A new page has been created on the LEYM website, under the Annual Meeting Information area. Here you'll find our 2008 Epistle and links to the various Epistles that were read during the Annual Meeting.
See leym.quaker.org/epistles.html

Friends may be interested in some of the upcoming events at Pendle Hill.

September 5–7, 2008
Faithful, Effective Work for Peace and Justice
Pendle Hill's Fourth Annual Retreat for Clerks and Members of Peace and Social Concerns Committees
Speakers include Mary Lord, Kathy Guthrie, Clinton Pettus, Scilla Wahrhaftig, Joan Broadfield and Kristina Keefe-Perry
Refresh your spirit for a renewed commitment to a world free from want and war.  Learn from each other and representatives of Quaker organizations that daily seek peace, justice, and sustainability.  Share ideas, information, and strategies for a year of faithful – and effective – work for peace and justice.  Presented by representatives from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Quaker Earthcare Witness, Quaker Initiative to End Torture (QUIT), Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and Pendle Hill.
Register online or via phone at (800) 742-3150, ext. 3 (US only) or (610) 566-4507, ext. 3 (worldwide).

October 10-12, 2008
Youth Workers Training Retreat
a weekend workshop at Pendle Hill with Kri Burkander and Lisa Graustein
This fast-paced, fully experiential workshop is a chance for new and current youth workers to build their skills and expand their repertoire of games, activities, and responses to common youth issues. Each session will combine activities to take back home along with the underlying theory and pedagogy behind their effectiveness. We will explore explicitly issues of community building, child safety, working with challenging youth, group dynamics, and program development through games, activities, worship, and discussion. Whether you staff a Yearly Meeting program or work with your monthly meeting youth, this retreat will give you the tools, theory, and skills needed to run a safe, dynamic, and Spirit-nurturing youth program.
Register online or via phone at (800) 742-3150, ext. 3 (US only) or (610) 566-4507, ext. 3 (worldwide).


October 31–November 2, 2008
Inquirers' Weekend: An Introduction To Quakerism
a weekend workshop at Pendle Hill with Helen Garay Toppins and Thomas Swain
Ready to take a closer look at Quakerism? Join fellow seekers for a deeper grounding in the basics of Quaker faith and practice and how they connect to your spiritual journey. In the relaxed atmosphere of Pendle Hill, there will be opportunities for worship, discussion, sharing, and questions. We welcome all – new members, long-time Friends seeking a fresh start, and anyone interested in an introduction to Quakerism.
Register online or via phone at (800) 742-3150, ext. 3 (US only) or (610) 566-4507, ext. 3 (worldwide).


November 14–16, 2008
Clerking: Serving the Community with Joy and Confidence
a weekend workshop at Pendle Hill with Arthur Larrabee
In this popular workshop, consider: how to develop a philosophy of clerking, techniques of good clerking, the fundamentals of a Quaker meeting for business, how to make meetings for business more truly meetings for worship, what a "sense of the meeting" is and where to look for it, distinguishing political and spiritual statements, and ways to deal with humanly difficult questions, issues, and decisions.
Register online or via phone at (800) 742-3150, ext. 3 (US only) or (610) 566-4507, ext. 3 (worldwide).
 
December 5–7, 2008
Claiming Our Peace Testimony
a weekend workshop at Pendle Hill with Mary Lord
Investigate the spiritual roots of Quaker peacemaking, share personal peace journeys, and explore the rich heritage of Quaker experiments and experience as peacemakers.  What does the peace testimony mean for us today – for our personal lives, our meetings, and the wider world?  Is it practical?  Have we made a difference?
Register online or via phone at (800) 742-3150, ext. 3 (US only) or (610) 566-4507, ext. 3 (worldwide).

For more information on Pendle Hill and the other programs offered, visit the website at www.pendlehill.org or call (800) 742-3150, ext. 3 (US only) or (610) 566-4507, ext. 3 (worldwide).

