Dear Friends, In my neck of the woods these days, we're in peak glorious winter mode: the Rideau Canal is open, there's finally enough snow for good cross-country skiing, and it's the most exciting time to be here. This is definitely an uncontroversial statement and one that absolutely everyone agrees with, I'm sure. Anyway, I'm wishing you joy in this season, whether that comes from outdoor activities or from cozy indoor hobbies. Thank you for reading Canadian Yearly Meeting's monthly electronic newsletter—we'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 | Make sure folks can find your pandemic-era Meeting for Worship As the pandemic continues and public health measures shift, please take a minute to make sure the info for your Meeting's Meeting for Worship is up to date on our List of CYM Meetings during the pandemic. This list appears at the top of our Find a Meeting page, which is one of the most popular pages on our website. Note the template for what information to submit is at the top of the list and updates should go to editor@quaker.ca. | | Starting January 15th: lecture series on Quakerism in the Atlantic World 1690-1830 Canadian Friends Historical Association is running a biweekly lecture series on Quakerism in the Atlantic World 1690-1830. This series is based on a text by that same name, and each lecture will be led by the author of the associated chapter of the book. They will be held alternating Saturdays at 9:00AM PST, 10:00AM MST, 11:00AM CST, 12:00PM EST, 1:00PM AST, and 1:30PM NST, starting January 15--so you've only missed one! Registration is free, and merely so CFHA can have your email to send you the conference link prior to the lecture. More information | | Quakers are hiring all over Head over to Quaker.ca to see a list of Quaker job opportunities: - Canadian Friends Service Committee is hiring an Events and Indigenous Rights Assistant (application deadline February 3rd, 2022)
- The Friend's School in Hobart, Australia is seeking expressions of interest for their next principal
- Klamath Falls Friends Church in Oregon is seeking an interim pastor (application deadline January 31st)
More information | | Reminder: Starting February 12nd, Online Quaker Conversation Circles and more Restore your souls, rebuild your Meeting. CYM Education & Outreach has decided to focus on offering restorative Quaker practices in 2022 – with the first session involving Quaker Conversation Circles. This first event will take place on Saturday, February 12, 2022, with a 90-minute online workshop that introduces Canadian Quakers to Conversation Circles from the Quaker Religious Education Collaborative. Come and learn about this exciting new way to hold deeper conversations about topics that matter to you and your Meeting. Other events will include more sessions of Hope is a Practice, with Tracey Martin, and sessions on Diversity and Inclusion in Quaker Meetings. For more details on these events, and the Zoom link, click below. See More | | February 18th-21st: FLGBTQC 2022 Mid-Winter Gathering Join Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns [FLGBTQC] for 2022 Mid-Winter Gathering. FLGBTQC hopes that offering a playful, open virtual space to connect with each other can be a source of joy in challenging times. The gathering will take place via Zoom, with welcoming events beginning 2:00PM PST, 3:00PM MST, 4:00PM CST, 5:00PM EST, 6:00PM AST, 6:30PM NST on Friday, February 18th, 2022, and wrapping up by 12:00PM PST, 1:00PM MST, 2:00PM CST, 3:00PM EST, 4:00PM AST, 4:30PM NST on Monday, February 21st, 2022, Schedule details at http://bit.ly/m-w-schedule-2022 - Keynote event with Wendy Sanford and Cai Quirk in dialogue, telling our stories of authenticity
- Meeting for Worship on Sunday
- Meeting for Worship with attention to Business Saturday and Sunday
- Worship sharing Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
Register at https://bit.ly/m-w-reg-2022 and encourage others who are interested in joining to do so as well. There is no cost to attend. FLGBTQC welcomes contributions, which can be sent via Venmo (https://venmo.com/)to @FLGBTQC, or via check made out to FLGBTQC and mailed to this address: FLGBTQC c/o Port Townsend Friends Meeting Attn: Caroline Wildflower 1841 Sheridan St. Port Townsend, WA 98368. Please share far and wide! Feel free to reach out to judith@grey-cat.com or midwinter@flgbtqc.org with any questions. Register | | February 26th: friendly exploration on the administration of CYM - who gets to decide? Plus, reminder: friendly exploration on CYM-in-session, January 29th The Change and Sustainable Transformation (CAST) working group has been considering how decisions have been made for the administration of Canadian Yearly Meeting (CYM). We have considered where this has led to issues, what has been done to address these, and what still needs consideration. CAST has produced “CAST Thoughts on Administration of CYM” as a starting point for discussion. The Change and Sustainable Transformation Date: Administration exploration: February 26th, 2022. CYM-in-session exploration:January 29, 2022 Time: 10:30AM PST, 11:30AM MST, 12:30PM CST, 1:30PM EST, 2:30PM AST, 3:00PM NST Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8671213216?pwd=VlRCRHhpSFFhRHllS2dBcHNnc1kvdz09 Meeting ID: 867 121 3216
Passcode: CYM1955 Dial by your location
+1 613 209 3054 Canada
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
+1 778 907 2071 Canada
+1 438 809 7799 Canada
+1 587 328 1099 Canada Meeting ID: 867 121 3216
Passcode: 5144807 Read more | | Come to Camp NeeKauNis for summer 2022! 2022 summer programs at Camp NeeKauNis, our Quaker camp on Wendat, Anishnaabeg, and Haudenosaunee lands off Georgian Bay, Ontario, have been announced! - July 2-9 Work Camp Director Kris Wilson-Yang
- a week between July 10-22 Teen Camp (ages 13-15) ***Director Needed!***
- July 23-29 Community Camp Directors Veronica Sanchez & Alice Preston
- July 29-Aug 1: 90th Anniversary Celebration!
