Dear Friends, Quakers are BUSY in the next couple of months--there are events in many different corners of the country, more options in the U.S., and a variety of online and in-person options. Thank you for reading Canadian Yearly Meeting's monthly electronic newsletterâwe're glad to have you! If you know others who might like to receive this, please feel free to forward this message so that other friends can subscribe at the link below. Your help in connecting Friends across the country is deeply appreciated! If you'd like to contribute to the newsletter, email newsletter@quaker.ca by the 15th of the month. We may not be able to fit all contributions in, but we'll try! Sign up | April 30th, May 7th, and May 14th: Workshop on Diversity & Inclusion Registration is now open for âDiversity & Inclusion in Quaker Practiceâ â a 3-part spirit-led workshop series that will run on April 30, May 7, and May 14. The workshop is offered by Canadian Yearly Meetingâs Education & Outreach Committee and facilitated by Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in the United Kingdom. The workshopâs facilitators will support participants in having important and challenging conversations, with the goal of transforming our Quaker Meetings into truly welcoming spaces. We will reflect upon and learn from some of the times when Quakers have failed to be fully inclusive. Participants will be encouraged to explore the power that we do and donât have, and learn about âintersectionalityâ (i.e., how different forms of oppression interweave, and cannot be untangled from each other). We will discuss how differences can make us feel uncomfortable, and why it is important to address that discomfort rather than avoid it. Finally, we will reflect on next steps you can take to make your Meeting more inclusive. The cost is $50, with some financial assistance available. To register and for more information, see the workshopâs Registration Form. Registration Form | | May 14th: Representative Meeting There will be a Representative Meeting on May 14th from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. PDT (11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. MDT, 12:30-3:30 p.m. CDT, 1:30-4:30 p.m. EDT, 2:30-5:30 p.m. ADT, and 3:00-6:00 p.m. NDT). Representative Meeting brings together representatives of Monthly Meetings, Half-Yearly Meetings, and CYM Committees to make decisions between full CYM business sessions. During the pandemic, Rep Meeting has been held online. Agendas and other documents are circulated in advance and typically posted on the password-protected business section of Quaker.ca. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8671213216?pwd=VlRCRHhpSFFhRHllS2dBcHNnc1kvdz09 Meeting ID: 867 121 3216 Passcode: CYM1955 | | May 20th-23rd: Atlantic Friends Gathering 2022 AFG 2022 is a go! After missing 2020 completely due to You-Know-What, and holding AFG (albeit successfully for the medium) on Zoom in 2021, we are delighted to announce that AFG 2022 will return to Camp Geddie, Merigomish, NS, on our traditional Victoria Day weekend. This year, we are offering a hybrid AFG! Friends unable to attend in person can join us on Zoom for the main components of the weekend program. This yearâs theme is âENVISIONING THE FUTURE: Exploring how Quakers can support the hopes and dreams of younger Friends.â In partnership with Gray Cox, Clerk, Quaker Institute for the Future (QIF), we are featuring presentations from Young Adult Friends on their own current project and future vision for their spiritual journey, with discussion and interaction among Friends present, as well as an introduction by Gray Cox. We have designed a relaxed weekend, with lots of free time to catch up among Friends after such a long break away from each other. The popular Meeting for Reading and Family Night, as well as Special Interest Group (SIG) time, are included. A Childrenâs and Youth program is also offered. For full details, including online registration (for both in-person and Zoom attendance), go to https://atlantic.quaker.ca/afg/. For general enquiries or to register, if preferred, by phone or email, contact Daphne Davey, Registrar, 902-730-2052 or ddavey@eastlink.ca. Register | | May 20th-23rd: Western Half-Yearly Meeting The 2022 Spring gathering of Western Half-Yearly Meeting will take place on the May long weekend (May 20-23) both online and (for those able to join us physically) in Sorrento. This will be our first in-person gathering since the Pandemic