Dear Friends,
The Young Friends In Residence youth program is under way and building steam! In the few retreats that we've had, we've begun to build a vibrant, nurturing community of truly exceptional youth. We've participated in deep discussions, cooperated in group exercises, played in the snow, and displayed some impressive skills at cabaret. We'd like to take a moment to thank all of the people who have helped this community to grow. We have had a number of amazing adults share their talent, energy, and spirit: Donna Beckwith acted as a co-facilitator at our first retreat; and Alexander Haines, Alex Kramer, Ginny Haines, Rick Townsend, and Shirley Way have all joined us as Adult Presences. We have had a beatific Butler to help Anna keep the kitchen running smoothly: Amy Willauer-Obermayer. Some terrific teens have joined us and shared their light, experience, and passion with the group as Junior Counselors: Gabe Obermayer, Kayla Clark, and Risa Pomerselig. Of course, a great thanks is due Perry City Monthly Meeting for the use of the meeting house and the support of our little program. Most importantly, we want to thank our awesome attenders, who have opened up to one another, have shared their youthful vigor, imagination, and insight, and who have generally made it a joy to be part of this budding community.
We're off to a strong start, but we could use more help and we'd love to get more of you involved. If you're aged 11-14, we'd love to have you at one of our upcoming retreats. If you're aged 14-18, we'd love to have you join us a Junior Counselor, or as an attender at one of our high school retreats. Older than that? Have no fear, there's plenty you can do as part of our community! You can join us as an Adult Presence and take part in our sessions, or you can help keep us happy and well-fed as a Butler.
You can support us in other ways as well. Spread the word about our program to people who haven't heard of us, within the Society of Friends and elsewhere. Of course, donations are always welcome - the program costs money to run, and we don't charge any registration or attendance fees. Donations don't have to be monetary - perhaps you have something on our wish list that you could spare. Or, if you have something that might be useful that isn't on our list, contact us.
Finally, if you have any questions about the program, suggestions, advice, or well wishes, we'd love to hear them.
Peace and Joy,
Anna, Franklin, and Natalie
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Supporting Young Friends In Residence Program
Because there is no fee for any of YFIR's ministries, we rely on Friends' financial support to allow us to do this work and to live as released Friends.
If you are led to donate money to the program, please write a check out to New York Yearly Meeting and note that it is for the Young Friends In Residence Program.
Send the check by mail to:
New York Yearly Meeting Office
15 Rutherford Place
New York, NY 10003-3705
If you want to support the program by donating items, check out our wish list:
YFIR Program Wish List
1. Bandanas, scarves
2. Items for a costume box
3. Balls (soccer, basketball, tennis, juggling, yoga, etc.)
4. Art supplies (paints and brushes, chalk, paper, glue, tape, staplers, etc.)
5. String, yarn, rope, etc.
6. Song books (Rise Up Singing)
7. Large throw pillows
8. Instruments (maracas, drums, recorders, etc.)
9. Tools (hammers, screw drivers, buckets, brooms, etc.)
10. Sleds
11. A digital camera
12. Black and color printer cartridges
13. Large plastic or glass storage bins
14. Blankets, pillows and bed sheets (all sizes)
15. Bibles
16. Coloring or craft books
17. Children's short stories books
18. Theology or other religious themed books
19. Kitchen chairs
20. Large serving bowls and plates
21. Word games (banana grams has been requested by the kids)
We sincerely thank everyone who has helped and supported us and this program!
Peace and Joy,
Anna, Natalie, Franklin.
If you are led to donate money to the program, please write a check out to New York Yearly Meeting and note that it is for the Young Friends In Residence Program.
