• Couple Enrichment
• Flushing Meeting Peace Work
• Remains of Friends Now at Rest in Prospect Park Cemetery
• Sandwich Boards
• Schenectady Meeting Endorses Food Relief to Zimbabwe
• AVP Workshop at Wilton Meeting
• Enhancing Racial Diversity:
      The View from Morningside

Therefore, the Clerk of the Yearly Meeting, the Clerk of Trustees, the Clerk of the General Services Coordinating Committee, the Clerks of the Financial Services Committee, the Treasurer, and the Administrative Secretary of the Yearly Meeting, have agreed that we will use as an Interim Budget for the first quarter of the year until Representative Meeting in April, the figures from the Proposed 2004 Budget, including the Proportional Shares for 2004.

We are noting that the major increase in the 2004 budget relates to the proposed General Secretary position. Since we cannot employ a General Secretary without the approval of the Yearly Meeting, either at a Representative Meeting or at the Silver Bay sessions in July, that portion of the budget relating to expenditures for the General Secretary position cannot and will not be spent before the Yearly Meeting has approved the 2004 Budget.

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Members of the Search Committee are: George Baker, Northeast Region; Ruth Ann Bradley, Farmington-Scipio; Linda Chidsey, ex-officio, Purchase Quarter; John Cooley, Farmington-Scipio; Fred Doneit, Nine Partners; Ben Frisch, representative from Nurture CC, New York Quarter; Julia Giordano, representative from Ministry and Counsel CC, N.Y. Quarter; Robin Gowin, Shrewsbury-Plainfield Half-Yearly Meeting; Liseli Haines, Butternuts Quarter; Jeff Hitchcock, Shrewsbury-Plainfield Half-Yearly Meeting; Herb Lape, Long Island Quarter; Reb Mackenzie, Northeast Region; Paula McClure, representative from GSCC, All-Friends Regional, clerk; David Press, Purchase Quarter; Rachel Ruth, Nine Partners; Nancy Sorel, representative from Witness CC, Nine Partners; Helen Garay Toppins, ex-officio, New York Quarter.

The Search Committee met on November 1 at Albany Meeting with 14 of the 17 members present. Information regarding the General Secretary position was posted on the NYYM Web site on November 5. An ad appeared in the November issue of Friends Journal and was repeated in the December issue. The same ad will appear in the December and January issues of Quaker Life. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2004, and the Search Committee expects to meet again on February 7 in Albany to review the applications and plan the next steps in the search process.

Members of the Search Committee were to have met with members of the Personnel Committee at the GSCC meeting at December Representative Meeting to review the job expectations and to discuss a supervision and evaluation plan for the new General Secretary position. As of December 18, we have received four applications and numerous telephone inquiries.

Paula McClure, clerk, Search Committee

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Gatherings. Three retreat gatherings for extended worship with attention to action for peace have been held. Brief written reports appeared in Updates (more extended notes are being sent to participants), and brief oral reports are planned for Representative Meeting. Further gatherings can be supported as Friends bring forward concerns for attention in worship.

Input, inquiries, insights are welcome!

Linda Chidsey, Vicki Cooley, Fred Dettmer, NYYM Worship and Acton for Peace Working Group

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Thirty-five Friends from 19 monthly meetings gathered at Powell House October 31–November 2, 2003 to spend time in retreat on the query: Where does our peace testimony lead New York Yearly Meeting Friends now? Friends came prepared, having worshiped individually and corporately in their monthly meetings on this query and a series of supporting queries.

From a gathered worship, a common sense of the urgent challenges of our times was affirmed. These call for fundamental change, the shape and form of which is yet to be clearly named and, in good order, seasoned. Friends acknowledged how important it is to our witness to stay grounded in worship and love, and that this is the only way it will be effective. We are called to remain centered in the Spirit to find Truth in our world and reveal it in our lives.

What was named includes tax witness, education relating to issues of global economic injustice and sustainable living, resistance to militarization in our society including recruitment, support of Quaker organizations, outreach to other religious bodies, valuing Alternatives to Violence Project, and effective communication with others holding different views. These undertakings are commended to Friends for prayerful consideration.