started, but we know that many Friends will choose to join us on-line as well. Our Schedule is available at https://viquakers.ca/whym/. It includes much of what we have come to expect from Spring WHYM, whether you are joining us in person or on-line. Beginning with an intergenerational welcome Friday night, we will enjoy worship-sharing groups, special interest groups, Meetings for Worship including Business Meetings, and the phenomenal Family Night sharing of talents and fun, in hybrid form. We are excited to be joined by Canadian Friends Service Committeeâs Kerry Grier, Peace Program Coordinator, who will share with us about her work on Saturday night. We are asking Friends who are attending on-line for the rest of the gathering to register, and if able, to pay a suggested $15 per person attending, reflecting the costs of a hybrid event. Friends seeking to participate in on-line Worship Sharing will need to register by May 11th; otherwise registration for the on-line Gathering may occur until the start of Meeting. Friends planning to attend in person must register by May 6th, as the Registrar needs to provide final numbers to the Sorrento Centre at that point. Register | | May 27th-28th: St. Lawrence Regional Gathering St. Lawrence Regional Gathering will be taking place from Friday, May 27-Saturday, May 28, 2022, on Zoom Theme: Relevance of the Peace Testimony to Political Protest The topic for Regional Gathering's meeting is "Relevance of the Peace Testimony to Political Protest." On Friday we will view two QuakerSpeak videos, followed by peace songs. On Saturday an individual from each Meeting will share his or her personal story about involvement in political protest or civil disobedience. Queries and general discussion in breakout rooms will follow each presentation. There will be an invitation to children/youth as well to participate, as they can, through a query specific to them. Friday: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86260848850?pwd=Nk5Sb0drRUpMZzhScHBFSUxhSkJEQT09 Saturday: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83159968961?pwd=aEJoRm1qdEdKUHhneXlJc1dEUW5sQT09 Read more | | May 28th: Quakers & Disabilities Quakers & Disabilities, a new group of Canadian Friends, has begun to meet regularly, with the purpose of giving the opportunity for those who have a Concern regarding disabilities to gather in worship and sharing. This group is not under the care of any Meeting, but thanks Vancouver Island Monthly Meeting for offering their Zoom account for meetings. The group plans to meet on the 4th Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 p.m. MDT, 1:00 p.m. CDT, 2:00 p.m. EDT, 3:00 p.m. ADT, and 3:30 p.m. NDT). The next meeting will be Saturday, May 28th. If you'd like to be on the email list for this Meeting, please email David McKay dwmckay@sympatico.ca Join meeting | | June 4th: Yonge Street Half-Yearly Meeting Hamilton Monthly Meeting is hosting the spring session of Yonge Street Half-Yearly Meeting on June 4th, 2022. It will be an online gathering, but there may be an in-person option, if health recommendations allow it. Stay tuned! For now, weâre asking YSHYM Friends to hold the date and weâre inviting Friends from anywhere in Canadian Yearly Meeting to join us if you wish. The day will start with gathering and greeting followed by silent worship. There will be a Meeting for Worship for Business and suitable breaks throughout the day; details will follow closer to the date. The programme is on the topic âFriends House Moscow: 26 Years of Service in Russia and Beyondâ. Our speaker, presenting on Zoom, will be Julie Harlow, an American Friend who is on the International Board of Friends House Moscow. Friends House Moscow is not a Quaker Meeting, but a collaboration among Quakers worldwide. It is overseen by an International Board which is composed of Quakers from Russia, the USA and Europe. The Board sets strategy and makes funding decisions for the charitable activity that Friends House Moscow carries out in Russia and Ukraine. Please contact Chris Hitchcock at chris@hitchcock.com if you need more information now. Remember that there will be more detailed information closer to June 4th. We hope weâll be seeing many Friends then! | | June 3rd-7th: Continuing Revolution 2022: Experiments in Spiritually Grounded Abolition Young Adult Friends and seekers (ages 18-35) will gather both online and at Pendle Hill (near Philadelphia) for Continuing Revolution 2022 from June 3rd-7th. Continuing Revolution is a space of collective exploration and learning for spiritually curious young adults who are striving to live in ways that reflect their values. We welcome those who are seeking to examine the connections between their spiritual, political, and interpersonal lives. This year's theme is abolition. Together we will experiment with seeds of alternative systems as we strive to live in integrity with our core values. This yearâs programming is guided by Mariame Kabaâs understanding of abolition as âa vision of a restructured society where we have everything that we need to live dignified lives.