Send the check by mail to:
New York Yearly Meeting Office
15 Rutherford Place
New York, NY 10003-3705
If you want to support the program by donating items, check out our wish list:
YFIR Program Wish List
1. Bandanas, scarves
2. Items for a costume box
3. Balls (soccer, basketball, tennis, juggling, yoga, etc.)
4. Art supplies (paints and brushes, chalk, paper, glue, tape, staplers, etc.)
5. String, yarn, rope, etc.
6. Song books (Rise Up Singing)
7. Large throw pillows
8. Instruments (maracas, drums, recorders, etc.)
9. Tools (hammers, screw drivers, buckets, brooms, etc.)
10. Sleds
11. A digital camera
12. Black and color printer cartridges
13. Large plastic or glass storage bins
14. Blankets, pillows and bed sheets (all sizes)
15. Bibles
16. Coloring or craft books
17. Children's short stories books
18. Theology or other religious themed books
19. Kitchen chairs
20. Large serving bowls and plates
21. Word games (banana grams has been requested by the kids)
We sincerely thank everyone who has helped and supported us and this program!
Peace and Joy,
Anna, Natalie, Franklin.
Beloved Community Bible Study (at 7:00 pm the last Tuesday of each month)
The Day of Pentecost (May 25th)
Acts 2:00-3:00
Faith Through Works (June 29th)
The Letter of James (all the way through)
The Woman At the Well (July 27th)
Gospel of John 4:00-5:00
God’s Community of Love (August 31st )
The First Letter of John (all the way through)
The Coming of the Kingdom of God (September 28th)
Revelation 21:00-22:00
Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (October 26th)
Luke 10:40-10:41 and John 11:00-12:00
The Sermon on the Mount (November 29th)
Gospel of Matthew 5:00-6:00
Note On Reading: feel free to do the reading before coming to the Bible study sessions. However you by no means have to do so. If you do decide to do the reading ahead of time, try not to over think it. Read the passage and then set it aside and do something else, or sit with it in silence for a while. Try to acknowledge and then set aside any preconceived interpretations or baggage you might have around the passage. Always keep in mind that while a passage might not speak to you it might be deeply meaningful to someone else in our group so always come to the text and our sessions with respectfulness and an open mind.
YFIR’s Intentional Spiritual Community (draft)
YFIR interns are expected to live together as they work to create and affirm an intentional spiritual community that nurtures them and supports the interns in their ministries. This community is based upon a document that states the values and ideals that all the community member hold in common. The community is further strengthened by common practices that all the members commit to participating in.
1. (Doc.):
This document will be a list of commonly held ideals and beliefs of the community. Because the current members of the community span all different branches of Quakerism and communicate in very different spiritual languages this process is a lengthy one.
2. Practices Held In Common:
• Household money is shared communally
o All food and household items bought with the household money are shared communally where appropriate.
o The household money is held in a joint bank account that all community members have access to
o Stewardship of all YFIR money is a responsibility shared by all community members
o Large decisions regarding money must be made by the discernment of a house meeting and any appropriate committees.
• Community members meet once a week for 45 minutes of shared worship/time to sit with the week’s struggles and joys
o This can include worship sharing afterwards
o And a shared meal
• At least one meal a day is cooked and eaten communally
o Some form of thanks will be given before the meal
• Once a day community members check in with each other about their physical, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing.
• Household chores are done communally by all community members
o Both daily and monthly chores will be assigned to each community member during a house meeting held within the first two weeks of the community member joining the program.
• Beloved Community House is an open space, which is meant to be used by for hospitality and hosting events. YFIR interns should discern what events and gatherings should be held at Beloved Community House as apposed to Perry City Meetinghouse. The use of Beloved Community House as an open space should never negatively impact any member of the community, community members will be mindful of the amount of space and ‘down time’ each member needs.
• The community members commit to living simply and lightly upon the earth.
o This will be reflected in their treatment of:
• The house
• The yard
• And the community’s choice of and buying method for food and household items
• Respect of and interest in each community member’s ministry by the other community members is a sign of our shared goals and care for reach.
• Community members commit to not partaking in drugs of any kind (unless specifically proscribed by healthcare provider) including tobacco while living at Beloved Community House.
o Community members also discourage the use of drugs of any kind (unless specifically proscribed by healthcare provider) including tobacco by those visiting the community.
o Community members also live with respect for the Quaker caution against the use of alcohol
o Community members live in a way that is mindful of the stewardship of their bodies and their commitment to caring for themselves and each other
• Household meetings are held concerning the community and work of the YFIR program. These meetings will be held in good order in the way of Friends
o Meetings regarding the good order of the community or workings of the program will be modeled after meeting for worship with a concern for business.
