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.) [Read more →]

Saturday began with the usual: a few hardy souls gathering at dawn to swim in the river, early morning worship, breakfast (with some joining in Bible study over their coffee and toast), then singing to begin the morning plenary.

Friends heard brief reports from the many active committees in NPYM; highlights included an update from the Youth Committee, which has worked hard this year to locate and reach out to families with children and youth throughout the yearly meeting. They will continue this work in the coming year,  and are planning a youth summit, t-shirts and more. Coordinating Committee reported on its first full year of service (CC replaced Steering Committee as the body which gathers between Annual Sessions), and shared that they are looking forward to strengthening the connections between meetings and worships groups in NPYM in this upcoming year. [Read more →]