Fall Bulletin Now Available

30 August 2024
Categories: Bulletin, News

Thanks to the work of Bulletin Editor Christopher Farrand and our various contributors, a new issue of the LEYM Bulletin is now available online. As always, the current and back issues of the bulletin are available via the leym.org/leym-bulletins page. Hard copies of the issue have been put in the mail and should arrive soon to Monthly Meetings.

The issue features a welcome from our new Clerk Joe Mills, epistles from LEYM as well as one from the FWCC World Plenary just held in Johannesburg, South Africa, as well as highlights from our June Yearly Meeting, the LEYM Financial Report, news from various Monthly Meetings, a report from the revived Peace and Justice Committee and news of upcoming events.

Mystical Experience & Quakerism Weekend Retreat set for September 6-8

12 July 2024
Categories: Events and Opportunities, News

Connect with the LEYM Spiritual Formation Program
Please join LEYM Friends for the start of our 9 month program where we explore and practice deepening our spiritual connections together through a Fall & Spring retreat and by participating in small spiritual groups throughout the 9 months of the program.

As the kickoff of the 2024-2025 LEYM Spiritual Formation Program, friends are being invited to gather at the Weber Center in Adrian Michigan September 6-8, 2024 for a retreat exploring Mystical Experience and Quakerism with retreat leader Don McCormick.

Registration is Closed

Teaching and Learning Methods at the Retreat

There will be frequent sharing in small groups, as well as discussion in the group as a whole. Short video clips will also be shown. Most of the program will be interactive—with discussion, people sharing their experiences, worship sharing, and worship.

In the Workshop

Participants will learn about mystical experience and Quakerism. They will have the opportunity to share their experiences and discuss questions they have. The workshop emphasizes perspectives on mysticism from contemporary Quakerism and psychology.

Some Concepts that Will Be Clarified

  • The difference between mystical experience, mystics, and mysticism
  • The main types of mystical experience
  • Nature mysticism
  • Group mysticism
  • Triggers of mystical experiences
  • Current research on mystical experience.

Questions That Will Be Addressed

The questions that you bring to the workshop will be addressed. The following questions will also be addressed:

  • Are all mystical experiences focused on God or the Spirit?
  • Are Quakers mystics?
  • Is Quakerism a mystical religion?
  • How do Quakers judge mystical experiences?

Issues in Mystical Experience

  • Do mystical experiences change people’s lives?
  • Are there racial or gender issues in mystical experience?
  • Do mystical experiences lead to ethical behavior or a greater concern for social justice?

A Vision of the Future
At the end of the workshop, we will work together to create a vision of the future of mystical experience in Quakerism, including what we want to keep seeing in the future and what would we want to see changed.

About the Retreat Facilitator

Don McCormick is a member of Grass Valley Friends Meeting in California. He was a professor for thirty years and taught (among other things) psychology of religion. His interests include Quakerism & mystical experience, mindfulness and Quakerism, religious diversity in the workplace, expressing Quaker spirituality in our work lives, and Quaker spiritual autobiography. He leads workshops on these topics. He regularly writes for Friends Journal, and his article “The Mystical Experience: Reclaiming a Neglected Quaker Tradition” was the second most-read Friends Journal article of 2021. He can be reached at donmccormick2@gmail.com.

Get the Retreat Brochure Here.

AVP Workshops Offered in Ann Arbor this August

9 July 2024
Categories: Action, News, Peace and Justice

A message from the Peace and Justice Committee of Ann Arbor Friends Meeting

Dear Friends,
YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO ATTEND ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE (AVP) TRAININGS in Ann Arbor!

Two Alternatives to Violence Project training sessions, one Basic (Aug 9-11) and one Advanced (Aug 16-19) have been scheduled, co-hosted by the Justice Action Group, and the Peace and Justice committee of Ann Arbor Friends Meeting, and ICPJ, with AVP Michigan and Jaye Starr of the muslim community.

See these links for information on AVP and registration information: Alternatives to Violence Project USA (avpusa.org) and AVP Michigan (avpmichigan.org).

The Justice Action Group feels these workshops speak to many of the questions surrounding the value and creation of community-based safety — a focus that grows from our engagement with the development of an alternative to police response here in Ann Arbor.