• One community member will be appointed as acting ‘clerk’ before the meeting
• A time will be picked in advance and agreed to by all community members
• Each meeting will only address up to three aspects of the community or work of the program
• If business items exceed three, more meetings can be convened
o Meetings regarding ministry of an individual community member or ministries held in common by the community will be held in the model of worship sharing.
3. Process For Reevaluating of (Doc.) and Common Practices
Those who make up the intentional spiritual community of Beloved Community House believe that every community is an organic, growing endeavor, which must change and evolved over time. Therefore when a new member joins the community, the whole community will undertake a process to make sure that change and/or reaffirmation happens as the Spirit guides us.
(Doc.)
• Within the first two weeks of a new member joining the community of Beloved Community house a time of worship sharing will be arranged. During this time all members of the community will meet and share together in worship and reflection around the (Doc.) of the community. They will discern to the best of their ability whether the Spirit is guiding them to change or reaffirm this document.
• If the worship sharing leads the community to believe that the (Doc.) needs to be changed to reflect the evolving nature of the community an Anchor Committee meeting will be convened within one to two weeks of the worship sharing.
o Once convened the Anchor Committee will facilitate deep worship and conversation between the community members to discern the exact changes needed
o As many Anchor Committee meetings will be convened as needed to complete this work.
Practices Held In Common:
• To evaluate or reaffirm practices held in common a set of house meetings and worship sharing will be convened with in the first two weeks of a new member joining the community.
o A house meeting(s) will be convened to discuss and discern new members’ roles and responsibilities regarding household chores, errands and money stewardship.
o A time or times for worship sharing will be convened to discern whether a new member has any sort of blocks (emotion, physical or spiritual) that might stand in the way or them participating and/or agreeing to any of the community practices.
o Another worship sharing will be held to discern if the new member or community has a whole feels the need to add, remove or change any practices for the community to hold in common.
• We as a community affirm that the Spirit moves among us at every moment and that we live in expectant waiting for continuing revelation. Therefore every four-to-six months the community will meet for a session of worship sharing followed by a communal meal during which time they will reevaluate practices held in common and discern if Spirit is calling them to add, remove or change practices.
4. Regarding the Interns and Community:
• The intentional spiritual community of the Beloved Community House is not a static, unchanging entity. Instead it is a living community of people bound together by their shared commitments to the Religious Society of Friends, Young Friends In Residence Program, each other, and enriching the world. As such each intern is required to take an active, nurturing, enlivening role in the life of the community.
• Each interns is advised to live in a constant state of discernment with themselves, each other and their Elders to live into their understanding of the gifts they bring to Beloved Community House, the ways they change this community and the way this community changes them.
• The wellbeing and growth of each intern is something that community as a whole has a responsibly to care for and nurture. Every community member has a commitment to respect, and care for every other community member and be respected and cared for in return.
• We aim to live with joy and deep caring and share both that joy and that caring with the world.
• We endeavor to live into a community that reflects our radical and ever-changing relationship with the Spirit and the world.
1. (Doc.):
This document will be a list of commonly held ideals and beliefs of the community. Because the current members of the community span all different branches of Quakerism and communicate in very different spiritual languages this process is a lengthy one.
2. Practices Held In Common:
• Household money is shared communally
o All food and household items bought with the household money are shared communally where appropriate.
o The household money is held in a joint bank account that all community members have access to
o Stewardship of all YFIR money is a responsibility shared by all community members
o Large decisions regarding money must be made by the discernment of a house meeting and any appropriate committees.
• Community members meet once a week for 45 minutes of shared worship/time to sit with the week’s struggles and joys
o This can include worship sharing afterwards
o And a shared meal
• At least one meal a day is cooked and eaten communally
o Some form of thanks will be given before the meal
• Once a day community members check in with each other about their physical, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing.