Friends in the West Virginia area gather for a weekend retreat each fall. Monongalia and Mid-Ohio Valley Monthly Meetings of LEYM and Charleston Friends Meeting of Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting & Association (SAYMA) invite any and all Friends to join them this fall on Saturday, September 20 - Sunday, September 21, 2008, at Jackson's Mill, near Jane Lew, WV. To receive the registration flyer when it becomes available, please contact Christine Garbutt at monquakers@mac.com or (304) 292-1261.

The GPQM Summer gathering will be held Sunday, August 3, 2008 at Quaker Park in Battle Creek, beginning with a meeting for worship at 11:00 followed by a picnic. All are welcome.

Position Opening

Santa Fe Friends' Meeting is seeking Resident Friend(s) to live in garden cottage in historic Canyon Road district and join in Meeting fellowship. Free rooms and utilities in exchange for about 15 hours per week scheduling use of guest apartment and care of Meetinghouse. Starting date to be determined, but no later than September 1, 2008. One-year term with option to renew by mutual agreement after six months. Letters of interest and resumes to: sfresident@desertgate.com. For current information about the possible opening, the Meeting, and Resident's duties: http://santa-fe.quaker.org.

Friends Fiduciary Corporation (FFC) and Friends Rehabilitation Program (FRP), Quaker nonprofit organizations based in Philadelphia, are each seeking a recent college graduate for a 12-month paid internship. 
 
FFC provides socially responsible investment management services to Quaker meetings, schools, retirement communities and other Quaker organizations.  Responsibilities will include supporting work in the areas of shareholder advocacy, proxy voting policies and collaboration with other like-minded institutional investors.
 
FRP owns, manages and develops low income and affordable housing for nearly 1,000 households for seniors, the transitionally homeless, and persons with HIV/AIDS.  FRP is seeking an intern to work with its Director of Social Services and to assist in the preparations of grant proposals to other organizations.
 
Both internships will begin in the summer 2008.  These new positions have, in part, been created to mentor leadership among young Friends.  Deadline to apply is May 23, 2008.  For additonal information on qualifications and to apply, contact:
 
For Friends Fiduciary, Melissa Stoner melissa@friendsfiduciary.org
 
For Friends Rehabilitation Program, Andrew Anderson aanderson@frpinc.org

Save the date for an FWCC gathering September 26-28 at Crieff Hills Community in Ontario, Canada.  "Being a Peace Church in the 21st Century - Old Testimonies: New Times" is the theme which will be guided by Janet Ross, Jane Orion Smith and Murray Thomson.  All Friends are welcome to attend regardless of where you live.  For more information, check the FWCC website soon or contact John Courtneidge john@courtneidgeassociates.com or Virginia Dawson giniadws@sympatico.ca for information and a registration form.  Registration materials will be available on the FWCC website soon.  This event is being coordinated by Friends in the Lower Great Lakes region of FWCC.

"Living as Friends, Listening Within" is the theme for this gathering for Friends ages 18-34, planned for Memorial Day weekend May 23-36 at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana.  The conference is being planned by young adult Friends representing the diversity of Friends' meetings in the US and Canada.  For more information and to register online, visit their website

Some monthly meeting responses to the 2007 theme of "Simplicity" are now available for viewing on the LEYM website. They are linked to the Ministry and Nurture page.

April is here and soon it will be time to gather together for Family Camp.  There is one change this year.  After our experience last year with unruly neighbors at the campground, Chuck and I researched and visited many campgrounds, looking for an alternative site that met all of our requirements.  Well nothing really "fit the bill".  At the same time, in response to my letter of concerns, I received a very nice letter of apology from the Mecosta County Parks Management.  So, I think we came up with a creative solution.  We will return to Paris, but rather than each family reserving an individual site, we will reserve the group camping area.  I have attached a document with photos.  As there is not individual water and electric, we will also reserve individual sites for the "camp kitchen" and anyone that has an RV.

