Winter and Spring Retreats!

Warm Heart, Warm Hands January 7-9, ages 11-14
There are as many was to heal as there are to be hurt. In all cultures around the world there are healers who are known for their abilities to cure and mend. This weekend we’ll explore our own healing powers through many different techniques, such as massage, healing touch, meditation, and energy work.

The Friendly Firebrand: Social Action February 25-27, ages 11-14
Rebellion is a hallmark of adolescence. Challenging authority is also one of things that Quakers are best known for. This weekend we’ll look at examples of people, some of them Friends, who faced great adversity for causes they believed in. We’ll explore different ways to take a stand, in our personal lives and in the larger world, and try to find constructive and positive ways to stand up for ourselves and what we believe in.

Green Eggs and Hamlet March 11-13, ages 14-18
What do Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss have in common? They are both known for inventing words, creative use of language, and storytelling abilities. This weekend we’ll try our hand at all of these things. We’ll look at different forms of poetry and practice poetic writing. We’ll explore different storytelling styles and techniques, and when we can’t find the right words, we’ll make new ones!

Finding the Inner Me March 25-27, ages 11-14
A large part of connecting with others comes from our ability to connect with ourselves. We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with messages about who we should want to be, what we should want to look like, and what things we should want to own. These external voices can be so loud that it can be hard to hear the internal voices of our souls. This weekend we’ll talk about ways to turn down the volume of the outward noise and search for avenues into our inner selves...

Thank You for Being a Friend April 15-17, ages 11-14
What makes a good friend? Why is friendship important? How do friendships change as you transition from childhood to adolescence? How do you deepen the friendships you have, and how do you form new ones? How do you say “no” to a friend and how do you know when to let go. We will tackle these questions and more this weekend, as we examine the complicated world of friendship.

He, She, Ze... Me? May 13-15, ages 14-18
Society is constantly telling us what it means to be a man or a woman, and what forms of sexuality are healthy or unacceptable. This pressure is often felt most keenly at adolescence, when we are going through the physical transformation from child to adult, and are beginning to explore our sexuality. This weekend we’ll examine some of the assumptions and stereotypes about gender and sexuality and discuss some of the safe and healthy ways we can explore our identities.

Creating Your Way June 10-12, ages 11-14
There are endless forms of creative expression, and many ways to express yourself within each form. Some like to sing in choirs, some in karaoke bars, and others in the shower. Haiku, limericks and sonnets are all very different, and are all poetry. This weekend, we’ll explore as many ways to express our creativity as we can. We hope that you’ll come prepared to share your favorite ways, but also to try new ones. So bring your instruments, your journals, your scrapbooks, your dancing shoes, and anything else you might need, because we are going to have some fun!

To Register email us (at yfirinterns@gmail.com) and we'll send you a printable registration form OR pick up a copy of our new beautiful blue brochure and check inside for a hard copy of the form.
Mail in your registrations to:
The Beloved Community House
599 Trumbulls Corners Rd.
Newfield, NY
14867

Recent Travels of the Young Friends in Residence

Hello all!

Anna facilitated her first retreat a few weeks ago, "What Makes You Come Alive?" I (Helen) wasn't there for it, but from what I hear they had some great discussions about shared spiritual practices, and they each got to make a super cute t-shirt with depictions of what makes them come alive.

Franklin and I were not at that retreat because we were in the Hoosier State for a Young Adult Friends Consultation on creating a cross-branch inter-visitation program. Surprisingly enough, no one made an acronym for that. What would it be? YAFCOCACIP? That has a certain ring to it, I guess. Anyway, we drove all the way to FUM headquarters in Richmond Indiana, and had a great weekend talking with other Young Adult Friends about what intervisitation means to us, what our experiences have been, and what we might like to see in a more structured intervisitation program. There were Young Adults from all over the country, and all different kinds of Quakerism. It seemed like people had a lot of ideas, and I'm hopeful for where it may go in the future. Special thanks to Emily Stewart and Wess Daniels for planning and facilitating the consultation, and to the Quaker Hill Retreat Center for hosting us. Also, to the residents of Miller Farm, Thornburg House, and the Darby ladies of Brick City for giving Franklin and me a place to stay!