• Household chores are done communally by all community members
o Both daily and monthly chores will be assigned to each community member during a house meeting held within the first two weeks of the community member joining the program.
• Beloved Community House is an open space, which is meant to be used by for hospitality and hosting events. YFIR interns should discern what events and gatherings should be held at Beloved Community House as apposed to Perry City Meetinghouse. The use of Beloved Community House as an open space should never negatively impact any member of the community, community members will be mindful of the amount of space and ‘down time’ each member needs.
• The community members commit to living simply and lightly upon the earth.
o This will be reflected in their treatment of:
• The house
• The yard
• And the community’s choice of and buying method for food and household items
• Respect of and interest in each community member’s ministry by the other community members is a sign of our shared goals and care for reach.
• Community members commit to not partaking in drugs of any kind (unless specifically proscribed by healthcare provider) including tobacco while living at Beloved Community House.
o Community members also discourage the use of drugs of any kind (unless specifically proscribed by healthcare provider) including tobacco by those visiting the community.
o Community members also live with respect for the Quaker caution against the use of alcohol
o Community members live in a way that is mindful of the stewardship of their bodies and their commitment to caring for themselves and each other
• Household meetings are held concerning the community and work of the YFIR program. These meetings will be held in good order in the way of Friends
o Meetings regarding the good order of the community or workings of the program will be modeled after meeting for worship with a concern for business.
• One community member will be appointed as acting ‘clerk’ before the meeting
• A time will be picked in advance and agreed to by all community members
• Each meeting will only address up to three aspects of the community or work of the program
• If business items exceed three, more meetings can be convened
o Meetings regarding ministry of an individual community member or ministries held in common by the community will be held in the model of worship sharing.
3. Process For Reevaluating of (Doc.) and Common Practices
Those who make up the intentional spiritual community of Beloved Community House believe that every community is an organic, growing endeavor, which must change and evolved over time. Therefore when a new member joins the community, the whole community will undertake a process to make sure that change and/or reaffirmation happens as the Spirit guides us.
(Doc.)
• Within the first two weeks of a new member joining the community of Beloved Community house a time of worship sharing will be arranged. During this time all members of the community will meet and share together in worship and reflection around the (Doc.) of the community. They will discern to the best of their ability whether the Spirit is guiding them to change or reaffirm this document.
• If the worship sharing leads the community to believe that the (Doc.) needs to be changed to reflect the evolving nature of the community an Anchor Committee meeting will be convened within one to two weeks of the worship sharing.
o Once convened the Anchor Committee will facilitate deep worship and conversation between the community members to discern the exact changes needed
o As many Anchor Committee meetings will be convened as needed to complete this work.
Practices Held In Common:
• To evaluate or reaffirm practices held in common a set of house meetings and worship sharing will be convened with in the first two weeks of a new member joining the community.
o A house meeting(s) will be convened to discuss and discern new members’ roles and responsibilities regarding household chores, errands and money stewardship.
o A time or times for worship sharing will be convened to discern whether a new member has any sort of blocks (emotion, physical or spiritual) that might stand in the way or them participating and/or agreeing to any of the community practices.
o Another worship sharing will be held to discern if the new member or community has a whole feels the need to add, remove or change any practices for the community to hold in common.
• We as a community affirm that the Spirit moves among us at every moment and that we live in expectant waiting for continuing revelation. Therefore every four-to-six months the community will meet for a session of worship sharing followed by a communal meal during which time they will reevaluate practices held in common and discern if Spirit is calling them to add, remove or change practices.
4. Regarding the Interns and Community:
• The intentional spiritual community of the Beloved Community House is not a static, unchanging entity. Instead it is a living community of people bound together by their shared commitments to the Religious Society of Friends, Young Friends In Residence Program, each other, and enriching the world. As such each intern is required to take an active, nurturing, enlivening role in the life of the community.