We recognize the power of our diversity of gifts and the different places we are in on a common journey to bear witness to the Ocean of Light that sets one free of the oppressing role of fear in our lives. Friends, as led, are encouraged to ground leadings in the lives of their monthly meetings and network via the various communication tools supported by the Yearly Meeting. Friends are commended to consult and engage youth and young adults in these endeavors.

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Interest/study groups are educational and spiritual opportunities. They will be offered in the afternoons to enable JYM staff and young Friends to participate. The May Spark will include a listing and brief descriptions of the offerings. F/friends may register for individual study groups and an interest group when they complete their Yearly Meeting registrations.

An interest group is a single educational opportunity to inform attenders about a topic or activity of importance to Friends. The time allotted is approximately one hour.

A study group is an opportunity for corporate worship and exploration for spiritual growth. The time allotted will be approximately four hours spaced over three days.

What is the application process?

• Write a description, of any length, about your topic, identifying whether you wish to offer an interest group or a study group. Anticipate that F/friends from age 10 through adult will be encouraged to participate, and plan accordingly.
• Provide an outline or lesson plan in the proposal.
• Indicate if there is a maximum number of attenders you can accommodate.
• Name the facilitator(s) and contact persons who will be working with you.
• Write an additional 50-word description of the program for reprinting in Spark. Do not exceed 50 words.
• Forward the proposal to the appropriate coordinating committee clerk or the NYYM office, office@nyym.org or 15 Rutherford Place, New York NY 10003, no later than 2/16/04.

If your proposal has been accepted you will be notified in April 2004.

If you have any further questions contact: Cheryl Doehler: Cheryl148@hotmail.com as coordinator, or Claire Simon, clerk of Sessions, quakerartist@earthlink.net. Cheryl Doehler's and Claire Simon's telephone numbers and addresses are in the Yearbook.

Claire Simon, clerk, Sessions Committee

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Mary Kay and Mark are certified by the Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment and are leaders of Friends General Conference's Couple Enrichment program. Cost of the Friday evening and Saturday workshop is $85, which includes lunch and dinner. The registration deposit is $30, by Feb. 6. Contact Mary Kay and Mark at mkglazer@frontiernet.net or 518-585-7949.

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On the Saturday before the second Sunday of every month we also leaflet the military recruitment center from noon until 1:00 P.M. We then go to the meetinghouse for coffee and tea.

All these events are a very short distance from one another: Flushing branch Queens Public Library 41-17 Main St. at Kissena Blvd, map and directions at www.queenslibrary.org/branches/dispBranch.asp; military recruitment center, approximately four blocks north of the library; Flushing Friends meetinghouse, 137-16 Northern Blvd., between Main St. & Union St. about 1 1/2 blocks from the recruitment center; www.nyym.org/flushing.

Anyone wishing information can e-mail me at naomipaz@nyc.rr.com.

Naomi Paz Greenberg, Flushing Meeting

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The Cooper Square Urban Renewal Plan is engaged in a large construction project in lower Manhattan. A part of the area to be developed was previously a Friends cemetery. This cemetery was in use from 1796 until nearly 1849, at which time the cemetery in Prospect Park was purchased. In 1875 the land was sold to Trinity Church. A chapel was erected on the site and remains were relocated. In 1960 the chapel was demolished and the site was again disturbed when the city constructed a subway tunnel.

Despite this activity, portions of the cemetery had never been disturbed. These were the subject of an archaeological excavation, since remains could still be present. In old cemeteries, gravestones are sometimes moved or lost. Also, some Friends of that time considered stones to be worldly and did not mark their graves.

The site of the excavation was on East Houston Street, near the Bowery. The archaeological work was conducted by John Milner Associates during May and June of 2003. No intact graves were identified. Eighteen identifiable human skeletal fragments were found. They included portions of skull, arm, leg, and pelvis, and one tooth. The tooth was determined to be from a child approximately 10 years old, the pelvis from a 45- to 49-year-old woman. They concluded that the remains were from at least two individuals and possibly as many as nine.