Both workshops will be held in the fellowship room of Ann Arbor Friends’ meetinghouse. See below for details and registration.

Basic Workshop August 9 – 11
This Alternatives to Violence Project basic workshop will be held by the Peace & Justice Committee and Justice Action Group of the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting in partnership with AVP Michigan at the Friends Meeting House (1420 Hill St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104) August 9-11. Facilitation will be provided by Jaye Starr & Maryam Ashraf.

  • Friday August 9: 9am – 6pm
  • Saturday August 10: 9am – 6pm
  • Sunday August 11: 2pm – 6pm followed by light dinner together

Participants should bring a water bottle, lunch, a journal and pen and dress in comfortable clothing. Snacks, coffee, and tea will be provided. The planning group will have some child care, and will be running this series only in English. They can help arrange hosts for those who would like to come from out of town.

Basic Workshop Registration Link and More Information: Register Here

Advanced Workshop August 16 – 19 (same hours as Basic training)
For advanced registration contact Jaye Starr below.

Everyone is welcome to the basic workshop, even if you’ve done it before. The advanced workshop is only open to those who have done a basic at some point, though it doesn’t have to be the Aug 9-11 one. The advanced builds on the basic really beautifully scaling up to think on a larger scale about how we build a culture of justice-based peace in the world.

You are welcome to invite others to join as well, and if you have any questions, please contact Cassie Cammann (cassie.cammann@gmail.com) or Jaye Starr (jaye.starr.boz@gmail.com).

PS. Both trainings will limit attendance to 20 people, in person.

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27 June 2024

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Fox Journal First Edition displayed at LEYM Annual Meeting

25 June 2024
Categories: Annual Sessions, News

Friends enjoyed a wide range of opportunities at this year’s Lake Erie Yearly Meeting Annual Meeting. One particularly remarkable event, however, was the chance to view a First Edition of George Fox’s Journal, published way back in 1694. Our Bulletin Editor Christopher Farrand made arrangements with Cleveland Monthly Meeting, owners of the journal, to display this rare document as part of our George Fox 400th birthday celebration. The display he created provided some interesting examples of how later editions of the journal edited out sections found in the original version. Thank you Christopher!

Cover page of 1694 Edition
Fox Journal on Display
Christopher Farrand created an informative display
Friends admire this historical document

Quakerism 101 Series Evaluation Request

4 June 2024
Categories: Committees, Interest Groups, Monthly Mtgs, News

Hello Friends:
In May, the LEYM Quakerism 101 series, coordinated by the Advancement & Outreach Committee, finished up its year-long program which ran from Oct 2023-May 2024.  We would like to express our gratitude for all who were able to participate in the program and to extend our appreciation to the Monthly Meetings who facilitated sessions and generated specific topics for our exploration.

As our committee begins to discern our priorities for the upcoming year, we would find it valuable to have your feedback and evaluation for the Quakerism 101 series this year. We want to hear from you whether you were able to attend one, none, or all of the sessions.

Please help us by filling out the Evaluation Form in Google Docs. The form is available at https://forms.gle/6KrYJXFmFRE6unsZ9

On Behalf of the LEYM Advancement & Outreach Committee

Clerk, Joe Mills (Kalamazoo)
Susan Hartman (Ann Arbor)
Barbara LeSage (N. Columbus)
Stephanie Charlot (Red Cedar)
Mary Igoe Meyers (Broadmead)

LEYM Seeks Database Manager

10 May 2024
Categories: Job Openings, News

Lake Erie Yearly Meeting is seeking a part-time database manager, with an immediate opening. The pay is $26/hour.  The job description is below.

The database manager is named by the Nominating Committee to serve a three-year term,  renewable indefinitely, usually one year at a time. The database manager works under the oversight of the Publications & Archives Committee, but is not necessarily a member of that committee. Below is a summary of the tasks – more specific details can be found in Policies and Procedures.