• Each interns is advised to live in a constant state of discernment with themselves, each other and their Elders to live into their understanding of the gifts they bring to Beloved Community House, the ways they change this community and the way this community changes them.
• The wellbeing and growth of each intern is something that community as a whole has a responsibly to care for and nurture. Every community member has a commitment to respect, and care for every other community member and be respected and cared for in return.
• We aim to live with joy and deep caring and share both that joy and that caring with the world.
• We endeavor to live into a community that reflects our radical and ever-changing relationship with the Spirit and the world.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Upcoming Youth Retreats!
Winter Wonderland: February 19-21st
Friends, join us in celebrating the snowy season! We'll take advantage of the fun aspects of winter: sledding and making snow-people and anything else we can think of, while taking the time to wonder about the meaning of this time of year. How is our experience of winter different from those who lived a hundred years ago, or those who live in other parts of the world? We'll talk about what we do to keep from getting bored or depressed in the dark months, and explore how different plants and animals adapt and sometimes rely on the cold weather. We'll spend plenty of time playing and exploring outside, followed by time drinking hot cocoa in front of the fire. We'll once again have Anna's tasty food and Franklin's bedtime stories, but we'll also welcome Natalie to the group. She just arrived from Ecuador, which has a very different winter experience from upstate New York, and she's a whole lot of fun.
Creating a Safe Space: March 12-14th
We all need a place to feel safe - safe from physical violence, but also from ridicule, judgment, and embarrassment. We're hoping to build just such a space in the YFIR program, and we want you to help us to do that this weekend. We'll nurture our budding community through trust exercises, cooperative strategy games, and group discussions. In addition to creating a safe space in our community, we'll explore ways to extend that feeling of security to the outside world - we'll talk about dealing with bullies and the role friendship plays in building safe communities.
YFIR!? Because… April 16-18th
Calling all high schoolers: we need your help! We are building a program of retreats for 6th-9th graders that would greatly benefit from your gifts and experience. We also want to have a few retreats a year for 9th-12th graders (those 9th graders get to have all the fun). As the first of these, this weekend will focus on the Young Friends In Residence Program - how it came about, where it's going, and what role this age group can play in it. The weekend will include some Junior Counselor training, so that those who are interested can help us facilitate other retreats, but there will also be lots of games, discussions, and free time to enjoy each other's company and to explore our new home at the Perry City Meeting House
Living Planet April 30th-May 2nd
It's great to be alive, and this weekend we'll celebrate the new life emerging this time of the year. We'll explore our surroundings and look for signs of new life and new growth as the world shakes off winter's embrace. We'll get our hands dirty and our thumbs green planting things (maybe even a tree, since Friday is Arbor Day). We'll talk about different ways in which people throughout the world and time have observed the changing of the seasons. We'll also discuss ways in which life on Earth is connected, and what we can do to keep our planet healthy. We will learn, explore, share, and most of all, celebrate!
You Are What You Eat June 18-20th
This weekend will be all about food. We'll talk about what food is (do we all consider the same things to be food?), where it comes from, and how it affects our lives. We'll explore our place in the food chain and how our appetites change the world around us. We'll discuss dietary restriction - biological, personal, religious, and cultural. We'll look at different rituals based on food, and how food has brought about war, slavery, new technology, and great prosperity. We'll be eating local food, and we'll talk about what that means, as well as help Anna prepare it. Be sure to bring your taste buds and appetites.
H2Oh yeaaah! August 6-8th
Our bodies are mostly water, water covers more than 70% of the Earth, and yet millions of people don't have access to clean water. This weekend we'll talk about where water comes from, who has it, who doesn’t, and why. We'll talk about why we (and other forms of life) need it, and the properties that make it special. We'll also take the time to enjoy it - we'll explore the creek behind the meeting house, take bucket showers, and throw water balloons. Water: let’s talk about it, play in it, drink it, change it, and…
Contact us at YFIRinterns@gmail.com for registration sheets, or if you have questions.