On Sunday November 2, 2003, the remains were re-interred in the Quaker cemetery in Prospect Park. At the gathering Dr. Joel Klein, the senior project manager, spoke about the archaeological methods and findings. He also spoke about the satisfaction he felt in returning the remains to their spiritual heirs. Some selections were read by Betty Williams, followed by a period of silence. The casket was then lowered into the ground and guests took turns in filling the gravesite. Bagpipe music was provided by John Maynard and Larry Otway. The gathering ended with hot spiced cider and cookies. A marker will be placed on the site in honor of our spiritual ancestors. The NYQM Cemetery Committee plans to have an annual Day of Remembrance in honor of our departed Friends and loved ones.

Mary Eberhardt, Staten Island

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Money initially came from the meetings in Botswana and South Africa; then, when information about the plight of the people of Zimbabwe was printed in The Friend and distributed to Britain Yearly Meeting, a great deal of money was sent from Ireland, Britain, and northern Europe. Now Botswana Meeting has just enough to send one more 30-ton load ($8,000 approximately).

The World Food Bank has recently cut back on their food shipments to Zimbabwe due to government interference, even though they have reported that 1.5 million are very short of food this year and 5.5 million will be hungry next year. The government did not allow any of that food relief to reach the seven villages around the Hlekweni Centre, which historically have not been a center of support for President Mogabe.

Individuals and meetings that wish to contribute to the next truckload of maize meal can contact Anita Paul & David Gerhan, 22 Bruce Street, Scotia NY 12302; 518-374-2166. Anita Paul and David Gerhan, Schenectady Meeting

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AVP is dedicated to reducing violence throughout the world. AVP works through creative, nonviolent resolution to conflicts with the same techniques used by Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jesus of Nazareth.

The Basic AVP workshop is an interactive, intensive 2-day experience in which experiential exercises in small groups and one-to-one interactions build community and trust around the themes of Affirmation and Self Esteem; Communication and Cooperation; and Creative Conflict Resolution.

The fee for this workshop is $50.00 and includes the materials and meals—lunch and dinner on Saturday and dinner on Sunday. Please let us know if you have special dietary require-ment(s).

To register, contact Tom Martin at fireflytom@mindspring.com; 203-222-0442. Please register now—the workshop is limited to 20 participants. (Scholarship aid for the fee is readily available.)

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We entered into this journey through a period of worship, allowing the Spirit to be the center of our time together; a go-around to why each person was sitting there that day also gave a new thread to the cloth of Morningside. So began our journey of looking at who we are at that point and time as Morningsiders looking through the lens of diversity and inclusivity.

Phase I. A Listening Session where participants spoke out of the silence in a space of safety knowing that this would be confidential, answering the query "How are you with racism; how is God working in your life in this area?" It was a time of delving deeply and sharing our own truth. We listened intently as we spoke in turn of experiences—each unique and full of the Spirit—through the pain of what racism can do. We all sat and listened beyond the words and felt the oneness. We each have our responsibility to be in this life as God intended, with respect and dignity of all.

Phase II. The definition given for anti-racist work was "responding to God's call to transform racist behaviors and enhance racial and ethnic diversity, with Divine love at the center of this service." This allows for empowerment thinking and not getting trapped in the guilt and blame model of looking at this work as someone else's responsibility. So the query "How can Morningside be more engaged in anti-racist work?" caring for all whether they are yellow, brown, black, or white, without fostering prejudice or racism; and meeting our common human needs of love, nurturance, and an affirmation of being treated equally with respect.

Morningside is already involved, as ascertained by our presence at Riverside Church; the warm welcome we give people who worship with us of any color; locating our peace vigil in Harlem (our neighborhood); giving financial support to groups in Harlem and the Arab-Muslim community; and our own First Day school which is diversified, includes Friends of Color as teachers, which brings a wide view to our future.

The question of "how to be more engaged" generated thoughts of learning more about the challenge of achieving racial and ethnic diversity by reading current literature on the subject. We can also learn about our "whole" history with people of color, and areas where Friends of Color have contributed to the Religious Society of Friends. We moved from brainstorming to three small groups to ensure full participation in the dialogue, and the report back produced three lists of recommendations, which showed us that the Spirit was amongst us that day and always.