Please pass the reservation form on amongst the other Meetings. Thanks so much!
Cathi Deyo

PS Last summer some Quaker gals and I had a Girls Camp Out.  I think we would like to do that again - so ladies check your summer calendars and let's make a plan!

Thanks to the continued thoughtful labors of Editor Jeff Cooper and various contributing writers, the Spring 2008 Bulletin is complete. It has been posted to the website. A version containing the Annual Meeting Registration Forms is also available, and the forms can be downloaded separately as well. Find them all at our Bulletins page.

March 15, 2008
Dear Friends of Lake Erie Yearly Meeting:
At Representative Meeting on March 1, the Yearly Meeting decided to try to find out if the time and/or location of the Yearly Meeting should be changed. There are some perceived conflicts with school schedules, as well as other factors, which may be affecting Yearly Meeting attendance. We are hoping that a survey of LEYM households on these issues will help us discern way forward.

To make the survey quick and easy, we are offering it online. Most of the questions are quickly answered by clicking a box, and some are open-ended questions in which you can type in your ideas. It will take you anywhere from under five minutes to about 15 minutes to complete it, depending on the length of your typed answers and your comfort with computers.

Only one representative of each household needs to answer the survey. Please answer the survey, even if no one from your household has ever attended Yearly Meeting. The person responding should be a member or attender of a Monthly Meeting or Worship Group within LEYM. In households where more than one person is a member or attender, then the person who is most involved in the Yearly and/or Monthly Meeting should be the one to respond. If two or more people are equally involved, they can choose who will respond.

Please note that this is an anonymous survey. You will not be asked for any identifying information other than Monthly Meeting affiliation.

Starting in the first week of April 2008, the web link to the survey can be found on the home page of LEYM at http://leym.quaker.org. You can also go directly there via this link.

We greatly appreciate your assistance in helping us understand your opinions about the Yearly Meeting. Thank you, Friends!

In the Light,

Merry Stanford
Assistant Clerk

Job Opening at Friends General Conference:  FGC is seeking candidates for a 60% time staff position as Administrative Associate.  This position includes significant responsibilities for the general administration of FGC and involves close work with the General Secretary, support for the clerks of several administrative committees, coordination of all logistical arrangements for meetings of the Central Committee, Executive Committee, and some administrative committees, collecting information and maintaining various lists, and more.  Starting salary between $18,000 and $21,000 per year (for 60% time), plus full benefits (health, disability and life insurance, pension plan, 14 vacation days/year).  To apply, send letter of application and resume by April 4, 2008, to SEARCH, Friends General Conference, 1216 Arch Street 2-B, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, or e-mail to EllenH@fgcquaker.org.

Submitted by
Ellen Helmuth
Friends General Conference
Administrative & Traveling Ministries Associate
1216 Arch St 2-B
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel: 215-561-1700 x3008
E-mail:  ellenh@fgcquaker.org

The LEYM Winter 2008 Bulletin has been posted. It is available on the LEYM site in the News area, or directly via this link.

The 6th Annual QUAKE THAT ROCKED THE MIDWEST is coming up January 18-21 of 2008 in Evanston, Illinois. Young Friends from Northern, Illinois, Ohio Valley and Lake Erie Yearly Meetings will be attending. Registration deadline is December 15, 2007, cost is only $40 per person. Check out this flyer and registration materials for more information.

The Fall 2007 Bulletin, containing highlights of the minutes from this year's Annual Meeting, is now available on the LEYM website. It can also be accessed via this direct link.

Lake Erie Yearly Meeting invites you to name up to two representatives of your Meeting's or Worship Group's Ministry and Nurture (or otherwise named) Committee to attend a consultation. This consultation is being designed, based on responses to the survey (available on the M and N webpage) to assist participants in nurturing the spiritual life of the Meeting.