Friends, join us in celebrating the snowy season! We'll take advantage of the fun aspects of winter: sledding and making snow-people and anything else we can think of, while taking the time to wonder about the meaning of this time of year. How is our experience of winter different from those who lived a hundred years ago, or those who live in other parts of the world? We'll talk about what we do to keep from getting bored or depressed in the dark months, and explore how different plants and animals adapt and sometimes rely on the cold weather. We'll spend plenty of time playing and exploring outside, followed by time drinking hot cocoa in front of the fire. We'll once again have Anna's tasty food and Franklin's bedtime stories, but we'll also welcome Natalie to the group. She just arrived from Ecuador, which has a very different winter experience from upstate New York, and she's a whole lot of fun.
Creating a Safe Space: March 12-14th
We all need a place to feel safe - safe from physical violence, but also from ridicule, judgment, and embarrassment. We're hoping to build just such a space in the YFIR program, and we want you to help us to do that this weekend. We'll nurture our budding community through trust exercises, cooperative strategy games, and group discussions. In addition to creating a safe space in our community, we'll explore ways to extend that feeling of security to the outside world - we'll talk about dealing with bullies and the role friendship plays in building safe communities.
YFIR!? Because… April 16-18th
Calling all high schoolers: we need your help! We are building a program of retreats for 6th-9th graders that would greatly benefit from your gifts and experience. We also want to have a few retreats a year for 9th-12th graders (those 9th graders get to have all the fun). As the first of these, this weekend will focus on the Young Friends In Residence Program - how it came about, where it's going, and what role this age group can play in it. The weekend will include some Junior Counselor training, so that those who are interested can help us facilitate other retreats, but there will also be lots of games, discussions, and free time to enjoy each other's company and to explore our new home at the Perry City Meeting House
Living Planet April 30th-May 2nd
It's great to be alive, and this weekend we'll celebrate the new life emerging this time of the year. We'll explore our surroundings and look for signs of new life and new growth as the world shakes off winter's embrace. We'll get our hands dirty and our thumbs green planting things (maybe even a tree, since Friday is Arbor Day). We'll talk about different ways in which people throughout the world and time have observed the changing of the seasons. We'll also discuss ways in which life on Earth is connected, and what we can do to keep our planet healthy. We will learn, explore, share, and most of all, celebrate!
You Are What You Eat June 18-20th
This weekend will be all about food. We'll talk about what food is (do we all consider the same things to be food?), where it comes from, and how it affects our lives. We'll explore our place in the food chain and how our appetites change the world around us. We'll discuss dietary restriction - biological, personal, religious, and cultural. We'll look at different rituals based on food, and how food has brought about war, slavery, new technology, and great prosperity. We'll be eating local food, and we'll talk about what that means, as well as help Anna prepare it. Be sure to bring your taste buds and appetites.
H2Oh yeaaah! August 6-8th
Our bodies are mostly water, water covers more than 70% of the Earth, and yet millions of people don't have access to clean water. This weekend we'll talk about where water comes from, who has it, who doesn’t, and why. We'll talk about why we (and other forms of life) need it, and the properties that make it special. We'll also take the time to enjoy it - we'll explore the creek behind the meeting house, take bucket showers, and throw water balloons. Water: let’s talk about it, play in it, drink it, change it, and…
Contact us at YFIRinterns@gmail.com for registration sheets, or if you have questions.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Not Enough Tables
It is strange the things you find out you need or don't have when you move. We (myself and Franklin) have been moving into the Beloved Community House piece by piece for nearly four months now. As little bits of the house get fixed up and cleaned we move into more of the house.
Whenever people ask me what we need I always say tables. It's true we do need tables, little ones for the bedrooms and the living room and at least one big one for the main room/planning room. It seems such an odd thing not to have enough of but there you have it.
