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ContentsSearch for a General SecretaryThe Search Committee for a General Secretary is under the care of the General Services Coordinating Committee (GSCC). The Search Committee met on November 1, 2003, at Albany Meeting. Information regarding the General Secretary position was posted on the NYYM Web site on November 5. (See http://www.nyym.org/committees/gensec.) 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. 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.As of December 10, we have received one application and numerous telephone inquiries. Paula McClure, clerk, Search Committee Membership Good NewsMembership has increased in many of our monthly meetings. Friends have been able to welcome and interweave newcomers and attenders into the life of their meetings. If your meeting has a success story that you would like to share, e-mail it to office@nyym.org or mail it to NYYM, 15 Rutherford Pl., New York NY 10003.Helen Garay Toppins Schenectady Meeting Endorses Food Relief to ZimbabweThe Schenectady Meeting has endorsed the concern of Anita Paul and David Gerhan for Zimbabwe food relief. Anita and David recently returned from a year in Botswana, where they worshiped with the Botswana Monthly Meeting and attended Southern and Central Africa Yearly Meeting. The Botswana Meeting is coordinating the receipt of funds and the delivery into Zimbabwe of maize meal (corn meal) that is then distributed by Quakers. A 25-pound bag goes twice a month to every family in seven villages, about 7,000 people. The Quakers have worked with the people in those villages for many years through the Quakers' Hlekweni Vocational Training Centre.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 send their checks to Paul/Gerhan, 22 Bruce St., Scotia NY 12302. Checks should be made out to Schenectady Friends Meeting and earmarked for Zim relief. If you would like additional information, please call us at 518-374-2166. Anita Paul and David Gerhan, Schenectady Monthly Meeting Adirondack Friends Meeting Seeks New PastorAdirondack Friends Meeting is looking for a new pastor. The position can be full-time, with competitive salary. Housing and utilities are available if needed. For further information please contact Dave Pronto, clerk , Adirondack Friends Meeting, 27 Saratoga Ave., South Glens Falls NY 12803; taco6@adelphia.net.Friends United Meeting 2004 Chain of Prayer
In 2004, the Friends United Meeting (FUM) Chain of Prayer will run from January 1 through the end of May. Each meeting or Friends church that wishes to participate will hold a gathering for prayer on its day, during which Friends will pray for the next meeting in the chain. In addition Friends will pray for the field staff and partner projects of FUM and for the outreach work of Friends through Quaker Life magazine, Friends United Press, the Quaker Hill Bookstore, and the Internet. To complete the chain, the last meeting in May will pray for the first meeting in January. Each meeting will pray in the manner that feels most authentic: Some will hold unprogrammed worship during which the concerns will be read aloud and held in the Light in silence; others will have small group prayer circles with participants offering vocal prayer; others will have prayer services with praise songs or hymns and pastoral guidance. To participate, each meeting registers, providing a short description of itself and a few prayer concerns. A month or more prior to your day, we will send each participating meeting publicity materials, information from the meeting for which you will be praying, as well as some prayer concerns from FUM's worldwide ministries. For further information see http://www.fum.org/naministries/chain_of_prayer.htm. Simple Lives, Radiant Faith: FGC Gathering 2004The Friends General Conference (FGC) 2004 Gathering will be July 3–10 at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Come gather with Friends and practice that inward simplicity in which we hear and see clearly. Align your heart, mind, and spirit as you find time for worship and the spiritual growth that surprises and challenges you at every turn.The Gathering is an opportunity for us to experience a life of continuous worship: as we rise, as we walk, as we eat, as we join in fellowship, as we gather in meeting for worship. Registration information for the Gathering will be available in the spring of 2004. Work grants and scholarships for first-time attenders and others will be detailed in the Advance Program and on the FGC Web site. For further information: FGC, 1216 Arch St. #2B, Philadelphia PA 19107; 215-561-1700; fax: 215-561-0759; friends@fgcquaker.org; www.fgcquaker.org. The Underground Railroad: Quests for FreedomA conference entitled The Underground Railroad: Quests for Freedom will be held Feb. 28, 2004, at the College of Saint Rose, 432 Western Ave., Albany, from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The conference will draw together a wide audience to learn about, share, and support the Underground Railroad in eastern New York State.A theatrical performance, recitation of a fugitive litany, and