A few days after we got back from Indiana, we all found our way to Flushing, Queens for NYYM Fall Sessions. Natalie worked with the children's program in the morning on Saturday and Franklin hung out with the teen group all weekend. We all had the opportunity in the afternoon session on Saturday to present to the body. The weekend was challenging in many ways for us and for others involved in our program, but we were very grateful for the vocal support from many of those present, and to have the opportunity to share about our experiences with the group. So many people took the time to share, both with the group and with us personally, how much they appreciated the work that we are doing. It means a lot to us to know that we have your support.

We are all looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with our respective families, but will be back soon to prepare for our December retreat. We're really excited for this one! It's an Alternatives to Violence Program weekend for ages 11-18, led by Jens Braun on December 17th-19th. Hurry and register your child, this one is filling up!

Fall Updates!

Hi, everyone!We have been having a wonderful fall here at Beloved Community House. Our house now full with four interns, we have been working hard to strengthen our community. A favorite way of doing this is through sharing food. We have dinners together almost every night, and sometimes spontaneous pancake breakfasts. Recently, we've been coming up with creative ways to eat the massive amounts of butternut squash we receive from our local CSA. So far we've had curried red lentil and butternut soup, squash pie, squash bread, and squash pancakes.

Last week we attacked the task of preparing our garden for the winter. Natalie, our garden-guru, spearheaded this effort, and helped us think about what we want our garden to look like next year.Franklin works on clearing and turning over beds.

Natalie and Anna put up a branch that we can grow vines on next year.

This Halloween, the Young Friends, plus f/Friend Aaron Lindop, got dressed up together and went out on the town. There was a lot of hubbub as we all ran around getting ready - Franklin carefully trimming his beard, Anna borrowing pants and a neck tie, and Natalie and Helen spending more time on (and putting more product in) their hair than they care to admit.Franklin and Aaron

Helen, Natalie, and Anna

Fall and Winter Upcoming Retreats!!

Play Us A Song September 10-12
Playing games and singing songs are big parts of our community. Since we're just starting out, we need to build a repertoire so that we don't get bored, singing the same songs and playing the same games over and over (even Kung Fu can get old if you play it all the time). To that end, we'll spend this weekend teaching each other new games and new songs. Bring any fun games that you know, and make sure you're prepared to show the group how to play. Is there a song that speaks to you, or that you just think is really pretty? Make sure you know the melody and the words! Keep in mind that we're trying to build a safe, nurturing, inclusive community when you decide whether or not a game or song is right for this weekend. In addition to singing and playing, we'll talk about why music moves us, what makes a game fun, and why different games and songs suit different times.

First Annual YFIR Film Festival October 1-3
This retreat, for 14-18 year olds, will essentially be a weekend-long film festival. It's a chance for us to relax, decompress, and enjoy each other's company. The YFIR interns will pick some films, others will be chosen by the attenders. To avoid being total couch potatoes, we'll play active games between films. To exercise our minds, we'll have some discussions about the effects of media on society, portrayals of sexuality and violence in film and television, etc. The focus of the weekend, however, will be to cut loose - something that teenagers have far too few opportunities to do.

A Gathering Together October 15-17
Autumn is a time of great contrast. As leaves die they reveal their beautiful colors, and the bounty of the harvest portends the lean months ahead. This weekend we'll celebrate the beauty and plenty of the season while mourning the loss of warmth and light as the earth prepares for the slumber of winter. We'll spend time outdoors looking for signs of the changing seasons and perhaps do some harvesting (apple picking?). We'll talk about what this time of year has meant for different peoples throughout history and across the world, and what it means for plants and animals. We'll talk about the cycle of life, and death as a natural part of that cycle. But mostly we will celebrate this beautiful season with fun games and activities, good food, and good company.

What Makes You Come Alive? November 5-7
What are you thankful for, what makes you come alive and brings you joy? How do you express these things? What activities most enliven your soul? Do you pray? How, and to who/what? In the month that our country celebrates Thanksgiving, we want to take a look at the different ways in which we give thanks. In her debut as a facilitator, Anna is going to lead us in examining various kinds of prayer. We'll sing, meditate, make art, and explore other forms of communion.

AVP Workshop December 17-19
Guest facilitator Jens Braun will be leading us in an Alternatives to Violence Project workshop. For those of you unfamiliar with AVP, it is system of games, exercises, and discussions that helps participants learn to deal with conflict non-violently. This weekend should be really informative and a lot of fun.

Letter From the YFIR Interns Regarding the Youth Retreats

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

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.

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.