â Come to Continuing Revolution to support and be supported in learning to make decisions that reflect your values and hopes for the building of abolitionist futures. Enjoy opportunities for reflection, sharing, worship, and skill-building with other young adults from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in the nurturing environment of Pendle Hill, either online or in person. Registration deadline: May 25th, 2022 for on-campus participants. Sign-ups for online participation open until June 3rd. Fees: - On-campus resident full-time (June 3-7): $50
- On-campus resident weekend-only (June 3-5): $25
- Commuter daily attendance: $10/day
- Online: pay-as-led
Significant financial assistance is available. Learn more | | July 6th-10th: YAY! A Separate Friends General Conference Gathering for Young Adults, Youth & Families FGCâs Junior Gathering, High School, and Adult Young Friend Committees are excited to team up for a new adventure this summer. We are excited to announce YAY! This in-person event for Young Adults & Youth will take place Wednesday, July 6 through Sunday, July 10 at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. YAY is for children, parents, youth, and young adults. This event will run at the same time as the 2022 FGC virtual Gathering, however it is not a hybrid event. YAY will only focus on in-person activities. FGC is carefully emerging from the pandemic by offering small and medium-sized events this year. FGC plans to be back at full-scale next year for the in-person 2023 Gathering in Monmouth, Oregon. YAY will have separate sessions for each of these communities: Junior Gathering (birth-rising 9th grade); High School (rising 10th-graduating senior); Adult Young Friends (ages 18-37); Parents & Sponsors (for parents & sponsors of youth & children). If youâd like to serve as staff at this event â please complete a staff application. Register | | Canadian Yearly Meeting (Aug 7-13) Updates The Yearly Meeting in Session website is now up and running! - SPG Lecture: Guided by Ancestors: Integrating Ojibwe teachings with Quaker Testimony for social action - JoLee Sasakamoose
- Bible Study: The Transforming Power of Mercy - Colin Saxton
- Pre-CYM Retreat: Supporting One Another in Faithfulness - Marcelle Martin
- The schedule
- Special Interest Groups (SIGs): Submit your Monthly Meeting minute of support.
- Registration is open
Learn more | | What's new from CFSC Canadian Friends Service Committee has been busy recently! | | 2022-2023 Nurturing Faithfulness Program The nine-month Nurturing Faithfulness program includes two in-person residencies at Woolman Hill retreat center in Deerfield, Massachusetts (four nights in Sept 2022 and four in May 2023), an online winter retreat, and monthly webinars. The program teaches practices that help open one's heart to the power of God, as well as skills in discernment; methods to offer and find spiritual support; and ways to ground oneâs faithfulness in a home meeting or spiritual community. Participants will form local Faithfulness Groups that foster spiritual openness and support members over time in following calls and leadings. Information about the Nurturing Faithfulness program can be found here or through the New England Yearly Meeting website. Applications are preferred by June 1st, with rolling applications possible throughout the summer. Here's a video in which the core teachers, Marcelle Martin and Hilary Burgin, speak about the upcoming 2022-2023 program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qobrlGlIT0 Here's a video in which prior participants speak about their experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pQQZZnXJM8 Read more | | CYM Contributions Corner Did you know that CYM, through Continuing Meeting of Ministry and Counsel, provides spiritual oversight and counsel to all constituent Meetings and Worship Groups? Donate | | | | | |
