Welcome toPhiladelphia Yearly Meeting’s

March Sessions:“We Make the Road by Walking”

What is “Prophetic Witness”?

Spirit-led action that is courageously loving, justice-seeking,

and creative

Step By StepStep by step the longest march

Can be won, can be won

Many stones can form an arch

Singly none, singly none

And in union what we will

Can be accomplished still

Drops of water turn the mill

Singly none, singly none

The longest continually published book in the United States of

America is the journal of John Woolman. Friend John lived from 1720-1772, and travelled near and far among Friends, carrying with him a concern for obedience to

the Holy Spirit and how such obedience transforms our lives.

“Our gracious Creator cares and provides for all his creatures. His tender mercies spread over all his works, and as far as his love influences our minds,

so far we become interested in his workmanship and feel a desire to take hold of every opportunity to lessen the distresses of the afflicted and increase

the happiness of God's creation.

Here we have the prospect of one

common interest to turn all that we possess into the channel of the

universal love that becomes the business

of our lives.”-John Woolman

Foremost among the businesses of love that Woolman committed to were poverty, abolition, right stewardship of God’s creation, and the equality of Native

Americans. He labored with many Friends over their holding of slaves, and during the French and Indian war, refused to pay taxes

as part of his witness. A highly skilled craftsman, Woolman intentionally worked

only as much as was needed in order to continue his ministry.

What is the business of my life? Am I mindful of how my lifestyle

and my investments can contribute to the improvement of the human condition, or to the exploitation of

others? How can I turn all that I possess

into a channel of Love?

SiyahambaSouth African/Zulu round

Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos',

Siyahamba, hamba,Siyahamba, hamba,

Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.Siyahamba, hamba,Siyahamba, hamba,

Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'.

We are marching in the light of God,We are marching in the light of God,We are marching in the light of God,We are marching in The light of God,

We are marching, marching, We are marching, marching,

We are marching in the light of God,We are marching, marching, We are marching, marching,

We are marching in the light of God.

“Let us put our souls in their souls’ stead, who are in slavery, and let us labor for their liberation as bound with them. Let us look at the souls who are led into hopeless captivity,

deprived of every right and sundered from every happy

association – the parents separated from their children, and all the

relations of life outraged

and then let us obey the dictates of sympathy. Let

us examine our own clothing – the furniture of

our houses – the conducting of trade – the affairs of commerce – and

then ask ourselves whether we have not each, as

individuals, a duty which we are bound to perform.”

-Lucretia Mott

What would my life look like if I consistently chose to “obey the

dictates of sympathy”? Do I see those whose freedom has

been taken away, who live in “hopeless captivity”?

What am I willing to change in myself in order to see them more

clearly?

Make Us One

Make us one, Lord, make us one

Holy Spirit, make us one

Let your love flow

So the world will know

We are one, in you.

(repeat 3X)

In May 1662 the Quaker act was passed in England, which banned meetings of

five or more individuals. Still, the members of Reading Meeting met for worship by the river Thames. It was a

late evening Meeting, to take advantage of the longer twilight hours that came with spring. And as the sun set, all the adults were arrested in violation of the Quaker act, and then kept imprisoned

for refusing to swear an oath.

The young Friends were alone, without the nurturing and caring

hands of their mothers and fathers. Banding together, they

fed the youngest and gave shelter to those without siblings.

Together, they persevered.

“For them to arrest the elders is the weakest thing they can do.

We are convicted by the Truth, to meet in worship, and hold witness to the presence of our Lord. While our elders are gone, we will keep this Reading Meeting, as we keep

our faith.”

After trying their normal meeting places and finding them locked, they held Meeting for Worship in a stone

granary by the river Thames. The local justice came with constables

and found the young Friends holding Meeting for Worship.

They beat the boys and ran the girls off, but the young Friends were steadfast. First day after

First Day they met in worship, in spite of the persecution they faced from the justices and

constables, and prayed for the release of their loved ones. Until

one day, their parents were liberated, and the Meeting was

whole once more.

How can the younger Friends of our Meetings keep our

community’s faith alive?

How can our Meeting communities nurture and encourage the witness

of younger Friends?

Walk in the Light(Sydney Carter)

There's a Light that was shining when the world began,And a Light that is shining in the heart of a man,

There's a Light that is shining in the Turk and the Jew,And a Light that is shining, Friend, in me and in you.

CHORUS: Walk in the Light, wherever you may be.Walk in the Light, wherever you may be.

In my old leather jacket and my shaggy, shaggy locks,I am walking in the glory of the Light, said Fox.

With a book and a steeple and a bell and a keyThey would bind it forever, but they can't, said he.Oh the book, it will perish and the steeple will fall,But the Light will be shining at the end of it all.

CHORUS

"Will you swear on the Bible?" "I will not," said he,

"For the Truth is as holy as the book to me."

"If we give you a pistol will you fight for the Lord?"“But, you can't kill the devil with a gun or a sword."

CHORUS

There's an ocean of darkness and I drowned in the night,

'Till I came through the darkness to the ocean of Light.And the Light is forever and the Light will be free,

And I'll walk in the glory of the Light" said he.

CHORUS

(end)

How do you let your life speak?

How are you a prophet of the Truth?

Welcome toPhiladelphia Yearly Meeting’s

March Sessions:“We Make the Road by Walking”