The consultation will begin at 7 P.M. on Friday, November 16, and end at 1 P.M. on Sunday, November 18, following the noon meal. We will gather at the Weber Center, a retreat center of the Adrian Dominican Sisters, in Adrian, Michigan. Information about the Weber Center, and directions, can be found on their website at www.webercenter.org.

Our weekend program will be led by Mary Ann Downey, of Southern Appalachia Yearly Meeting and Association, Atlanta Meeting. Mary Ann will lead us in a program that will allow the participants to learn, hear and discuss each other's joys, questions and challenges in being faithful spiritual nurturers.

More information is available at
http://www.quaker.org/leym/mncommittee.html

Greetings Everyone!
Here is the info for our Fall Paddle In Hell (Michigan). It is a little earlier this year, so maybe the weather in Hell won't be so 'frightful'

Where: Starting at the Hell dam (yes, really
Date: Saturday, 9/29
Time: Beginning @ 10:30 am
Duration: Paddling the full chain and back took 3 hrs plus stopping for lunch, followed by ice cream at Screams .
Cost: $37 per vessel (includes up to 3 people per canoe or one per kayak)


Please contact me ASAP to reserve; catherine.deyo@gmail.com
I hope you can come!
Be Well,
Cathi Deyo

New forms for submitting 2007 annual statistics on Monthly, Preparative or Quarterly Meetings as well as Worship Groups are now available on the Policy and Procedures Manual page. These are available in either word or rtf formats.

The Quaker House Residential Community associated with Ann Arbor Friends Meeting seeks applications for a new resident, starting immediately. This socially diverse community lives in a beautiful six-bedroom house adjoining the Meetinghouse. Residents share meal costs, weekly cooking and cleaning responsibilities (4-6 hours), and regular attendance at house and community meetings; a monthly financial contribution is also expected. An application form is available on the Ann Arbor Meeting web site: www.annarborfriends.org. Interested Friends can also phone the Resident Hosts, Yes (846-6545) and Terri (418-8632), or email qhrc_apply@umich.edu.

The Executive Committee of LEYM is planning a Fall Meeting to be held October 6, 2007. The location is Kendal at Oberlin, Ohio. Connie Bimber, Treasurer, is handling site arrangements and reservations. She has even put aside two guest rooms, each accommodating two persons, at Kendal for Friday night for those who may need to travel a distance.

There may be other nearby Friends available for hospitality if needed. Suggestions for agenda items or other ideas are welcomed by Shirley Bechill, LEYM Presiding Clerk.

September 7-9, 2007, Pendle Hill offers a weekend workshop, "Faithful, Effective Work for Peace and Justice," which will include presentations by staff from the American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, the Quaker Initiative to End Torture, and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, including Mary Lord, Jim Cason, Scilla Wahrhaftig, Joan Broadfield, Jennifer Bing-Canar, Peter Lems, and Oskar Castro. Those gathered will share ideas, information, and strategies for a year of faithful - and effective - work for peace and justice.
For more information, call Pendle Hill at ext. 3, 610-566-4507 or 800-742-3150 or email registrar@pendlehill.org or visit the website, www.pendlehill.org.
Use this link for more details on this program.

Advancement and Outreach is now providing a template for creating business cards summarizing some key Quaker beliefs. You can get the ready-made template at the A and O Committee page (see bottom of page). Put your own information on the other side. The preset text goes as follows:

What Do Quakers Say?
There is something sacred in all people.
All people are equal before God.
Religion is about the whole of life.
We meet in stillness to discover a deeper sense of God’s presence.
True religion leads to respect for the earth and all life upon it.
Each person is unique, precious, a child of God.

Two LEYM Spiritual Formation Retreats have been scheduled in Michigan at the Leaven Center September 7-9, 2007 and May 2-4, 2008 with Kristina Perry and Callid Keefe. A registration form for these 2007-2008 events is available for download here. More information on the Spiritual Formation Program is available on the LEYM website.

