Many meetings write that they appreciate questions about our spiritual state and concerns about truth and faith. Some express difficulty with the language of the queries this year. Butternuts finds that "we always find new things about each other when going through the state of meeting process." Similarly, Alfred writes, "we seek language that pulls us together as a diverse people, that celebrates community, and allows varying interpretations."
     Responses to the first query focus on Friends' being strongly nurtured through the silence on First Day to carry forth during the week. Most of our meetings express the belief that they do feel supported to speak in worship in a safe and nurturing community. Friendship and shared joys are found to reinforce First Day worship. The second query focuses on inclusiveness, of working together in service to each other within the meeting community and providing service to the outside community. The third query evokes responses pointed toward becoming more united in sharing. Others write of the need to be more sensitive in seeking truth. The worship concept unique to the Sabbath evoked by the fourth query inspires a wide variety of responses from, on the one hand, reinforcing a special sense of resting in God, and on the other, of finding difficulty, and even dissatisfaction, with that concept in our present culture. It is clear from this summary that the members and attenders of the monthly meetings and worship groups of New York Yearly Meeting continue on a journey of prayerful seeking in a challenging world.
     1a. Are your members and attenders encouraged to speak from the depths of their spiritual experience?
     Some meetings find the uniqueness of the silence in the worship meeting so compelling that they are unable to break it. Otisville finds that "wisdom begins in silence in our souls as well as in our voices." This generally shared sense is also reflected by Montclair, which states, "Often the meeting hour remains silent with a depth of spirituality felt in individual hearts." Other inspirational settings are provided: a period of afterthoughts following the worship, religious education discussions, worship sharing, Quaker conversation, spiritual nuturance programs, group retreats, and discussions during the business meeting. It is typical that a variety of different fertile settings are provided by individual meetings in which all participants may be heard. In the final analysis "The fruitfulness of the silence is weighed against the value of what might be said, and silence is broken when the need to share vocally cannot be denied." (Manasquan)
     1b. What is needed in order to speak of your faith?
     Worshiping deeply takes courage, practice, awareness, and trust within the community that, as Schenectady writes, "receptive ears are listening." What is needed in order to speak our faith appears to be the same among all meetings: safety, respect, and acceptance rather than judgment. Poughkeepsie sums it up in terms of "common experience of the spirit, a feeling of absolute safety, and individual inspiration." Orchard Park writes, "We intend to speak truth as we understand it and to be gentle when our understandings may differ." Several meeting are concerned about Friends who never speak in meeting for worship. In the words of Quaker Street, "We need to help others more to develop the gift of delivering spiritually uplifting messages." For the worship group at Sing Sing, worshiping deeply brings out a sense of honesty, nurture, and empathy.
     1c. What aspects and practices of faith does your meeting hold most closely in common?
     Summit writes, "We share qualities that are widely viewed as fruits of the spiritual life: kindness, compassion, and joy coming in many ways from the joy of God's presence." That which we hold most dear are our connections with God, our appreciation of the worshipful silence, and our willingness to learn from one another in our quest for spiritual fulfillment"(Auburn) Others share Ithaca's experience that "spiritual expression initiated in silent worship often leads to and is deepened through actions on behalf of others and for the community as a whole."
     Many hold in common the practice of sharing joys, sadness concerns, and steps in our spiritual journey together, and it is not unusual for meetings to speak of a common experience of the Spirit, often expressed in widely diverse terms. For example, Farmington's worship is enhanced and affirmed through music. On the other hand, Shelter Island finds refreshment and renewal in the beauty of its natural outdoor setting. Three categories of deep inner feelings generally expressed are: (1) the quality and depth of our experience of worship, (2) the friendship and support we share with each other, and (3) the Quaker witness in the world that arises from these. Many voice the feeling, expressed by Rahway-Plainfield, that time has a different feel during meeting for worship - that we are in the Eternal. We share a belief in "Inner Light," "the seed of God in us," or "that of God in all persons."
     2. How does the Spirit call to your members and attenders to answer to that of God in every person so as to unite them in a community of God?
