The calendar of events schedule below is clickable, providing additional information such as full session descriptions and access and tech support links.
LEYM 2021: Healing Through Truth Quakers affiliated with Lake Erie Yearly Meeting gather annually for fellowship, worship, business and to see how the spirit moves among us. From July 28-Aug 1, 2021 LEYM Friends will be meeting online via Zoom. Financial contributions sent to the treasurer are strictly voluntary, so “pay as you are led”. Contributions will help offset the costs associated with hosting the event. See the latest issue of the LEYM Bulletin for helpful event details.
All Are Welcome
Quakers believe that there is that of God in every person. In this spirit, we welcome all people regardless of age, race, differing abilities, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
30+ Sessions
There's something for everyone at this year's annual sessions, whether it be worship opportunities, business sessions, bible study, interest groups, the keynote plenary, or the amazing evening talent show.
9 Timely Workshops
We expanded our workshop offerings this year. Join experienced presenters for explorations of topics highly relevant to our current condition. See schedule below.
Friday Plenary with Paula Palmer
Join us for a plenary on the theme "From Truth to Healing with Native Peoples." Paula Palmer is a sociologist, Quaker, writer, and activist for racial justice, human rights, and environmental protection. (See Keynote Resources Handout)
Annual Session Offerings July 28 - Aug 1, 2021
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We are hosting nine workshops this year, including one by our keynote speaker Paula Palmer. You can see the full schedule and workshop descriptions in the latest issue of the LEYM Bulletin (see pages 3-8). We'll also have an interest group session where you can learn all about various Quaker organizations.
Workshops and Interest Groups on Offer
- Roots and Branches of Quaker Advocacy - Thu 3:00 PM
- Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children & Families - Thu 3:00 PM
- Prison Abolition as a Quaker Practice - Thu 7:00 PM
- Experiment with Light - Thu 7:00 PM
- Organizational Interest Groups - Fri 1-2:30 PM
- FWCC - Friends World Committee for Consultation
- AFSC - American Friends Service Committee
- RSWR - Right Sharing of World Resources
- FCNL - Friends Committee on National Legislation
- FGC - Friends General Conference
- The Intersection of Earthcare and Justice Action - Fri 3:00 PM
- Spiritual Companion Groups: What they are & how they might serve LEYM - Fri 3:00 PM
- Native Plants & Native Americans: Models for Healing - Sat 1:00 PM
- Are We Ready? Helping LEYM Become an Anti-Racist Community - Sat 1:00 PM
- Paula Palmer - Roots of Injustice, Seeds of Change - Sat 3:00 PM
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We’ll have morning and evening silent worship opportunities, three Bible study sessions, and worship-sharing small group sessions on the theme of healing through truth.
Worship and Bible Study Sessions
- Evening Worship - Wed 8:30 PM
- Morning Worship - Thu 8:15 AM
- Bible Study - Thu 9:00 AM
- Evening Worship - Thu 8:30 PM
- Morning Worship - Fri 8:15 AM
- Bible Study - Fri 9:00 AM
- Worship Sharing - Fri 9:00 AM
- Evening Worship - Fri 8:45 PM
- Morning Worship - Sat 8:15 AM
- Bible Study - Sat 9:00 AM
- Worship Sharing - Sat 9:00 AM
- Evening Worship (After Talent Show) - Sat 8:45 PM
- Epistle Sharing and Meeting for Worship - Sun 3:00 PM
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Friends will gather to conduct the business of the Yearly Meeting across three sessions, with a possible fourth session the following week to attend to remaining items. Click here to review documents provided in advance related to the Business sessions.
Business-related Sessions
- LEYM Volunteer Hosts Orientation - Mon 3:00 PM
- LEYM Executive Committee Meeting - Wed 3:00 PM
- Business Session 1 - Thu 11:00 AM
- Business Session 2 - Fri 11:00 AM
- Committee Meetings & Free Time - Sat 11:00 AM
- Business Session 3 - Sun 2:00 PM
- Business Session 4 (as needed) - Sat Aug 7 10:00 AM
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We'll gather for our shared opening session Wednesday night. On Friday evening, Paula Palmer will provide our keynote on the theme "From Truth to Healing with Native Peoples". The Saturday evening talent show is an annual fan favorite. Sign up during registration if you have a talent to share.
Large Group Gatherings
- Opening Welcome & Orientation - Wed 7:00 PM
- Paula Palmer - From Truth to Healing with Native Peoples - Fri 7:00 PM (see Keynote Resources Handout)
- Family-Friendly Talent Show - Sat 7:00 PM
Friends Gathering
Cultivating Many Roots
"Too many times we pray for ease, but that's a prayer seldom met. What we need to do is pray for ROOTS that reach deep into the Eternal, so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we won't be swept asunder." -- Philip J. Gulley
Annual Sessions Calendar of Events
TIPS: Use the controls along the left top to select different days, and the controls on the right top to change views. Scroll up and down through the day's time slots by dragging or using the scrollbar on the right side. Click on the title of an individual session to see additional details. Use the "view larger version" link along the bottom right to go to an expanded calendar view.