Monthly Meeting Statistics Form
LEYM Monthly Meetings are annually asked to update the statistics recorded about their Meeting for Worship. The standardized form to submit this information is now available as a Microsoft Word Document (.doc) for MS Word users, and as a Rich Text Format (.rtf) format file for people using other word processing programs. The files are available in the Policy/Procedures Manual section of the Leym.quaker.org website. You can also use the links below to download a copy.

Meeting Statistics Form (.doc version)
Meeting Statistics Form (.rtf version)

There will be a work day at Friends School in Detroit on Saturday, May 12th from 9 am to 12:00 noon. Work will include repairing and preparing garden beds for planting, spreading compost, painting a wall, spreading wood chips and repairing playground equipment. Please bring your garden tools, shovels, weeders, wheel barrows and rakes and paint brushes. All gardeners, handy people and their toolboxes are welcome.

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of GPQM at our Spring
Gathering, on Saturday, May 19, at Michigan Friends Center (near Chelsea).
In the morning session, Stephen Angell, professor of Quaker history at
Earlham School of Religion, will speak on "The Essentials of Quakerism".
Julie Breidenstein will again provide a delicious lunch. This gathering
offers a wonderful opportunity for worship with Friends throughout Michigan,
Quaker fellowship, and enjoying MFC's lovely rural setting in springtime.
The schedule follows:

9:00 Registration
9:30 Meeting for Worship
10:30 Talk by Stephen Angell
11:15 Discussion
Noon Lunch
1:15 Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

The Spring 2007 Bulletin and the 4-page insert that provides registration and consent forms for the LEYM Annual Meeting are now available on our webpage. See the Annual Meeting Info page to get it.

The timed schedule of events for the LEYM 2007 Annual meeting (June 14-17) is now available online as a a pdf. You can get it from the Annual Meeting Info page of the LEYM website (see the link to the Spring 2007 Bulletin)

The Winter 2007 LEYM Bulletin has been posted to the LEYM website (see LEYM Bulletins within the LEYM News section). The pdf file is available directly via
Winter 2007

Are you interested in spreading the word about your Quaker meeting? In helping newcomers to your meeting? In reaching out to and retaining young people?

There will be a weekend retreat for FGC Friends outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from March 30 to April 1 of 2007. Lake Erie Yearly Meeting has been asked to send two representatives. FGC will cover the cost for room, board, and registration, so your only cost would be transportation. The weekend is being organized by FGC's Advancement & Outreach Committee. To find out more, please contact Mathilda Navias, the clerk of LEYM's Advancement & Outreach Committee, at galaxy@woh.rr.com or (419) 448-0578.

You are invited to join us February 24-March 4th 2007 as we travel down to San Jose and Monteverde, Costa Rica, to explore our Quaker roots in this region and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Read More...

Please note that the Pittsburgh retreat for Young Friends scheduled for this coming weekend has been cancelled due to lack of registration.

The 5th Annual QUAKE THAT ROCKED THE MIDWEST is coming up January 12-15 of 2007 in Evanston, Illinois. Young Friends from Northern, Illinois, Ohio Valley and Lake Erie Yearly Meetings will be attending. Registration deadline is December 15, 2006, cost is only $40 per person. Check out this flyer and registration materials for more information.

The Fall 2006 issue of the Bulletin (Vol XLIV Issue 1) is now available online. As usual, the efforts of Editor Jeff Cooper are appreciated.

Young Quakes are cordially invited to the LEYM Young Friends' Fall 2006 Retreat Read More...

Take out your calendars and get ready for a celebration as Friends together on Saturday, November 4, 2006, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Read More...

The dates for this exciting high school age Friends event are October 6-9 2006, and the location is outside of Little Rock, AK. We're encouraging interested folks to discuss carpooling or getting flights together. It'd be great to have some LEYM folks there. Time is of the essence if you want to qualify for early registration discounts (apply by Sept. 9) or scholarship requests (submit request by Sept. 15). Read More...

