“Making Room for Spirit” – Listen to the 2018 SPG Lecture

The Sunderland P. Gardner lecture is an annual highlight of Canadian Yearly Meeting. The 2018 lecture, “Making Room for Spirit,” was delivered by Arthur  Larrabee of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.

Listen to the 2018 SPG Lecture: “Making Room for Spirit” by Arthur Larrabee (mp3)

The talk explored spiritual practices which we can use to make room for Spirit in our lives.

“God and Spirit are everywhere present,” Arthur explains,” but we get caught up in patterns of living that make it difficult to access Spirit and spiritual energy. For many of us, there is ‘no room in the inn’ for Spirit.”

“As a Quaker, three spiritual practices which I have found helpful in deepening my spiritual journey are the practice of dissolving attachments, the practice of ‘dying’ into fear, and the practice of embracing paradox. In my talk I share my experiences with these spiritual practices, how they have come into my life, and how I have used them to make room for Spirit.”

Space is still available! Fall Canadian Quaker Online Courses

Want to learn more about the Quaker faith? Education and Outreach Committee is offering two online courses this fall – “Introduction to Friends’ Ways” and “Quaker Faith and Practice.”

Newcomers to Quaker meetings, experienced Quakers, or those simply curious about Quaker ways can all find be enriched by these courses, with a mix of group, individual, experiential, and written learning.

Classes commence once there are enough people registered to start the course.

Introduction to Friends Ways

• 6 x 2 hour sessions
• Saturdays
  11:00am Pacific/ 12:00pm Mountain/ 1:00pm Central/ 2:00pm Eastern/ 3:00pm Atlantic/ 3:30pm Newfoundland-Labrador
• Anticipated start date of October 20, with a technology test-run the week prior.

Quaker Faith and Practice

• 8 weeks
• Mondays, 3:00pm Pacific/ 4:00pm Mountain/ 5:00pm Central/ 6:00pm Eastern/ 7:00pm Atlantic/ 7:30pm Newfoundland-Labrador
• Anticipated start date of October 22, with a technology test-run the week prior.

Links:
Find out what Friends are saying about E&O online courses
More information about online courses
Sign up for a Fall online course!
Contact the Online Course Administrator

Farewell to Elaine Bishop as CYM Clerk

Elaine Bishop was released from her role as Clerk of Canadian Yearly Meeting at the rise of CYM-in-Session this August. Elaine has served as Clerk for the past four years, graciously extending an initial three-year term to “finish some of the good things started, and also because no-one came forward to serve,” as she put it.

A member of Winnipeg Monthly Meeting, Elaine had previously served as Clerk of CYM in the 1980s.

While Elaine brought a wealth of experience and wisdom to the role, Canadian Yearly Meeting is in good hands with Beverly Shepard (Hamilton Monthly Meeting) continuing on as Clerk. Bev has served as Clerk alongside Elaine since last November’s Representative Meeting, and has previously served as Clerk of Yearly Meeting from 2004-9. (CYM is still looking for an Incoming Clerk; suggestions can always be sent to nominating-clerk@quaker.ca.)

Mentoring Clerk Elaine Bishop, Presiding Clerk Beverly Shepard, Co-Recording Clerks Dale Dewar, John Samson Fellows

Elaine’s birthday also happened to fall during CYM (August 12!), which was a great excuse to have cake.

Two tributes given to Elaine at CYM are reproduced here:

Tribute by Kerry MacAdam, CYM’s Office Administrator

Where do I start? To recognize Elaine and her amazing contribution to CYM would require an entire SIG time slot – and since that’s no longer possible, I’ll only share a few words. I would be remiss in not mentioning her tremendous, heartfelt work with CYM which is far-reaching and for which the benefits will last for many years to come. Her professional life with CYM is obvious – well done, Elaine and thank you; you deserve every accolade!

I began working with Elaine on Program Committee – and more closely when she was Clerk of the Committee. I admired her style, I admired her attitude, I admired her ability to guide a meeting by being both gentle and firm. I immediately respected her.

Elaine transitioned from Clerk of Program Committee to Clerk of the World (as Gordon McClure once joked when he was CYM Clerk some years ago! That always made me chuckle.) I watched as Elaine guided CYM through some difficult transitions with grace. Elaine has been there for me both personally and professionally – when I wasn’t quite sure how to handle something, I instinctively knew who I could turn to.