Note: you can subscribe to the official LEYM events calendar, which includes all the annual sessions events, using this iCal link.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What is LEYM? +
Lake Erie Yearly Meeting (LEYM) began in 1939 as an association of Friends (aka Quaker) meetings in Ohio, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It is currently made up of 20 local congregations, called monthly meetings. There are also a number of informal worship groups within LEYM. It is affiliated with Friends General Conference (FGC), a Quaker service organization for unprogrammed Friends in the U.S. LEYM publishes a regular newsletter known as the LEYM Bulletin.
Who put together this program? +
This year's annual sessions were planned by the Adult & Family Program Committee comprised of Susan Hartman, Steve Morehouse, Greg Mott, Aran Reinhart and Thomas Taylor (clerk). Technical and website design support was provided by Bill Warters, LEYM's webworker. Additional Zoom hosting assistance is coming from the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting and Communications Coordinator Rabindar Subbian; Peggy Daub for hosting Worship; and Sally Weaver Sommer for hosting our Bible Study sessions.
How can I get involved with the Talent Show? +
Sign up for the LEYM virtual talent show when you register for Annual Meeting. You can pre-record your piece and send it to Kate Enger at psychdrkate@gmail.com. This allows for a wider range of talents, like gymnastics on the backyard apparatus, agility duos with your dog, a short clip of your rock- climbing expertise, a 360° view of the sculpture you created, a brief slide show of all the birds attracted to your feeder, or a quick tour of your garden. Please keep in mind that a talent doesn’t have to be a song or story; it could be turning a somersault, shooting a perfect basket, blowing an enormous bubble, showing that you can slide into the splits, or a photo of the table you restored, sweater you knitted, or a unique pie crust. Thanks to our virtual format, we can weave together brief, lovely submissions. Please send Kate your submissions by Sunday, July 18. If you prefer to perform live, please send a description of your piece to psychdrkate@gmail.com by July 30. Please note: All performances must be under 4 minutes in length, and must be child- friendly.
We're meeting online. What do I need to do to join in? +
We'll be meeting online primarily using the Zoom Platform. Registrants will receive specific session connection information via email.
- Check out these helpful Zoom Tips (PDF) for new users.
- Learn More about Zoom via the Zoom Quick Start Guide.
- You can Test Your Zoom Connection via Zoom's Test Meeting
Does the Gathering Cost Anything? How Can I Make a Donation? +
There is no fee for traditional expenses such as food or housing for this year's online event. However, we do have expenses related to hosting the virtual event. Contributions are welcome to help offset these costs. If so moved, send a check made out to LEYM to: Tom Kangas, 3641 Weston Place, Columbus, OH 43214
Where can I get more info on the Business Sessions? +
The agenda (when finalized) and various documents that will be discussed during the annual meeting Business Sessions can be found at the 2021 Annual Business page.
Where can I get more information? +
You can reach out to the Lake Erie Yearly Meeting worker at leymworker@gmail.com. Technical support information for specific workshops and sessions will be provided to registered participants via email. Information for contacting LEYM Committee clerks is available on the LEYM website here: https://leym.org/contact-information/
What should I do if I'm feeling uncomfortable about someone's behavior? +
Harassment Discernment Committee - If a Friend feels she or he has been poorly or unfairly treated during our YM sessions because of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, or any other factor, he or she can reach out to this committee. Friends who witness harassment are also encouraged to reach out. Of course, if it is safe to do so, Friends are encouraged to seek direct, positive solutions first. The complete LEYM harassment discernment policy with contact information is available at leym.org.
What is Worship-sharing? +
Worship sharing sessions focus on a particular question and help us to explore our own experience and share with each other more deeply than we would in normal conversation. A topic or query is raised and then Friends "speak out of the silence" as moved. In most cases, a person won't speak twice until everyone has had a chance to speak once. Typically, a brief period of silence is held between individual sharings. A designated facilitator will introduce the topic and coordinate the sharing process. Here's a link to a PDF of the Queries that will be Explored at the 2021 Gathering.
Is there a program for children and youth? +
This year we have no formalized events scheduled for young people. The Talent Show on Saturday evening is fun and family friendly and young Friends are welcomed. Families interested in perhaps coordinating some online youth activity during the Annual Sessions might want to contact the LEYM Youth and Children's Program Clerk Christa White at christawhite1016@gmail.com
LEYM 2021
