"In a tender place."

Our clerk used this phrase to name our space, as we concluded our first meeting for worship for business...After some necessary preliminaries--travel minute approval, and report from Junior Yearly Meeting, the Nuture Coordinating Committee opened their time on the agenda. First a positive report on Powell House with celebration and thanks for the rennovation work and fundraising on the Anna Curtis Youth Center. Next up; a report about FUM from the general secretary outlining FUM's focus and ongoing projects. ALOT of info in a short time...350,000 Quakers in affiliated YM's in Africa, important work in Cuba, Palestine, Belize, Jamacia, etc.
Then the panel of 4 folks begin who had been asked to address the meeting about their feelings and views about the ongoing relationship NYYM has with FUM. Each one communicated articulately and profoundly. WOW! There was also vocal ministry from the floor in the midst of the panel's presentation. Complicating the scene was the arrival of JYM members for the 15 minute community worship just before the lunch break. Because we were running late, after the JYM members w/their custodial adults were dismissed, the panel continued their stories...thus as we finally broke for lunch, we had reached, as our clerk said, this TENDER PLACE. We were encouraged to discuss, pray, and share informally, as we spent the afternoon break together. We were reminded that God holds us as we stay in this place, and that we can trust one another and the Spirit as we discern together. I wish I could remember the articulate spirit led words the clerk employed to reassure, and inspire us as we concluded this important, hard, painful, amazing session.
It was also a tremendous gift for me to be sitting the facing chairs for this initial morning at Silver Bay. Now, I need a nap, and maybe a kayak ride. Most definitely a trip to the bookstore to begin the wonderful experience of choosing my free book--a gift of the Mosher Fund for recorded ministers in the YM, among others. I also get to pick the $50 worth of books that each meeting gets to take back to their libraries. YAY!
peace out for now...