the singing of historic songs will complement the lectures. The focus will be on antislavery alliances and the many varieties of resistance employed by freedom seekers, community members, and communities. For information contact the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Box 10851, Albany NY 12201; 518-432-4432; www.ugrworkshop.com. Pastoral Care Newsletter: Support for CaregiversAre caregivers in your meeting sometimes called on to deal with situations outside their zone of comfort and experience? How can meetings deepen our capacity to respond to members' needs?For ten years Pastoral Care Newsletter, published four times a year by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, has brought the wisdom of experienced Quaker caregivers to meetings around North America. In a recent reader survey one respondent wrote, "This is a very important resource for Care and Counsel in so many areas that come under its charge. It's the first resource we turn to when a new pastoral care situation comes up." You can invite Pastoral Care Newsletter to bring the support of seasoned Friends to caregivers in your meeting. Single subscriptions are $10.75, reduced if you buy copies for all members of your meeting's caregiving committee. Sample copy and subscription information: PCN, 1515 Cherry St., Philadelphia PA 19102; 215-241-7068; steveg@pym.org. Patricia McBee, editor Christian Peacemaker Teams ResourceChristian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) announces that Getting in the Way: Studies in the Book of Acts is now available from CPT's Chicago office. This unit of four lessons was designed for groups who wish to study the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams within the context of the biblical witness. Accordingly, each lesson is tied to a passage from the book of Acts. Participants will study both the first-century church described in Acts and the history and work of Christian Peacemaker Teams.In the first lesson, Kathleen Kern, member of the Christian Peacemaker Corps since 1993, takes people on a journey through the beginnings of CPT and the early church. Subsequent lessons deal with how early Christians and CPTers have subverted privileges granted them under ancient and modern empires, how CPTers and early Christians have spoken truth to power and models that CPT and the early church have used for growth. Multiple copies of this study book are available from CPT. For information or to donate, contact CPT, Box 6508, Chicago IL 60680; 773-277-0253; fax 773-277-0291; cpt@igc.org. Gene Stoltzfus Earlham Explore-a-College ProgramExplore-a-College is a program for college-bound sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It is an opportunity for them to get a taste of college before making their final college choice. All courses are taught by Earlham faculty and are a good preview of what students can expect academically. The academic benefits are obvious to the students; the students also learn many other skills and share important experiences on campus. They learn how to manage their time better and how to be independent, and they make friendships with students from all over the world. In addition, students receive two semester hours of college credit upon successful completion of the course of their choice.For information contact Dee Johnson, director of Summer Studies, 800-327-5426; ballde@earlham.edu. Grant Nominations: Pickett Fund for Quaker LeadershipThe trustees of the Clarence and Lilly Pickett Fund for Quaker Leadership (Pickett Fund) are soliciting nominations of Friends to be awarded leadership grants for 2004. We look for younger Friends who are demonstrating leadership potential. A primary purpose of the Pickett Endowment is discovering and nurturing leadership talent throughout the Religious Society of Friends.Pickett grants cannot be used to fund educational costs; however, students may apply to assist with long- or short-term service or research projects that reflect Pickett Fund objectives. Since 1994 the Pickett Fund has made one to six annual grants totaling from $2,000 to $11,500, the largest of which was $4,000. Ages of grantees has varied; however, the trustees generally focus on those from eighteen to thirty-five. We must receive nominations by January 15. 2004. Nominee applications must be postmarked not later than February 15. For information about the Fund's origin and purpose, and the projects it supports, as well as a list of past grantees and their projects, visit the Pickett Fund Web site, www.quaker.org/pickettfund. You can submit a nomination online from the site or e-mail abmb4190@kdsi.net. Allan Bowman, coordinator, Pickett Fund Spokane Friends Church Seeks PastorSpokane (Washington) Friends Church is conducting a pastoral search. We are a programmed meeting that loves both silence and song. Start date is around July 1—date is somewhat flexible. The salary range (dependent upon education and experience) is between $34,000 and $44,000.Please send résumé and references to Pam Emery, Spokane Friends Church, 1612 Dalke, Spokane WA 99205; bpemery@hotmailcom; www.spokanefriends.com. | ||||||||||