Phase III. We had prayer (told our stories), we had dialogue (talk about empowerment), we even broke bread together (called lunchtime)—now our responsibility is to reflect on "How are we being called to fulfill God's purpose to become a truly inclusive meeting?" In our discernment, we saw a need for:

1. demonstrating Morningside's concern on this issue
2. evaluating and focusing on our action lists
3. making a real commitment to items on the list
4. forming a three-year plan for Morningside
5. scheduling periodic times when we can evaluate how we are doing
6. keeping a separate focus, but working with M&C, P&SC, RE, etc.
7. creating a space or forum for listening sessions, for us to have that as our foundation for spiritual growth

Action Items:

1. We came to unity on recommending to business meeting that an ad-hoc committee be formed with its mandate as described above, as well as to coordinate and activate the meetings. Six people from the group volunteered to serve, and others may also join as determined by the business meeting.
2. A major event formulated for the month of February, where we would attend February Black History Month events at Riverside, and we, in turn, would invite Riverside members to attend our Black History event wherein we would be the host.

   It would primarily be a social event with a potluck meal so that we can equalize our familial relationship. We can possibly have either a film on Bayard Rustin (a notable Friend of Color) or a discussion on the new book of his life, The Lost Prophet. We were in unity to recommend this event to the business meeting.

We ended with worship sharing and closeness of each other that could only be held by the Spirit, knowing that this was just the beginning of our journey as Morningside Monthly Meeting. Vince and I thank you all for holding us in your prayer while we continue to serve God's dream for harmony between all people in the sweeping splendor of the earth, without racism. We were grateful and humbled for this opportunity to be in unity with the empowerment of our own meeting under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Loving blessings,

Ernie and Vince Buscemi, Morningside Meeting

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This is the time when Friends everywhere are preparing reports about the State of the Meeting. Guidance is given in Faith and Practice:

. . . the monthly meeting on ministry and counsel should appoint one or more of its members to prepare and present a report on the spiritual condition of the meeting. This should be reviewed in turn by ministry and counsel and by the meeting for business of the monthly meeting. When the monthly meeting approves it, the clerk should forward the report . . .

The State of the Meeting report should be a searching self-examination by the meeting and its members of their spiritual strengths and weaknesses and of the efforts made to foster growth in the spiritual life. Reports may cover the full range of interests and concerns but should emphasize those indicative of the spiritual health of the meeting.

While many of you have your reports well under way by now, others may want a query to gather around. For those who do, we suggest: What measure of growth have you experienced as you have been guided by the Spirit this past year?

To compile the State of the Society Report from your individual meeting reports by early April 2004, it will help us to have your completed reports on or before February 15.

Please mail one copy to the New York Yearly Meeting office at 15 Rutherford Place, New York, NY 10003. In addition, if it is possible for you, send an electronic copy, either as an attachment or as an e-mail text, to office@nyym.org.

Thanks and blessings,

Noel Palmer, clerk
Ministry & Counsel Coordinating Committee

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AFSC Works on Behalf of Immigrants on Long Island and the Greater Metropolitan Area

In the New York region, AFSC has practiced its commitment to immigrants through programs in Newark, N.J., and on Long Island, N.Y. Through the Long Island Immigration Resource Center, which recently marked its second anniversary, AFSC was able to establish a visible and strong presence on Long Island. It increased awareness of the valuable contributions made by Long Island's immigrants. It created for middle school students a class on migration and immigrants, hosted by a Friends Academy summer program. It compiled a directory of services available to immigrant communities. Additionally, AFSC brought to the attention of local and state legislators issues important to immigrants. It decried racist hate crimes and protested unfair policies targeting immigrants. Perhaps most importantly, it played an instrumental role in the development of an alliance of agencies, religious institutions, and community groups that work with and serve immigrants. The Long Island Immigrant Alliance (LIIA), composed of over 20 organizations, has grown into the Island's strongest voice for newcomers.

Recently, AFSC renewed its commitment to advancing the rights of immigrants by launching Project Voice, a new nationwide initiative to achieve strategic impact on key immigration and refugee issues. By strengthening the voices of immigrant-led organizations in the national agenda for immigration policy and immigrants' rights, AFSC hopes to foster a fuller integration of immigrants and refugees in their new communities. AFSC will pilot the New York Metropolitan Regional Office's implementation of Project Voice on Long Island, with the Immigration Resource Center integrating into the new initiative.

