Category: NEYM
-
Embraced by the Mystery
Dear Friends, Have you ever had the experience of being in meeting for worship, wondering whether a message that’s rising within you in the stillness is for you to speak, and then hearing the same message—maybe in different words—given through the voice of another Friend? I had an experience like that this week, and I…
-
Our Common Life
Our Common Life One of the most enlivening aspects of my work is visiting local meetings across New England, connecting with Friends and encouraging the Life of the Spirit in the Quaker Movement. In my travels in recent years—in meetings small and large, pastoral and unprogrammed, urban and rural, with meetinghouses and without—I’ve noticed similarities that seem…
-
Yearly Meeting Consultation on Climate Change
Dear Friends, At last year’s Annual Sessions, New England Yearly Meeting affirmed a Divine call to the witness of addressing climate change, and encouraged all local meetings to consider how they might further respond. On April 22 Friends will gather at Friends Meeting at Cambridge (MA) for a Yearly Meeting Consultation on Climate Change. This…
-
Faith Beyond Walls
Margaret Fell, mother of the Quaker Movement, welcomes traveling ministers to Friends’ headquarters at Swarthmoor Hall. Created by First Day School of Middlebury (VT) Friends Meeting. Dear Friends, As we send this February newsletter, I’m reflecting on hospitality. This past month, as some in power have called for walls and bans—and many more have raised…
-
Our Increased Compassion, Not Our Hardened Hearts
Dear Friends, In recent days, Friends across New England have joined demonstrations and reached out with our neighbors to oppose President Trump’s Executive Order on refugees and immigration. We continue to hold all affected in the Light. May a deep well of prayer continue to ground our work and our witness in these times. To…
-
Friends, welcome prophets among us in these dark times!
To New England’s Meetings Dear Friends, Many of us are feeling under the weight of grief, fear, and anger in the face of national and world events. Many of us are digging deep, to feel where a prophetic response may be: Is there a word from the Lord that Friends are to carry at this…
-
Epistle from Travelers to Standing Rock
To Friends In New England, We write to you on our return from the prayer encampment of the Oceti Sakowin—the Great Sioux Nation—in what is now known as the State of North Dakota. Led by the Standing Rock Sioux and the other tribes of the Seven Fires Council, thousands of Indigenous and non-Native people from across…
-
Election Results
November 9, 2016 Dear Friends throughout New England, As we gathered for our weekly worship this morning, we held all of you in prayer. From that worship, we feel led to write to you with a message of love, encouragement and support. In the aftermath of this week’s election, many who are grieving, angry, fearful…
-
A Call to Prayer and Support for Standing Rock
November 3, 2016 In North Dakota, the Standing Rock Sioux and their allies are struggling for the future of their land and people. Where those without worldly power stand in the Truth in the face of empire, God is at work and our faith calls us to support them. For months, the Indigenous people leading…
Putney Friends Meeting 