The Beginning: Monday and Tuesday
Friends gathered on Monday for the opening plenary of Annual Session. After brief opening remarks from clerk Marilee Eusebio, the roll call of Meetings was read. A few more introductory remarks and some wrangling with the noisy air conditioning system, and the plenary closed. Friends were free to spend the remainder of the evening settling into their dorm rooms, walking Claremont McKenna’s lovely eucalyptus-lined campus pathways, or sitting at picnic tables, deep in conversation.
Tuesday began early for many, with some Friends joining in early morning outdoor worship, a free-form Bible study group, or the ever-popular “Transforming Quakers’ series. (Tuesday’s notable historic Friend was Mary Dyer.)
After breakfast, Friends joined in open worship as a whole gathering, which was followed by worship sharing groups. The groups considered queries relating to this year’s theme, “Engaging One Another in the Spirit”. Lunch was followed by Plenary II, where Naming and Nominating Committees gave their initial reports. Nominating Committee appealed to Friends to help them help themselves! They also expressed appreciation for having had a full complement of committee members for most of the year, which made their job easier. Friends new to PYM committees, either as clerks or as members, were invited to attend a workshop for committee clerks on Friday.
George Lakey, a guest speaker from the “other” PYM (Philadelphia), then spoke to the gathering’s theme. He pointed out that the process of engagement with the Spirit is greater than the sum of the parts, and asked, “What sets people free to experience the Spirit?” George then spoke to four points or practices which can support the development of this freedom: recognition that Friends as a community are tasked with building a container for the Spirit; that we are called to be present in the moment; creating the container for the Spirit around and through individual and community accountability strengthens the container itself; and that we must have the trust and willingness to struggle together. (A transcription of George’s talk will appear in the the October issue of WF.)
Friends of all ages then joined each other outdoors for a lovely couple of hours spent playing intergenerational games, drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, and laughing and talking in the sunshine. After dinner, interest groups met on topics ranging from Indonesia after the Civil War to finding that of God in other species. George Lakey led many Friends in lively group renditions of popular Broadway songs, while Young Adult Friends held Meeting for Worship for Business and still others gathered round with guitars and “Rise Up Singing” for more song. Junior Yearly Meeting played a couple of hours of Capture the Flag in the dark, and it is rumored they also played “Wink” until 2am. Just another typical day/night at PYM…