York Monthly Meeting

 Some of us were concerned what would happen at York Monthly Meeting when a long-term member who shouldered many responsibilities left for another meeting where he took employment. This member contributed in so many ways that some of us wondered if enough people would step up to assume his self-imposed responsibilities to hold things together. We are happy to report that the Meeting rose to the occasion and is running smoothly, although it did require more energy and commitment from many people to make up for our loss.

Here at York we find ourselves all over the map in our backgrounds and beliefs. This is often a source of strength as we stretch each other and grow, but sometimes the differences are so great that we are pained by the stretching. This was most true for us in 2002 as we sought solutions to problems brought to our meeting by homeless persons and other local residents who associate with them on our property. Our meetings to address these issues occasionally broke down into angry exchanges, but the different positions became closer as we intentionally tended to our brokenness and worked together informally and in committee. The winter offered us time to cool our emotions as we sought to learn from meetings with similar problems, other churches, and local social agencies that serve the homeless. Specific issues have yet to be resolved, but we are moving forward with hope, knowing difficulties lie ahead.

Another area where we have a range of beliefs is around the Peace Testimony. We heard back from many monthly meetings regarding our request that meetings revisit the Peace Testimony and we prayerfully considered the responses that were received. York

Monthly Meeting sincerely thanks all that responded to our request. In our seeking the Light we found the ability for those with opposing views to listen well enough to each other to craft a minute that was printed in the newspaper imploring our government to find a peaceful way through the situation in Iraq.

It can be said that we deeply care about our spiritual selves and feel joined in spirit and love. Our weekly pot luck meal helps to strengthen our community and we continue to value this time together as we get to know more about each other than ever before. In meeting we are generally able to appreciate and respond to the diversity of messages reflecting our various religious traditions and individual spirituality.

Our weekly Adult Discussion Group as well as the Spiritual Formation Group feed the spiritual life of the participants and by extension the meeting at large. The committees that were born last year are contributing to the Meeting in numerous ways. We also celebrate a new children's first day program recently launched with much enthusiasm and support. It is nice to have more young people at meeting and we hope to have more in the months and years ahead.

The meeting is growing, judging by an increasing number of attenders at meeting for worship, although this growth is yet to be reflected in membership. The subject of membership in the Society of Friends rather than indefinite active attendance is a continuing concern for some and will be considered in the year ahead.

In addition, a library committee was formed, and work to make space and order in our small meetinghouse is noticeably underway.

Approved on this First Day, 4th month 6th day 2003 at Meeting For Business.

In Faith,

Edward Norton

Clerk