     The theme of this response follows the thread of what aspects and practices meetings hold in common. Croton Valley resonates with John Woolman saying "Love was the first motion." "Although the meeting calls to each of us individually, the community fellowship helps us cast off the externals and look under each other's surfaces." (Housatonic) We seek the best in each other. . . and to work with respect and integrity . . . all share equally in worship and the life of the meeting. As one Friend of Rahway-Plainfield says, "God supports me to do everything I do."
     A deep feeling of love and community pervades many meetings. This is described by Ithaca: "We have real affection and caring for each other as many members reach out their nurturing to the community of color, the hungry and the homeless." The Otisville worship group strongly believes that the heart and the hand are two inseparable agents of faith, which reflect the two sides of Quakerism: mysticism and activism.
     There are many examples where meetings live out their faith through a broad variety of specific outreach projects to their communities. This is often phrased, "Our members and attenders answer to God in every person by working together on special projects." Adult religious education, peace and social efforts, concern for nature, concern for Native American rights and for justice in the correctional system are typical of many widely shared efforts.
     We need to be reminded of how important our young people are (Montclair) and how much inspiration comes from them. (Quaker Street) The theme that our actions and how we live our lives are expressions of our concern, faith, and spirituality runs through many responses. We value our differences but have a commonality of concerns about human rights, the protection of our environment, global sharing and responsibilities, and the right use of materials, time, and technology. (Hamilton) We accept one another as imperfect and we continue to explore ways in which we can meaningfully engage with a wider range of people within our communities. We need to encourage the spiritual sensitivity in everyone in the community of God, including the prison community, the university community, the black community, the third world community, and all those struggling with injustice and intolerance. (Elmira) "In this process, meetings are endeavoring to listen to and value each other, conveying tenderness towards each other's differing spiritual paths." (Schenectady) The Sullivan prison group is concerned over New York State's policy of phasing out volunteers and restrictions of their participation in matters not deemed spiritual. "Our Quaker beliefs pose a challenge in our daily life to discern what is the reflection of God in each person." (Catskill) There is general agreement that, whereas a need exists for spiritual healing and regeneration, the process begins with attention to fellowship and opportunity for social action, seeking a balance of spiritual, temporal, and secular activities. We want to build an island of serenity and a place of healing, and we also want open and honest discussion. Our temperamental, geographical, and cultural differences sometime prevent meetings from answering that of God in every person. Many are prayerfully addressing the challenge of how best to use meetinghouse facilities and human resources to meet the needs of the meeting and the community. Some meetings seek to build strong communities under very trying circumstances, and are moved to do good works in the community, seeking guidance and sustenance from the meeting and the spirit that dwells within and leads us.
     3a. In what ways does the Spirit heal, renew, and uplift the life of your members and attenders?
     The Spirit heals, renews, and uplifts the life of our members and attenders in our being together, in worship, in singing together, and in our time of personal sharing. "God reveals Herself best when we are united together, loving one another and helping one another." (Manhasset) Like other meetings, Manasquan finds that "activities on First Day are central to the meeting, for this is the day that we study and worship together." The meeting recognizes for giving a strong sense of family; sharing both our joys and sorrows knits it together.
     Expression of a strong wave of love and support pulses through the tapestry of many meeting reports. "A sense of healing when least expected," experienced by Albany, "often by unexpected interactions with others in the meeting," is also noted by other meetings. Members feel the support of the meeting in their own efforts to advance love and justice in the home, in the workplace, and in society. Many struggle to find the right way to move forward. "We are looking at how we can heal ourselves while healing the environment by seeking a simpler lifestyle and a sustainable community." (Purchase)
     "Difficulties within the Quaker process, strong disagreements between individuals, and the effect of a recent suicide in the meeting are all making it difficult to find the space in which the Spirit can heal, renew and uplift the lives of members and attenders." (Ithaca) Saratoga expresses concern for those whom they do not see in meeting and the need to reach out to them in a way that is not intrusive. Similarly, Bulls Head-Oswego feels the need to improve their practices in welcoming people, and following up after them.
     Butternuts sometimes marvels at how well we actually manage with the challenges of weather, transportation, health concerns and collective responsibilities. We need to help more in each other's lives, knowing that some are more open to others to our involvement. In the long term is the need to make many more opportunities for sharing of our faith and our own spiritual journeys, not only as teaching or outreach, but to nurture in all of us a greater awareness of God's presence in our lives.
