Clerk's letter from Sierra Cascade YM annual session

RantWoman was just going to slurp the queries to nourish this year's pre-annual-Session Zoom worship group. But RantWoman decided the whole text is needed to help clear out some fog for RantWoman. 

RantWoman intended to Zoom to some of the SCYM Annual Session. That has not happened, except hopefully for closing worship in a few hours.

 Clerk’s Message 

How many times have you attended a SCYMF gathering? Maybe this will be your very first one. Or maybe. Like me, you’ve attended every annual sessions since our formative gathering in July of 2017 and every gathering since then. We’ve seen, heard, experienced, learned, and grown together over these years. We’ve worshipped, sung songs, grieved, discerned, tried new ways of being a community, made mistakes, grown—and still we gather. I always look forward to our time together, which is never long enough. 

For me this year’s theme, Centered in Love, builds on all our other sessions. It builds on what we strive for in our local meetings. It builds on what our world needs from us. We face what seems like uncharted territory, but Friends have faced similar crises over the centuries with faithfulness and love. Matt Boswell will lead us in worship and reflection as we trust Spirit to open to us our next steps. 

This is my final meeting for business to co-clerk for SCYMF. I have cherished co-clerking with Mike Huber and Erin Craig. My relationships with many people in the yearly meeting have deepened as we have worked together at better becoming the beloved community we are to be. I have such appreciation for the faithfulness of so many who volunteer to serve on committees, host gatherings, represent SCYMF to other organizations, and who take care of each other. I will continue to walk alongside you as we continue to grow into a stronger, more loving, community that values curiosity, recognizes harm and is willing to respect the perspectives and experiences of others with love. 

I offer these simple queries as you prepare for our gathering. 

● How has Love shown up for you lately? 

● What helps you center Love in your interactions with others? 

Norma Silliman, she/her, Presiding Co-clerk

Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends