The year 2000 has witnessed a continuing growth in attendance at First Day Meetings for Worship. We have been blessed with new members and with many new attenders. Newcomers say that they are drawn by the quiet, reflective mood found in our Meeting for Worship. The presence of the Spirit is felt, as real as the sunlight that streams into the room through our ancient windows.

Meetings for Worship vary from week to week. We hear messages that emerge from spiritual leadings, theological or Biblical insights and social concerns. The balance of silent worship and vocal ministry seems right. As we grow in our spiritual life we sense a solid feel to the meeting.

Early in the year we again offered a course on Quakerism that was advertised to the public and brought seekers into our meeting. When the course was over, some members expressing an interest in deepening their search for individual spirituality, continued to gather before Meeting for Worship. By fall, the open-ended discussion had evolved into a group for worship sharing. We are deepening our understanding of each other's spiritual journeys. We are grateful for the ministry and leadership emerging from this group. We seek ways in which we can recognize and nurture these gifts that are so very important to the health of our community.

We were grateful for the opportunity to speak to the concern of same-gender marriages. The process of finding unity on that concern and subsequent approval of a minute brought us closer together.

Challenges come with growth. Sadly, we feel our facility is not conducive to young Friends and their activities. Without adequate or appropriate space in which to nurture and educate children in our Quaker faith and practices, we fear for the future of our meeting. We are exploring programs and ways to meet this important need of our community.

Our "simple feasts" after Meeting for Worship have contributed to our coming together as a community. The interest and generosity of many cooks have made it possible for all who attend our meeting to sit down to a bounty of food and "friendly" fellowship every First Day. Crowded as we are, we find room at the table for everyone; there is always room for more. These times of community have hastened the process of "knitting together our hearts."

Through the concern of two Friends and the approval of the Meeting, we are now affiliated with the York Area Inter-faith Alliance. We believe that Quakers have an important message to share with the world and this activity is a welcome forum. Friends at York have always been interested in and active in our Quarterly Meeting. We also feel the need to educate ourselves about and become more involved in the wider Quaker community. We thank those among us who labor in other parts of the vineyard.

Friends at York are grateful for blessings past that have opened the way to our present joys. We place our hopes for the future in the Light that gives the peace and love that brightens each of us, and the world. 

~(Approved at Meeting for Worship with a Concern to do Business; 3rd month, 4th day, 2001; Louise Heckert, clerk)~