     3b. How does the Spirit illuminate Friends' search for Truth in your meeting?
     Illumination by the Spirit is shared by those in prison. In the words of the Auburn worship group, "We are all renewed and uplifted by the Spirit by helping others, by worshiping with people we trust, and hearing stories from others and to learn from them." And for the Sing Sing worship group, "Allowing the Spirit to have its way, nurtures our relationship with the creative force." Those of the Sullivan prison group see evidence that blessings continue to arrive in the midst of challenges. The Otisville Correctional Facility group "holds all Truth in a loving and caring light that is always guided."
     The Attica group feels similarly, "We feel that reflecting on the Spirit renews our bonds of universal oneness." The Spirit renews us through the mystery of silent communion, one with another, as we search for truth. We are most profoundly renewed when people speak from the depths, which is truth-telling at a deep level, rather than merely intellectually addressing issues. Similarly, "The Spirit acts like a compass to many seekers . . . it is the 'true north' that shows us the direction that we ought to take, and it brings us comfort." (Housatonic)
     Many meetings find Truth not only in worship but also in working and playing together, in meeting for healing, in music and dancing, and in giving, laughing, and eating together. "We come to First Day meeting with an expectation of work to do, not with the belief that it is done, and especially not that it is done for us." (Alfred) Many express the thought that we do not know exactly where we are headed but what is known is that we are on a journey that in time, God will reveal to all what he wants us to be and to do. "A leading is not necessarily a direction to do something, but to do something as the way opens, or the recognition that one needs to do nothing." (Shrewsbury)
     4a. Have your members and attenders experienced a sense of resting in God?
     "Resting in God" means different things to different people among us. To some it refers to a sense of refreshment; other Friends conceptualize it as abiding in his hands. All we do is holy, and resting in God can be a daily experience for some Friends. Binghamton feels "a sense of peace, support and shelter when they come together." "'Resting in God' is not an unknown experience for us nor the love of God in all of us." (Attica) Many share the feeling that we are resting in God when surrounded by a loving community.
     "It is such a relief to surround myself with Friends that I feel like singing praise and joy. Another dose of meeting and I am ready to be a peculiar person in the world again," shares one Friend from Bulls Head-Oswego. A great many meetings acknowledge the need for the restorative, creative, and comforting power of the meeting for worship. We find a sense of resting in God when we abandon our attempts to do everything, solve everything, and feel we must know how everything will end. Discovering how and when to rest forces one to return to the creator.
     4b. In what ways does the concept of Sabbath speak to the condition of your meeting?
     Many of us are unsure if the concept of Sabbath speaks to the condition of our meeting, and others of us are confused by the language used in the question. Several meetings express surprise at the idea of setting aside a special day to observe resting in God. For example, Central Finger Lakes says, "We are curious how the rest of the week contrasts to our Sabbath." Perry City writes, "As Friends, we recognize every day as sacred and a time to strive to be in the Light since Sabbath takes place all the time." Some members have personal spiritual disciplines that explore the concept of the Sabbath, whereas others feel "the sacramental nature of every day" (Poughkeepsie). For others, "The Sabbath, the Lord's Day, is resting in God, and when one sees truly, it can be a perpetual state." (Shrewsbury) Friends, in general, observe that quiet, peace, stillness, and waiting are difficult for us in our contemporary society. Our culture has gotten away from the concept of Sabbath. It no longer encourages keeping of a "day of rest," which makes it difficult to respect this testimony. In view of this, the essential spirit of Quakerism may be particularly vital and consistent with some Friends' longing for Sabbath. "It may be that too few of us regularly practice 'the presence' in our daily lives, thus placing undue pressure to find God in only a single hour in the week." (Montclair) Setting aside one day seems quite unusual to some meetings, whereas others share from experience the special opportunity for renewal that it provides.
     "Sabbath is something that we try to take away with us from our First Day and continue daily, in trying to be at peace with one another and to celebrate God's centrality in our lives." (Schenectady) We welcome a sense of "fallowness" and expectant waiting and find in our worship a more conscious willingness to permit God to work through us.

Prepared by the Coordinating Committee for Ministry & Counsel