Brown background with text reading "Quakers in Canada: News from around Canadian Yearly Meeting." Most of the text is yellow, but the Q is pale green.

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Canadian Yearly Meeting's fourth monthly electronic newsletter. This month, we thought we'd focus on staying connected as the weather turns and many of us spend more time inside. Below, you'll find information about online events both near and far.

Thanks to everyone who has been helping other Friends connect - you can help us reach more Friends in Canada by forwarding this message (so that other friends can subscribe at the link below) to individuals and/or your Monthly Meeting or Worship Group's email list, and by announcing this newsletter after worship and in upcoming Meetings for Worship with an Attention to Business. Your help in connecting Friends across the country is deeply appreciated!

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Read the Canadian Friend

Many of you have already received the summer edition of the Canadian Friend, whether electronically or in print. If you haven't (or haven't read it yet), this issue includes articles on Quaker progressive Elias Hicks, viruses and other nonhuman neighbours, news from around the Canadian Quaker family, and a lot more.

The next issue should come out in early December. To connect with Friends in writing, please submit pieces to editor@quaker.ca by the due date of October 15. (Extensions are usually possible by asking the editor nicely). Please submit articles between 500-1200 words long. (Unusual topics or word-lengths are possible, but also best discussed with the editor before submitting.) Articles on any topic of potential interest to Canadian Friends are welcome. Photos, artwork, humour, and interesting quotations are also warmly welcomed as submissions.

Read more
People kneel with their fists up in front of the curved building of Toronto's city hall.

Friends World Committee for Consultation Northeast Regional Gathering

Experience the wider fellowship of FWCC (Friends World Committee for Consultation) in northeastern North America (CYM from Ontario eastward, New York MM, Massachussetts MM, and Philadelphia MM) in a 2 day virtual gathering on October 24-25, 2020. Saturday will feature a Meeting for Worship, a plenary session, and two presentations/workshops. On Sunday, we will each visit a Meeting other than our own in the morning, experience another presentation in the afternoon, and participate in a closing session. CYM will be leading an eco-vigil, in which participants will share quotes from environmental activists in a worshipful setting.

 Find out more
A wood-paneled room, with pale blue floor and chairs arranged in a square around a table with a plant on it. All the chairs are reddish brown except one blue one.

Read the CYM2020 epistle

The CYM2020 epistle is now available. From the committee: "we wanted to include the ways in which this CYM was different from all others, the challenges we encountered and overcame (or not), and the way that the Spirit continued to be present with and within us, despite the strange new circumstances of our gathering, and the blessings that came along with the challenges."

Read more
A black and white sign with an image of a dove inside the letter Q. The sign's text reads, "Quaker Meeting Religious Society of Friends; all welcome."

Canadian Friends Service Committee weekly virtual Meeting for Worship

Canadian Friends Service Committee continues to offer a weekly virtual Meeting For Worship on Wednesdays, hosted by the Clerk, Lana Robinson and Associate Clerk, Vince Zelazny. All Friends are welcome to join for 30 minutes of silent worship followed by 30 minutes of sharing, at 11:30am Atlantic / 10:30am Eastern / 8:30am Central / 7:30am Pacific.

Join the Zoom Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/981698440  (Meeting ID: 981 698 440)

Or dial in by your area code/location: +1 587 328 1099, +1 647 374 4685, +1 647 558 0588, +1 778 907 2071, +1 204 272 7920, +1 438 809 7799
A group of colourfully-dressed Quakers sit in two rows in a bright, white room.

Search for next Resident Friends for Congenies, France

The Centre Quaker de Congenies, in the south of France, is seeking long term volunteer Resident Friends. Enjoy the region, the garden and the conviviality of visits from F(f)riends around the world. Accommodation at the centre is offered in exchange for managing the house, organizing events and hosting BnB guests (5 rooms). This position is ideal for two active retirees or telecommuters. At least one must speak reasonably good French. They seek a commitment of at least 2 years, with a flexible start date. Respond to: centre.quaker.congenies@gmail.com.
A group of colourfully-dressed Quakers sit in two rows in a bright, white room.

Other events and ideas

  • Consider visiting another Meeting or worship group's online worship! We are endeavouring to keep this list of online and in-person Meetings during the pandemic up to date. Please send any updates to pubcom-clerk@quaker.ca. 
  • Explore the rich array of online courses and events offered through Pendle Hill.
  • World Quaker Day is coming up on October 4th - if you or your meeting has a great socially-distanced plan, consider sharing via the Canadian Quaker (CYM) Facebook group.
  • Is your Meeting, Half-Yearly Meeting, or gathering hosting presentations or other programming online that would be open to other Canadian Friends to participate in or to watch a recording of afterwards? We would be happy to help spread the word, get recordings posted to Quaker.ca, etc. Please email us at editor@quaker.ca and newsletter@quaker.ca. At least 2-3 weeks' notice is very helpful, but we'll do our best regardless!
A group of colourfully-dressed Quakers sit in two rows in a bright, white room.