I had the fortune to spend a few days with Elaine on a southern Ontario road trip scouting out sites for this year’s YM. I jokingly refer it to our Thelma and Louise Adventure, but without the awful ending – and sadly, without Brad Pitt! I also have a lovely herd of Scottish Highlander Coos (for us non-Scottlanders that means cows); and I update Elaine every now and then on how the herd is doing…

Elaine, you leave a legacy and very big shoes to fill. CYM is fortunate to have you in the Quaker family and I am blessed and honoured to know you and have you in my life. I think I speak for all of us when I say you’ve more than earned putting your feet up and enjoying a hot cup of tea.

Hugs,
Kerry

Tribute to Elaine Bishop, on her release from the position of Clerk of Canadian Yearly Meeting

Elaine is one of the clearest thinkers I know. She has an extraordinary ability to simultaneously hold a vision of the big picture and the details that must be in place to achieve it.

Yesterday in Quaker Study, Manuela talked about gratitude as part of the inner journey of reconciliation.

– I am grateful for Elaine’s deep love of Quakerism and Canadian Yearly Meeting;

– I am grateful for the professionalism, guided by Spirit, which Elaine has brought to her work as Clerk;

– I am grateful for Elaine’s compassion for people and her ability to listen to hurt and to celebrate strength;

– I am grateful for Elaine’s courage to tackle big problems or challenges and to bring us out to the other side

Tomorrow we release Elaine from her service as Clerk of CYM, which followed a number of years of service as Clerk of Program Committee and previous service leading other CYM committees, including CFSC.

I hope we can allow Elaine space to explore a new rhythm to her life, and I hope Elaine can protect her own time to “love this land as Indigenous Peoples do.” I am confident Elaine will continue to be with us in new and exciting ways.

Thank you, Elaine, for sharing yourself so generously.

Go well –
Barbara Horvath, 10 August 2018.

Free Canadian Quaker Online Courses

NEW SEASON!
Canadian Quaker Online Learning
(Fall 2018-Spring 2019 Courses)

Want to learn more about the Quaker faith? Education and Outreach will be offering two online courses – “Introduction to Friends’ Ways” and “Quaker Faith and Practice” – this fall and in the New Year.

Newcomers to Quaker meetings, experienced Quakers, or those simply curious about Quaker ways can all find be enriched by these courses, which mix group, individual, experiential, and written learning.

Education and Outreach online courses are free, but require a commitment of time, including a two-hour online session and one to three hours of reading and/or other exercises each week.

Classes commence once there are enough people registered to start the course.

*Our flexible start dates provide the space for Friends to get organized, as well to ensure our courses are close to full capacity.

How do the courses work?

A short reading will be provided before each session. The weekly online sessions will use video or audio conference, depending on the technology available to those who sign up., andIt will include worship, exercises, reflections on readings, and opportunities to apply the learning to our own lives. You can see examples of previous course materials here:

Introduction to Quakers and Friends Ways Learning Resource (PDF)

Quaker Faith and Practice Learning Resource (PDF)

The courses are offered by Canadian Yearly Meeting’s Education and Outreach Committee. You can contact the organizing committee for more information.

Both Courses are Free of Charge

However, we warmly welcome any donations you are able to give, to support future courses and other work of Canadian Yearly Meeting. You can donate online, by mail, or by phone.

Our Facilitators

David Summerhays, an experienced facilitator from Montreal Monthly Meeting, will lead one course, or multiple sessions of the same course. Previous participants have said:

• “David did a beautiful job of modelling the Quaker way and managing deep sharing.”
• “David was able to move us along, without me feeling hurried. He asked open-ended questions, which moved the discussion to the most interesting places.”
• “He managed time and turn-taking smoothly and held a great balance between keeping to the outline of that day’s material and allowing time for discussion that arose.”
• “David was also very conscious of assisting those having technical/language difficulties.”

Arwen Brenneman, an experienced facilitator from Vancouver Monthly Meeting, will lead one course. Previous participants have said:

• “Arwen did a helpful, insightful, sensitive job!”
• “She was attentive to the needs of the group and individuals and very respectful of differences in opinions and experiences.”
• “Arwen was awesome. Her experience and values/approach were a perfect fit.”

Sign up for a Fall on-line course!
Communicate your interest in a future Quaker online learning experience.
Contact the Online Course Administration Team.

Yearly Meeting Round-up

Those who came to Canadian Yearly Meeting 2018 in Barrie had a enriching and fun time. Please take a minute to fill out the Yearly Meeting Participant Survey if you came, so that we can continue to grow and improve this yearly gathering for Canadian Quakers.

The Clerks and Minute Review Committee are finalizing the Minutes and summarizing Epistle from Yearly Meeting, and they should be available by mid-September.