  • Maintains and updates the LEYM database in Salesforce. (A working
  • knowledge of Salesforce is strongly desired.)
  • Provides current contact information for LEYM Friends to LEYM officers and committee clerks, as needed.
  • Provides a directory for the Annual Records from Annual Meeting reports, monthly meetings, and worship groups.
  • Provides to Friends General Conference a list of addresses for members and active attenders annually, on request.
  • Prepares annual statistical report forms to be completed by quarterly, monthly, and preparative meetings and worship groups. The database manager updates the database with the new information and provides current information for the “Find a Meeting” section on LEYM’s website.

Interested? Please communicate with Susan Loucks, leymclerk@gmail.com

GPQM Spring Gathering set for May 18th

4 May 2024
Categories: Events and Opportunities, GPQM, News

SPRING GATHERING OF GREEN PASTURES QUARTERLY MEETING SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024

Friends in Michigan will gather for the Spring meeting of Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting on Saturday, May 18, at Michigan Friends Center (7748 Clarks Lake Rd, Chelsea 48118).
We’ll start with Business Meeting at 11 am, followed by lunch (bring your own bag lunch), and Meeting for Worship. Then, everyone is invited to an afternoon program sponsored by Michigan Friends Center — Botanical Treasures of Friends Lake with Amanda Klain.

During GPQM’s Meeting for Business, nominees for next year’s positions of service to the Quarterly Meeting will be presented for consideration. Please see below for a Zoom link, the schedule, and a fuller description of the afternoon activities. Minutes from September’s business meeting of GPQM can be found here.

GPQM SCHEDULE, Saturday, 5/18/2024, Michigan Friends Center (Chelsea, MI)

  • 11:00 am GPQM Business Meeting
  • 12:15-1:00 Lunch (Bring your own bag lunch; hot/cold drinks and bagels provided)
  • 1:00-1:45 pm Meeting for Worship
  • 2:00 pm Program: “Botanical Treasures of Friends Lake”

ZOOM CONNECTION
Topic: Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting
https://umich.zoom.us/j/7346151800?omn=94728017984
Meeting ID: 734 615 1800

AFTERNOON PROGRAM
Botanical Treasures of Friends Lake with Amanda Klain
2:00-4:00 Saturday, May 18
Spirituality – Wilderness Awareness

Join us for a slide presentation showcasing the diversity of plants and natural communities found at Friends Lake Cooperative Community followed by a plant walk where we can make our own discoveries. The focus will be on the native plant species found in the woodlands and wetlands of the property.

Amanda says: “What began in 1995 as a piqued interest in herbs, has developed into a passionate lifetime dedication to all plants, in a diversity of ways, with a particular focus on preserving native species. I have been working professionally with the Michigan flora since 2006, with extensive knowledge in plant identification, native plant propagation, seed collecting, botanical surveying, herbarium work and more.”

Questions: Kevin Miller, Clerk (kevinfmiller(at)gmail.com)

Get information flyer for this event here.

AFSC Quaker Engagement Tour Comes to Michigan

1 May 2024
Categories: Events and Opportunities, Monthly Mtgs, News

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) hired a new director for Quaker Engagement a year ago, and he (Brian Blackmore) has undertaken a Monthly Meeting visitation tour. This month that tour travels through Michigan.

LEYM Friends are invited to join AFSC presentations that are being hosted by Red Cedar Friends Meeting (May 4th) and Ann Arbor Friends Meeting (May 5th). Brian Blackmore, AFSC’s Quaker Engagement Director, will provide an overview of AFSC’s work to build peace around the globe, and share opportunities for Friends to engage with our work and programs.

As the Director of Quaker Engagement, Brian’s work concentrates on leading AFSC’s efforts to build nurturing, trusting, and engaged relationships with Quaker faith communities, schools, and organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Friends from LEYM who are feeling led are welcome to join in learning and connecting at either of the below events. Please feel free to share this invitation with members of your Meeting and community.

May 4: Red Cedar Friends Meeting
10 a.m. ET
1400 Turner Rd, Lansing, MI 48906
Hybrid: Join on Zoom
https://afsc-org.zoom.us/j/3400744372?pwd=S0xwK1kxWmJDYXp0eWVmR2lnRDNKUT09

May 5: Ann Arbor Friends Meeting
12:45 p.m. ET
1420 Hill St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Hybrid: Join on Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81870214329

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