Project Voice is already working to create a LIIA chapter on the East End of Long Island, an area that is often disconnected from the rest of Long Island, due to distance, but is experiencing similar immigrant-related issues. Additionally, AFSC is conducting a needs assessment to identify areas in which Project Voice can be most effective. AFSC staff is meeting with immigrant rights advocates in the New York City area to assess current needs and work and to identify issues not being addressed. We welcome your suggestions.

Suggestions and comments may be sent to Arif Ullah at 212-598-0958 or aullah@afsc.org.

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We print letters, and the Communications Committee may edit them for grammar, style, length, and content.

The committee will have the final word on what appears in Spark.

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Individuals wishing to apply for grants in 2004 should submit seven copies of their proposal no later than March 1, 2004, to the grant secretaries at the address given below. Two or three individuals who know the applicant and are familiar with his or her work should be asked to send letters of reference by this deadline as well. Grant recipients are asked to make a progress report within a year.

Proposals should be brief (one or two pages). For guidelines or additional information, inquiries may be sent to the secretaries: Michelina and Vinton Deming, 4818 Warrington Ave., Philadelphia PA 19143.

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A PoHo youth retreat can be hard to explain. At WinterSong, a group of youths interviewed each other to try and describe their PoHo experience. A long-time attender wrote, "It is the definition of unconditional love. It encourages people to look within and not judge based on clothes, looks, age, sex. It encourages people not to judge at all."

Another youth said, "It's my first time at Powell House. There is no one that I know. All are kind to me." The youth weekend creates a fun, loving, nurturing environment where people make true good friends. The routine of games, small-group discussions, cooperative work crews, and listening to everyone in turn creates a culture of acceptance and inclusion. Most youths feel that it is a place where they can be themselves. "You can take your mask off," explained one youth.

"Powell House is the best place in the world" was another comment. That place is not the physical space. It is a place created within the relationships, the deep connections, the being together. It is an experience of sharing the Spirit. One youth said, "It teaches you peace and love." What more do we need to learn?

Chris DeRoller and Mike Clark, PoHo youth directors

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More than 35 people of different ages came together from various parts of the world for the gathering of Friends in a snowy suburb of Moscow from 28–30 October 2003 in order to deepen our understanding of the Quaker faith and to exchange our experiences of the Testimonies.

In our first session, the Testimonies were placed in a historical context. We saw how early Friends gathered as communities seeking to live more closely with God, helping each other in the process, and how the Testimonies arose from their cumulative experience of personal and corporate faithfulness.

During the section on the Testimony to Truth, two Friends demonstrated different ways of speaking difficult truths in love. The Testimony to Peace came alive for us when three Friends shared with us different forms of their peace witness: One Friend worked with conscientious objectors, another has worked in peace education in many cultures, and a third Friend demonstrated Russian/Chechen reconciliation through the relief of suffering. The biblical roots of the peace testimony were read aloud in both Russian and English.

Quotations from Advices and Queries of Quaker Faith and Practice and from John Woolman challenged us to examine our attitudes toward discrimination and deepened our understanding of the Testimony to Equality.

In small groups we shared our spiritual stories with each other, and a session on interfaith dialogue broadened our perspectives. We shared our memories of the early years of Moscow Monthly Meeting and our visions for the future of Friends in Russia.

With joy we met for worship every day, and we closed each evening with a spiritual epilogue. Some of our F/friends enjoyed meditative walks in the snowy woods. The tea breaks gave us an opportunity for deep conversations. We promised not to forget each other, and we ask Friends everywhere to hold us in your prayers as we struggle with the challenges of our developing community.

With love, peace, and blessings,

the Epistle Committee clerks Galina Orlova and Sergei Grushko, c/o Friends House Moscow, fhm@online.ru.

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The Gathering is an opportunity for us to experience a life of continuous worship.

Registration information for the Gathering will be available in the spring of 2004. For further information: FGC, 1216 Arch St. #2B, Philadelphia PA 19107; 215-561-1700; fax: 215-561-0759; friends@fgcquaker.org; www.fgcquaker.org.

New Members

Deaths

Births/Adoptions

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