A two-page collection of quotes from the 2006 Queries exploring Discernment have been posted to the Ministry and Nurture Committee page. They can be accessed directly via this link.

Here's a listing of upcoming events planned for Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting Friends. Read More...

FGC expects to fill four positions by the end of 2006. Find out more... Read More...

The LEYM Earthcare Committee now has a multi-page section on the Lake Erie Yearly Meeting website that provides much good information about living in harmony with our environment. To have a look, visit the homepage for the committee directly via http://leym.quaker.org/earthcare/ or click on the "LEYM Committees" menu item in the site's sidebar menu, and then click again on "Earthcare Home".

Nationally known musicians Madcat and Kane will play a benefit concert at Michigan Friends Center in Chelsea on July 22, 2006. Starting at 6pm, the festivities benefiting Michigan Friends Center will include delicious food from local organic producers to buy for supper and a silent auction of non-material gifts (see next paragraph for more details); concert follows. Chelsea musician and Friends Lake Community member Dale Osborn will open for Madcat and Kane. This is a chance to hear these wonderful musicians playing some terrific blues harmonica and guitar in the intimate setting of the Michigan Friends Center, surrounded by friends from many area groups. Reservations are important! Tickets will be $20 per person or 6 tickets for $100. Get a bunch and bring some friends! For tickets: Contact Nancy Paul at nsimmonspaul@yahoo.com or by phone at (734) 475-0425. For directions and more information about Michigan Friends Center in Chelsea, MI visit their website,
http://www.michiganfriendscenter.org .

We hope Friends and friends will come and have a wonderful time. The preconcert silent auction includes things that will bring people together...so we have, for instance, a water color painting lesson, a consultation from a gifted interior designer, a day sail with Steve Morehouse on his boat, a weekend at the Hoffer's cabin at Friends Lake, a gardening consultation, massage certificate, and we are maybe going to have the gift of a violin concert from an amazing young violinist, daughter of a member of Friends Lake... and more interesting items. It may well be sold out; these musicians have a real big set of fans in the area, so reservations are pretty critical...and we sure would prefer to see Friends there!

New content has been added to the "About Us" section of LEYM website thanks to the efforts of the Advancement and Outreach Committee. You can view the items (listed below) as individual PDF files or see them woven into the content of our section explaining LEYM and broader Quaker practices.

The New Items Include:
Brief on Quaker Worship (PDF)
Brief on How Quakers Conduct Business (PDF)
Brief on Quaker Beliefs in Action (PDF)

The dates have been set for the 2006-07 Spiritual Formation Program retreats to be held at the Leaven Center in Michigan. The dates are September 8-10, 2006 for the Fall retreat and May 4-6, 2007 for the Spring retreat, both with Phil Fitz and Beckey Phipps (NEYM). A registration form is available here, and the full Spiritual Formation Program brochure can be found here. A bit more information follows on the retreat process for those unfamiliar with it.
In the autumn, Friends and attenders from the various monthly meetings and worship groups throughout Lake Erie Yearly Meeting gather for the first of two retreats to begin their commitment to a year in supportive community.
During this retreat we reflect on our spiritual yearnings and discern personal spiritual practices that nourish, support, and further our intentions toward Spirit. Both in community and in solitude we listen faithfully to the Inner Light, and seek to support and encourage one another in this discernment process.
As part of the retreat program, each local group begins building its local meeting schedule, agrees on any local group expectations, and selects readings for the year.
The concluding retreat in the spring provides a worshipful opportunity to share insights, and to evaluate and enlarge on the program, as we have lived it out in our daily lives.

On the first Sunday in August (August 6th 2006) there will be a GPQM Meeting for Worship at 11:00 a.m. and a picnic beginning at noon. Check with Joe Mills (GPQM Treasurer) of Kalamazoo meeting if more information is needed.

A copy of the Travel Reimbursement Request or Donation In Kind form has been posted to the Finance Committee of the LEYM site if you need a copy. It can be downloaded here.

