Essentials
• Junior Yearly Meeting
• Accommodations
• Worship at Summer Sessions
• Program
• Helping Each Other
• Travel
• Clerk's message

Message from the clerk

Friends might see that we have taken this year’s theme from a well know quote by George Fox:

"This is the word of the Lord God to you all, a charge to you all in the presence of the living God; be patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your life and conduct may preach among all sorts of people, and to them. Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one; whereby in them ye may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the Lord God you shall be a sweet savour, and a blessing."

Fox implored us to preach with our “life and conduct.” It is what we do and how we do it that carry the presence of God among us and reveal it to others.

This year we are reaching out to the Haudenosaunee people (the Six Nations of the Iroquois League), recognizing that we have a long history of living in the same region, and a history of relationship between our faith community, with European roots, and the Haudenosaunee, the original people of the land we now share. This is delicate work, which takes time and does not proceed fully within the limits of a European-based understanding of matters. We are hopeful the way will open for our choice of a Native American speaker.

In our choice of theme, we are clearly influenced, too, by indigenous ways, which, in contrast to our European roots, place a far greater emphasis on our unity and connectedness with all creation. Friends believe in continuing revelation, and the last half of the twentieth century into the present moment has been slowly showing us the wisdom of this understanding.

Yet the seeds may have been planted long ago. For in the same letter quoted above, written while George Fox was in Launceston jail, he explained to us:

"Therefore this is the word of the Lord to you all, 'Keep in the wisdom of God, that spreads over all the earth; the wisdom of the creation, that is pure from above, not destructive.'"

Jeffrey Hitchcock, clerk of New York Yearly Meeting

Documents from the Sessions