June 2015
Dear friends,
To be in the Pendle Hill community is to witness and support people’s learning on a regular basis. We are fortunate to grow along with students and visitors every day and we feel well-used, providing our unique environment and hospitality for their experiences. Over the past week, we held a conference for some 45 young adult Quakers as they addressed the concept of Equality and how it plays out in their lives and in the world at large. At times the conversations were provocative, painful, challenging – at other times they were uplifting, inspiring, and full of new-found truths. Before the conference, some participants wrote “I hope to feel strength and support from a growing extended family of Friends and imagine I will find such at the conference. Such support will help me grow in my faith and offer emotional and spiritual support for the often difficult social justice work I do.” And, “I’d like to bring back the energy, new connections, and strategies to help inspire the other young people around me.”
After the conference, participants wrote: “I truly believe that this conference has changed my life for the better, and hopefully in turn I will change other people’s lives as well.” “Not only do you gain a different perspective on different issues but you have fun doing it with an amazing group.” And “This was a great opportunity to form close bonds with peers around the world and find communion with other types of Friends we otherwise probably wouldn’t meet.”
This is Pendle Hill’s fourth such conference for Young Adult Friends (YAFs). It is coordinated by YAFs, and the departing group selects the theme for the following year. YAFs, please save the dates of June 3-8, 2016, when our conference will have the theme of “Integrity.”
YAFCON 2015 (large group) – click to enlarge
Pendle Hill loves serving people in this unique way, enjoying each person’s unique spark while they are here, and hopefully we add “lamp oil” so that they can shine their Light brighter in the world when they leave. Our community is enriched and inspired by the conversations and education that happens here, through our many varied programs. We hope you will come be a part of our learning community soon!
In Peace,
Jennifer Karsten
Executive Director