The LEYM 2006 Annual Meeting program is included in the just published Spring Bulletin. Use this link to get a copy of the Spring 2006 Bulletin with Registration Forms appended to the end. If you already have a copy of the Spring Bulletin, you can download just the Registration Forms.

The LEYM Youth are getting together at two events, one April 28-30 (Spring Retreat) in Okemos, Michigan and the other June 9-11 (Senior Send-off Celebration) at the Michigan Friends Center. A flier on the April event is available (see also the accompanying details and small print) as is a flier on the June event (with accompanying details and small print). Sign-up for the April event is due by April 10, so you'll want to act fast if you're interested in attending.

A "Request for Voucher" form is now available for use by LEYM members requesting a check for reimbursement of expenses. Find it in the Finance Committee page (under the LEYM Committees menu area).

The speaker in the morning session of the Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting at the Michigan Friends Center (near Chelsea) on May 20, 2006 will be Paul Buckley from Indianapolis, Indiana and the Earlham School of Religion. He will speak on: Quaker Simplicity in the 21st Century: Who Are We Trying to Impress?” The agenda is still being firmed up, but if we follow the pattern used last year, registration will be at 9:00 a.m. and Meeting for Worship at 9:15, Paul Buckley at 10:00 with discussion of the talk at 11:00 or so and lunch at noon, followed by the business meeting in the afternoon.

PAUL BUCKLEY is known among Friends for his work with various Quaker organizations and for his articles and workshops on the history, faith, and practice of the Religious Society of Friends. In 1998 he undertook a mid-life career change and earned a MA in Quaker Studies at the Earlham School of Religion. His books include: Twenty-First Century Penn: A Translation of Five of William Penn’s Theological Works into Modern English, Owning the Lord’s Prayer - A Meditation on That Prayer, and in 2006, The Quaker Bible Reader - A Collection of 13 Essays on How Friends Read Scripture from Across the Quaker Spectrum, which he coedited with Stephen Angell. Paul lives in Indianapolis with his beautiful wife, Peggy. He has three amazing adult children and one astounding granddaughter.

QUAKER SIMPLICITY in the 21st Century; Who Are We Trying to Impress?
Simplicity, as understood by modern Friends, grew out of the early Quaker practices of plainness and moderation. Those "peculiarities" served as a spiritual discipline, informing Friends’ relationships with the world, with each other, and with God. We will explore the evolution of the early Quaker testimony into today’s practices and contemporary ways in which simplicity shapes our lives as Friends.

Just posted to the Advancement and Outreach section of the LEYM site: Readings on Quakerism: Where to Start - A short article printed in the Winter 2006 Bulletin.

Each year the Ministry and Nurture Committee of Lake Erie Yearly Meeting recommends a set of queries to the Monthly Meetings for their reflection, and requests that a minute or statement from the Meeting be developed and sent back to the committee. These statements from the monthly meetings then become part of a summary statement to the Yearly Meeting. In 2005, 11 meetings responded to the following queries: "In what ways has the Living Presence awakened my faith and turned me around? As a Meeting how do we support each other in being faithful?" The newly posted document provides a summary of Monthly Meeting responses. Get it here and from the Ministry and Nurture Committee page (see LEYM Committees section of the website).

Suggested Guidelines for State of the Meeting Reports have been posted by LEYM's Committee on Ministry and Nurture. They are available here and from the Ministry and Nurture Committee page (see LEYM Committees section of the website).

Presenters: Julia Bandow, Lars Leichert; Don Smith
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (bring a sack lunch, beverages and snack provided)
Fee: $25 or $10-$25 as able
Coordinator: Peggy Daub

This workshop will examine the coexistence of spirituality and science and how they both affect our lives. Together we will explore the scientific method and share how science influences our spirituality. No formal scientific training is required.

Julia Bandow is a member of the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting and holds a Ph.D. in microbiology. She is a Principal Scientist at Phizer Global Research and Development.