YFIR Wishlist
Beloved Community House:
end tables
a dining room table
chairs (kitchen, living room)
desks
lamps
dressers
throw pillows
blankets
rugs
bookcases
Quaker or interfaith related posters or prints
Quaker or religion related books
dvd player
something to listen to music with: stereo, boom box, ipod dock
a framed or otherwise wall mountable house prayer or prayer of hospitality
Youth Program:
art supplies
drawing supplies
games: bananagrams, jenga, apples to apples. . .
large pillows/cushions for retreats or foam and fabric to make them
easel for flip charts
photocopier
~ Anna
Whenever people ask me what we need I always say tables. It's true we do need tables, little ones for the bedrooms and the living room and at least one big one for the main room/planning room. It seems such an odd thing not to have enough of but there you have it.
YFIR Wishlist
Beloved Community House:
end tables
a dining room table
chairs (kitchen, living room)
desks
lamps
dressers
throw pillows
blankets
rugs
bookcases
Quaker or interfaith related posters or prints
Quaker or religion related books
dvd player
something to listen to music with: stereo, boom box, ipod dock
a framed or otherwise wall mountable house prayer or prayer of hospitality
Youth Program:
art supplies
drawing supplies
games: bananagrams, jenga, apples to apples. . .
large pillows/cushions for retreats or foam and fabric to make them
easel for flip charts
photocopier
~ Anna
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
YFIR is… Quaker In-Reach and Spiritual Outreach
The Young Friends In Residence (YFIR) is an emerging program for New York Yearly Meeting! This is a dual program for young adults and 6th – 9th grade youth.
The young adults serve as Quaker interns living in intentional spiritual community for two years. They participate in the local meeting in addition to facilitating the youth retreats. The youth retreats, modeled after Powell House programs, offer 6th – 9th graders a stable and affirming space to experience Quaker spirituality and to nurture one another.
The YFIR Interns work with their host Meeting (Perry City Monthly Meeting) region and the Yearly Meeting to deepen the Spiritual life of the wider Quaker community. YFIR interns hope to travel to monthly meetings across the Yearly Meeting, actively participate in Quaker gatherings, and to serve on committees. Interns also hope to deepen their own personal callings to ministry.
The YFIR Interns are currently living in Beloved Community House in Newfield, NY and offer hospitality there. They also welcome any Friend willing to come and help make Beloved Community House a more welcoming and nurturing place. Stay tuned for upcoming work parties.
The current YFIR Interns are:
Natalie Braun: Natalie comes from a big family of Quakers, but more specifically from a family of five who live in community at the Quaker Intentional Village in East Chatham, NY. She is fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel all over the world, and is currently studying ecologically sustainable and regenerative methods of farming and living, as well as community healthcare practices and birth in different cultures with Goddard College.
Natalie came to the Young Friends in Residence program through her long and loving connection with the Powell House Youth Program and her work on the Young Adult Concerns Committee of New York Yearly Meeting. She is thrilled to be a part of this young and growing community, excited to begin co-facilitating conferences, honored to be a part of creating joyful and powerful connections with the youth of our Yearly Meeting.
Anna Obermayer: Anna is a member of Binghamton Community Friends Meeting. She attended Earlham College and graduated with a degree in history in May 2009. She has a long history of service work and believes serving one’s community is an intrinsic part of our beliefs as Friends. She considers herself a Friend in the Spirit of Christ and writes a Quaker blog, Raised In the Light (http://www.raisedinthelight.blogspot.com) She also labors with a concern for open communication among different branches of The Religious Society of Friends and has done so for several years. At the moment she coordinates the New York Yearly Meeting prayer list.
She joined the YFIR program to spend time working with her religious community and deepening her own personal spiritual life. Anna works as cook, coordinator and registrar for the YFIR youth programs.
Franklin Crump: Franklin Crump is very excited to be part of the experiment that is the Young Friends In Residence program. Franklin has been involved in work with youth for many years, both in the New York Yearly Meeting community (as a Junior Yearly Meeting volunteer and as an Adult Presence and co-facilitator at Powell House) and the outside world (working with former street kids in Nicaragua through a Quaker NGO and teaching theater at a youth theater in Troy, NY, and at an after school program in Keene, NH). As an YFIR Intern, Franklin is looking forward to facilitating youth conferences with Natalie Braun.
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