- Aug 14-20 Tween Camp (ages 8-12) Directors Kris Wilson-Yang & PJ Power
- Aug 21-27 Family Camp Director Diana Shepard
- Sept 7-14 Carry On Discovering (age 55+) Director Alice Preston
If you have questions or would like to volunteer please email neekaunis.recruiting@gmail.com. Staff/volunteers are needed for this season, including lifeguards, kitchen helpers, and program staff/counselors; please also reach out if you would be interested in being a director for Teen Camp! Registration is expected to open March 15th, so stay tuned for more information. Winter Retreat Space is still available--including the week of March Break: NeeKauNis has a newly refreshed space for daytime or overnight use. Find yourself at NeeKauNis this winter skiing, sledding, or snowshoeing with a warm place to relax and dry off. Rates are $50 for day use, $125/night and $750/week. Please contact camp.neekaunis@gmail.com for what to expect, and what to bring. | | Nominations season has begun If you made a New Year's resolution to try something new this year, you're in luck: CYM Nominations season has begun and realistically you probably haven't served on aaaaalllll the committees yet. (Or maybe you haven't been on any Quaker committees yet, in which case it's definitely worth finding out more!) Each year Canadian Yearly Meeting names people from across the country to serve on standing committees and in individual positions in the Yearly Meeting. We ask these people to carry out, on our behalf, the work of our Yearly Meeting, and to provide support to those Friends working in social justice, ecumenism, and wider world issues. For more information, visit the nominations page on Quaker.ca (you'll have to log in) or download the nominations package directly. This year there's an online nomination form available, too! Timelines vary by Monthly Meeting, but in general names are discerned by March or April to meet Nominating Committee's May 6th deadline. Learn more | | Pelham Executive Meeting seeking donations for cemetery maintenance The Pelham Executive Meeting (PEM) cemetery committee is asking for donations towards the care of our heritage cemetery. (Click here for a history of the cemetery.) Due to deterioration of trees and gravestones in the cemetery, PEM applied a few years ago and gratefully received, a grant from the Samuel Rogers Trust Fund for restoration or laying down of damaged stones, improved signage and some significant arborist work. Through the years this small meeting has been able to cover the costs for seasonal grass-cutting. Recently, however, because of the great age of the trees and their vulnerability to storm damage, further significant work has been needed. PEM has dipped deeply into their finances to do this work and know that there will continue to be needs. Given the venerable age of remaining trees, they hope to replant and care for some new trees in coming years. Thus, PEM is asking you to consider a donation towards the perpetual care of this historic Quaker cemetery under the ownership of Pelham Executive Meeting. Donate at the link below, or mail donations to Cathy Jolliffe, PEM Treasurer, 425 McAlpine Ave N,, Welland, ON L36 1T4. For any questions, contact niagaraquakers@gmail.com Donate | | CYM Contributions Corner Did you know that CYM owns and manages three cemeteries? Donate | | Reminder: Quaker Voluntary Service applications for 2022-2023 due February 28th Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) applications are open for the 2022-2023 Fellowship year. Grounded in the Quaker faith tradition and open to people of all backgrounds, QVS is a year-long Fellowship program in which young adults (age 21-30) build intentional community, work full time at social service and social change agencies, and explore themes of spiritual and personal growth with local Quakers. QVS addresses racial, economic, and gender justice by helping partner organizations increase capacity to fulfill their missions and provide young adults with invaluable experience and training that equips them for a lifetime of social change work. QVS currently has houses in Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Portland OR. Applications for the upcoming 2022-2023 year (beginning in late August 2022) are due February 28, 2022. For more information, check out QVS’ website where you’ll find a Fellow job description, Fellow testimonials, current service partners, and the application portal. If you have any questions please feel free to email christinad@quakervoluntaryservice.org Learn more & apply | | | | | |