Lars Leichert attends the Ann Arbor Meeting and is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan.

Don Smith is a Physics Professor at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina and until recently was part of the Ann Arbor Quaker House community.

A Michigan Friends Center workshop Sponsored by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Ann Arbor Meeting

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Presenters: Dr. William Thomson and Charlotte Whitney
Cost: $10-25 as able ; Bring a sack lunch. Beverages and snacks provided.
Coordinator: Carolyn Diem

This workshop will examine both the theory of nonviolence and the practical application of nonviolent methods in daily life, in both local and global contexts. The basis of nonviolence will be explored through the teachings of Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Gene Sharp, and others. We will look at historical situations in which nonviolence has worked to change politics and social culture. The workshop will have a hands-on focus, using several exercises, small group discussions, and role plays from interpersonal to global scales.

Dr William Thomson is a clinical psychologist and Professor Emeritus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. He has done extensive volunteer work in the Middle East, particularly in Israel-Palestine and Iraq.

Charlotte Whitney is an associate director of the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program at the University of Michigan. She is a nonviolence trainer with the Michigan Peace Team and has conducted training sessions in Israel.

Contact the program coordinator to register or for further information.
Carolyn Diem: (734) 761-9908; carolyndiem@gmail.com

Presenter: Peter Wood
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2006
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Continental breakfast and noontime meal provided)
Fee: $25 or as able; register early in order that the meal may be planned.
Coordinator: Don Nagler

Peter Wood is a psychoanalytic counselor in Lansing, Michigan and a member of Red Cedar Meeting in East Lansing. The workshop will focus on learning different modes of mindfulness from both Thich Nhat Hanh and Christian traditions: “watching the breath”, “walking meditation”, “mindful eating” (in silence); “lectio divina”, etc. –instruction, discussion, practice. A fine workshop for beginners, but people of all stages of practice are welcome. Wear loose comfortable clothing.
Call Phone number - (734) 475-1892 or go to http://www.michiganfriendscenter.org to register.

Presenter: Winkie Covintree
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Fee: $7.50 per person and $20 per family or as able. Light refreshments provided.
Coordinator: Laura Scott

This is an afternoon workshop that provides an opportunity for individuals and families to make art together using some of the natural resources of Friends Lake. Adults and children accompanied by adults are welcome.

Each project is suitable for all ages. The first project is the construction of paper mache bowls. Young children usually like making big bowls, and these bowls made by layering paper mache inside a “bowl mold” can be made using almost any size. Please bring bowl(s) to use as molds, if possible. They will not be permanently contaminated! Extra bowls will be available as well. The second project, nature printing, uses objects from nature to experiment with and could result in personalized designs and note paper. These natural objects might be brought from home or collected at Friends Lake on the day of the program.

Winkie Covintree has been teaching art at Friends School in Detroit for the last nine years. She also teaches calligraphy workshops and classes, mostly to adults. She enjoys teaching basic concepts and techniques and then encouraging students (of all ages) to go their own way with them.

For information about the program feel free to contact the program coordinator, Laura Scott at (734) 213-0273.

Representative Meeting, March 4, 2006
Registration, Overnights, and Directions
Pittsburgh Friends Meeting House
4836 Ellsworth Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412) 398-1195
ericstarbuck at att.net

Lunch will be offered for a contribution of $6 per person for those who have registered in advance. Child care will also be provided for those who notify us in advance.

Schedule for Saturday, March 4:
Registration and simple breakfast ....8:30 am
Meeting for Worship ........................9:00 am
Announcements ................................9:50 am
Committee Meetings ......................10:00 am
Lunch ........................................... 12:15 pm
Meeting for Business ...................... 1:15 pm
Adjournment ................................... 4:30 pm

Executive Committee
A meeting of the Executive Committee (YM officers and committee clerks) will be held at Pittsburgh Friends Meeting on Friday evening, March 3, starting with a simple supper at 6:00 pm, with meeting to commence at 7:00.